MONTANA 

Its  Story  and  Biography 


A  HISTORY  OF  ABORIGINAL  AND  TERRITORIAL  MONTANA 
AND  THREE  DECADES  OF  STATEHOOD 


UNDER  THE  EDITORIAL  SUPERVISION 
OF 

TOM  STOUT 


VOLUME  I 


THE  AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 

CHICAGO  AND  NEW  YORK 

1921 


LIBRARY 

UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 


Copyright,  1921 

BY 
AMERICAN  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY 


PREFACE 


As  the  lives  of  the  States  go,  Montana  has  had  a  short  record,  but, 
like  intense  personalities,  Montana  and  her  people  have  condensed  much 
achievement  into  a  brief  span  of  activities.  The  "Land  of  the  Shining 
Mountains"  and  of  Magnificent  Distances  commenced  to  be  sprinkled 
with  a  few  adventuresome  gold  seekers  during  the  early  years  of  the 
Civil  War,  albeit  her  diverse  and  wonderful  territory  lying  along  the 
great  range  of  northern  travel  between  the  Mississippi  Valley  and  the 
Pacific  Coast  had  been  traversed  by  such  government  agents  as  Lewis 
and  Clark  and  by  faithful  enthusiasts  of  the  Catholic  Church.  The  Jesuit 
fathers  and  the  pioneer  trappers  and  fur  traders  had  even  planted  the 
seeds  of  industry  in  the  valleys  of  the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone  before 
the  California  of  a  previous  generation  was  reproduced  with  all  its  excite- 
ment and  riot  within  the  confines  of  what  is  now  the  State  of  Montana. 

The  old  fur  traders  and  guides  of  the  older  days  led  the  seeker  of  gold 
to  Bannack  and  Virginia  cities,  to  Helena  and  the  Hell  Gate  regions  of 
western  Montana.  Mining  camps  and  towns,  with  their  crude  business 
houses  sprung  into  life,  with  small  cattle  ranches  and  farms;  but  the 
basis  of  the  first  period  of  progress  was.  laid  in  the  gold  mines.  Agricul- 
ture and  the  raising  of  live  stock  were  side  issues. 

Then  came  the  time  of  the  great  ranges  for  cattle,  horses  and  sheep, 
with  the  mining  of  gold,  silver  and  copper  as  still  the  powerful  agents 
of  advancement.  At  first  such  interests  were  removed  from  adequate 
transportation,  and  the  protecting  forces  of  civil  law  and  order  were  only 
weakly  organized.  Uncle  Sam  attempted  to  tide  over  this  critical  period 
with  his  military  arm.  then  still  weakened  by  the  stress  of  the  Civil  war. 
He  did  what  he  could,  but  until  the  railroads  "got  into  their  stride"  the 
potential  riches  of  Montana  were  yet  conjectural.  To  be  fair  to  the  great 
commonwealth,  the  truth  is  that  it  is  only  within  forty  years  that  she 
has  been  given  a  fair  chance  with  her  sisters  of  the  West.  At  that. 
Nature,  in  the  forms  of  drought  and  "bad  lands,"  has  been  most  unkind, 
so  that,  although  ^e  territory  of  Montana  is  w'thin  a  few  thousand  square 
miles  of  that  of  California,  the  home  areas  which  are  naturally  productive 
are  comparatively  restricted.  But  the  State  and  the  Nation  are  working 
together  so  strongly  and  persistently  that  both  arid  and  swamp  lands  are 
everywhere  being  reclaimed.  The  virile  spirit  of  Montana,  coupled  with 
the  engineering  and  scientific  solutions  of  irrigation,  draining  and  farming 
which  are  being  continuously  put  into  practice,  are  bound  to  give  the 
state  a  high  and  permanent  standing.  The  schools,  the  newspapers,  tl 

iii 


iv  PREFACE 

commercial  organizations,  the  libraries  and  the  churches  are  all  co-operat- 
ing in  the  work  of  both  advancing  and  uplifting  those  interests  which, 
as  a  whole,  make  the  state  what  it  is. 

The  History  of  Montana  which  is  here  presented  has  endeavored  to 
etch  this  record  of  struggles  and  real  achievements  in  such  a  way  that  its 
strong  lines  shall  be  preserved,  and  the  story  not  be  weighted  and  ob- 
scured with  details.  With  this  end  in  view,  countless  authorities,  private 
and  public,  officials  of  the  State  and  National  governments,  actors  in 
the  events  treated,  historians  and  scientists,  have  all  been  consulted  and, 
ofttimes,  their  very  words  have  been  reproduced.  In  fact,  such  treat- 
ment of  the  context  has  been  in  line  with  the  well  considered  policy  of 
the  editor  and  his  associates.  The  story  of  Montana  has  been  told,  as 
nearly  as  possible,  through  the  contributions  of  those  best  qualified  to 
speak  and  write.  In  this  connection,  the  supervising  editor  cannot  but 
express  his  profound  regret  that  two  of  his  most  valuable  associates 
should  have  been  cut  off  by  death  from  rendering  to  him  the  full  extent 
of  their  suggestions,  advice  and  co-operation.  The  venerable,  able  and 
historic  characters,  General  Charles  S.  Warren,  late  of  Butte,  and  ex- 
United  States  Senator  Paris  Gibson,  the  founder  of  Great  Falls,  fought 
a  good  fight  for  Montana,  although  they  could  not  live  to  see  this  record 
in  print  which  now  goes  forth  with  the  usual  feeling  of  misgivings  as 
to  the  perfection  of  anything  human.  These  misgivings  are  natural, 
despite  the  fact  that  no  effort  has  been  neglected  to  make  the  history 
correct  and  complete  in  the  essent:aK  To  the  many  who  have  co-operated 
in  this  task,  hearty  thanks  are  offered;  and  they  are  so  numerous  that 
the  mention  of  names  would  be  superfluous  and,  it  might  be  (by  uninten- 
tional omissions)  unfair. 

TOM  STOUT. 


CONTENTS 


CHAPTER  I 
APPROACHES  TO  THE  "LAND  OF  THE  SHINING  MOUNTAINS' 

CHAPTER  II 
EXPEDITION  THROUGH   TRANS-MISSISSIPPI  LAND.. 


CHAPTER  III 
MINOR  EXPLORATIONS  OF  1805-07 68 

CHAPTER  IV 
MONTANA'S  NATURAL  FEATURES  . .  ;    '   RS 


CHAPTER  V 
PATHFINDERS  OF  THE  MINING  CAMPS  ........................  '.,   103 

CHAPTER  VI 
THE  FUR  TRADE  ERA  ....................  ......  .  .  .  ;  .........  .   I 


CHAPTER  VII 
STEPS  LEADING  TO  SETTLED  CONDITIONS  ........................   142 

CHAPTER  VIII 
EXPEDITIONS  OF  A  DECADE  ..............  .  .  .............  .  .....   163 

CHAPTER  IX 

FIRST  GOLD  DISCOVERIES  AND  WORKINGS  .......................   184 

v 


vi  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  X 
PIONEER  CITIES  AND  TOWNS 215 

CHAPTER  XI 
MINERAL  GEOLOGY  AND  EARLY  INDUSTRIES 226 

CHAPTER  XII 
DAYS  OF  OUTLAWS,  VIGILANTES  AND  MINERS'  COURTS 242 

*                                      CHAPTER  XIII 
DAWN  OF  LAW  AND  ORDER '.'. 278 

CHAPTER  XIV 
PIONEERS  AND  THEIR  SOCIETY 316 

CHAPTER  XV 
DECADE  OF  INDIAN  WARFARE 340 

CHAPTER  XVI 
MINING  OF  SILVER,  COPPER  AND  COAL 371 

CHAPTER  XVII 
THE  GREAT  LIVE  STOCK  INTERESTS 391 

CHAPTER  XVIII 
LAST  EPOCH  OF  TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT 404 

CHAPTER  XIX 
BENCH  AND  BAR  OF  MONTANA 414 

CHAPTER  XX 
FIRST  DECADE  OF  STATEHOOD 439 


CONTENTS  vii 


CHAPTER  XXI 
TWENTY  YEARS  MORE  OF  STATEHOOD.  . 


457 


CHAPTER  XXII 

MONTANA'S  EDUCATIONAL  SYSTEM  ... 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
MODERN  MEANS  OF  COMMUNICATION  ....................  ere 

CHAPTER  XXIV 
CONSERVATION  OF  LANDS  .....................................  577 

CHAPTER  XXV 
MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  ..............................  642 


BEAVERHEAD,  BIG  HORN,  ELAINE,  BROADWATER,  CARBON  AND  CAR- 
TER COUNTIES    667 


CHAPTER  XXVII 
CASCADE  COUNTY  (GREAT  FALLS) 681 

CHAPTER  XXVIII 

CHOUTEAU,    CUSTER,    DANIELS,    DAWSON,    DEER    LODGE,    FALLON 
COUNTIES 7°° 

CHAPTER  XXIX 
FERGUS,  FLATHEAD  AND  GALLATIN  COUNTIES 7IS 

CHAPTER  XXX 

GARFIELD,  GLACIER,  GOLDEN  VALLEY,  GRANITE,  HILL,  JEFFERSON, 
JUDITH  BASIN    734 


dii  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER  XXXI 
LEWIS  AND  CLARK  COUNTY  (HELENA) 747 

CHAPTER  XXXII 

LIBERTY,     LINCOLN,     MADISON,     McCoNE,     MEAGHER,     MINERAL 
COUNTIES 767 

CHAPTER  XXXIII 
MISSOULA  COUNTY   (  MISSOULA) 780 

CHAPTER  XXXIV 

MUSSELSHELL,    PARK,    PHILLIPS,    PONDERA    AND    POWDER    RlVER 
COUNTIES  794 

CHAPTER  XXXV 
POWELL,  PRAIRIE,  RAVALLI  AND  RICHLAND  COUNTIES 806 

CHAPTER  XXXVI 
ROOSEVELT,  ROSEBUD,  SANDERS  AND  SHERIDAN  COUNTIES 815 

CHAPTER  XXXVII 
SILVER  Bow  COUNTY   (  BUTTE) 827 

CHAPTER  XXXVIII 
STILLWATER,  SWEET  GRASS,  TETON  AND  TOOLE  COUNTIES 839 

CHAPTER  XXXIX 
YELLOWSTONE  COUNTY  (BILLINGS) 850 

CHAPTER  XL 
BIRD'S  EYE  VIEW  OP  THE  STATE .861 


INDEX 


Abbott,  A.  H.,  I,  7-2. 

Abbott,  P.  M.,  II,  362. 

Abel,  William  M.,  II,  179. 

Aber,   William    M.,    I,   544. 

Abrahamson,  John  C,   II,  228. 

Absaraka  (Home  of  the  Crows),  I,  340. 

Ab-sa-ra-ka  (Mrs.  Carrington),  I,  341, 
343- 

Absarokee,  I,  840. 

Absarokee  National  Forest,  I,  623,  778, 

Acher,  John  W.,  Ill,  965. 

Acquisition   claim,    I,   373. 

Adami,  Arthur  E.,  II,  560. 

Adams,  Burton  S.,  Ill,  727. 

Adams,  Charles  W.,  Ill,  1288. 

Adams,  E.  M.,  II,  231. 

Adams,  John  O.,  I,  654. 

Adams,   Sallie  M.,  Ill,   1062. 

Adams,  Stephen  J.,  Ill,  1201. 

Adams,  Thomas,  I,  188. 

Adams,  Walter  K.,  Ill,  1157. 

Adams,  William  P.,  II,  36. 

Adden,  Herbert  J.,  Ill,  1018. 

"Affairs  at  Fort  Benton"  (Bradley),  I, 
124,  183,  215. 

Afflerbaugh,  I.  R.,  Ill,  872. 

Agawam,  I,  843. 

Agricultural  College  Hall,  Bozeman 
(illustration),  I,  545. 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station  at 
Bozeman  established,  I,  478. 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station 
(Northern),  I,  476. 

Agricultural  Experiment  Stations,  I, 
529;  (branch),  529. 

Agricultural    Extension    service,    I,   520, 

Agriculture:  Indians  wonder  at  sprout- 
ing grain  (1840),  I,  149. 

Aiken,  Will,  I,  869. 

Aitken,   Walter,    II,  407. 

Akins,  Jefferson  H.,  II,   142. 

Alder  Creek,   I,  231. 

Alder  Gulch,  I,  192;  discovery  of,  200; 
Edgar's  account  of  discovery,  201-5; 
named,  203 ;  Peter  Ronan's  account  of 
discovery,  205;  210;  total  output  of, 
216;  219,  220,  222;  commemorate 
monument  at,  320;  329,  771. 

Alderson,  J.  J.,  I,  851. 

Alderson,  William  W.,   II,  359. 

Alexander,  James  G.,  IT.  589. 

Alexander,  J.  Newton,  II,  509. 

Alexander  (Kalispeh'ms  chief),  I,  157. 

Alexander,  Mary,  III,  1247. 

Alexander,  Thomas,  III,  1246. 

Alfalfa,  Second  Crop  of  in  Valley 
County  (illustration),  I,  401. 


Alfield,  Ed.,   I,  223. 

Alger,  I,  824. 

Algerian  (Shriner)  Temple,  Helena,  I, 
755- 

Alice  Mine,  I,  373,  834. 

Allen,  Charles  D.,  II,  300. 

Allen,  Clark  W.,  II,  45. 

Allen,  C.,  I,  252. 

Allen,  Elbert  K,  II,  31. 

Allen,  J.  F.,  I,  237. 

Allen,  Paul,  I,  20. 

Allen,  Robert  T.,  Sr.,  II,  306. 

Allen,  William  R.,   Ill,   1158. 

Allen,  W.  R.,  I,  471. 

Allen  &  Millard,  I,  285. 

Alley,  Roy  S.,  Ill,   1205. 

Allin,  Charles  W.,  II,  391. 

Allin,  William  G.,  II,  605. 

Allison,  P.,  I,  213. 

Allison,  William,  I,  222,  223. 

Allison,   William,  Jr.,   I,  833. 

Alma,    I,    768. 

Alta  Mine,  I,  765. 

Alton,  Robert  D.,  II,  423. 

Amalgamated  Copper  Company,  I,  377. 

American  Fork,  I,  190;  (Hangtown), 
191.. 

American  Fur  Company,  I,  113,  121,  123, 
126,  127,  129,  131,  140,  164. 

"American  Fur  Trade  of  the  Far  West" 
(Chittenden),  I,  69. 

American  Horse  (Indian  Chief),  I,  358. 

American  Horse  (Sioux  Chief),  I,  345. 

American  Smelting  and  Refining  Com- 
pany, Helena,  I,  381,  763. 

Ames,  James  J.,  Ill,  858. 

Amundson,   Edon   A.,   Ill,    1077. 

Anaconda:    state   capital    contestant,    I, 

441,  712. 

Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company,  I, 
377.  379.  381.  713;  saw  mill  at  Bonner, 
781 ;  790,  836. 

Anaconda  and  Butte  Copper  and  Zinc 
Mines,  I,  383. 

Anaconda  Hill,  I,  836. 

Anaconda  Hill  and  vicinity,  Butte  (il- 
lustration, I,  830. 

Anaconda  lead  mines,  I,  384. 

Anaconda-Neversweat  Mine,  I,  375. 

Anaconda  Reduction  Works,  I,  713;  (il- 
lustration), 712. 

Anarchism  denounced   (1019),  I,  483. 

Anderson,  Andrew  T.,   II,  591. 

Anderson,  Anton  I.,  Ill,  1223. 

Anderson,  Elmer  J.,  II,  604. 

Anderson,   Emory  A.,    Ill,  736. 

Anderson,  Glenn,  II,  604. 


IX 


INDEX 


Anderson,  James  W.,  Ill,  893. 

Anderson,  John  A.,  Ill,  708. 

Anderson,  John  G.,  Ill,   1084. 

Anderson,  Marius,  III,  850. 

Anderson,  Orville  L.,  I,  653. 

Anderson,  Peter,  III,  732. 

Anderson,  Ray,  II,  220. 

Anderson,  Reece,  I,  186,  192,  221. 

Anderson,   Robert   B.,   Ill,   709. 

Anderson,  William  W.,  I,  316. 

Andretta,    Fred   C,    III,   834. 

Andrews,   C.   K.,   I,  868. 

Andrews,  J.  W.,  Jr.,  I,  426. 

Andrieux,  Edgar  M.,  II,  476. 

Andrus,  Harry  E.,  II,  375. 

Angell,  Earle  F.,  II,  616. 

Angevine,  Frank  H.,  I,  335,  338. 

Angevine,  Fred  R.,  II,  445. 

Angstman,  Jess  L.,  II,  1438. 

Annin,  James  T.,  II,  299. 

Annin,  Joseph  B.,  II,  298. 

Antelope,  I,  826. 

Apgar,  H.  D.,  Ill,  795. 

Apgar,  Jessie,  III,  796. 

Appleton,  Fletcher  W.,  II,  32. 

Arbor  Day,  I,  465,  498. 

Are  these  young  Americans  being  fairly 

treated?    (illustration),   I,  520. 
Arena,  Peter,  III,  954. 
Argenta,  I,  237. 
Argo,  Neil  D.,  II,  73. 
Arick,  R.  E.,  I,  415. 
Arkwrtght,  Hartford  D.,  Ill,  1257. 
Arlee,  I,  792. 
Armington,   I,  609. 
Armitage,  Thomas  C.,  II,  230. 
Armstead,  I,  783. 
Armstrong,  Frarcis  K.,  II.  6. 
Armstrong,  George,  I,  703. 
Armstrong,  John,  I,  15. 
Armstrong,  Ory  J.,  Ill,  999. 
Armstrong,  Thomas  G.,  II,  65. 
Arnet,  Nick,  III,  TCKX. 
Arnette,   Frank   G.,   Ill,  921. 
Arnett.  F.  B..  Ill,  854. 
Arnold,  George  P.  T.,  Jr.,  II,  285. 
Arnold,  Harry  E.,  II,  33. 
Arnold.  Ralnh  L.,  II,  453. 
Arnold,  William,  I,  237. 
Arnott,  George,  Jr.,   II,  771. 
Asbridge,  Joseph   L.,  I.  868;  II,  522. 
Ashley.  Tames  M.,  I,  288;  his  residence 

in  Helena  (illustration).  313;  becomes 

governor,  314;   (portrait),  410;  868. 
Ashley.  William.   I.   108.    in.   I2<">. 
Ashley-Henry    Discoveries    of    1823,    I, 

109. 

Aslakson,   Orrar   R  .   IT    620. 
Aslakson,  Thomas  E..  Ill,  1308. 
Aspling.  Charles  E..  II,  336. 
AssaroVa  range,  I,  OT, 
Asselstire.  George  H..  II,  564. 
Assinihoines.  J,  T,  i-»6. 
Asteroid  rla;m,  I.  371. 
Astor,  Tohn   Tacr>b,  I,  113. 
AtrM^on,  To'-n  S.,  I,  2«V. 
Atkinson,    Alfred,    I,    cig,    731. 
AtHnson.    Targes  T  .,  TTI,  925. 
AttK.  Frederick  F..  II,  45. 
Audubon,   John   J.,   I,    124. 
Augusta,  I,  241,  749. 


Auld,  James  C,  II,  617. 

Aune,   George   D.,   II,  87. 

Austin,   Claud,   II,  474- 

Austin,  Harry  H.,  II,   117. 

Austin,  James  W.,  Sr.,  Ill,  877. 

Austin,  William  Charles,  II,  474. 

Australian   ballot  system   introduced,   I, 

485. 
Autobiographical  Notes    (1791-1816)    by 

McDonald,  I,  81. 

Axtell,  John  S.,  I,  725;  III,  1195. 
Ayers,  Leonard  P.,  I,  503. 
Ayers,  Roy  E.,  II,  422. 
Ayres,  D.  E.,  II,  601. 

Baatz,  Nick,  II,  575. 

Babcock,  Albert  L.,  II,  241. 

Babcock,  Lewis  C.,  II,  241. 

Babcock,  Paul,  III,  801. 

Babington,  W.  J.,  II,  446. 

Baboon   Gulch,   I,  222. 

Bach,  Thomas  C.  (portrait),  I,  428;  431. 

Bachelors  taxed,  I,  489. 

Bad  Lands :  General  Sully  describes,  I, 
293;  (illustrations),  295. 

Badger  Creek,  I,  112. 

Bagg,  Charles  S.,  I,  256,  257,  282,  283, 
289. 

Bailey,  H.  V.,  I,  869. 

Bailey,  James,  I,  209, 

Bainville,  I,  817. 

Bair,  Frank  B.,  II,  367. 

Pair,  John  G.,  Ill,  746. 

Baird,  David  E.,  II,  512. 

Baird,  Frank  P.,  II,  583. 

Baker,  I,  714. 

Baker,  Arthur  G.,  Ill,  1431. 

Baker,  David  A ..  ITT,  1280. 

Baker,  Eugene  M.,  I,  309,  345. 

Baker,  E.  D.,  Ill,  1198. 

Baker,  George  A.,  III.  1319. 

Baker,  Paul,  III,  1373. 

Baker  Battle  Fields  memorial,  I,  323. 

"AVer's  Battle"  of  1872,  I,  309. 

Baldwin,  Clement  J.,  II,  15. 

Baldy  Mountain,  I.  771. 

Pall,  Allen  M.,  Ill,   1269. 

Ball,   Jennie  C,  III,  838. 

Ball,  May,  III,  727. 

Pall,  Robert  J..  Ill,  8~7. 

Ballantine,  I,  856. 

Ballard,  William  E.,  Ill,  843. 

Pallou,  F.  H.,  TT.  ico. 

Bally,  W.  H.,  Ill,  086. 

Bancroft,  Hubert  Howe.  I,  159. 

Bannack  City:  early  diggings,  I,  loo; 
191,  220,  230,  250,  333,  783;  of  today, 
671. 

Bannack  Legislature.  I.  2^-288. 

Bannack  Mining  and  Milling  Company, 
I,  672. 

Pannack  Statutes,  I,  415. 

Bannack  Street  of  Today  (illustration), 
I,  191. 

Banks,  L.  B..  II.  203. 

Banks  and  Banking:  Helena  Brand  of 
F^der?1  Re^rve  R^nk  onened,  I, 
489;  Miles  City  Banks,  707:  Lewis- 
town  Banks.  720;  statues  of  Montana's 
state,  private  anH  rational  banks 
(1920),  870;  state  banking  laws,  871. 


INDEX 


XI 


Barclay,  J.   Arthur,   III,   1400. 

Barclay,  R.  Proctor,  II,  390. 

Barker,  Bud,   I,  213. 

Barker,  Samuel,  II,  516. 

Barnard,  William  E.,  Ill,  mo. 

Barnes,  Antrim  E.,  II,  98. 

Barnes,  Oscar  O.,  Ill,  962. 

Barrell,  Joseph,  I,  14. 

Barrett,  Alexander  H.,  I,  493. 

Barrett,  William,  I,  328. 

Bartles,   Frederick   R.,   II,  452 

Bartley,   Paris   B.,  Ill,  682. 

Bartz,  George,  II,  311. 

Basin  mining  district,  $6,635,000,  I,  766. 

Bateman,  Howard  W.,  Ill,  747. 

Batens,  Francis  X.,  Ill,  1226. 

Battey,  R.  C.,  II,  258. 

Battle  of  Kildeer  Mountain  (Sioux 
Campaign),  I,  292,  293. 

Battle  of  the  Big  Hole,  I,  643. 

Baume,  Tom,  I,  255. 

Baxter,  Ernest  C.,  JI,  592. 

Beall,  William  J.,  II,  76. 

Beall,  Mrs.  W.  J.,  II,  77. 

Bean,  Leo,  II,  1302. 

Bear  Gulch,  I,  213. 

Bearmouth,  I,  790. 

Bear   1  aw  Mountains,   I,  9-1,  94,  229. 
Bear  Tooth  Mountain  in  the  Coal  Region 
(illustration),  I,  101. 

Beartooth  National  Forest,  I,  624. 
Beatty,  James  H.,  I,  378. 
Beauharnois,  Charles  de,  I,  5. 
Beauty  Spots  for  tourists,  I,  634. 
Beaver  Hill,  I,  848. 

Beaverhead  county:  placer  mines  in 
1862-68,  I,  213 ;  early  silver  mining  in, 
238 ;  created,  281  ;  number  and  value 
of  cattle  (1884),  395;  irrigation,  595; 
natural  features  and  industries  of, 
667. 

Beaverhead  National  Forest,  I,  624. 
Beaverhead  River,  I,  230. 
Beaverhead  Rock,  I,  50;   (illustration), 

49- 

Beckers,   Hubert,   III,  858. 
Beckwith,  James,  I,  344. 
Bedford,   David  J.,  Ill,  911. 
Beebe,   I,  703. 
Beechey,  Hill,  I,  253. 
Been,  I,  848. 
Bees,  I,  403. 
Behrendt,  Paul,  II,  130. 
Beidler.   J.    X.,    I,   2*3,    259,   273. 
Beier,  F.  W.,  Jr.,  I,  869. 
Beiseker,  Chester  J.,  Ill,  1065. 
Belanski,  Fdgar  E.,  Ill,  1133. 
Belgrade,  I,  729. 
Belgum,  Henry  S.,  Ill,  803. 
Belknap,  I,  824. 
Bell,  Frances,  I,  282. 
Bell,  Frederick  A.,  II,  130. 
Bell,  George  H.,  Ill,  1127. 
Bell,  Henry  A.,  I,  192,  196. 
Bell,  John  K.,  Ill,  971. 
Belleflenr,  Irene  V.,  II,  631. 
Bellefleur,  W.  M.,   II,  631. 
Belt,  I,  699. 
Belt  range,  I,  91. 
Belzer,  William,  I,  655. 


Bench  and  Bar:  Miners  Courts  estab- 
lished, I,  218;  Sidney  Edgerton  at 
Miners  Court,  279;  sketch  of  Chief 
Justice  H.  L.  Hosmer,  288;  opening 
of  first  District  Court,  289;  Idaho 
code  of  practice  adopted,  290;  com- 
pletion of  first  term  of  court,  291 ; 
Judiciary  opposes  Assembly  as  to  con- 
stitutional capital,  298;  Territorial 
practice  act,  315,  414-438;  bar  at  close 
of  territorial  period,  431 ;  Justices  of 
First  Supreme  Court  retire,  416;  be- 
ginning of  systematic  judicature,  418; 
crude  legal  and  judicial  surroundings, 
420;  placer  mining  and  water  rights, 
421 ;  Henry  N.  Blake  ascends  Supreme 
Bench,  423;  quartz  mining  litigation, 
424;  quartz  lode  litigation  supreme, 
427 ;  railroad  cases,  429 ;  Montana  Bar 
Association  formed,  433;  under  state- 
hood, 434-438;  U.  S.  District  Judges, 
437;  State  District  Judiciary,  438; 
Heinze  overwhelms  the  courts,  459; 
Fair  Trial  Law  passed,  460;  legisla- 
tive elevation  of  bar,  477;  justices  of 
the  State  Supreme  Court  increased 
from  three  to  five,  485 ;  pending  codi- 
fication of  laws,  489. 

Bender,  Frank,  II,  42. 

Benetsee  Creek,  I,  184. 

Bennet,  Howard  G.,  Ill,  688. 

Bennett,  George  C.,  Ill,  1439. 

Bennett,  Jack,   III,  809. 

Bennett,   Sidney,   II,  626. 

Bennett,  Walter  E.,  II,  169. 

Benoit,   John   A.,   Ill,    1144. 

Benson,  Theodore  J.,  II,  237. 

Benton,  C.  H.,  I,  438. 

Penton,  Thomas  A.,  I,  128. 

Benton  City,  I,  215. 

Benton  group   (geological),  I,  95. 

Berkin,  John,   II,  380. 

Berkin,  Tborras  A.,  II,  II. 

Berkin,  William,  I,  286;   II,   to. 

Bernard  Pratte  &  Company,  I,  ill. 

Berry,  Albert  C.,   Ill,  914. 

Berthelote,  Joseph  T.,  Ill,  1132. 

Bertrand,   Joseph,   II,  286. 

Bessette,  Hypolite,  III,  764. 

Best,  Herbert  F.,  II,  344. 

Best,  Judson  P.,  II,  345. 

Pest,  Oly  M..  II,  360. 

Be%  John,  III.  1008. 

Bibee,  S.  C,  III,  867. 

Bickford,  Walter  M.,  II,  12. 

Bickle,  J.  Hiram,  III,  1370. 

B''ddle.  Joseph  W.,  I,  363. 

Bielenherg,  Howard   Z.,   II,    182. 

Big  Bellies    (Gros  Venires),  1,74. 

Big  Pelt   Mountains,   I,  9.1. 

Big  Blackfoot  country,  I,  754. 

Big  Blackfoot  River  I,  227. 

Big  Dry  Creek,  1,  32. 

Big  Dry  River,  I,  91. 

Big  Fork,   I,  724. 

Pig  Hole  River,   I,  230. 

Big  Horn,  I,  845. 

Big  Horn   Canyon,   I,  672. 

Big  Horn  country,  Government  evacu- 
ates, I,  345. 


Xll 


INDEX 


Big  Horn  County,  created,  I,  281 ;  406, 
474 ;  irrigation,  595 ;  description  of, 
672,  673,  674. 

Big  Horn  Mountains,  I,  91. 

Big  Horn  River,  I,  63,  81. 

Big  Horn  town  located,  I,  195. 

Big  Knife  River,  I,  29. 

Big  Prickly  Pear  Creek,  I,  190. 

Big   Sandy,   I,   702. 

Big  Snowy  Mountain,  I,  91. 

Big  Timber,   I,  841. 

Big  Timber  irrigation  project,  I,  583. 

Bigelow,   Edward,   II,   58. 

Bigelow,  Wilbur  F.,  II,  200. 

Billings,   Frederick,  I,  851. 

Billings,  incorporated,  I,  409;  irrigation 
project,  I,  581,  582;  history  of  city,  851 ; 
business  houses,  industries  and  banks, 
854 ;  general  evidences  of  its  prosper- 
ity, 859- 

Billings  airport,   I,  853. 

Billings  Chamber  of  Commerce,  I,  857, 
859- 

Billings-Cody  Way.  I,  851. 

Billings  Coliseum,  I,  853. 

Billings  Commercial  Club:  home  of 
(illustration),  I,  855;  sketch  of,  856. 

Billings   Polytechnic  Institute,   I,  552. 

Billings  Street  Railway  Company,  I,  851. 

Billings  twenty-five  years  ago  (illustra~ 
tion),  I;  852. 

Billings  and  Central  Montana  Railroad, 
I,  568. 

Billmeyer,  Daniel   H.,   II,  71. 

Biography  of  James  Stuart  (Granville 
Stuart),  I,  221. 

Biological  Station,  Flathead  Lake,  I, 
529,  535,  53.6. 

Bird  Tail  divide,  I,  91. 

Birkland,   Andrew   C.,   Ill,    1404. 

Birum,  Albert  A.,  Ill,   1069. 

Bishop,  John  F.,  I,  316. 

Bissel,  G.  G.,  I,  217,  218. 

Bitter   Root   Mountain,   I,  227. 

Bitter  Root  National  Forest,  I,  624,  811. 

Bitter  Root  River,  I,  90. 

Bitter  Root  Valley  (illustration),  I, 
935  (illustration),  143;  144,  223,  225, 
227,  791;  historic  associations  of,  811. 

Biven's  Gulch,  I,  231. 

Bjorneby,  E.  G.,  III.  86r. 

Bjorneby,  George,  III,  861. 

Black,  Robert  R.,  Ill,  951. 

Black  Bear  (Indian  chief),  I,  173,  174, 

Black  Chief,  I,  371. 

Black   Href    lode,   I,   222. 

Black  Eagle  Power  Plant,  Great  Falls, 
I,  680. 

Black  Hills   (Cote  Noire),  I,  34. 

Black  Mountain  Trail,  I,  752. 

Black    Rock    Zinc    Mine,    I,   382. 

Black  Tailed  Deer  Creek,  I,  230,  231. 

Blackfeet  Indians  (Piegans),  I,  104; 
fur  traders  attempt  to  win  over,  in; 
again  reconciled  by  Culbertson,  126; 
trouble  with  the,  I,  140;  attempts  to 
convert  the,  I,  150;  still  warlike,  I, 
154;  attack  Hamilton-McKay  party, 
I,  172,  173,  174,  175,  176;  reclamation 
project,  I,  587,  589, 


Blackfeet    country    abandoned    by    fur 

traders,   I,   105. 

Blackfeet  Indian  Reservation,  I,  737. 
Blackfeet  National   Forest,  I,  624,  769. 
Blackfeet  Sun  Dance  (illustrations  of), 

I,  736. 

Blackfoot  Valley,  I,  790. 
Blackwell,   George  R.,   Ill,  958. 

Blaere,  Joseph,  II,  269. 

Blaine  County;  created,  I,  474;  irriga- 
tion in,  596 ;  description  of,  674. 

Blaine  County  Fair,  I,  675. 
Blair,   Harry   B.,   II,    196. 

Blair,  James  F.,  II,  341. 

Blair,  John  W.,  I,  316;  III,  1296. 

Blake,  A.  S.,  I,  189,  192. 

Blake,  Henry  N.,  I,  216,  415,  422;  sketch 
of,.  423;  434;  defeated  for  chief  jus- 
tice, 449J  459- 

Blake,   S.   R.,   I,  219. 

Blakeslee,  Glenn  B.,  II,  172. 

Blakeslee,  Harry  D.,  II,  172. 

Blanchet,  F.  N.,  I,  147. 

Blankenhorn,  Charles  E.,  II,  141. 

Blodgttt,  Francis  E.,   Ill,  895. 

Blodgett,  Louis  D.,  II,  351. 

Blomquist,  Walter  C,  III,  826. 

Blood,   Indians,   I,   140. 

Bloom,  Edward  B.,  II,  189. 

Blose,  J.  T.,  Ill,  1034. 

Blue  Joint  Hay  (illustration),  I,  846. 

Board  of  Administration  for  Farmers' 
Institutes,  I,  530. 

Board  of  Education,  Billings,  II,  236. 

Board  of  Examination  for  Nurses,  I, 
476. 

Board  of   Horticulture,  I.  883. 

Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners, estab- 
lished, I,  464. 

Boarton,  L.  W.,  I,  289. 

Boatman,   Robert  T.,  II,  287. 

Bodden,  Jacob   C.,   II,    199. 

Boden,  Henning  R.,  II,  20. 

Boden,  James,  III,  1243. 

Bodley,   Ralph  E.,  II,  26. 

Boggs,  George  S.,  Ill,  1183. 

Bogue,  John  C.,  Ill,   1249. 

Bohart,  William  O.,  II,  420. 

Bohm,  Angevine  &  Merry,  I,  338. 

Bole,  James  P.,  II,  379. 

Bole,  William  S.,  II,  313. 

Bellinger,  John,  II,   171, 

Bond,  John  C,  I,  643. 

Bond,  N.  J.,  I,  282. 

Bon  in,   I,   777. 

Bonita,   I,   790. 

Ponner,  I,  790. 

Bonner,  E.  L.,  I,  500,  532. 

Bonneville,  B.  L.  E. :  his  explorations, 
I,  113-119;  and  the  geysers,  116;  last 
years  of,  119. 

Boorman,  Benjamin  J.,  Ill,  744. 

Booth,  Edwin   S.,   Ill,   1428. 

Booth,  John  C,  III,  1448. 

Booth,  John  H..  III.   1448. 

Borough,  John  F.,  II,  534. 

Borreson,  Henry  E.,  Ill,   1052. 

Boschert,  Frnest  A.,  II,  76. 

Posshard,  Elmer,  II,  341. 

Boston  &  Colorado  Smelting  Company, 
I,  375- 


INDEX 


xni 


Boston  &  Montana  Consolidated  Com- 
pany, I,  377,  378. 

Boston  &  Montana  mine,  I,  375. 

Bostwick,  Ephriam,  I,  192,  197. 

Botkin,  Alexander  C.,  I,  405,  433. 

Boulder,  I,  745. 

Bourquin,  George   M.,   I,  437,  438,  868. 

Bouyer,  Mitch,  I,  349,  350. 

Bowden,  Malcolm,  III,  1176. 

Bowden,  Marguerita,  I,  760. 

Bowdoin,  I,  803. 

Bower,  G.  C.,  II,  610. 

Bower   Brothers  Ranch,   II,  610. 

Bowman,  Alfred  H.,  Ill,  1326. 

Bowman,  Carl,  III,  1275. 

Bowman,  Charles  H.,  I,  549. 

Bowman,  Dan  H.,  Ill,  1344. 

Bowman,  Thomas  E.,  Ill,  1148. 

Boyer,  Mary  L.,  Ill,  1300. 

Boyes,  Henry  O.,  Ill,  1264. 

Boyle,  Neil,  III,  1265. 

Boynton,  C.  H.,  I,  761. 

Box  Elder,  I,  744. 

Bozeman,  J.  M.,  I,  120,  189,  195,  221, 
306;  statue  of  (illustration),  307; 
grave  at  Bozeman,  323,  555 ;  sketch  of, 
730,  799,  840. 

Bozeman :  first  house  built  in,  I,  307 ; 
state  capitol  contestant,  441 ;  529, 
729,  732. 

Bozeman  Roundup,  I,  732. 

Brackenridge,  Henry  W.,  I,  69,  73. 

Brackett,  Ivory,  III,   1394. 

Brackett,  Oscar,  III,  1007. 

Brackett,  William   S.,   I,   114,   118,   119, 

120. 

Bradbrook,  L.  G.,  II,  40. 
Bradbury,   John  I,  69,  71,  73. 
Bradford,  Robert  B.,  II,  233. 
Bradford,  W.  M.,  II,  233. 
Bradley,  Abram.  L.,   II,  492. 
Bradley,  James   H.    (portrait),   I,   214; 
304,  343,  349 ;  his  account  of  the  Custer 
disaster,  350;   death   of,  360. 
Bradley,  Mrs.  James  H.,  I,  216. 
Bradley's,   J.    H.   Journal,    I,    104,    121, 
124,   128,   151,   159,   163,   164,  310,  348, 
354. 

Bradshaw,  William  J.,  Ill,  1390. 
Brady,  I,  804. 
Bramble,  John  K.,  Ill,  958. 
Brandon,   I,  231. 
Brandon,  Roswell  L.,  Ill,  m8. 
Brantly,    Theodore,   sketch   of,    I,   436; 

869. 

Brassey,  Edward,  II,  205. 
Brattin,  Carl  L.,  Ill,  1120. 
Bratton,'  William,  I,  28. 
Brazier,  Charles  R.,  Ill,  1059. 
Breeders'  Association,   I,  403. 
Preen,   Maurice  J.,  II,  247. 
Breitenstein,   Arthur   J.,    Ill,   829. 
Brenizer,  I.  848. 
Brennan,  William  H.,  II,  352. 
Prrrnen,   W.   J.,   Ill,   822. 
Brewster,  George  W.,  Ill,  1376. 
Bridge,  John  W.,  Ill,  1172. 
Brirlfpr.  Tames,  I,  108,  113,  114;  famous 
explorer  and  guide,  also  portrait  115; 
120,  306,  340,  343,  344,  798,  840. 
Bridger  range,  I,  91. 


Bndger's  Canyon,  Valley  of  the  Galla- 

tm   (illustration),  I,  232. 
Briggs,  Ansell,  I,  282. 
Brigiit,  Haden  H.,   Ill,   1281. 

Brimacombe,  John,  II,  492 
Brink,  H.  F.,  II,  320. 
Briscoe,  Jack,  II,  198. 
Broadbrooks,  Clarence  E.,  Ill,  941 
Broaddus,  John,  III,  1088. 

Broaddus,  Oscar,  III,  1087. 

Broaddus,  William  M.,  Ill,  1401. 

Broadview,  I,  856. 

Broadview  school,  Terry  District  (illus- 
tration), I,  859. 

Broadwater,  Arthur  J.,  Ill,  818. 

Broadwater,  Edward  T.,  Ill,  690. 

Broadwater  county;  as  a  copper  pro- 
ducer, I,  384;  irrigation  in,  597;  de- 
scription of,  675. 

Broadwater  County  High  School,  II, 
1096. 

Broadwater  Hotel,  I,  751. 

Brockton,  I,  817. 

Brock  way,  I,  776. 

Brockway,  Bert  G.,  II,  230. 

Brockway,  Clarence  J.,  Ill,  967. 

Brooke,  Ben  C.,  II,  618. 

Brooks,  Clark  A.,  Ill,  898. 

Brooks,  Joseph,  III,   1120. 

Brophy,  John  A.,  II,  424. 

Brophy,  John  W.,  II,  427. 

Brophy,  Patrick  J.,  II,  424. 

Brown,  Arthur  H.,  II,  563. 

Brown,  Bella,  I,  698. 

Brown,  C.  V.,  II,  276. 

Brown,  Frank  D.,  I,  316,  320,  325. 

Brown,  Fred  M.,  II,  407. 

Brown,  George,  I,  256,  286. 

Brown,  G.  W.,  Missouri,  I,  247;  hanging 
of,  260. 

Brown,  Herbert  W.,  III.  718, 

Brown,  James  H.,  I,  419;  II,  483. 

Brown,  Joseph  T.,  I,  643;   III,   1193. 

Brown,  Leonard  A.,  Ill,  889. 

Brown,  Mary  G.,  II,  1194. 

Brown,  Perry  F.,  II,  152. 

Brown,  William  A.,   Ill,   1205. 

Browne,  David  G.,  Ill,  954. 

Brownfield,  William,  II,  503. 

Browning,  I,  739. 

Bruce,  James  L.,   II,  511. 

Bruce,  John  P.,  I,  415. 

Bryan,  Charles  L.,  II,  75. 

Bnchholz,  August  D.  F.,  Ill,  675. 

Buck,  Cyrus  W.,  II,  608. 

Buck,  F.  W.,  Ill,  853. 

Buck,  Horace  R.,  I,  434;  death  of  435, 
436. 

Buck,  Isaac  N.,  I.  282. 

Buck,  John  F.,  Ill,   1210. 

Puck.  Marion  E.,  II,  105. 

Bucksen,  F.  W.,  II,  636. 

Puerpi,  George  J.,  Ill,  1340. 

Buffalo,  wholesale  slaughter  of,  I,  36; 
a  surround,  138;  717. 

BnTalo  of  the  Plains  (illustration),  I, 
37. 

Buffalo  robes  replacing  beaver  skins,  I, 
121. 

Buffalo  Trail  Highway.  I,  740. 

Bull,  Carlton  B.,  II,  631. 


XIV 


INDEX 


Bull  mountain  coal  field,  I,  240,  796. 

Bullard,  Oilman,  I,  868. 

Bullard,  J.  Oilman,  II,  619. 

Bullard,  Massena,  I,  419. 

Bullfinch,  Charles,  I,   14. 

Bullwhacker  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Bunker,  Eugene  F.,  II,  557. 

Bunker,   Park  J.,  Ill,   1317. 

Bunney,  William  H.,  II,  376. 

Buntin,  John  A.,   Ill,   1253. 

Bunton,  William,  I,  249. 

Burdick,  Henry,  I,  415. 

Burdick,  N.  H.,  I,  760. 

Bureau  of  Agriculture,  Labor  and  In- 
dustry: to  advertise  Montana,  I,  468; 
abolished,  476. 

Burger,  Norris  F.,  II,  73. 

Burke,  Daniel  J.,  II,  147. 

Burke,  Edward  F.,  Ill,  692. 

Burke,  John  J.,  II,  144. 

Burke,  Patrick  E.,  Ill,  1075. 

Burks,  Fred  C.,  Ill,  1437. 

Burlington  route,  I,  568. 

Burns,  Harry,  I,  289. 

Burns,  James  P.,  Ill,  834. 

Burns,  Lowell  C.,  Ill,  1299. 

Burpee,  L.  J.,  I,  78. 

Burn's,   N.  W.,  I,  335,  337- 

Burton,  W.  C,  I,  285. 

Busch,  Ernest  C.,  II,  88. 

Busche,  William  C.,  II,  272. 

Busha,  Charles  T.,  II,  51. 

Bussert,   Edgar  C.,   Til,   1239, 

Butler,  J-ames  W.,  Ill,  1126. 

Butler,  John  F.,  Ill,  920. 

Butler,  Lewis  S.,  II,  99. 

Butler,  Vernon,  III,  884. 

Butschy  &  Clark,  I,  254. 

Butte:  founding  of  (Warren),  I,  222; 
fails  as  a  gold  district,  371 ;  state  cap- 
ital contestant,  441 ;  a  world  famed 
mining  center,  828;  first?  smelter  and 
auartz  worked,  829;  as  a  city,  830; 
king  of  copper,  834 ;  copper  production 
in  district,  835 ;  mineral  production  of 
district  (1865-1915),  8?6;  its  intervals 
of  mining  inactivity,  837. 

Butte-Alex  Scott  Mining  Co..  I.  836. 

Butte,  Anaconda  &  Pacific  Railroad,  I, 
376,  568. 

Butte  and  surroundings  (illustration),  I, 
3R5. 

Butte-Bullaklava  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Butte  Daily  Post,  II,  471. 

Butte-Dnluth  Mining  Co.,  I,  876. 

Butte-Milwaukee  Copper  Company,  I, 
383. 

Butte  Mines   Company,  II,   1380. 

Butte-New  York  Copper  Company,  I, 
383. 

Butte  pumping  plant,  I,  832. 

Prtte  town   site  patent,  I,  427. 

Butte  Window  Glass  Works,  II,  492. 

Butte  &  Great  Falls  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Butte  &  London  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Butte  &  Superior  Copper  Company,  I, 
382,  ?8*. 

Butte  &  Snnerior  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Buzzetti,  Charles  J.,  II,  54. 

Buzzetti  and  Emmett,  II,  54. 


Byam,  Don  D.,  I,  259. 
Byam,  Don  L.,  I,  319,  320. 
Bynum,  I,  843. 
Byrne,  Frank  P.,  II,  362. 
Byrne,  Fred  M.,  II,  355. 

Cabinet  National  Forest,  I,  624,  769. 

Cable,  John  S.,  II,  314. 

Cain,  Elmer  L.,  Ill,  868. 

Calabar,  I,  703. 

Calder,  W.  L.  A.,  II,  17. 

Calderhead,  J.  H.,  I,  463. 

Calhoun,  Henry  J.,  II,  242. 

Calhoun,  William  B.,  II,  318. 

California  Gulch,  I,  231. 

Callaway,   James    F.,    I,   404. 

Callaway,  Lew  L,  I,  459. 

Calloway,  James  E.,  I,  419. 

Calvert,  George  B.,  Ill,  672. 

Cameahwait    (Sacajawea's   brother),    I, 

S7< 

Camp  Baker,  I,  311. 
Camp  Cooke,  I,  311. 
Camp  Robert  B.  Smith,  I,  645. 
Campbell,  A.  J.,   I,  453. 
Campbell,   Charles   W.,   II,  268. 
Campbell,  Frank  B.,  II,  566. 
Campbell,  Guy  E.,  Ill,  814. 
Campbell,  Hugh  B.,  II,  449. 
Campbell,  John  L.,  II,  439. 
Campbell,  John   S.,  Ill,   1155. 
Campbell,  Mabel  L.,  II,  345. 
Campbell,  Ray  L.,  Ill,  1056. 
Campbell,  Robert,  I,  108,  120,  138. 
Campbell,  Samuel  K.,  II,  653. 
Campbell,  Thomas  F.,  I,  494. 
Campbell,  Will  A.,  Ill,  1177. 
Canton,    I,   676. 
Canyon  Ferry,  I,  749. 
Capitol;  corner-stone  laid,  I,  454;  (illus- 
tration), 455;  wings  commenced,  468; 

grand  stairway  of  (illustration),  473; 

as  completed,  477  (illustration),  458. 
Canlice,  John,  I,  316. 
Carbon  county:  as  a  coal  producer,  I, 

3%:   created,  452;   irrigation   in,   597; 

description   of,   676;    coal   mines   and 

first  oil  well,  677. 
Cardell,  Robert  C.,  II,  249. 
Carey,  Frank,  III.  842. 
Carey,  John  J.,  Ill,  759. 
Carey,  Matt  F.,  Ill,  1183. 
Carey    Land    Act:    biennial    report    of 

(1919-1920),  I,  581;  590. 
Carey  Land  Act  Board :  replaces   State 
Arid  Land  Grant  Commission,  I,  460; 

584. 

Carleton,  E.  A.,  I,  500. 
Carlson,  Alfred  C.,  II.  259. 
Carlson,  Kaare  O.,  Ill,  1018. 
Carlson,   O.   A.,   I,   869. 
Carlton,  I,  702. 
Carlyle,  I,  818. 

Carmony,  Fred  A.,   Ill,   1088. 
Carney,  John,  II,  374. 
Carpenter,  A.  M.  S.,  I,  403,  494. 
Carpenter,   B.   Platt,   sketch  of,   I,  409; 

a  12,  4?4,  868. 

Carnenter,  Harry  C.,  II.  303. 
fa  merger.  Mvron  S.,  II,  357. 
Carr,  R.  E.,  II,  257. 


INDEX 


xv 


Carrington,  Henry  B.,  I,!  340,  342;  ex- 
pedition turned  back  by  Fetterman 
Massacre,  I,  343;  345,  363. 

Carroll,  I,  306. 

Carroll,  John  P.,  II,  458. 

Carroll,  John  V.,  II,  578. 

Carroll,  J.  T.,  I,  869. 

Carroll,  William  E.,  II,  511. 

Carroll,  Matthew,  I,  215. 

Carroll  &  Steele,  I,  215. 

Carruth,  Edwin  C.,  Ill,  705. 

Carruthers,   Emmet  E.,   I,  653. 

Carter,  I,  702. 

Carter,  Alexander,  I,  249. 

Carter,  Elizabeth,  III,  785. 

Carter,  Thomas  H.,  I,  433,  445;  sketch 
of,  447,  448;  elected  U.  S.  Senator, 
451,  457- 

Carter  County :  created,  I,  482 ;  irriga- 
tion in,  599;  description  of,  679,  680. 

Cartwright,  Annie,  III,  1203. 

Cartwright,   Evert,   III,   1203. 

Carver,  Jonathan,  proposes  transconti- 
nental waterway,  I,  12. 

Cascade,  I,  699. 

Cascade  County :  created,  I,  41 1 ;  irriga- 
tion in,  598 ;  natural  features,  681 ; 
livestock  and  dairy  interests,  682 ;  min- 
ing of  coal  and  silver,  683;  Great 
Falls,  684-699;  origin  of  name,  686; 
schools  of,  687,  699. 

Cascade  County  school  children  (illus- 
tration), I,  507. 

Cashmore,  Alfred  I,  II,  555. 

Caspers,  H.  J.,  Ill,  844. 

Cassill,  Scott  K.,  Ill,  1222. 

Castle  Geyser,  Yellowstone  Park  (illus- 
tration), I,  117. 

Castles,  William,  II,  83. 

Castner,  John  K.,   Ill,  724. 

Castner,  Mattie,  III,  725. 

Casto,  William  H.,  Jr.,  II,   178. 

Cat  Creek  anticline,   I,  3874 

Cat  Creek  field,  i,  877. 

Cat  Creek  oil  field,  I,  716. 

Catholic  Missions  and  Missionaries,  I, 
144-158. 

Catlin,   Edwin   B.,   II,  415. 

Catlin,  George,  I,   113,   144. 

Catlin,  John  B.,  II,  467. 

Cattle  drives  (i868-'83),  I,  393,  394; 
wealth  by  counties  (1884),  394,  395; 
Miles  City  center  of  range,  395 ;  great 
sales  of,  396;  progress  of  industry, 
1885-1919,  3r6. 

Cavanaugh,  Miles  J.,  II,  511. 

Cave,  Alfred.  II,  555. 

Cave,  Will,  II,  555- 

Caven,  J.  B.,  1.^218. 

Caven,  Kate  Virginia,  I,  220. 

Cayuse  Hills,  I,  91. 

Centerville,    I,   827,  834. 

Central,  I,  2"2. 

Chaboillez,  Charles  J.  B.,  I,  74. 

Chadwick,  Walter  F.,  I,  415,  433. 

Chalmers,  Horace,   I,  252. 

Chalrrers,  Robert,  I,  252. 

Chamberlain,  Arthur  E.,  Ill,  762. 

Chamberlain.  D.  D.,  I,  2m. 

Chambers,  George  T.,   Ill,  979. 

Champlin,  James  L.,  Ill,  773. 


Chancellor  of  the  University,  I,  476. 
528,  530. 

Chapman,    Charles   F.,    II,   549. 

Chapman,  John  W.,  II,  60. 

Chapman,  Robert  H.,  I,  91. 

Charbonneau,  Toussaint,  I,  28,  43  55 
57,  61,  64,  65. 

Chardon,  F.  A.,  I,  124,  126;  death  of, 
127;  140. 

Charlesworth,  Arthur,  III,  1294. 

Charleswprth,  George,  III,  1150. 

Charleyoix,  I,  4. 

Chauvin,  Joseph,  II,  102. 

Cheadle,  Edwin  K.,  II,  197. 

Cheese  factories  of  Montana,  I,  873. 

Cheesman,  Henry,  II,  78. 

Cheney,  William  H.,   II,  655. 

Chessman,  William  A.,  II,  591. 

Chester,  I,  768. 

Chestnut,  Benjamin  F.,  Ill,  819. 

Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  System: 
joint  purchase  by  Great  Northern  and 
Northern  Pacific,  I,  566. 

Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Rail- 
way, I,  566;  electrification  of,  567; 
630,  689. 

Chief  Joseph,  pursuit  of,  I,  359-369; 
and  the  Cowan  Party  (portraits),  361 ; 
his  last  stand,  362,  463. 

Chief  Paul  (Salish),  I,  157. 

Child  Welfare  division  established,  I, 
483- 

Chinook,  I,  588,  674,  675. 

Chinook  winds,  I,  76. 

Chittenden,  H.  M.,  I,  69. 

Choate,  Isaac  W.,  I,  489;  II,  617. 

Choisser,  Joe  E.,  Ill,  1003. 

Chouteau,  I,  843. 

Chouteau,  Auguste,   I,  700. 

Chouteau,  Chas.    (portrait),  I,  214. 

Chouteau,  Pierre,  I,  in,  113,  120,  700. 

Chouteau  brothers,  I,  103. 

Chouteau  County,  I,  241 ;  created,  281 ; 
number  and  value  of  cattle  (1884), 
395;  irrigation  in,  599;  physical  fea- 
tures of  and  general  industries,  700; 
transportation  facilities  of,  701. 

Chowen,  H.  O.,  I,  698. 

Chowning,  Charles  W.,  Ill,  Sir. 

Christensen,  Andrew,  III,  917. 

Christenson,  Harris  J.,  Ill,  1101. 

Christiansen,  Charles  G.,  Ill,   1163. 

Christinson,   Otto  M.,   Ill,   1045. 

Christler,  Leonard  J.,  II,  640. 

Chronicle  Publishing  Company,  II,  379. 

Crysler,  Walter  B.,   II,   209. 

Chumasero,  William,  I,  289,  291,  415, 
433- 

Church,   Irving  W.,   I,  696;   III,  694. 

Church,  Ray,  III,  760. 

Churches  of  Missoula,  I,  786. 

Churchill,  William,  II,  48. 

Circle,  I,  776. 

Clack,  Philip  D.,  Ill,  707. 

Clagett,  W.  H.,  I,  4*9- 

Claiborne,  William  C.  C.,  I,  18. 

Clancy,  William,  I,  377,  459- 

Clapp,  Charles  H.,  I,  535;  sketch  ot, 
534;  549;  III,  991. 

Clark,  A.  B.,  I,  706. 

Clark,  Charles  E.,  Ill,  1351. 


XVI 


INDEX 


Clark,  George  R.,  I,  27. 

Clark,  George  W.,  Ill,  1092.        : 

Clark,  Helen  P.,  I,  497- 

Clark,  John  B.,  Ill,  1292. 

Clark,  John  D.,  Ill,  1321. 

Clark,  John  W.,  II,  70. 

Clark,  Leon  B.,  Ill,  1249. 

Clark,  Lewis  C.,  II,  186. 

Clark,  William,  I,  19;  sketch  of,  26,  40, 
42;  narrow  escape  of,  and  the  Bird 
Woman,  43;  discovers  the  Three 
Forks,  46,  54,  55,  58;  honorable  public 
career,  67;  his  nine  days'  journey,  60, 
61,  69,  73,  103,  120,  798. 

Clark,  William  A.:  on  Montana's  Val- 
leys, I,  92,  144,  190,  236,  237,  243,  316, 
321;  introduces  himself,  326;  arrives 
at  Bannack,  July,  1863,  328;  trip  to 
Salt  Lake  Citv  (November,  1863), 
332;  (portrait),  372,  373,  375,  376,  377, 
406,  409,  439,  440,  445,  447,  449,  45* ; 
U.  S.  Senatorship  again,  454,  457,  469, 
648,  754,  833,  834- 

Clark  City   (Livingston),  I,  799. 

Clark  and  Ulm,  I,  395. 

Clark's   (Flathead)   River,  I,  57,  S8,  60. 

Clark's  Fork  coal  field,  I,  240. 

Clark's  fork  of  the  Columbia,  I,  90. 

Clarke,  Malcolm,  I,   123,   126,   128,  282, 

323. 

Clarke,  Melvin  D.,  Ill,  1159. 
Clarke,  Walter  E.,  Ill,  1316. 
Classens,  William,  I,  1/17. 
Claxton,  John  K.,  II.  487. 
Clay,  George  W.,  Ill,  968. 
Clayberg,  John  B.,  I,  433,  459,  549, 
Clearwater,  I,  790. 
Clemens,  William  J.,  Ill,  1171. 
Clendennin,  George,  I,  304,  305,  306. 
Clendennin,  Richard,  I,  ''04. 
Cleveland,  George  W.,  Ill,  1301. 
Cleveland,  Jack,  I,  251. 
Clifford,  John  E.,  II.  372. 
Cline,  Frank  C.,  II,  87. 
Clinton,  I,  790. 
Clyde  Park,  I,  80  r. 
Coal,    I,    101 ;    Montana's    output    since 

1001,  386. 

Coal  and  lignites,  I,  238. 
Coates,  John  Q.,  Ill,  877. 
Cobleigh,  William  M.,  II,  91. 
Coburn,  John,  I,  427. 
Cochran,  Joseph,  I,  851. 
Code  Commission,  I,  411,  412. 
Code  of  Laws   (1879),  I,  408;    (1887), 

411;    (1895),  435,  451. 
Codification  of  the  Laws    (1871-72),  I, 

419. 

Codified   School   Laws   adopted,   I,  474. 
Codified  Statutes,  7th  Session  1871-2,  I, 

a  TO. 

Coffey,  George  M.,  Jr.,  Ill,  749. 
Coffey,  George  M..  Sr.,  Ill,  749. 
Coffey,  John  H.,  Ill,  774. 
Coggswell,  W.  R.,  I,  223. 
Cogswell,  Sherman  T.,   Ill,  004. 
Cohagen,  Chandler  C.,  II,  215. 
Cole,  Burton  R.,   II,   184. 
Cole,  F.  W.,  I,  412,  434. 


College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic 
Arts,  I,  529,  544,  731. 

College  of  Liberal  Arts  and  Science 
formed,  I,  535. 

College  of  Montana,  I,  496. 

Collett,  Samuel  W.,  II,  389. 

Collier,  Albert  F.,  Ill,  1207. 

Collier,  Joe,   III,   1200. 

Collins,  I,  843. 

Collins,  Carlos  P.,  Ill,  1117. 

Collins,  John,  I,  28. 

Collins,  John  A.,  Ill,  1056. 

Collins,  John  B.,  Ill,   1089. 

Collins,  Thomas  M.,  II,  612. 

Collins,  Timothy  E.,  I,  316. 

Collins,  W.  L.,  II,  401. 

Collins  and  Company,  I,  223. 

Colorado  and  Montana  Smelting  Com- 
pany, I,  375. 

Colorado  smelter:  first  successful  cop- 
per plant,  I,  835. 

Colter,  John,  I,  28,  68;  his  remarkable 
adventures,  71,  73. 

Colter's  "Hell  Hole,"  I,  69. 

Colton,  O.  C,  I,  732. 

Columbia  Falls,  I,  725. 

Columbia  Fur  Company,  I,   in. 

Columbia  Gardens,  Butte,  I,  833. 

Columbia  River,  Discovery  and  ex- 
ploration of,  I,  14. 

Columbus,  I,  840. 

Colwell,  Henry,  I,  851. 

Comanche,  I,  856. 

Combes,  William  M.,  Ill,  820. 

Comer,  Cloyde  E..  II,  282. 

Comet  Mine,  I,  765. 

Comly,  Harry  B.,  I,  406. 

Commission  form  of  government : 
adopted,  I,  469;  approved,  477. 

Compulsory  education  in  force  (1921), 
1,526. 

Comstock,  Henry  T.  P.,  I,  322. 

Comstock,  Jay  M.,  Ill,  1348. 

Confederate  Gulch,  I,  212,  754. 

Congdon,  John  H.,  II,  357. 

Conger,  Everton  J.,  I,  426,  427. 

Conkey,  J.  C.,  II.  86. 

Conley,  Frank,  II,  343. 

Conley,  J.  V.,  II.  225. 

Conlon,  James,  III,  1068. 

Connelly,  Frank  B.,  II,  q. 

Conner,  Jennie  M.,  I,  698. 

Conner,  Jesse,  III.  751. 

Conner,  John  T.,  I,  316. 

Connolly,  Thomas,  II,  318. 

Conrad,  I.  804. 

Conrad,  C.  D.,  I.  727. 

Conrad,  George  H.,  III.  io?o. 

Conrey  Placer  Mining  Company,  I,  771. 

Constitutional  conventions:  first  (1866) 
and  second  (1884),  I,  408,  409. 

Continental  Divide,  passage  of  the,  by 
Lewis  snd  Clark,  I.  52. 

Conway,  Daniel  R.,  III.  992. 

Conway,  George  B.,  Ill,  ITOO. 

Conynpham,  Fdward  F.,  II,  447. 

Cook,  Byron  H..  I,  61 S- 

Cook,  Charles  W.,  TI,  6*9. 

Cook,  George  W.,  II,  197. 

Cook,  James,  I,  12. 

Cook,  Jerry,  I,  289,  415. 


INDEX 


xvu 


Cooke,  P.  St.  George,  I,  342. 

Cooke  city,  I,  798. 

Cooke    City   Mining   district,   I,   375. 

Cooke    (Jay)    and  Company:  ruined  by 

1873  panic,  I,  560. 
Cooney,  Frank  H.,  II,  166. 
Cooney,  Howard  C.,  Ill,  1174. 
Cooney,  Tom,  III,  1033. 
Cooper,  Charles  H.,  I,  436,  869. 
Cooper,   John,    I,   249. 
Cooper,  Ransom,  III,  835. 
Cooper,  Thomas  E.,  I,  211. 
Cooper,  Walter    (illustration   of  winter 
quarters    in    1865),    I,    212,    316,    547; 
II,  556. 

Copper  mining :  Rise  of,  I,  375 ;  produc- 
tion in  1899-1919,  379;  sampling  ores 
for  commercial  purposes,  380,  381  ; 
production  in  Butte  district  (1891-95), 
835. 

Coppo,  John   B.,  II,   126. 
Corbally,  Thomas  F.,  II,  586. 
Corbett,   Hal    S.,   I,  451. 
Corbin,  Harvey  A.,  II,  317. 
Corley,  Roy  M.,  II,  531. 
Cornwell,  Edward  A.,  Ill,  1321. 
Cornwell,  Harry,  III,   1322. 
Cornwell,  John  W.,  Ill,  1279. 
Corrington,  Glenwood  H.,  Ill,  684. 
Corrupt  Practice  Act,  I,  470. 
Corvallis,  I,  225,  792,  812. 
Corwin,  John  W.,  II,  251. 
Coryell,  Charles  E.,  IH,  810. 
Cosier,  Howard  M.,  Ill,  780. 
Cosner,  Harry,  III,  1219. 
Cotton,  Wendell,  III,  1314. 
Cottonwood  (Deer  Lodge),  I,  222. 
Couch,  Thomas,  II,  498. 
Couch,  Thomas,  Jr.,  II,  500. 
Coues,  Elliott,  I,  39. 
Coughlin,  Richard  J.,  Ill,  1080. 
Coulson  (Billings),  I,  851. 
Council  Grove,  I,  223. 
Counties:    (see  separate  counties),  area 
and  population   of,    1870-1920,    I,   861, 
862;    changes    in    boundaries    of,   862, 
863,   864;    county    seats    and    assessed 
valuation  of,  864,  865 ;  dates  and  facts 
as  to  creation,  866,  867 ;  business  es- 
tablishments of,  874,  875. 
County  boards  of  education  created,  I, 

464. 

County    Legislation :    bonded    indebted- 
ness regulated,  I,  478 ;  regulating  for- 
mation of  new  counties,  479. 
County     Organization     (Leighton)     bill 

passed,  I,  474. 
County  Poor  Farm,  I,  547. 
County  Superintendents,  I,  497. 
County  Unit  law,  I,  519. 
Courtright,  Milo,  I,  282. 
Cousins,  Frank  A.,  II,  213. 
Cover,  Thomas,  I,  199,  206,  208,  219,  307, 

308. 

Covington,  C.  C.t  II,  488. 
Cowan,  Arthur  J.,  Ill,  940. 
Cowan,  Elmer  L.,  I,  6^2. 
Cowan,  George  W.,   Ill,  885. 
Cowan,  G.  F.,  I,  360. 
Cowan,  John,  I,  210. 
Cowan,  Thomas,  I,  211. 


Cowan,  Winfield  S.,  Ill,  896. 

Cowles,  Roy  J.,  Ill,  1113. 

Cowman,  C.  P.,  Ill,  1075 

Cox,  Z.  T.,  Ill,  1108.     ' 

Coy,  Havelock  G.,  II,  388. 

Coy,  Reuben  E.,  II,  125. 

Crab,  John,  I,  210. 

Crabb,  George  M.,  II,  463. 

Craig,  I,  749. 

Craig,  James,  II,  27. 

Craig,  James  W.,  Ill,  1281. 

Craig,  Oscar  J     I,  532,  534,  787. 

Craig,  Robert  A.,  Ill,  1204. 

Craig,  William  T.,  Ill,  1413. 

Craighead,  Edwin  B.,  I,  532,  535,  789; 

III,  1255. 

Cralle,  Edward  A.,  II,  435. 
Cramer,  Ben,  III,  856. 
Cramer,  Clara,  III,  856. 
Crase,  Frank  A.,  II,  548. 
Craven,  Arthur  J.,  I,  215. 
Craven,  G.  W.,  I,  549;  II,  547. 
Crawford,  (Hank),  I,  252. 
Crazy   Horse    (Indian   chief   killed),   I, 

359- 

Creameries  of  Montana:  established 
1889-1919  (see  towns  and  cities),  I, 
873. 

Creel,  George  R.,  II,  191. 
Cremans,  J.  J.,  Ill,  870. 
Crippen,  Henry  C.,  II,  254. 
Cronk,  John  C.,  Ill,   1369. 
Crook,  George,  I,  347;  his  Southern  In- 
dian  campaign,   356,   357,   358. 
Croonquist,  Harold  S.,  II,  189. 
Crosby,  John   S.,   sketch   of,   I,  408. 
Crosby,  J.  Schuyler,  I,  868. 
Cross,  Sherwood  S.,  Ill,  999. 
Crosson,  Abe,  III,  697. 
Crouch,  Charles  D.,  Ill,  724. 
Crouch,  Samuel  J.,  II,  273. 
Crouley,  James  P.,  II,  506. 
Crow  Agency,  I,  673. 
Crow  Indian  Reservation,  first,  I,   158; 
public   schools   thrown   open   in,   526; 
640,  799. 

Crowley,  Annie  E.,  II,  67. 
Crowley,  Daniel  M.,  II,  67. 
Crowley,  Michael  H.,  Ill,  994. 
Crowley,  Timothy  E.,  Ill,  1442. 
Crowley,  William   E.,   Ill,  995. 
Crows,    I,    69;    Larocque's    account    of 
(1805),    78,    83;    breaking    camp    and 
smoking  regulations  (1805),  85;  a  na- 
tion of  horsemen  (1805),  86;  and  the 
fur  trade,  127,  129;  home  of,  340. 
Crows-Piegan  horse  race,  I,   170. 
Crum,  Paul,  III,  1081. 
Crum,  William  R.,  Ill,  764. 
Crutcher,  Lee  W.,  II,  559. 
Crutchfield,  Charles   M.,   II,   599- 
Cruzatte,  Peter,  I,  28. 
Culbertson,  I,  817. 

Culbertson,  Alexander,  I,  121,  123,  124, 
126,  127,  128;  sketch  and  death  of, 
I31 !  J32,  X39)  J4r»  ISI,  T58;  as  Indian 
treaty-maker,  159;  164,  185,  186;  (por- 
trait), 214;  216. 
Cullen,  W.  E.,  I,  419,  422,  431,  434,  758, 

760. 
Culver,  Boyd,  III,  849. 


xvin 


INDEX 


Gumming,  Bruce  A.,  II,  103. 
Cummings,   H.   L.,   II,   162. 
Cummings,  H.  L.  &  Son,  II,  162. 
Cunningham,  Arthur,  III,  1192. 
Cunningham,  Harry  R.,  Ill,  948. 
Curley,  only  survivor  of  Curley  Disaster, 

I,  351- 

Curley  (portrait),  I,  352. 

Curran,  John,  III,  893. 

Currie,  Robert  C,  III,  686. 

Currier,  H.  L.,  II,  17 '• 

Curry,  Thomas,  I,  798,  799- 

Curry,  William  E.,  II,  479. 

Curry  Mining  District,  I,  799- 

Curtis,  Helena  E.,  II,  31 1- 

Cusick,  Helena,  III,  853. 

Cusick,  W.  M.,  Ill,  852. 

Cusker,  Hank  J.,  Ill,  817. 

Custer,  I,  856. 

Custer,  George  A.,  I,  349,  356.  406. 

Custer,  J.  W.,  I,  346. 

Custer  Battlefield  of  Today  (illustra- 
tion), I,  672. 

Custer  Battlefield  Highway,  I,  850. 

Custer  County :  Number  and  value  of 
cattle  (1884),  I,  395;  406;  irrigation 
in,  5995  description  of,  702;  railroad 
facilities  of,  703;  schools  of,  704;  an- 
nual fair,  707. 

Custer  County  Wool  Growers  Associa- 
tion, I,  397. 

Custer  Disaster,  first  tidings  of,  I,  350. 

Custer  Memorial  Monument  (illustra- 
tion), I,  355. 

Custer  National  Forest,  I,  624,  805. 

Custer's   River,   I,  406. 

Cut  Bank,  I,  738. 

Cut  Bank  Creek :  glacial  fragment  at,  I, 
98. 

Cuthbert,  D.  H.,  I,  404. 

Dacotah  lode,  I,  237. 

Dahl,  Oscar  A.,  Ill,  1213. 

Dahlgren,  Halver,  III,  971. 

Dahlgren,  John,  III,  970. 

Dailey,  John,  III,  889. 

Daily,  John  R.,  II,  468. 

Dairying  in  Montana,  I,  400,  401,  402. 

Dakota  group    (geological),  I,  95. 

Dale,  Owen,  I,  363. 

Daley,  Freeman  A.,  II,  640. 

Dallin,  Frank,  II,  572. 

Dalton,  Patrick,  II,  155. 

Daly,  Charles,  III,  1372. 

Daly,  Marcus,  comes  to  Butte,  I,  373, 
375 ;  develops  Anaconda  properties, 
376,  377,  449,  45i,  834. 

Daly  (Marcus)   Estate,  I,  791. 

Daly,  William  B.,  II,  446. 

Dance,  Walter  B.,  I,  283. 

Dance,  W.  B.,  I,  189. 

Daniel,  George  H.,  II,  399. 

Daniels,  Mabel  B.,  Ill,  881. 

Daniels,  Mansfield  A.,  Ill,  881. 

Daniels  County :  irrigation  in,  I,  600 ;  de- 
scription of,  708,  861. 

Danley,  Irving  U.,  II,  353. 

Darby,  I,  791,  792,  812. 

Darling,  Mrs.  D.  T.,  Ill,  1157. 

Daugherty,  George  M.,  Ill,  1335. 


Daugherty,  John  S.,  I,  376. 

Daughters,  Freeman,  I,  511. 

Daut,  John,  III,  918. 

d'Autremont,   Arthur  L.,   II,   161. 

Davee,  H.  A.,  I,  502. 

Davenport,  Arthur  J.,  II,  50. 

Davey,  Arthur  J.,  Ill,  794. 

Davey,  Catherine  A.,  Ill,  794. 

Davey,  John,  III,  793. 

Davidson,  Andrew,  III,  980. 

Davidson,  A.  M.,  Ill,  1429. 

Davies,   Paul  J.,   Ill,   1398. 

Davies,  William  E.,  I,  644. 

Davis,  Alexander,  I,  282,  289. 

Davis,  Andrew  J.,   I,  322,  395,  834. 

Davis,  Chester  C.,  I,  869. 

Davis,  Hauser  and  Company,  I,  395. 

Davis,  Irwin  F.,  Ill,  828. 

Davis,  John  H.,  Ill,  1167. 

Davis,  John  R.,  II,  250. 

Davis,  Nathaniel  J.,  I,  218. 

Davis,  Selena  R.,  Ill,  828. 

Davis,  Sheldon  E.,  I,  552. 

Davis,  William  A.    (Bozeman),  II,  405. 

Davis,  W.  A.,  Ill,  798. 

Davis,  William  B.,  Ill,  1081. 

Davis-Daly  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Davison,  Claud  E.,  Ill,  1342. 

Davitt   (Michael),  mine,  I,  378. 

Dawe,  Lossie,  III,  730. 

Dawes,  Hugh  R.,  HI,  1414. 

Dawes,  Willard  C.,  II,  317. 

Dawson,  Andrew,  I,  131,  152;  (portrait), 
153,  214. 

Dawson,  John  E.,  Ill,  830. 

Dawson  county :  created,  I,  281 ;  estab- 
lished, 312;  number  and  value  of  cattle 
(1884),  395;  irrigation  in,  600;  (Glen- 
dive),  description  of,  709. 

Day,  Edward  C.,  I,  464;  II,  530. 

Day,  Frank,  II,  207. 

Day,  George  H.,  II,  207. 

Day,  G.  W.,  II,  468. 

Day,  Jasper  W.,  II,  283. 

Dayton,  I,  725. 

Deacon,  William,  I,  669. 

Dean,  R.  H.,  II,  331. 

Dean,  Samuel,  III,  824. 

Dearborn,  Henry,  I,  45. 

Dearborn,  Mark  D.,  II,  589. 

Dearborn  River,  I,  45,  229. 

Deborgia,  I,  779. 

Decker,  Charles  F.,  Ill,  1260. 

Decker,  Frederick  S.,  Jr.,  II,  477. 

Decker,  Fred  R.,  Ill,  1062. 

Dedrick,  Warren  A.,  II,  244. 

Dee,  Martin,  I,  459. 

Deegan,  James,  III,   1123. 

Deer  Lodge  (town),  I,  161,  222,  807;  in 
1869  (illustration),  808;  division  point 
on  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
Railroad,  809. 

Deer    Lodge    County :    placer   mines    in 
1862-68,  I,  213 ;  early  silver  mining  in, 
237 ;  created,  281 ;  number  and  value 
of  cattle    (1884),  395,  408;   irrigation 
in,  600;  description  of,  711. 
Deer  Lodge  lode,  I,  222,  371. 
Deer  Lodge  National  Forest,  I,  624,  741, 
745. 


INDEX 


xix 


Deer  Lodge  Valley,  I,  161 ;  overland  trip 
to  (1862),  180;  placer  and  quartz 
mines,  228,  807. 

Deer  Lodge  Valley  Mining  Company,  I, 
286. 

de  Graffenreid,  Charles,  III,  1242. 

DeGroot,  Arie  W.,  II,  238. 

De  Hart,  Jacob  L.,  Ill,  1028. 

Deibel,  Randolph,  III,  1235. 

DeKalb,  H.  Leonard,  II,  90. 

DeLacy,  Walter  W.,  I,  200,  215,  283, 
316. 

DeLacy's  Lake,  I,  200. 

Delaney,  John,  III,  865. 

Delaware  Security  Company,  I,  377. 

De  L'Isle,  I,  3. 

Demars,  Joseph,  III,  757. 

De  Mers,  Elzeor,  III,  888. 

De  Mers,  Robert  J.,  Ill,  866. 

Dempsey,  Robert,  I,  222. 

Dempsey's  Cottonwood  Ranch,  I,  249. 

Dennis,  I,  848. 

Dennison,  James  A.,  Ill,  952. 

De  Noielle,  R.  W.,  Ill,  751. 

Denton,  I,  717. 

Department  of  Agriculture  and  Pub- 
licity, I,  468,  476. 

Department  of  Banking  created,  I,  479. 

Department  of  Farm  Loans  created,  I, 
478. 

Department  of  Labor  and  Industry,  I, 
476. 

Deputee,  George,  III,  1035. 

Derrick,  Walter  J.,  Ill,  843. 

Desy,  Irene,  III,   1281. 

De  Smet,  Peter  J.,  I,  151 ;  coming  of, 
146,  147,  148,  149,  150;  (portrait),  214. 

Devine,  John  H.,  Ill,  696. 

Detwiler,  George,  I,  282. 

De  Velder,  John  Baptist,  I,  147. 

Devlin,  Lawrence  K.,  I,  869;  III,  765. 

De  Voss,  Peter,  I,  150. 

Dewey,  James,   I,  209. 

DeWitt,  William  H.,  I,  431,  435. 

DeWolfe,  Stephen,  I,  430. 

Dexter,  Wheeler  O.,  Ill,  673. 

Diamond  City,  I,  213,  676. 

Dick,  George  K.,  Ill,  922. 

Dickerman,  A.  E.,  I,  698. 

Dignan,  Thomas,  III,  1013. 

Dillon,  I,  399;  incorporated,  I,  409,  669. 

Dillon,  Sidney,  I,  407,  558. 

Dills,  Clinton,  I,  851. 

Dimmick,  Bert  W.,  II,  526. 

Dimon,  John,  II,  361. 

Dimsdale,  Thomas,  I,  243,  254,  256,  266. 

Discovery  of  gold  monument,  I,  320, 
321. 

Dishno,  Silas  C,  III,  1186. 

Dittes,  Ben  R.,  I,  757,  760. 

Dixon,  I,  792,  824. 

Dixon,  Joseph  M.,  I,  459,  461,  471 ; 
sketch  of  and  inaugural  address 
(1921),  I,  485;  528,  868,  869;  II,  2. 

Dixon,  William,  I,  433. 

Dixon,  W.  W.,  I,  419,  430;  elected  to 
Congress  (1890),  I,  447;  448,  449,  548. 

Dixon,  Mrs,  W.  W.,  I,  540. 

Dobell,  J.   L.,   Ill,   1387. 

Docter,  John  C.,  II,   122. 

Dodge,  S.  E.,  II,  427. 


Dodson,  I,  588,  893. 

Dodson,  Philip  G.,  II,  316. 

Doggett,  Jefferson  D.,  II,  652. 

Doherty,  John,  III,  660. 

Dolan,  Aloysius,  III,  830. 

Dolin,  John  H.,   Ill,   1146. 

Dolin,  Joseph  F.,  Ill,  1133. 

Dominy,  William,  III,  1357. 

Donahue,  Dan  J.,  I,  649. 

Donaldson,  Charles  M.,  Ill,  1154. 

Donaldson,  George,  III,  890. 

Donaldson,  Mattie,  III,  890. 

Donlan,  Edward,  I,  469 

Donnell,  R.  W.,  I,  222. 

Donnelly,  Joseph  P.,  Ill,  1085. 

Donohue,  Daniel  J.,  Ill,  1434. 

Donohue,  M.  J.,  II,  74. 

Dooley,  William  D.,  Ill,  1136. 

Dorniz,  I,  841. 

Dorothy,  Sidney  J.,  Ill,  891. 

Dorr,  Arthur  C.,  Ill,  873. 

Dorsett,  Rudolph,  I,  250. 

Dorwin,  O.  G.,  I,  223. 

Dousman,  Charles  J.,  Ill,  1388. 

Douthett,  Lorin  F.,  II,  81. 

Dove,  Samuel  E.,  II,  149. 

Dow,  James  C.,  Ill,  1041. 

Dowe,  E.  E.,  Ill,  860. 

Dowlin,  W.  E.,  I,  856. 

Downing,  Walter  O.,  II,  105. 

Downs  and  Allen,  I,  395. 

Drainage  basins,  acreage  by,  I,  616. 

Drainage  enterprises,   I,  618-621. 

Drake,  Ben  F.,  II,  364. 

Drake,  C.  H.,  Ill,  672. 

Drake,  James  H.,  Ill,  1020. 

Drake,  James  W.,  II,  308. 

Draper,  Charles  H.,  I,  678;  II,  66. 

Draper,  Mark  I.,  Ill,  1419. 

Drennan,  James  W.,  I,  645. 

Drewyer,  George,  I,  28,  50,  51,  52,  59, 

68. 

"Drowned  Men's  Rapids,"  I,  179. 
Drumlummon  Mine,  I,  765. 
Drummond,   I,  741,  790. 
Dryden,  James   S.,  I,  426. 
Dry  fork  of  Maria's  River,  I,  99. 
Dublin,  I,  222. 
Duffy,  John  H.,  II,  338. 
Duke    of    Orleans    commences    western 

explorations,    I,   3. 
DuLuth,  Sieur  Greysolon,  I,  3. 
Duncan,  A.  J.,  II,  645. 
Duncan,  John,  III,  831. 
Duncan,  Leslie,   III,  867. 
Duncan,  O.  R.,  II,  74. 
Duncan,    Tyson   D.,    Ill,    1014. 
Duniway,  Clyde  A.,  I,  532,'  535,  788. 
Dunn,  John,  II,  262. 
Dunn,  John  C,  II,  184. 
Dupuyer,   I,  804. 

Durfee,   David  M.,  I,  438;   II,  284. 
Durston,  John  H.,  II,  471. 
Dutch,  Ralph  E.,  Ill,  1600. 
Dutro,  David  V.,  Ill,  978. 
Dutton,  I,  843. 
Dwyer,  John  C.,  Ill,  910. 
Dwyer,  W.  K.,  II,  396. 

Eagle  Nest  Rock,  Gardiner  Canyon   (il- 
lustration), I.  35. 


XX 


INDEX 


"Early  History  of  Western  Montana" 
(Woody),  I,  132;  224. 

Early  silver  mills  in  Butte  district,  I, 
835. 

East  Butte  Copper  Mining  Company, 
I,  379,  38i,  836. 

East  Ophir  Town  Company,  I,  287. 

East  Rosebud  Lake,  I,  840. 

Eastern  Central  Basin  of  Montana,  I, 
232. 

Eastman,  George  W.,  II,  10. 

Eastman,  T.  H.,  I,  301. 

Eaton,  Ashael  K.,  I,  286. 

Eaton,  Ernest  T.,  II,  266. 

Eaton,  Lewis  T.,  Ill,  1079. 

Eaton,  Robert  N.,  Ill,   1141. 

Eberschweiler,  Frederick  H.,  Ill,  698. 

Edgar,  Henry,  I,  199,  201,  205,  206,  208. 

Edgar,  Henry  F.,  I,  316. 

Edgehill,  I,  848. 

Edgerton,  Sidney,  coming  of,  I,  279;  in- 
terviews Lincoln,  I,  279;  leaves  Mon- 
tana, 281,  298,  868. 

Edmonds,  Herbert  D.,  Ill,  924. 

Education  :  consolidation  of  higher  insti- 
tutions, I,  475;  retirement  salary  fund 
created,  479;  free  text  books  pro- 
vided, 482 ;  vocational  training  intro- 
duced and  Junior  College  courses 
added  to  high  school  curriculum,  482; 
first  schools  and  superintendents,  493 ; 
University  foundation  laid,  496;  foun- 
dation of  State  system  laid  by  en- 
abling act,  498,  499;  State  Text  Book 
Commission  established,  500;  appor- 
tionment of  common  school  income 
fund  (1889-1920),  501;  income  from 
leased  lands,  502;  Montana's  rank 
among  the  states,  503;  enrollment  and 
attendance  (1908-1920),  504-509;  train- 
ing of  Montana  teachers,  509;  teacher 
shortage,  510;  county  school  admin- 
istration, 511;  high  school  normal 
training  departments,  513;  salaries  of 
high-grade  teachers,  514;  health  of 
school  children,  515;  vocational  work, 
516;  school  dormitories,  517;  rural 
schools  in  city  districts,  518;  standard- 
ization and  consolidation,  519;  state 
school  funds,  521 ;  finances  by  coun- 
ties, 524,  525,  526;  school  laws  enacted 
in  1921,  526;  Montana's  system  of 
higher,  528 ;  schools  of  Custer  county, 
704;  schools  of  Gallatin  county,  729; 
Bozeman  schools,  731 ;  schools  of  Lew- 
is and  Clark  county,  750;  Madison 
county  schools,  775 ;  McCone  county 
schools,  777 ;  Missoula  county  schools, 
782;  Missoula  schools,  787;  schools  of 
Silver  Bow  county,  831. 

Edwards,  Byrd  H.,  Ill,  950. 

Edwards,  Caldwell,  I,  459. 

Edwards,  David  R.,  Ill,  724. 

Edwards,  G.  B.,  I,  503. 

Edwards,  John  E.,  Ill,  1315. 

Edwards,  Thomas  B.,  II,  180. 

Edwards,  Thomas  R.,  I,  415. 

Egan,  James  S.,  Ill,  1231. 

Egan,  John,  II,  511. 

Ege,  Ralph  R.,  II,  274. 

Egerton,  Sidney,  I,  415. 


Eggleston,  Charles  H.,  II,  333. 

Eggleston,  Willis  J.,  I,  868. 

Eight-hour  day  for  female  labor,  I,  482. 

Eighteenth  amendment :  upheld  by  Uni- 
ted States  Supreme  Court,  I,  490. 

Einsel,  Charles  S.,  Ill,  1304. 

Eiselein,  Alfred  W.,  Ill,  991. 

Ekalaka,  I,  680. 

Eliot,  Charles  D.,  II,  570. 

Elk  Basin  Consolidated  Petroleum  Com- 
pany, I,  877. 

Elk  in  Montana  forests  (illustration), 
I,  481. 

Elkhorn  mining  district,  $15,215,000,  I, 
766. 

Elkins,  William  S.,  Ill,  1252. 

Elling,  Henry,  I,  316. 

Elling  State  Bank,  I,  772. 

Ellingson,  Henry,  II,  63. 

Elliott,  Edward  C,  I,  528,  869;  III,  1151. 

Elliott,  James  E.,  II,  61. 

Elliott,  John,  II,  470. 

Elliston,  I,  809. 

Elm  Orlu  Zinc  and  Copper  mine,  I,  383. 

Elrod,  M.  J.,  I,  878. 

Elwell,  Charles  B.,  Ill,  692. 

Embrey,  Austin  M.,  Ill,  869. 

Emerson,  Charles  I.,  II,  23. 

Emerson,   Frank,   III,  962. 

Emerson,  Lydia,  III,  962. 

Emigrant,  I,  801. 

Emigrant  Gulch,  I,  213,  233,  798,  799. 

Emigrants  attacked  by  Indians  (illus- 
tration), I,  182. 

Emilie  (Missouri  river  steamboat),  I, 
178,  179. 

Emmett,  Mackzy  F.,  II,  55. 

Enabling  Act :  provisions  of  the,  I,  442. 

Engebritson,  Edward,  III,  869. 

Englet,  Alfred  O.,  Ill,  1433. 

JEnnis,  I,  775. 

Ennis,  Katherine  S.,  Ill,  1284. 

Epler,  George  C.,  Ill,  1165. 

Epler,  John  C.,  Ill,  1391. 

Ereaux,  Adolph,  III,  984. 

Ereaux,  Ezra,  III,  982. 

Ereaux,  Lazare,  III,  936. 

Erickson,  Erick  A.,  II,  124. 

Erickson,   Ole,   III,   929. 

Erickson,  S.  Arne,  II,  279. 

Eschliman,  John,  III,  1297. 

Esgar,  Charles  C.,  II,  316. 

Esselstyn,  Elmer  E.,  II,  506. 

Eureka,  I,  770. 

Eureka  Gold  and  Silver  Mining  Com- 
pany, I,  286. 

Evans,  John  M.,  I,  459,  471,  480. 

Evans,  Lewis  O.,  II,  5. 

Evans,  Nathaniel  P.,  Ill,  1161. 

Evans,  William  C,  III,  1286. 

Evarts,  T.  C.,  I,  284. 

Everett,  T.  M.,  I,  471. 

Ewalt,  Hamilton  W.,  Ill,  1289. 

Ewing,  R.  C.,  I,  282. 

Expeditions  of  a  decade  (1854-64),  I, 
163. 

Faaborg,  Simon  C.,  Ill,  1187. 
Fabian,  Anna,  II,  127. 
Fabian,  Edward.  II,  127. 
Fabrick,  J.  P.,  II,  309. 


INDEX 


xxi 


Failures  in  State  (1910-19),  I,  87$. 

Fairfield,  I,  843. 

Fairview  Milling  Company,  The,  III, 
1171. 

Fairweather,  Bill,  I,  329. 

Fairweather,  William,  I,  199,  206,  208. 

Fallen,  I,  810. 

Fallen  County:  irrigation  in,  I,  600; 
description  of,  713. 

Farlin,  W.  L.,  I,  371,  373,  829. 

Farm  Loans :  delinquencies,  I,  488 ;  con- 
dition of  (1920),  581. 

Farmington,  I,  843. 

Farnum,  Abner  R.,  Ill,  1421. 

Farnum,  Archie,  I,  721. 

Farr,  Eli  M.,  .II,  53. 

Father  Ravalli  meeting  Indians  at  St. 
Mary's  (illustration),  I,  155. 

Faulds,  James  R.,  II,  510. 

Faulds,  William,  I,  282. 

Faulds,  Winfield  S.,  I,  654. 

Faust,  Henry  J.,  II,  131. 

Featherman,  H.  A.,  II,  114. 

Federal  Farm  Loan  bonds,  I,  482. 

Fefferman,  Sam,  II,  245. 

Felker,  Preston  R.,  II,  566. 

Fellows,  E.  B.,  II,  297. 

Felt,  Stanley  E.,  Ill,  1283. 

Felton,  Robert,  III,  711. 

Fenton,  Edwin  L.,  II,  90. 

Fernald,  Louise  M.,  I,  698. 

Fergus,  Andrew,  III,  1293. 

Fergus,  James,  I,  200,  217,  316;  and 
wife  (illustration),  318;  715;  III, 
1293. 

Fergus  county :  as  an  oil  producer,  I, 
386 ;  created,  409 ;  irrigation  in,  601 ; 
description  of,  7155  development  of 
oil  fields,  716,  717;  United  States  Gov- 
ernment experimental  station,  717; 
education  and  population,  718;  water 
powers  and  public  "ways,  719. 

Fergus  County  Argus,  I,  723. 

Fergus  County  Democrat,  I,  723. 

Ferguson,  William  J.,  Ill,  1430. 

Ferris,  Arnold  D.,  Ill,  688. 

Ferris,  Joseph  A.,  Ill,  687. 

Fetterman  Massacre  (1866),  I,  342,  344, 
345- 

Field,  Charles,  III,  1109. 

Field  Brothers,  I,  59. 

Fields,  Joseph,  I,  28. 

Fields,  Reuben,  I,  28,  50. 

Fields  Creek,  I,  50. 

Fifteen  Mile  Creek  (Rattlesnake  Creek), 
I,  192. 

Filcher,  Joe  D.,  Ill,  1140. 

Finch,  George  P.,  II,  309. 

Finlay,  Francois :  Montana's  first  gold 
miner,  I,  184,  186.  . 

Firehole  River,  I,  118. 

First  bank  in  Montana,  Virginia  City 
(illustration),  I,  773. 

First  beef  driven  out  of  Montana,  I,  393. 

First  Big  Horn  exploring  party,  I,  323. 

First  brewery  in  Montana,  I,  775. 

First  discovery  of  oil  in  Montana,  I,  387, 

877. 

First  election,  I,  219. 
First  gold  miner  of  Montana,  I,  184. 
First  postoffice  in  Montana,  I,  219. 


First  railroad  in  Montana,  I,  407. 

First  road  law,  I,  283. 

First  silver  mining  in  Montana,  I,  237. 

First  steamboat  race  on  the  upper  Mis- 
souri,  I,  178. 

First  street  railway  in  the  territory,  I 
851. 

First  Texas  drive  to  Montana,  I,  393. 

First  Montana  Infantry:  commended  by 
Legislative  Assembly,  I,  454;  United 
States  Volunteers,  I,  644-48,  again  at 
San  Francisco  (illustration),  I,  647. 

First  National  Bank,  Dillon,  I,  670. 

First  National  Bank  at  Helena,  I,  409. 

First  National  Bank,  Scobey,  II,  54. 

First  Regiment  Infantry,  Montana  Na- 
tional Guard,  I,  644. 

Fish  and  game  law  enacted,  I,  483. 

Fishbeck,  Frank  G.,  Ill,  813. 

Fish  Creek,  I,  61. 

Fish  hatcheries,  I,  636. 

Fisher,  Daniel  R.,  II,  574. 

Fisher,  Harvey  D.,  II,  529. 

Fisher,  John  W.,  Ill,  856. 

Fisk,  Andrew  J.,  I,  298,  316. 

Fisk,  George  R.,  II,  533. 

Fisk,  James,  I,  298. 

Fisk,  James  L.,  I,  183. 

Fiske,  E.  W.,  I,  761. 

Fitton,  Harry  L.,  II,  136. 

Fitzgerald,  Thomas  A.,  II,  441. 

Flanagan,  Merritt,  II,  467. 

Flaten,  Ole,  III,  665. 

Flathead  county,  I,  241 ;  created,  I,  422 ; 
450 ;  irrigation  in,  601 ;  description  of, 
723 ;  population,  I,  726. 

Flathead  county  school  children  (illus- 
tration), I,  517. 

Flathead  Indian  Reservation,  I,  161. 

Flathead  Indians,  I,  87,  118,  142;  friends 
of  the  whites  (1858),  I,  167. 

Flathead  irrigation  project:  Assembly 
asks  Congress  to  aid,  I,  480. 

Flathead  Lake  (illustration),  I,  160,  227, 

635. 

Flathead  Lake  Bird  Reservation,  I,  536. 
Flathead  National  Forest,  I,  624,  749. 
Flathead    (Indian)    reclamation  project, 

I,  587,  589. 

Flathead  River,  I,  90,  226. 
Flathead  Valley,  I,  792. 
Flather,  Mrs.  Henry,  I,  324. 
Flatt,  Neil  B.,  Ill,  1395. 
Flatwillow  irrigation  project,  I,  584. 
Flaxville,  I,  708. 
Fleenor,  Isaac  N.,  II,  767. 
Fleming,  Joseph  B.,  II,  628. 
Fletcher,  Gayle  M.,  II,  328. 
Flinchpaugh,  I.  L.,  II,  633. 
Flint,  George  H.,  Ill,  818. 
Flint  Creek  Valley,  I,  790.    . 
Florence-Carlton    Consolidated    School 

(illustration),   I,   505. 
Flower,  Harold,  III,  796. 
Flowerree,  I,  702. 
Flowerree,  Daniel  A.  G.,  II,  582. 
Flowerree,  William  K.,  II,  583. 
Floyd,  Charles,  I,  21,  28. 
Floyd,  Harmon  H.,  Ill,  1188. 
Fluhr,  William  H.,  Ill,  1200. 
Fluss,  Alonzo,  III,  1368. 


XX11 


INDEX 


Flynn,  Jerry,  III,  942. 

Foley,  John  E.,  II,  577. 

Foley,  John  J.,  Ill,  1296. 

Follensby,  Edmund  C.,  II,  622. 

Poor,  Arlie  M.,  Ill,  873. 

Foote,  L.  R.,  I,  549- 

Forbes,  Charley,  I,  242,  249. 

Forbes,  James,  I,  394. 

Forbes,  Jessee  F.,  II,  173. 

Forbes,  Thomas  R.,  Ill,  897. 

Forbis,  C.  J.,  II,  448. 

Forbis,  H.  T.,  II,  453- 

Ford,  Lee  M.,  IJ,  536. 

Ford,  Lewis  C.,  II,  334. 

Ford,  Robert  S.,  II,  535- 

Ford,  Samuel  C,  III,  1179. 

Ford,  Shirley  S.,  II,  607. 

Ford,  William  L.,  Ill,  1203. 

Forde,  Walter,  III,  1266. 

Forest  fire :  laws,  I,  627 ;  airplane  patrol, 

629. 

Forest  public  lands,  I,  621. 
Forest  service,  I,  623 ;  State  and  Federal 

co-operation,  628. 
Forestry:    organization    and   legislation, 

I,  626. 

Forestry  and  lumbering,  I,  621-30. 
Forestry  school  established,  I,  476. 
Forman,  Henry  H.,  II,  190. 
Forsyth,  I,  821. 
Forsyth,  Harold  F.,  II,  16. 
Forsythe,  George,  III,  1169. 
Fort  Alexander,  I,  127,  128,  129,  141. 
Fort  Assiniboine,  I,  743. 
Fort  Beauharnois,  I,  4. 
Fort  Belknap  Indian  Reservation,  I,  640. 
Fort  Benton,  I,  128;  ruins  of  old  (illus- 
tration), 130;   139;  Presbyterian  mis- 
sion,   158;    (old)     (illustration),    214, 
215;  (1900),  216;  during  ante-railroad 
days,  557. 

Fort  Benton  City,  I,  701. 
Fort  Brule  (Burnt  Fort),  I,  126,  139. 
Fort  Buford,  I,  138. 
Fort  Cass,  I,   113,   127,  141. 
Fort  Custer,  I,  359. 
Fort  Ellis,  I,  311. 
Fort  F.  A.  Chardon  built,  I,  125;  burnt, 

126;   140. 
Fort   Floyd    (Fort  Union)    founded,   I, 

in. 

Fort  Harrison,  I,  751. 
Fort    Philip    Kearney,   I,   307,   342,   343, 

346. 
Fort    Keogh,    I,    359;    remount    station, 

702;  705,  706. 
Fort  LaBarge,  I,   179;   decline  and  fall 

of,  181,  183. 
Fort  Laramie,  futile  Indian  council  at, 

I,  340. 

Fort  Lewis,  I,  126,  127;  becomes  Fort 
Benton,  128,  139;  missionary  work  at, 
I,  151- 

Fort  Lisa,  I,  69. 
Fort  Manuel,  I,  69. 
Fort  McKenzie:  built,  I,  112,  113,  123; 

burned,  125. 

Fort  Owen :  established,  I,  132  (old)  ; 
near  Stevensville  (illustration),  133; 
167  (1858)  ;  177,  227,  324. 


Fort  Peck  (Indian)  reclamation  project, 
I,  587;  589,  639,  815. 

Fort  Piegan :  abandoned,  I,  112. 

Fort  Reno,  I,  307. 

Fort  Sarpy,  I,  127,  128,  141. 

Fort  Shaw,  I,  311. 

Fort  Sheridan,  I,  305,  306. 

Fort  C.  F.  Smith,  I,  307,  342. 

Fort  Tullock,  I,  127. 

Fort  Union  (Fort  Floyd),  I,  in,  112; 
120,  135;  (second),  138;  first  steam- 
boat arrives  at,  138. 

Fort  Van  Buren,  I,  127,  140. 

Fort  William,  I,  120. 

Fortman,  Clemens  H.,  Ill,  1258. 

Foss,  Albert  J.,  II,  462. 

Foster,  Luther,  I,  500. 

Foster,  Rodney  E.,  II,  334. 

Fousek,  Albert  J.,  II,  588. 

Fowell,  Logan  V.,  Ill,  734. 

Fowler,  I,  804. 

Fowlie,  George,  II,  648. 

Fox,  Clarence  S.,  Ill,  1126. 

Fox,  Dominick,  II,  600. 

Fox,  Harry,  III,  1126. 

Fox,  John  F.,  Ill,  719. 

Fox,  J.  M.,  I,  270. 

Fox,  Magdalena  S.,  II,  600. 

Fox,  Maggie,  III,  1438. 

Fox,  S.  B.,  Ill,   1125. 

Foy,  John  H.,  Ill,  854. 

Foy,  Nancy  J.,  Ill,  855. 

Franklin,  Arad  H.,  II,  77. 

Franklin,  Ira  D.,  I,  427. 

Franks,  Sumner  St.  C.,  Ill,  674. 

Frantz  Corporation,  I,  388,  877. 

Franzke,  Arthur  A.,  Ill,  1362. 

Frazer,  I,  846. 

Frazier,  Robert,  I,  28,  50. 

Frazier,  William  H.,  Ill,  974. 

Frazier  creek,  I,  50. 

Frederick,  Ole  G.,  Ill,  1076. 

Frederick,  Oliver,  III,  1076. 

Freeborn,  Harrison  J.,  Ill,  990. 

Freeman,  August  J.,   Ill,  1318. 

Freeman,  Henry  C.,  I,  833. 

Freeman,  J.  M.,  II,  243. 

Frenchtown,  I,  225. 

Frenchtown  Valley,  I,  790,  791. 

Fresno,  I,  744. 

Friend,  Franklin,  I,  339. 

Friend,  George,  I,  339. 

Fringe    (Indian  warrior),  I,  168,  172. 

Froid,   I,  817. 

Frush,  Charles  W.,  I,  176. 

Fulkerson,  Grover  E.,  Ill,  1188. 

Fuller,  August,  III,  970. 

Fuller,  George  E.,  Ill,  882. 

Fuller,  Mary  A.,  Ill,  970. 

Fuller,  Samuel,  III,  970. 

Fulsher,  F.  R.,  II,  569. 

Fulton,  William,  III,  1306. 

Fur  companies :  pioneer,  I,  103-134. 

Fur  trade  era,  I,  135-142. 

Fur  traders:   pioneer,   I,   103-134;    their 

Indian  wives,  I,  152. 
Fur  trading:  methods  of,  I,  137. 

Gabb,  W.  W.,  Ill,  794. 
Gabriel,  Fred  C.,  Ill,  1228. 
Gaddis,  Charles  G.,  II,  597. 


INDEX 


xxin 


Gaethke,  Paul  C,  II,  478. 

Gagnon,  George  L.,  II,  536. 

Gail,  William  W.,  II,  164. 

Gaines,  Edward  E.,  Ill,  1300. 

Gainor,  Harold  G.,  II,  551. 

Galbraith,  Thomas  J.,  I,  438. 

Galbraith,  William  J.,  I,  426  (portrait), 
428;  430. 

Galen,  Albert  J. :  sketch  of,  I,  436,  869. 

Gallagher,  Jack,  I,  242,  249. 

Gallatin  City,  I,  306,  336. 

Gallatin  county,  number  and  value  of 
cattle  (1884),  I,  395;  411;  finest  rural 
school  (Illustration),  508;  irrigation 
in,  601 ;  description  of,  727. 

Gallatin  County  High  School,  II,  400. 

Gallatin  National  Forest,  I,  624,  778. 

Gallatin  range,  I,  91. 

Gallatin  river,  I,  48,  61,  89,  230. 

Gallatin  Valley,  Scenes  in  the  (Illus- 
tration), I,  728. 

Gallatin  way,  I,  730. 

Gallwey,  Harry  A.,  II,  542. 

Galpin,  William,  I,  177. 

Gait,  D.  A.,  II,  338. 

Game  preserves,  I,  483,  637. 

Gannett,  I,  92. 

Gannon,  John,  I,  443,  499. 

Cans,  Edward  M.,  Ill,  1231. 

Garden,  Olaf,  II,  219. 

Gardiner,  I,  633,  801. 

Gardner,  Mary  C.,  I,  760. 

Garfield  county:  as  an  oil  producer,  I, 
386 ;  created,  483 ;  irrigation  in,  602 ; 
description  of,  734;  rural  flour  mill 
(Illustration),  735. 

Garland,  Richard  W.,  Ill,  935. 
Garlow,  Charles  R.,  I,  868. 
Garniell,  I,  717. 
Garrison,  I,  790. 
Carver,  Frank  H.,  II,  331. 
Gary,  John  P.,  II,  408. 
Gary,  Martin  A.,  II,  408. 
Gaskill,  Daniel  M.,  Ill,  1104. 
Gass,  Patrick,  I,  20,  28,  46,  50,  143. 
Gass  Creek,  I,  46. 
Gass  Journal,  I,  21,  27. 
Gate  of  the  Mountains,  I,  747. 
Gates,  Albert  W.,  II,  176. 
Gates,  Christopher,  I,  306. 
Gates   of  the  Rocky  Mountains    (Illus- 
tration), I,  45;  46. 
Gatiss,  Harry,  III,  853. 
Gatton,  Cyrus  J.,  I,  654. 
Gaucher,  Peter,  I,  145. 
Gazette  Printing  Company,  II,  161. 
Geary,  Michael,  III,  1166. 
Geery,  Henry  T.,  I,  192. 
Gemmell,  James,  I,  219. 
General   election  law  passed    (1888),  I, 

412. 

General  highway  law  passed,  I,  479. 
"Geological  Notes  on  Northern  and  Cen- 
tral Montana"   (Mortson),  I,  94. 
Geology  of  Montana,  I,  93. 
George,  A.  G.  P.,  I,  415. 
George,  W.  H.,  Ill,  800. 
Georgetown  Lake,  I,  713. 
Geraldine,  I,  702. 
Gerer,  Oswald  M.,  II,  561. 


German:  teaching  of,  reinstated  in  Uni- 
versity, I,  538. 
German  Gulch,  I,  213,  223. 
Gerondale,  J.  J.,  II,  190. 
Geyser,  I,  699. 

Giant  Geyser,  Yellowstone  Park  (Illus- 
tration), I,  117. 

Giant  Springs,  Great  Falls,  I,  686. 
Gibbon,  John,  I,  309,  347  (portrait),  348, 

352,  356,  360. 
Gibbon  Battlefield,  I,  784 
Gibbs,  William  B.,  Ill,  899. 
Gibson,  Fred  L.,  II,  68. 
Gibson,  George,  I,  28. 
Gibson,  Henry  B.,  II,  133. 
Gibson,  James,  II,  472. 
Gibson,  Jennie,  II,  473. 
Gibson,  Paris:  elected  U.  S.  Senator,  I, 
457 ;  coming  of,  to  Great  Falls,  I,  688 ; 
III,  657- 

Gibson,  Theodore,  I,  698. 
Gifford,  Albert  C,  III,  1208. 
Gifford,  Edgar,  II,  539. 
Gildford,  I,  744. 
Gilham,  George  W.,  Ill,  1196. 
Gilkerson,  John  O.,  Ill,  1291. 
Gillette,  Clarence  F.,  Ill,  1331. 
Gillette,  Frederick  B.,  1009. 
Gillette,  Warren  C,  I,  316. 
Gillie,  John,  I,  548. 
Gillis,  Malcolm,  II,  599. 
Gilman,  I,  749. 
Gilmore,  Michael,  III,  1345. 
Gist,  Duke,  III,  1170. 
Glacial  period  of  Montana,  I,  98,  100. 
Glacier:  county  created,  I,  451;  irriga- 
tion in,  602 ;  description  of,  737,  738. 
Glacier  National  Park,   I,  633,  634;   its 

lakes,  I,  637. 
Glade  Creek,  I,  60. 
Glasgow,  I,  588,  846. 
Glass,  George  W.,  Ill,  692. 
Glendenning,  William,  III,  739. 
Glendive,  sketch  of,  I,  710. 
Glenn,  Lewis  D.,  Ill,  1131. 
Click,  J.  S.,  I,  218. 
Gnose,  James  B.,  II,  602. 
Goble,  Wade,  III,  1352. 
Goddard,  O.  Fletcher,  II,  211. 
Godfrey,  E.  S.,  I,  356. 
Gohn,  George  E.,  Ill,  713. 
Gold  Creek,  I,  790. 
Gold  discoveries  and  workings  (first),  I, 

184. 

Gold  mining:  placer,  I,  234;  relation  of 
glaciers     to,     235;     development     of 
quartz,  237. 
Gold,  silver  and  copper  deposits  (Clark), 

L  236. 

Golden  Valley  County:  irrigation  in,  I, 
606;  description  of,  739;  population  of, 
740,  861. 

Good,  Henry,  III,  847. 
Good,  Thomas,  III,  1106. 
Goodale,  Charles  W.,  I,  548;  H,  514- 
Goodall,  Herbert,  I,  868. 
Goodfriend,  Sig,  II,  429. 
Goodman,  Edward  H.,  Ill,  997. 
Goodrich,  Silas,  I,  28. 
Good  Roads  Day  founded,  I,  478. 
Good  roads  movement,  I,  488. 


XXIV 


INDEX 


Good  roads  in  Western  Montana  (Illus- 
tration), I,  573- 

Goodsill,  M.  Max,  I,  761. 

Goodwin,  Phillip  C.,  II,  519. 

Gordon,  Louis  E.,  II,  151. 

Gordon,  William  R.,  Ill,  997. 

Gore,  St.  George,  I,  163,  164. 

Gormley,  A.  C.,  I,  461. 

Gosch,  Michael  J.,  II,  206. 

Goss,  James  R.,  II,  435. 

Gourley,  James,  I,  287. 

Government  fish  hatchery,  Billings,  I, 
853. 

Government  road  through  Jefferson  Na- 
tional forest  (illustration),!,  571. 

Governors  of  Montana,  I,  868. 

Cowrie,  Elizabeth,  III,  768. 

Cowrie,  Peter,  III,  768. 

Goza,  Samuel  D.,  Ill,  1424. 

Graeter,  Augustus  F.,  I,  286;  II,  347. 

Grafton,  Francis  M.,  II,  53. 

Graham,  Richard,  III,  734. 

Graham,  William,   I,  189,  209,  222,  282, 

371. 

Grain  Grading,  Inspection  and  Ware- 
housing Commission,  I,  484. 

Grain  inspection  laboratory,  I,  529. 

Grand  Canyon  of  the  Yellowstone  (Il- 
lustration), I,  639. 

Granite  Creek,  I,  192. 

Granite  County :  I,  241 ;  created,  442, 
451 ;  irrigation  in,  602. 

Grant,  Henry  I.,  II,  290. 

Grant,  James  J.,  Ill,  783. 

Grant,  Jesse  W.,  Ill,  1215. 

Grant,  John,  I,  181,  391. 

Grant,  John  F.,  I,  161,  187,  188. 

Grant,  Richard,  Sr.,  I,  187. 

Grant,  Richard,  I,  225. 

Grant,  Robert,  I,  222. 

Grantville,  I,  222. 

Grasshopper  Diggings  (Bannack  City), 
I,  230. 

Grassi,  Urbanus,  I,  161. 

Grass  Range,  I,  717. 

Grass  Valley,  I,  791. 

Gravelly  Range,  I,  98. 

Graves,  Andrew  C.,  Ill,  1038. 

Graves,  William,  I,  249. 

Gray,  Frank  M.,  II,  403. 

Gray,  Henry,  II,  629. 

Gray,  John,  I,  147. 

Gray,  Macomb  B.,  II,  252. 

Gray,  Robert,  I,  14,  15. 

Gray,  W.  H.,  I,  145. 

Grayson,  John,  III,  876. 

Grayson,  Richard,  III,  802. 

Great  Blackfoot  Glacier,  Glacier  Park 
(Illustration),  I,  635. 

Great  Falls  of  the  Missouri :  Lewis  finds, 
I,  40 ;  described  by  Captain  Lewis,  41 ; 
first  white  women  to  see  the,  180. 

Great  Falls:  state  capital  contestant,  I, 
441 ;  power  development  at,  684 ;  686 ; 
history  of,  687 ;  development  of  power 
in  its  area,  688;  689,  690;  city  of,  690; 
(Illustration)  691;  population  of,  691; 
business  and  industries  of,  692 ;  trans- 
portation facilities,  694;  churches, 
charities  and  fraternities,  696;  city 
public  schools,  697;  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  696; 
Y.  W.  C.  A.,  697 ;  public  library,  698. 


Great  Falls  coal  field,  I,  241. 

Great  Falls  Commercial  Club,  I,  695. 

Great  Falls  Packing  Plant,  I,  694. 

Great  Falls  Reduction  Works,  I,  684. 

Great  Falls  water  power :  development 
of  (also  illustration),  I,  630;  631. 

Great  Northern  Railway,  I,  560;  electri- 
fication of,  568,  588,  630. 

Great  St.  Mary's  Lakes,  I,  638. 

Great  Western  Sugar  Company  Plant, 
Missoula,  I,  784. 

Greeley,  Horace,  I,  303. 

Green,  Andrew,  III,  1299. 

Green,  Charles  F.,  Ill,  1140. 

Green,  E.  J.,  II,  637. 

Green,  George  R.,  II,  291. 

Green,  James,  III,  803. 

Green,  Jennie  M.,  Ill,  1140. 

Green,  Melissa,  III,  804. 

Greenan,  Philip,  II,  643. 

Greenback  Mining  Company,  I,  771. 

Greene,  John  J.,  II,  575. 

Greene,  W.  H.  C.,  Ill,  1206. 

Greenfield,  Charles  D.,  I,  387,  468,  869, 
878. 

Greening,  Charles  W.,  Ill,  1303. 

Greery,  H.  T.,  I,  196. 

Gregg,  W.  A.,  Ill,  793. 

Greig,  Richard,  III,  963. 

Grein,  Phil,  II,  253. 

Griffin,  George  N.,  II,  586. 

Griffin,  James,  III,  879. 

Griffin,  Lewis  M.,  Ill,  1103. 

Griffith,  Joseph,  I,     219. 

Grigg,  Elmer  R.,  II,  394. 

Grigg,  Thomas  A.,  U,  393. 

Grigsby,  Melvin,  I,  643. 

Grimes,  Henry  J.,  II,  158. 

Grimstad,  O.  King,  II,  200. 

Groene,  Merle  C.,  II,  430. 

Groff,  H.  C,  II,  531. 

Groff,  Lawrence  S.,  II,  524. 

Grover,  George  E.,  II,  612. 

Gruber,  Edward  P.,  Ill,  994. 

Gruwell,  Hugh  C.,  II,  411. 

Guinn,  Charles  C.,  Ill,  1328. 

Guinzy,  V.  F.,  II,  321. 

Gunn,  Milton  S.,  I,  438;  III,  1131. 

Gunther,  Joseph  J.,  Ill,  1123. 

Gussenhoven,  Joseph,  III,  779. 

Gustafson,  Richard  E.,  Ill,  1063. 

Guthard,  Charles  H.,  II,  201. 

Guthrie,  Andrew  L.,  II,  237. 

Guthrie,  Lou,  I,  758,  760. 

Gutz,  Walter  T.,  Ill,  1158. 

Gwinn,  Hubert  H.,  II,  450. 

Gwinn,  James  L.,  Ill,  1434. 

Hackley,  James  F.,  Ill,  1399. 
Hadzor,  James  H.,  Ill,  717. 
Hagan,  D.  J.,  I,  393. 
Hagelie,  Helmer,  II,  354. 
Hagen,  Sever,  III.  1412. 
Hagge,  Carl  D.,   II,  153. 
Hahn,  George  D.,  Ill,  1036. 
Hain,  Volney  J.,  Ill,  719. 
Haley,  John  R.,  II,  404. 
Haley,  Josephine  M.,  I,  760. 
Half  Century  of  Conflict  (Francis  Park- 
man),  I,  7,  8. 
Halgren,  Warner  L.,  II,  104. 


INDEX 


XXV 


Halgrims,  C.  O.,  II,  167. 

Hall,  I,  741. 

Hall,  Charles  H.,  II,  458. 

Hall,   DeLoss   T.,   Ill,    1214. 

Hall,  Henry  C,  III,  1025. 

Hall,  Hugh,  I,  28. 

Hall,  J.  H.,  I,  468. 

Hall  &  Simpson,  I,  217. 

Hall,  W.  A.,  II,  278. 

Halloran,  Patrick  M.,  II,  304. 

Halter,  Charles,  II,  121. 

Hamblin,  I,  777. 

Hamilton,  I,  792,  812. 

Hamilton,  Dick,  I,  217. 

Hamilton,  James  M.,  I,  548;  II,  350. 

Hamilton,  Kosciusko,  III,  977. 

Hamilton,  Leslie  H.,  II,  610. 

Hamilton,  Robert  J.,  Ill,  1206. 

Hamilton,  Robert  S.,  Ill,  1362. 

Hamilton,    William    T. :    Scout    "Sign- 
Man"  and  investigator,  I,  164-176. 

Hamilton-McKay  party:  returns  to  Wal- 
la Walla,  I,  176. 

Hamilton  schools,  II,  68.. 

Hamlin,  Robert  M.,  Ill,  1390. 

Hample,  Jbhn  E.,  II,  494. 

Hamrick,  C.  P.,  II,  373. 

Hancock,  Charles,  II,  150. 

Handel,  Fred  W.,  II,  464. 

Handley,  Robert  W.,  Ill,  759. 

Hangman's  Gulch,  I,  783. 

Hanley,  Daniel,  II,  558. 

Hanley,  Marcus  R.,  II,  559. 

Hanley,  Robert  J.,  II,  216. 

Hanna,  William,  II,  118. 

Hanover,  I,  719. 

Hansen,  Al,  III,  1338. 

Hanson,  Charles  M.,  Ill,  1057. 

Hanson,  Philo  C.,  I,  514. 

Harader,  John  A.,  II,  64. 

Hardin,  I,  673. 

Hardy,  Frank  E.,  Ill,  988. 

Hardy,  Henry  W.,  Ill,  661.  . 

Hardy,  Samuel  J.,  Ill, '1143. 

Hargadine,  Edward  C.,  II,  598. 

Harkness,  James,  I,  177. 

Harkness,  Margaret,  I,  180. 

Harlan,  John  M.,  I,  411. 

Harlem,  I,   588,  674. 

Harlowton,   I,  847. 

Harmon,  W.  E.,  I,  502,  504;  II,  100. 

Harney,  Edward  W.,  I,  459. 

Harper,  George,  III,  833. 

Harrington,  Arthur  J.,  Ill,  1139. 

Harrington,  J.  V.,  II,  609. 

Harrington,  Nellie,  II,  610. 

Harris,  B.  M.,  Ill,   1128. 

Harris,  William  E.,  II,  56. 

Harris  Gulch,  I,  231. 

Harrison,  I,  775. 

Harrison,  J.  Scott,  I,  869;  HI,  664. 

Hart,  Harlon  L.,  Ill,  669. 

Hartley,  Charles  E.,  II,  59. 

Hartman,  C.  S.,  I,  448,  451,  452,  465. 

Hartman,  J,  L.,  II,  571. 

Hartzell,  Lester  J.,  II,  537. 

Harvat,  John  H.,  II,  327. 

Harvey,    Alexander,    I,    123,    124,    126; 

death  of,  127,  152. 
Harvey,  Charles  L.,  II,  409. 


Harwood,  Benjamin  P.,  I,  657. 

Harwood,  Edgar  N.,  I,  4.31,  435. 

Haskell,  Henri  J.,  I,  431,  443 

Hastings,   Parker   W.,   II,  348. 

Hasty,  John  H.,  Ill,  1237. 

Hatch,  Joseph  A.,  Ill,  938. 

Hauck,  Lawrence,  II,  141. 

Hauser,  Samuel  T.,  I,  189,  192,  193,  196, 
197,  221,  284,  286;  sketch  of,  409; 
(portrait),  410;  412;  resigns  as  gov- 
ernor, 411,  868. 

Hauswirth,  Simon,  I,  725;  III,  831. 

Hauxhurst,  James,  I,  192. 

Haverfield,  Orville  S.,  Ill,  1032. 

Haviland,  David  J.,  II,  438. 

Havre,  I,  743. 

Hawk,  Joseph  V.,  Ill,  767. 

Hawkesworth,  Arthur  L.,  III,  1173. 

Hawley,  Herbert  C.,  II,  632. 

Hawley,  Swope,  I,  222. 

Hayes,  Martin  F.,  I,  120. 

Haywood,  Guy  T.,  Ill,  1425. 

Head,  Clinton,  II,  169. 

Healy,  John  J.,  I,  287. 

Hcaly,  J.  Peter  P.,  Ill,  987. 

Heaney,  Arthur  P.,  II,  614. 

Heath,  L.  W.,  I,  761. 

Hebb,  Frank  M.,  Ill,  1097. 

Heber,  George  F,  III,  1204. 

Hedge  &  Company,  I,  220. 

Hedges,  Cornelius,  I,  211,  316,  404,  415, 
422;  as  superintendent  of  public  in- 
struction, 494;  (portrait),  495;  497, 
757,  76o. 

Hedges,  Daniel  J.,  Ill,  1012. 

Hedges,  Harry  H.,  Ill,  1012. 

Hedges,  Judd  P.,  Ill,  ion. 

Hedges,  Oliver  G.,  Ill,  1012. 

Hedges,  Willys  A.,  I,  757,  758,  760;  II, 
81. 

Hedgesville,  I,  848. 

Hefferlin,  Charles  S.,  II,  236. 

Heidel,  A.  W.,  I,  869. 

Heidel,  C.  S.,  I,  581. 

Heidel,  E.  L.,  II,  353- 

Heidelman,  John  H.,  II,  406. 
Heikkila,  Emil,  II,  29. 
Heilbronner,  Adolph  H.,  II,  577. 
Heinze,  F.  Augustus :  enters  Butte  field, 
I»  376,  377;  suits  against  the  Amalga- 
mated  Copper  Company,   I,  377,  378, 

457- 

Heldt,  F.  George,  I,  164. 

Helena  (see  also  Last  Chance  Gulch)  : 
altitude  of,  I,  92;  209;  named  by  John 
Somerville,  211,  >2i2;  incorporated, 
312;  becomes  territorial  capital,  315; 
territorial  capital  contest,  422;  capital 
to  remain  at,  441 ;  751 ;  sketch  of,  755  ; 
778. 

Helena  branch  of  the  Federal  Reserve 
Bank  of  Minneapolis,  I,  871. 

Helena  Catholic  Cathedral,  I,  755. 

Helena  Commercial  Club,  I,  761,  763. 

Helena  district :  entered  by  Lewis  and 
Clark,  I,  45;  its  mountains  (illustra- 
tions), 97. 

Helena  Free  Public  Library,  I,  757. 

Helena  in  1870  (illustration),  I,  756. 

Helena  Library  Association,  I,  757. 

Helena  National  Forest,  I,  624,  745,  749. 


XXVI 


INDEX 


Helena  region,  typical  mines  in  the  (il- 
lustration), I,  762,  764;  mineral  pro- 
duction of  the,  765,  766. 

Helgeson,  Henry  C,  III,  1288. 

Heller,  August,  II,  637. 

Hell  Gate  (Missoula),  I,  223. 

Hell  Gate  canyon,  I,  228. 

Hell  Gate  River,  I,  go,  227. 

Hell  Gate  Ronde,  I,  177,  ,223. 

Helm,  Boone,  I,  249. 

Helmville,  I,  790,  809. 

Helsing,  John  O.,  II,   116. 

Henderson,  Charles  S.,  II,  539. 

Henderson,  William  C.,  Ill,  1366. 

Hendrickson,  Otto,  III,  804. 

Hennessy,  John  H.,  Ill,  862. 

Hennessy,  John,  III,  1064. 

Henry,  Andrew,  I,  103;  abandons  Three 
Forks  Trading  Post,  104;  108. 

Henry,  Frank,  I,  438. 

Henry's  Fork  of  Snake  River,  I,  105. 

Henry's  Lake,  I,  105. 

Henry's  Post  in  1870,  I,  106. 

Henter,  Leo  A.,  II,  145. 

Hepner,  H.  Sol,  II,  621. 

Hepperle,  Karl,  III,  1355. 

Herd  districts  created,  I,  482. 

Hereford,  Robert,  I,  185. 

Heron,  I,  824. 

Herren,  William,  I,  255 

Herrick,  Una  B.,  II,  349. 

Herring,  Presley  L.,  Ill,  1026. 

Hershey,  Elmer  E.,  II,  466. 

Hewett,  Arthur  L.,  II,  212. 

Hexom,  Peter,  III,  1021. 

Hickey,  Edward,  I,  829;  III,  1205. 

Hickman,  R.  O.,  I,  443. 

Hickox,  Willard,  II,  82. 

Hier,  Albert  S.,  Ill,  902. 

Higgins,  Christopher  P.,  I,  223,  282,  784. 

Higgins,  Francis  G.,  I,  532. 

Higgins,  Frank  G.,  I,  643. 

Higgins,  F.  G.,  I,  500. 

Higham,  John  O.,  II,  21. 

Higher  education,  I,  528-552. 

Highland  Park  School,  Lewiston  (illus- 
tration), I,  720. 

Highway  Law :  passed,  I,  474,  475. 

Highways :  transcontinental,  I,  570. 

Highways  and  bridges :  federal  aid  in 
building,  I,  572. 

Highwood,  I,  702. 

Highwood  Mountains,  I,  91. 

Hilburn,  Samuel,  III,  864. 

Hilger,  David,  II,  18. 

Hilger,  Nicholas,  describes  Sioux  battle 
of  Kildeer  Mountain,  I,  294-97. 

Hill,   Charley  W.,  II,   192. 

Hill,  Harry  D ,  III,  1224. 

Hill,  James  J.,  I,  552;  gives  history  of 
Great  Northern  Railway,  560-66;  re- 
signs presidency  of  Great  Northern 
system,  566;  688. 

Hill  County:  created,  I,  474;  irrigation 
in,  602;  description  of,  742. 

Hill  county  potatoes  (illustration),  I, 
742. 

Hillman,  J.  R.,  I,  725. 

Himsl,  Victor  S.,  Ill,  1354. 

Hinchilwood,  J.  P.,  Ill,  797. 

Hind,  Bert  S.,  II,  38. 


Hingham,  I,  744. 

Hinsdale,  I,  588. 

Hirst,  John  D.,  II,  276. 

Hirst,  Tom,  II,  27. 

History  of  Montana  (Granville  Stuart), 
I,  226. 

"History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and 
Montana"  (Bancroft),  I,  159. 

Hitzfeldt,  Fred,  III,  1259. 

Hoback,  Richard,  I,  298. 

Hobbins,  James  R.,  II,  615. 

Hobensack,  Isaac  M.,  II,  84 

Hobson,   Simeon   S.,   II,  567. 

Hodge,  Pearl  D.,  II,  410. 

Hodgskiss,  William,  III,  999. 

Hodgson,  Arthur  M.,  Ill,  1037. 

Hodgson,  George  T.,  Ill,  864. 

Hodson,  Alvin,  III,.722. 

Hodson,  Dale,  II,  455. 

Hoeken,  Adrian,  I,  150,  161. 

Hoecken,  I,  161. 

Hoenck,  Richard  P.,  II,  487. 

Hofer,  Bert,  III,  846. 

Hoff,  Norbert  C.,  Ill,  1138. 

Hoffman,  Charles  W.,  I,  316. 

Hogan,  T.  S.,  I,  453;  II,  371. 

Hogeland,  Abraham,  III,  1203. 

Holladay,  Ben,  I,  556. 

Holland,  James,  III,  707. 

Holland,  Robert  W.,  II,  594. 

Hollenbeck,  Frank  K.,  Ill,  1246. 

Holliday,  Dell  H.,  II,  226. 

Hollier,  Lewis  S.,  II,  184. 

Holloway,  William  L.,  I,  436,  869;  II, 
644. 

Holmes,  Ernest  S.,  II,  455. 

Hoist,'  J.  H.,  II,  43. 

Holt,  Laurence  A.,  II,  533. 

Holt,  Stephen  A.,  Ill,  1273. 

Holter,  Anton  M.,  I,  285,  316;  II,  517. 

Holter,  Norman  B.,  I,  489,  761 ;  II,  518. 

Holter  Gulch,  I,  219. 

Holy  Family  Mission,  I,  162. 

Hood,  Samuel  L.,  Ill,  683. 

Hooks,  Frank  T,  III,  661. 

Hootenais,  I,  173. 

Hopkins,  David  R.,  II,  373. 

Hopkins,  Patrick  A.,  II,  588. 

Hori,  M.  M.,  Ill,  866. 

Horkan,  George,  III,  1406. 

Horkan,  George  A.,  I,  471 ;  III,  1392. 

Horn,  J.  H.,  Ill,  860. 

Horntvedt,  Ludvig,  III,  1075. 

Horse  Creek,  I,  777. 

Horse  market  at  Miles  City  (illustra- 
tion), I,  706. 

Horse  Plains,  I,  177. 

Horse  Prairie  Creek,  I,  230,  231. 

Horse  raising:  decline  in,  I,  309. 

Horticulture:  in  Rattlesnake  Valley,  I, 
785;  in  Bitter  Root  Valley,  791;  878; 
present  conditions  of,  882 ;  close  in- 
spection of  fruit  and  orchards  in  Mon- 
tana, 883,  884;  prevalent  fruit  diseases 
and  pests  in  Montana,  884. 

Hosmer,  Hezekiah  L.,  I,  64;  282; 
reaches  Virginia  City,  288;  sketch  of, 
288;  first  charge  to  grand  jury,  289; 
291,  298;  leaves  Montana,  299,  414. 

Hosmer,  James  K.,  I,  27. 


INDEX 


XXVll 


Hot  Springs,  Sanders  County,  I,  823,  824. 

Hotchkiss,  Arthur  N.,  Ill,  1251. 

Hotchkiss,  Samuel  A.,  Ill,  1380. 

Hough,  George  E.,  Ill,  1349. 

Houghlan,  Samuel  A.,  Ill,  1086. 

House  and  Bivins,  I,  219. 

Houston,  Elizabeth  L.  A.,  II,  360. 

Hoven,  Ole  B.,  Ill,  806. 

Hover,  Herbert  A.,  Ill,- 1127. 

Hovey,  Verne  T.,  Ill,  659. 

Howard,  Doc,  I,  252. 

Howard,  Harry  H.,  II,  179. 

Howard,  O.  H.,  1,  359. 

Howard,  O.  O.,  I,  360,  368. 

Howard,  Thomas  P.,  I,  28. 

Howe,  Clarence  D.,  II,  363. 

Howe,  John  G.,  II,  567. 

Howe,  John  S.,  Ill,  1261. 

Howe,  J.  K.,  Ill,  872. 

Howell,  Ethan  A.,  Ill,  1329. 

Howell,  H.  S.,  I,  725. 

Howell,  Richard  C.,  II,  495. 

Howey,  R.  W.,  I,  496,  497. 

Howland,  H.  N.,  II,  295. 

Howland,  John  M.,  II,  24. 

Hoyt,  Mark  D.,  Ill,  1013. 

Hruza,  William,  II,  271. 

Hubbard,  Paul  E.,  Ill,  1336. 

Huber,  Philip  H,  II,  624. 

Huckins,  Charles  F.,  Ill,  930. 

Hudson,  Clarence  W.,  II,  344. 

Hudson,  John,  I,  463. 

Hudson,  Samuel  E.,  Ill,  1089. 

Hudson  Bay  Company,  I,  132,  134,  140. 

Huet,   Charles,  I,   147. 

Huffaker,  Wila,  I,  282. 

Huffer,  Arthur  J.,  II,  239. 

Hughes,   Barney,   I,    199,  200,   206,  207, 

208. 

Hughes,  James  H.,  Ill,  1059. 
Hughes,  Roy,  III,  1054. 
Hughes,  Samuel,  III,  1059. 
Hughes  Brothers,  III.  1059. 
Hull,  W.  T.,  I,  761. 
Humphreys,  G   O.,  I,  222,  223,  833. 
Hunsberger,  John,  III,  770. 
Hunt,    Williams    H.,    I,    431,    434,    435, 
T  437,  438. 
Hunter,  A.  J.,  I,  799. 
Hunter,  Bill,  last  of  road  agents  to  be 

executed,  I,  274,  275. 
Hunter,  Joseph  C.,  Ill,  806. 
Hunter,  William,  I,  249. 
Hunters'   Hot   Springs,   I,  801. 
Hunting  and   fishing,   I,  636 ;   in   Lewis 

and    Clark  county,   754;    in    Missoula 

county,  783. 
Huntley,  I,  856. 

Huntley  reclamation  project,  I,  587. 
Huntoon,  John  C.,  II,  208. 
Kurd,  George  E.,  Ill,  675. 
Kurd,  Walter  L.,  II,  290. 
Hurdy-Gurdy  House,  I,  245. 
Hurley,  Charles  C.,  Ill,  943. 
Hurly,  John,  II,  596. 
Husband,  William  C,  II,  653. 
Huseth,  S.  O.,  Ill,  832. 
Hutchinson,  Myron  W.,  Ill,  700. 
Hutchinson,  William  O.,  II,  324. 
Huxsol,  Alfred  W.,  Ill,  778. 
Huyck,  Claude  C.,  II,  487. 


Hydro-electric  conservation,  I,  630-33. 

Hydro-electric  plants:  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  county,  I,  751. 

Hydro-electric  water  powers  (illustra- 
tion), I,  685. 

Hymer,  Elbert,  II,  62. 

Hysham,  I,  845. 

Iceberg  Lake  (illustration),  I,  638. 

Iliff,  Thomas  C.,  I,  786. 

Imislund,  Herbert  P.,  II,  370. 

Immaculate  Conception  Church,  III, 
742. 

Imoda,  C.,  I,   162. 

In  the  Lumber  Country  (illustration), 
I,  823. 

Income  tax  bill  passed,  I,  489. 

Independence  Mining  district,  I,  223. 

Indian  Camping  Ground  (illustration), 
I,  148. 

Indian  Ceremonial,  Old-Time  (illus- 
tration), I,  819. 

Indian  Chiefs  and  Warriors  (illustra- 
tion), I,  56. 

Indian  picture  of  1742  (Parkman),  I,  7. 

Indian  reservations,  I,  639. 

Indian  Sentinel:  Flathead  number  of, 
I,  142. 

Indians :  Crows,  I,  85 ;  86,  87 ;  Flatheads 
(1805),  87;  exploiting  through  whis- 
key, 120,  140;  name  "Flatheads,"  142; 
Blackfeet  still  warlike,  154;  Flathead 
treaty  of  1855,  223;  Sioux  battle  of 
Killdeer  Mountain,  292;  Sioux  cam- 
paign (1864),  292-98;  Sioux  again 
checked  (1872),  308-310;  Sioux  vs. 
Crows,  340;  341,  342;  council  at  Fort 
Laramie  (1866),  341 ;  government  pro- 
nouncement against  enemy  (1866), 
341;  depredations  of  (1866),  342; 
"agency"  plan  not  a  success,  345,  347; 
united  campaign  against  enemy,  347; 
Drawing  Rations  (illustration),  346; 
Crooks'  southern  campaign  against, 
356;  warfare  of  1876-77,  357. 

Industrial  Accident  Board  created,  I, 
482. 

Ingham,  Thomas  C.,  II,  34. 

Ingle,  Chester  R.,  II,  228. 

Ingomar,  I,  821. 

Ingraham,  Albert  J.,  Ill,  972. 

Ingraham,  Philip  A.,  Ill,  972. 

Ingraham,  Sarah  C.,  Ill,  972. 

Ingram,  George  F.,  Ill,  1000. 

Initiative  and  Referendum  bill  popularly 
approved,  I,  470. 

Initiative  and  Referendum  law  passed, 
I,  463 ;  extended,  464. 

Innes,  Walter  B.,  II,  244. 

Irons,  Ort,  III,   1046. 

Irrigated  Orchard  near  Missoula  (illus- 
tration), I,  781. 

Irrigation:  under  the  Cary  Act,  I,  581; 
state  works  and  projects,  59!-S;  coun- 
try surveys,  595-614;  acreage  by  drain- 
age basins,  615;  farms  irrigated  in 
state,  615;  works  built  since  1860,  617; 
irrigated  lands  as  producers,  618; 
projects  in  Rosebud  county,  820. 

Irrigation  districts  established,  I,  464, 
468. 


XXV111 


INDEX 


Irvin,  George  W.,  II,  I,  316. 
Irvine,  Caleb  E.,  I,  177,  829,  833. 
Irvine,  W.  M.,  Ill,  859. 
Irving,  Washington,  I,  116,  119. 
Irwin,  0.  E.,  I,  283. 
Isachsen,  Albert  J.,  Ill,  928. 
Isch,  John,  III,  844- 

Ives,  George,  I,  192,  196,  198,  247,  253; 
trial  and  execution  of,  255. 

Jaccard,  Eugene,  I,  177. 

Jackson,  David  E.,  I,  108,  ill. 

Jackson,  George  C.,  II,  422. 

Jackson,  Harvey  F.,  Ill,  840. 

Jackson,  John  W.,  II,  388. 

Jackson,  Robert  G.,  Ill,  1363. 

Jacobs,  Henry,  I,  406,  834. 

Jacobs,  John  M.,  I,  188,  195,  306. 

Jacobs,  William  F.,  Ill,  1047. 

Jacobs  and  Bozeman  cut-off,  I,  195. 

Jacobson,  Paul,  III,  671. 

James,  Edwin  E.,  Ill,  797. 

Jameson,  C.  C,  II,  35. 

Janssen,  John  W.,  Ill,  1270. 

Jaquette,  Walter  P.,  Ill,  981. 

Jeff  Davis'  Gulch,  I,  329. 
•  Jefferson,    Thomas :    checkmating    Eng- 
land in  the  West,  I,  13;  15,  19,  48. 

Jefferson  county:  placer  mines  in  1862- 
68,  I,  213 ;  created,  281 ;  as  a  copper 
producer,  384;  number  and  value  of 
cattle  (1884),  395;  irrigation  in,  603; 
description  of,  744. 

Jefferson  County  High  School,  II,  616. 

Jefferson  Forest,  I,  777. 

Jefferson  National  Forest,  I,  624. 

Jefferson  (Beaverhead)  River,  Lewis 
ascends  the,  I,  48,  50,  61,  89,  90,  230. 

Jeffries,  Garry  J.,  Ill,  820. 

Jenkins,  Leonard  V.,  Ill,  1320. 

Jennings,  George  M.,  II,  447. 

Jennison,  Warren  J.,  Ill,  1170. 

Jensen,  Chris,  III,  782. 

Jensen,  Otto,  III,  852. 

Jensen,  Peter  C.,  Ill,  1411. 

Jerome,  C.  W.,  Ill,  786. 

Jocko  River,  I,  227. 

Jocko  Valley,  I,  227,  792. 

Johannes,  R.  J.,  II,  164. 

Johns,  Albert  M.,  II,  386. 

Johnson,  Charles  M.,  II,  562. 

Johnson,  E.  B.,  I,  282. 

Johnson,  Edwin  L.,  II,  41. 

Johnson,  Elmer,  II,  529. 

Johnson,  Emil  M.,  Ill,  1378. 

Johnson,  Francis  G.,  II,  626. 

Johnson,  Fred  A.,  Ill,  998. 

Johnson,  Harry  M.,  II,  52. 

Johnson,  Henry  H.,  Ill,  1056. 

Johnson,  J.  Charles,  II,  417. 

Johnson,  Mary  C.,  II,  125. 

Johnson,  Ole  C.,  Ill,  771. 

Johnson,  Pete,  III,  715. 

Johnson,  Peter  E.,  Ill,  1181. 

Johnson,  Richard  E.,  Ill,  1446. 

Johnson,  Richard  S.,  Ill,  1363. 

Johnson,  Roy  H.,  Ill,  1446. 

Johnson,  Thomas  S.,  Ill,  969. 

Johnson,  Wilford  J.,  II,  3. 

Johnson,  The  Abstract  Man,  III,   1445. 

Johnston,  A.  P.,  II,  412. 


Johnston,  Charles  C.,  Ill,  1445. 

Johnston,  James  L.,  II,  641. 

Johnston,  Thomas  Jr.,  Ill,  1396. 

Johnstone,  Thomas,  III,  1285. 

Jones,  Arthur  C.,  II,  491. 

Jones,  A.  H.,  I,  771. 

Jones,  D.  Augustus,  III,  686. 

Jones,  Edward  C.,  II,  195. 

Jones,  L.  E.,  I,  696. 

Jones,  Paul,  III,  1247. 

Jones,  T.  C.,  first  probate  judge,  I,  290. 

Jones,  Thomas  R.,  Ill,  1022. 

Jones,  Robert  N.,  Ill,  1038. 

Jones,  William  E.,  Ill,  689. 

Jones  and  Immell :  killing  of,  by  Black- 
feet,  I,  109,  no. 

Joplin,   I,  768. 

Jordan,  I,  735. 

Jordan,  Arthur,  II,  620. 

Jordan,  Erwin  E.,  Ill,  1381. 

Jordan,  James  H.,  II,  127. 

Joseph  Peak,  I,  362. 

Josselyn,  Horatio  S.,  Ill,  1334. 

"Journal  of  Larocque"  (Burpee),  I,  78, 
81. 

Judith  Basin,  I,  715. 

Judith  Basin  County:  irrigation  in,  I, 
603;  723;  description  of,  746;  861. 

Judith  Gap,  I,  848. 

Julian,  I,  708. 

Junod,  Orla  H.,  Ill,   1283. 

Juttner,   Charles   F.,   II,   152. 

Kaiserman,  J.  R.,  II,  281. 
Kalispell,  I,  724;  sketch  of,  726;  bird's- 
eye  view  of   (illustration),  727. 
Kampf,  Ray  L.,  Ill,  1341. 
Kane,  Edward  G.,  Ill,  1167. 
Kanouse,  James  E.,  Ill,  679. 
Karnop,  Jacob  H.,  II,  654. 
Kassner,  O.  G.,  II,  134. 
Kastelitz,  John,  'II,  181. 
Kay,  John  M.,  Ill,  772. 
Kearns,  W.  L.,  II,  275. 
Keene,  Eliot  W.,  II,  227. 
Kehoe,  Thomas  M.,  II,  306. 
Keith,  F.  P.,  I,  786. 
Keith,  H.  C.,  I,  727. 
Keith,  John  M.,  II,  469. 
Kelch,  Albert  E.,  III.  755- 
Kelch,  William  D.,  Ill,  741. 
Kelley,  Cornelius  F.,  I,  459;  HI,  987. 
Kelley,  E.  L.,  Ill,  966. 
Kelley,  Rufus  B.,  II,  287. 
Kelley,  Thomas,  III,   1053. 
Kelley,  Tom,  III,  1180. 
Kelly,  Charley,  L  250. 
Kelly,  Dan  M.,  II,  30. 
Kelly,  Harry  J.,  II,  385. 
Kelly,  Hugh,  II,  457- 
Kelly,  Tames  E.,  II,  30. 
Kelly,  Peter  J.,  II,  437. 
Kelly,  R.  A.,  II,  392. 
Kelly,  Robert  B.,  II,  540. 
Kelsey,  Arthur  R.,  Ill,  1101. 
Kelsey,  Frank  T.,  Ill,  1343. 
Kemmis,  Walter  D.,  Ill,  744. 
Kemp,  James  S.,  Jr.,  II.  475. 
Kempton,  Berney  E.,  Ill,  1369. 
Kempton,  Henry  N.,  Ill,  1298. 
Kendall,  I,  717. 


INDEX 


XXIX 


Kendrick,  John,  I,  14. 

Kenkel,  J.  E.,  II,  607. 

Kennedy,  John,  III,  865. 

Kenney,  E.  A.,  I,  443. 

Kennon,  R.  T.,  I,  329. 

Kenny,  E.  A.,  I,  445. 

Kenyon,  Daniel  C.,  Ill,  912. 

Kercheval,  F.  B.,  I,  284. 

Kerchival  City,  I,  304. 

Kerr,  John  W.,  II,  485. 

Kerrigan,  John  H.,  Ill,  738. 

Kessler,   Harry    C.,    I,   644;    (portrait), 

645. 

Kessler,  Nicholas,  I,  316,  761. 
Ketcham,  Gilbert  A.,  II,  463. 
Ketcham,  Harry  G.,  Ill,  729. 
Kill-the-Deer-Butte,  I,  292. 
Killorn,    George   L.,    II,   330. 
Kimball,  Edwin  L.,  Ill,  657. 
Kindschy,  Emil  O.,  II,  no. 
King,  Charles  F.,  Ill,  1298. 
King,  Irving  G.,  Ill,  1271. 
King,  James  I,  757,  760. 
King,  Mary  F.,  Ill,  1272. 
King,  Wiley,  III,  1294. 
King  and  Gilette,  I,  288. 
Kingmont,  I,  714. 
Kingsbury,  Adkin  W.,  Ill,  825. 
Kinkel,  George,  I,  547. 
Kinmonth,  Charles  F.,  II,  63. 
Kinsella,  John  B.,  Ill,  712. 
Kinsella,  Lawrence   L,   III,   713. 
Kinsey,  I,  703. 

Kinsman,  (Mrs.)  E.  E.,  I,  786. 
Kipp,  James,  I,  112. 
Kirby,  Charles  N.,  II,  398. 
Kirkwood,  W.  F.,  I,  419. 
Kiskadden,  J.  H.,  I,  335. 
Kittson,  Norman  W.,  I,  561. 
Klein,  George  H.,  Ill,  1250. 
Klein,  Henry,  I,  552. 
Kleve,  S.  Lawrence,  III,  903. 
Kline,  Charles  F.,  Ill,  1105. 
Kline,  Henry  S.,   Ill,  690. 
Klinkhammer,  Joseph  H.,  Ill,  874. 
Knapp,  Daniel,  III,   1332. 
Knight,  Albert  B.,  I,  549. 
Knight,  Arthur  C,  II,   128. 
Knight,  E.  W.,  I,  446. 
Knowles,  Hiram,  I,  378,  420,  421 ;  retires 

from  Supreme  Bench,  426;  sketch  of, 

437,  444- 

Knott,  E.  B.,  Ill,  863. 
Knudsen,  William  P.,  II,  377. 
Kobelin,  George  J.,  II,  22. 
Koch,  Edwin,  III,  1195. 
Koch,  Peter,   I,  306,  547. 
Kohrs,  Conrad,  I,  316,  394,  395;  III,  1061. 
Kohrs  and  Bielenberg;  I,  395. 
Kommers,  Louis  H.,  Ill,  827. 
Kootenai  National  Forest,  I,  624,  769. 
Kootenai  mines,  I,  225. 
Kootenais    (1858),   I,   172. 
Kopp,  John  J.,  II,  400. 
Kopsland,  T.,  Ill,  1034. 
Kraft,  I,  708. 

Kramer,  Henry  J.,  Ill,  1339. 
Kranz,  Mathias,  II,  576. 
Krauss,  Andrew  G.,  II,  314. 
Kremer,  J.  Bruce,  II,  419. 
Kremlin,  I,  744. 


Kress,  Ben,  I,  878. 
Kress,  William  J.,  II,  356. 
Kroeger,  Fred  W.,  Ill,  975. 
Krohne,  B.  Thorwald,  II,  235. 
Krom,  S.  R.,  II,  350. 
Kronkright,  Orrel  H.,  Ill,  1046. 
Krueger,  Karl  P.,  Ill,  1154. 
Kutzner,  C.  M.,  II,  242 
Kuykendall,  E.  H.,  II,  242 
Kyle,  Daniel  C.,  Ill,  992. 
Kyle,  Mary  A.,  Ill,  993. 
Kyle,  William  L.,  II,  292. 

La  Bar,  Albert  A.,  II,  130. 
LaBarge,  Harkness  &  Company:  Busi- 
ness expedition  of,  I,  177-183. 
LaBarge,  John,  I,   177. 
LaBarge,  Joseph,  I,  177. 
LaBarge,  Madam,  I,  180. 

LaBarge  City  (Deer  Lodge),  I,  222. 

LaBeau,  Henri,  I,  471. 

Labiche,  Francis,  I,  28. 

Lacy,  Francis  M.,  Ill,  1192. 

Ladd,  George  B.,  II,  395. 

Ladd,  Jessie  S.,  I,  698. 

Ladd,  William  P.,  II,  262. 

Lafrance,  J.  B.,  I,  74. 

Lagoni,  Peter,  II,  603. 

Lagoni,  Sylvia,  II,  604. 

La  Honran,  I,  i,  3. 

Laird,  I,  768. 

Laist,  Frederick,  II,  337. 

Lake  McDonald,  I,  637. 

Lake  Scenery  near  Helena  (illustration), 
I,  753- 

Lake  Yellowstone   (illustration),  I,  636. 

Lamb,  John  A.,  Ill,  852. 

Lamb,  Wm.  A.,  I,  869. 

Lambard,  Irby,  II,  530. 

Lambert,  John  K.,  Ill,  1393. 

Lamoureux,  Edward,  III,  863. 

La  Mousse,  Charles,  I,  148. 

La  Mousse,  Francis,  I,   148. 

La  Mousse,  Ignace  (Big  Ignace),  I,  144. 

Land  of  the  Shining  Mountains,  I,  I. 

Lands :  conservation  of,  577-641. 

Lane,  Charles  H.,  II,  109. 

Lane,  George  (Clubfoot  George),  I,  249. 

Lane,  James  E.,  II,  5. 

Lang,  Edward  H.,  Ill,  1399. 

Lang,  Gregor,  III,  1043. 

Lang,  Janet,  III,  1044. 

Lang,  John,  II,  606. 

Lang,  Margaret  S.,  II,  606. 

Lang,  William  G.,  Ill,  1043. 

Langford,  Nathaniel  P.,  I,  119,  243;  (il- 
lustration), 244,  253,  283. 

Lanius,  Charles  H.,  II,  633. 

Lanouette,  Louis  P.,  Ill,  mi. 

Lanstrum,  George  W.,  I,  869;  III,  736. 

Lanstrum,  O.  M.,  Ill,  735. 

Lantis,  Horace  G.,  Ill,  1445. 

Lapage,  Baptiste,  I,  28. 

Laredo,  I,  744. 

Largest  gold  nugget  in  the  world,  I,  752. 

Larocque,  Francois  A.,  I,  73,  74;  meets 
Rocky  Mountain  Indians,  75,  80. 

Larpenteur,  Charles,  I,  127. 

Larrivee,  Arthur,  III,  792. 

Larson,  Anne  K.,  I,  503. 

Larson,  Thomas  O.,  Ill,  748. 


XXX 


INDEX 


Lassus,  Don  Carlos  de  Haut  de,  I,  18, 
27. 

Last  Chance  Gulch,  I,  209;  named  Hel- 
ena, 210,  234,  288,  765. 

Last  Fallen  County  Sod  School  (illus- 
tration), I,  714. 

Laswell,  James  Q.,  Ill,  913. 

Lathom,  Ray  A.,  II,  16. 

Lathrop,  A.  G.,  I,  494. 

Lathrop,  Wm.  T.,  I,  869. 

Lauer,  Charles  M.,  II,  497. 

Laurel,  I,  856. 

Laussat,  Pierre  Clement,  I,  18. 

Lausted,  Emil  R.,  II,  595. 

Laux,  Philipp,  II,   158. 

Lavelle,  James   P.,   II,  31. 

Law  School  established  at  Missoula,  I, 
469. 

Lawrence,  A.  J.,  I,  359. 

Lawrence,  Robert,  I,  282. 

Lawson,  William  L.,  II,  19. 

Leach,  James  R.,  Ill,  1202. 

Lead,  Output  of,  1883-1918,  I,  383. 

Leard,  Samuel  E.,  II,  274. 

Leary,  Dennis,  I,  222,  372,  833. 

Leary,  Grace  M.,  Ill,  1230. 

Lease,  Newton  T.,  Ill,  836. 

Leavitt,  Erasmus  D.,  I,  282. 

Leclerc,  Narcisse,  I,  120. 

Ledger,  I,  804. 

Ledyard,  John,  I,  21,  22. 

Lee,  Albert,  III,  856. 

Lee,  Edgar,  III,  984. 

Lee,  Harold  F.,  Ill,  696. 

Lee,  Otis,  II,  505. 

Legal  holidays   for   schools,   I,  527. 

Leggat,  Rod  D.,  I,  316. 

Lehfeldt,  Hermann  J.,  Ill,  883. 

Lehmicke,  O.  E.,  Ill,  860. 

Leighton  bill;  passed,  I,  475,  535. 

Leinenweber,  George  P.,  Ill,  716. 

Lemert,  Rae  J.,  Ill,  956. 

Lemire,  Joseph  A.,  II,  509. 

Lemon,  Allan  C,  III,   1154. 

Lemon,  Robert  H.,  I,  183. 

Lentz,  Edward  O.,  Ill,  1395. 

Lentz,  Theodore,  II,  461. 

Lenz,  Frank  A.,  II,  160. 

Leo,  Willard  A.,  Ill,  1117. 

Leonard,  B.  A.,  II,  433. 

Leonard,  Charles  R.,  II,  520. 

Leonard,  Nathan  R.,  I,  549. 

Leonard,  William  M.,  Ill,  934. 

Le  Sage,  Frank  H.,  II,  132. 

Leslie,  J.  B.,  I,  698. 

Leslie,  H.  P. 

Leslie,  Jere  B.,  I,  411. 

Leslie,  Preston  H.;  sketch  and  death 
of,  I,  411;  868. 

"Letters  and  Sketches,"  by  Father  De 
Smet,  I,  146. 

Leverenz,  Carl  C.,  Ill,  791. 

Lewellen,  F.  M.,  II,  95. 

Lewis,  Charles  A.,  II,  397. 

Lewis,  Clyde  E.,  Ill,  1416. 

Lewis,  E.  P.,  I,  335. 

Lewis,  Frank  B.,  II,  13. 

Lewis,  John  E.,  Ill,  1002. 

Lewis,  Mark  E.,  Ill,  950. 

Lewis,  Meriwether,  I,  18,  19;  Jefferson's 
sketch  of,  21-23;  Jefferson's  first  in- 


structions to,  23;  27;  his  romance,  39; 
42,  46,  47,  50,  51,  54,  555  his  home- 
ward trip,  58;  59;  severely  wounded, 
60;  64;  death  of,  65. 

Lewis,  Reuben,  I,   103. 

Lewis,  Vernon  E.,  Ill,  769. 

Lewis  and  Clark  county:  placer  mines 
in  1862-68,  I,  213 ;  number  and  value 
of  cattle  (1884),  395;  irrigation  in, 
603;  general  description,  747;  via  the 
U.  S.  Census,  750;  water  powers  and 
public  ways,  751 ;  picturesque  excur- 
sions in,  752. 

Lewis  and  Clark  Expedition  in  Montana 
(illustration),  I,  2;  19-67;  reach  the 
mouth  of  the  Yellowstone,  29;  return 
trips  eastward,  58. 

Lewis-Clark  Journal,  I,  28,  29,  69. 

Lewis  and  Clark,  heroic  bronze  statutes 
of.  Great  Falls,  I,  320,  323,  482. 

Lewis  and  Clark  National  Forest,  I,  624, 
749,  804. 

Lewis   and   Clark   Rod   and    Gun   Club, 

I,  754- 

Lewis   River,    I,  57. 
Lewistown,  I,  719-23. 
Lewistown  Chamber  of  Commerce,  I,  720. 
Lewistown  Public  Library,  I,  721. 
Lewistown   of    Today    (illustration),   I, 

722. 

Leyson,  J.  H.,  I,  548. 
Lhotka,  J.  F.,  II,  482. 
Liberty  County :  irrigation  in,  I,  604 ; 

description  of,  767. 
Liberty    Loan    Campaigns    in    World's 

War :  Chairman  and  Chairwomen  of, 

I,  663-65. 
Libby,   I,  770. 
Liddell,  Moses  J.,  I,  431. 
"Life     of     James     Stuart"      (Granville 

Stuart),  I,  187,  209. 
Lignites   (coal),  I,  238,  386. 
Lincoln,  I,  749,  790. 
Lincoln,  Fred  T.,  I,  856. 
Lincoln  county:  created,  I,  451,  469;  ir- 
rigation in,  604;   description  of,  768; 

scene  in  (illustration),  769. 
Lindeberg,  Charles  A.,  Ill,  1090. 
Lindemann,  Leo  C.,  Ill,  1079. 
Lindsay,  F.  S.  P.,  I,  761. 
Lindsay,  John,  II,  515. 
Linfield,  F.  W.,  I,  869. 
Linn,  Carl  A.,  Ill,  1278. 
Lisa,  Manuel,  I,  68,  103,  104;  last  years 

of,  107. 

Lisa   (Manuel)  &  Company,  I,  107. 
Listerud,  John,  III,  1067. 
Literary  sources  of   information,  I,  20. 
Little,  Mose,  II,  243. 
Little  Belt  range,  I,  91. 
Little    Big    Horn    Battle,    casualties    at, 

I,  354,  356. 

Little  Black  Foot  River,  I,  167. 
Little  Creek  Mountains,  I,  32. 
Little  Dog  (Piegan  chief),  I,  167,  168, 

169,  170,   179. 
Little  Dry  Creek,  I,  32. 
Little  Face  (Crow  scout),  I,  351,  352. 
Little  Missouri  irrigation  project,  I,  584. 
Little  Missouri  River,  I,  29. 
Little   Rocky  mountains,   I,  91,  229. 


INDEX 


XXXI 


Little  St.  Mary's  Lakes,  I,  638. 

Littlewolf    Mountains,    I,   63. 

Live  Stock  Commission,  I,  482. 

Live  Stock  interests,  I,  391-403. 

Livingston:  state  capital  contestant,  I, 
441;  first  house  erected  in  (illustra- 
tion, 800;  history  of,  799;  of  the  pres- 
ent, 800. 

Livingston,  Frank  H.,  Ill,  939. 

Livingston,  Robert  R.,  I,  16. 

Livingston,  Walter  W.,   II,  395. 

Livingston-Bozeman  coal  field,  I,  240. 

Livingston  Marble  and  Granite  Com- 
pany, II,  601. 

Livingston  Publishing  Company,  II,  367. 

Llafet,  Joseph  E.,  II,  442. 

Lloyd,  Charles  F.,  I,  643. 

Lloyd,  Walter  E.,  II,  342. 

Loble,  Lester  H.,  Ill,  1198. 

Lockey,  Richard,  II,  526. 

Lockhart,  Charles,   II,  363. 

Lodge  Grass,  I,  673. 

Lofgren,  Everett  E.,  II,  216. 

Logan,  Arthur  C.,  I,  497. 

Logan,  Edgar  W.,  II,  263. 

Logan,  Ernest  A.,  II,  238. 

Logan,  James  E.,  II,  178. 

Logan,  John,  II,  289. 

Logan,  John  T.,  Ill,  1358. 

Logan,  Sidney  M.,  Ill,  1145. 

Logan,  William,  I,  354,  360. 

Lohmiller,  Charles  B.,  Ill,  925. 

Lolo,  I,  792. 

Lolo  National  Forest,  I,  624,  811. 

Loma,  I,  702. 

Lombard,  I,  676. 

Long,  G.  B.,  II,  406. 

Long,  J.  B.,  I,  696. 

Long,  Thomas  D.,  I,  465. 

Long  Drive  (Cattle),  I,  393,  394. 

Longest  bridge  in  the  State,  I,  824. 

Longley,  Thomas  W.,  II,  1410. 

Lorance,  Clyde  H.,  II,  67. 

Loranger,  Henry  E.,  Ill,  703. 

Lord,  Reuben  J.,  II,  61. 

Losekamp,  John  D.,  I,  552. 

Lothair,  I,  768. 

Lott,  John  S.,  I,  286. 

Lott,  Mortimer  H.,  I,  286,  316. 

Loucks,  John  T.,  Ill,  952. 

Loughran,   Michael  J.,  II,  502. 

Louisiana,  United  States  acquires,  I,  16. 

Loveland,  Russ  A.,  Ill,   1361. 

Lovell,  William  Y.,  I,  289,  415. 

Lowe,  Henry  P.,  Ill,  787. 

Lowe  &  Powers,  I,  815. 

Lower  Yellowstone,  reclamation  project, 
I,  587;    (illustration),  588. 

Lowery,  Charles  R.,  Ill,  1055. 

Lowery,  Robert  W.,  Ill,  1055. 
,Lowry,  Bill,  I,  252. 

Lowry,  John  A.,  Ill,  1441. 

Lowry,  Thomas  J.,  I,  415,  422. 
Lucas,  Frederick  D.,  II,  296. 

Lucas  lode,  I,  220. 

Luce,  Sarah  S.,  II,  503. 

Luce,  T.  L.,   I,  218. 

Luce,  Thompson  W.,  II,  503. 

Lucke,  Lou,  III,  703. 

Ludtke,  P.  E.,  Ill,  1114. 

Lumber  Stand  of  Montana,  I,  625. 


Lumbering  in  Missoula  County,  I,  781. 
Lump  Gulch  mining  district,  $2,500,000, 

I,  766. 

Lund,  Hartwig,  III,  1248. 
Lundeen,  Gustav  A.,  Ill,  785. 
Lundevall,  Torjus,  II,  355. 
Lyle,  Thomas  L.,  Ill,  1159. 
Lyman,  Elias  F.,  Ill,  821. 
Lynch,  Neptune,  III,  1300. 
Lyndes,  John  C.,  Ill,  1392. 
Lyon,  Clyde  M.,  II,  414. 
Lyon,  Frederick  A.,  Ill,  1443. 
Lyon,  George  D.,  II,  443. 
Lyons,  George  R.,  II,  121. 
Lyons,  Haze,  I,  249. 
Lyons,  John,  I,  218. 

Mabie,  J.  F.,  I,  471. 
MacCallum,  Charles  A.,  II,  308. 
Macdonald,  John  J.,  Ill,  1130. 
MacDuffie,  William  J.,  Ill,  839. 
Mace,  George,  III,  1405. 
MacFarlane,  William  D.,  Ill,  761. 
Machemer,  Frank  W.,  II,  74. 
Mack,  Forest  M.,  Ill,  677. 
Mackenzie,  Charles,  I,  74. 
MacLaren,  Gilbert  D.,  II,  528. 
MacMillan,  Hugh  A.,  II,  322. 
MacPherson,  Harry  A.,  II,  333. 
Macrum,  E.  A.,  I,  761. 
Madison,  Bill,  I,  185. 
Madison,  Ed.,  I,  222. 
Madison,  Frank,  I,  222,  371. 
Madison,  James,  I,  48. 
Madison  county;  placer  mines  in  1862- 

69,  I,  213 ;  created,  281 ;  number  and 

value  of  cattle  (1884),  395;  irrigation 

in,  604;  description  of,  771. 
Madison  National  Forest,  I,  624. 
Madison  range,  I,  91. 
Madison  River,  I,  48,  61,  89,  230. 
Madison  State  Bank,  I,  772. 
Madoc,  I,  708. 
Madsen,  Jacob  P.,  II,  248. 
Magee,  George  W.,  II,  478. 
Maggie   (Missouri  River  steamboat),  I, 

181. 
Maginnis,    Martin,    I,    316;    sketch    of, 

404;  445,  447. 

Magraw,  Henry  S.,  II,  520. 
Magruder,  Lloyd,  I,  252. 
Maguire,  John  C.,  II,  129. 
Maher,  John  C,  III,  836. 
Mahon,  Archibald  W.,  I,  581;  III,  953. 
Mail  and  telegraph  lines,  first,  I,  556. 
Maillet,  Herbert  A.,  Ill,   1222. 
Main,  Clara,  I,  721. 
Mains,  Frank,  III,  1347. 
Mair,  John  F.,  II,  562. 
Major,  Adolph  A.,  Ill,  811. 
Malloy,  Dan  T.,  II,  471. 
Malone,  Francis  M.,  II,  432. 
Maloney,  William  H.,  II,  397. 
Malta,  I,  588,  803. 
Mammoth     Hot     Springs,     Yellowstone 

Park  (illustration),  I,  634. 
Man    Afraid    of    His     Horses     (Sioux 

Chief),  I,  341,  343,  344,  345- 
Mandan     Villages :     Lewis     and     Clark 

journey  to,  I,  27. 
Mandans,  I,  74. 


XXX11 


INDEX 


Mangan,  Louis  A.,  Ill,   II35- 
Manganese,  properties  suffer .  when  war 

ends,  I,  382. 
Manhattan,  I,  729. 
Manitou,  I,  pi. 
Manix,  J.  Clarence,  III,  693. 
Manley,  John  E.,  II,  330. 
Manson,  I,  804. 
Mantle,  Lee:  rejected  from  U.  S.  Senate, 

I,   449;    elected   U.   S.    Senator,   451; 

sketch  of,  456. 
Manuel's  Fort,  I,  69. 
Marbois,  Barbe,  I,  16. 
Margetts,  Leslie  R.,  II,  484. 
Margry,  Pierre,  I,  4. 
Maria's    River,    romance   of,   I,   39;    59. 

229;  post  at  the  mouth  of,  138. 
Maring,  John  C,  II,  378. 
Marks,  Rufus,  III,  1094. 
Marks  and  Brands,  I,  391. 
Markuson,  Nels  K.,  Ill,  1097. 
Marlow,  Thomas  A.,  I,  489. 
Marlowe,  Thomas  N.,  II,  418. 
Marques,  Oscar,  III,  796. 
Marques,  Scott,  III,  796. 
Marron,  Hugh  N.,  Ill,  875. 
Marrs,  Charles  B.,  Ill,  1375- 
Marrs,  Fred  P.,  II,  593- 
Marsh,  Charles  H.,  II,  445- 
Marsh,  Cromwell,  III,  857. 
Marshall,  Charles  L.,  Ill,  815. 
Marshall,  C.  S.,  I,  438. 
Marshall,  Thomas  C.,  I,  453. 
Marshall,  W.  R.,  I,  243. 
Marsland,  Steven,  I,  249. 
Marston,  William  J.  R.,  Ill,  1350. 
.Martin,  Harry  T.,  Ill,  926. 
Martin,  James  L.,  II,  179. 
Martin,  Martin,  III,  1278. 
Martin,  N.  L.,  II,  222. 
Martin,  Roscoe  G.,  II,  266. 
Martine,  Isaac  S.,  Ill,  671. 
Marvin,  Ernest  L.,  II,  49. 
Marysville,  I,  749. 
Marysville  mining  district,  $57,140,000,  I, 

766. 

Mason,   Dwight  N.,   II,  456. 
Mason,  James,  I,  319. 
Masonry :  cradle  of,  in  Virginia  City,  I, 

773- 

Masters,  Harry  S.,  II,  389. 
Mathewes,  Barnard  J.,  Ill,  1032. 
Mathews,  Ed,  II,  552. 
Mathews,  O.  C.,  I,  217. 
Mathews,  Thomas  J.,  Ill,  1443. 
Matkin,  Judson  D.,  Ill,  808. 
Matlock,  S.  W.,  II,  232. 
Matney,  J.  H.,  Ill,  685. 
Matson,  Howard  E.,  II,  580. 
Matteson,  B.  R.,  Ill,  1381. 
Matthews,  Charles  A.,  Ill,  835. 
Matthews,  John  A.,  II,  642. 
Matthews,  Thomas,  II,  565. 
Maudru,  Joseph,  II,  417. 
Maury,  Henry  L.,  Ill,  1075. 
Maxey,  Robert  J.,  I,  659. 
Maxham,  Frank  A.,  Ill,  1420. 
Maximilian,  Prince,  I,  122. 
Maxson,  Lewis  L.,  Ill,  1114. 
May,  George,  I,  419. 
Mayer,  Jacob  A.,  Ill,  700. 


Mayhew,  Alexander  E.,  I,  282,  289. 

McAboy,  Charles  D.,  II,  489. 

McAdow,  Perry  W.,  L,  219,  851. 

McAdow,  P.  S.,  I,  189. 

McAdow,  William,   I,    198. 

McAfee,  Harry  E.,  Ill,  1031. 

McAlister,  Glenn  C.,  II,  210. 

McArthur,  Neil,  I,  225. 

McCabe,  I,  817. 

McCafferty,  Richard,  I,  192. 

McCalman,  James,  II,  185. 

McCarten,  Robert  E.,  II,  616. 

McCarthy,  Eugene,  III,  996. 

McCarthy,  P.  H.,  II,  123. 

McClammy,  Quincy  P.,  Ill,  1019. 

McClarty,  James,  II,  429. 

McClelland,  Robert  P.,  II,  416. 

McClellan's   (Pacific  City),  I,  213. 

McClurg,  J.  E.,  I,  217. 

McCone  County :  created,  I,  483 ;  irri- 
gation in,  605 ;  description  of,  775. 

McConnell,    N.   W.,    I,   430,   431. 

McConnell,  Odell  W.,  Ill,  659. 

McConochie,  Stewart,  II,  303. 

McConville,  Edward,  III,  861. 

McCormick,  John  E.,  Ill,  1059. 

McCormick,  Paul,  I,  316. 

McCormick,  W.  H.,  II,  2. 

McCormick,  Washington  J.,  I,  282,  286, 
289,  868;  II,  579- 

McCormick  of  Montana,  II,  2. 

McCuiston,  Joshua  P.,  Ill,  1409. 

McDaniel,  Myron,  III,  944. 

McDole,  Edward  I.,  II,  491. 

McDonald,  I,  134. 

McDonald,  Angus,  I,  176,  184. 

McDonald,  Benjamin,  III,  1404. 

McDonald,  E.  H.,  I,  549. 

McDonald,  John  D.,  II,  572. 

McDonnell,  J.  L.,  II,  222. 

McDonough,  Joseph  A.,  Ill,  685. 

McDonough,  Thomas  J.,  Ill,  1426. 

McDowell,  Wilkin  C.,  Ill,  1374. 

McDowell,  William  W.,  II,  150. 

McEnery  &  Packard,  I,  373. 

McFatridge,  Arthur  E.,  Ill,  668. 

McGee,  George  T.,  Ill,  1220. 

McGee,  L.  E.,  Ill,  848. 

McGehee,  Edward,  III,  1254. 

McGinley,  Hugh  S.,  Ill,  676. 

McGinnis,  James,   I,  304. 

McGrath,  D.  J.,  Ill,  1226. 

McGrath,  Leo  J.,  Ill,  1172. 

McGrath,  Thomas  P.,  II,  297. 

McGregor,  Harry  J.,  II,  639. 

McHatton,  John  J.,  I,  433,  438,  540. 

Mclntire,  Oliver  V.,  II,  525. 

Mclntosh,  John  H.,  II,  115. 

Mclntyre,  James,  III,  1010. 

McKay,  Charles  J.,  Ill,  1243. 

McKay,  Joseph  R.,  Ill,  1269. 

McKay  (Scout),  I,  166,  167,  171;  scalps 
three  Blackfeet,  I,  172,  173. 

McKee,  John  W.,  Ill,  1310. 

McKenna,  Nina,  I,  760. 

McKenzie,  Charles,  I,  73. 

McKenzie,  George  F.,  Ill,  1260. 

McKenzie,  Kenneth,  I,  in;  inaugurates 
steamboat  navigation  to  the  Yellow- 
stone, 113;  end  of  Montana  career  and 


INDEX 


XXXlll 


death  of,  121;  122,  135,  139,  140;  last 
years  and  death  of,  141,  152. 

McKenzie,  Roderick,  I,  73. 

McKenzie,  Thomas  J.,  II,  335. 

McKenzie,  Thomas  W.,  Ill,  697. 

McKnight,  Roy  E.,  II,  545. 

McLain,  Mathew,  III,  766. 

McLaren,  John,   III,  886. 

McLaughlin,  Angus  L.,  II,  188. 

McLean,  Samuel,  I,  207,  218,  219,  281, 
282,  286. 

McLeary,  James  H.,  I,  427;  (portrait), 
428;  430. 

McLemore,  Clyde,  III,  1365. 

McLeod,  Charles  H.,  II,  469. 

McLure,  A.  K.,  I,  286. 

McMahon,  William  J.,  II,  498. 

McMannamy,  William  P.,  Ill,  1006. 

McMath,  William  L.,  I,  282,  289,  415. 

McMillan,  John  A.,  II,  99. 

McMullen,  W.  J.,  II,  104. 

McNair,  Benedict  P.,  II,  539. 

McNamara's  Landing,  I,  790. 

McNamee,  James  F.,  Ill,  1060. 

McNaughton,  William  W.,  II,  150. 

M'Neal,  Hugh,  I,  28. 

McPherson,  Howard  P.,  II,  37. 

McTaggart,  Archie,  II,  473. 

McVay,  Oscar  R.,  II,  587. 

McVey,  William  C.,  Ill,  1102. 

Mead,  C.  A.,  I,  761. 

Meade,  D.  P.,  II,  117. 

Meader,  Charles  T.,  I,  834. 

Meaderville,  I,  827,  834,  837. 

Meagher,  Thomas  F.,  acting  governor, 
I,  280;  298,  299;  death  of,  300-303; 
408,  416,  417;  memorials  to  (illustra- 
tion), 466. 

Meagher  County :  placer  mines  in- 1862- 
68,  I,  213;  number  and  value  of  cattle 
(1884),  395;  irrigation  in,  605;  de- 
scription of,  777. 

Meagher  County  School,  old  box-car 
type  (illustration),  I,  512. 

Medicine  Lake,  I,  826. 

Medicine  River,  I,  42,  59,  62. 

Melchert,  Bertram  P.,  Ill,  1414. 

Meldrum,  Robert,  I,  129;  sketch  of,  130; 
(portrait),  214. 

Melton,  J.  Thomas,  II,  367. 

Melstone,   I,   797. 

Mendenhall,  Henry  S.,  II,  168. 

Menetry,  Joseph,  I,  786. 

Mengarini,  Gregory,  I,  147,  150,  154. 

Menzemer,  H.  J.,  Ill,  762. 

Meredith,  James  E.,  II,  365. 

Merkle,  Arthur  W.,  II,  472. 

Merkle,  George  W.,  Ill,  708. 

Merrick,  Joseph,  III,  1174. 

Merrill,  Franklin  T.,  Ill,  706.      . 

Merrill,  T.  G.,  I,  287. 

Merriman,  Nathaniel,  I,  282. 

Metcalf,  John,  II,  635. 

Metcalf,  Margaret  E.,  II,  635. 

Methodist  missionaries,  I,  145. 

Metropolitan  Police  law,  I,  464. 

Mettler,  Edgar  W.,  II,  28. 

Mettler,  J.  M.,  Ill,  1095. 

Meyer,  Carl  R.,  II,  210. 

Meyer,  W.  F.,  I,  471. 

Meyerhoff,  Emmett  F.,  Ill,  1245. 


Michels,.  James  J.,  Ill,  1121. 

Midland  Empire  Fair  Association,  I, 
853. 

Milburn,  George  R.,  I,  436,  438. 

Miles,  Arthur  W.,  II,  260. 

Miles,   G.   M.,   I,  704,  707. 

Miles,  Nelson  A.,  attempted  assassina- 
tion  of,  I,  359 ;  362,  363,  364. 

Miles  City :  great  center  of  range  cattle, 
!»  395 ;  399 ;  municipal  light  and  water 
systems,  703;  public  institutions  at, 
704;  center  of  horse  trade,  705; 
churches  and  fraternities,  705;  stage 
lines  and  highways,  706. 

Miles  City  Club,  I,  705. 

Miles  City  Hospital,  I,  704. 

Milk  River:  Lewis  and  Clark  discover, 
If  33;  229. 

Milk  River  reclamation  project,  I,  587, 
588. 

Milk  River  Valley,  I,  801. 

Mill  Creek,  I,  231. 

Millar,  Joseph  H.,  I,  285. 

Miller,  Charles  H.,  Ill,  1238. 

Miller,  Curtis  M.,  Ill,  1168. 

Miller,   D.  J.,   I,  210. 

Miller,  Henry  A.,  Ill,  747. 

Miller,  Henry  B.,  Ill,  1402. 

Miller,  Joaquin,  on  placer  deposits,  I, 
234;  412;  on  quartz  mining  litigation, 
424. 

Miller,  J.  K.,  II,  157. 

Miller,  John  R.,  I,  645. 

Miller,  J.  V.,  Ill,  1168. 

Miller,  John  W.,  II,  416. 

Miller,  Leslie  F.,  II,  1146. 

Miller,  Lillian  G.,  II,  568. 

Miller,  Marshall  E.,  II,  192. 

Miller,  Sidney,  II,  620. 

Miller,  Thomas  B.,  Ill,  763. 

Miller,  William  D.,  Ill,  1153. 

Miller,  W.  H.  H.,  I,  430. 

Milliken,  Elizabeth  D.,  Ill,  767. 

Mills,  C.  C,  II,  44. 

Mills,  Fred  G.,  Ill,  1163. 

Mills,   James   H.,   I,  497. 

Mills,  James   S.,   I,   213. 

Mills,  William  S.,  Ill,  848. 

Mineral  County:  as  a  copper  producer, 
I,  384;  irrigation  in,  606;  description 
of,  778. 

Mineral  output  of  Montana,  value  and 
qualities  of  (1919),  I,  384. 

Mineral   Range,  I,  90. 

Miners  Courts  established,  I,  218. 

Mining,  smelting  and  ore  testing,  in  Hel- 
ena District,  I,  761. 

Minnesota  &  Montana  Improvement 
Company,  I,  851. 

Minnick,  Robert  P.,  Ill,  972. 

Minnie  Healy  mine,  I,  377,  378. 

Missoula:  natural  advantages  (1858),  I, 
166;  incorporated,  409;  state  capital 
contestant,  441 ;  (city  of  the  five  val- 
leys), sketch  of,  784;  her  parks,  I, 

785. 

Missoula  County:  I,  190;  created,  225; 
281 ;  number  and  value  of  cattle 
(1884),  395;  irrigation  in,  606;  of  the 
five  valleys,  780 ;  lumber,  drainage  and 
water  supply,  781 ;  evolution  of,  782 ; 


XXXIV 


INDEX 


development     of     its     valleys,     7QO; 
dairying  in,  792. 

Missoula  County  High   School,  I,  787; 
II,  463- 

Missoula  Creamery,  I,  785. 

Missoula  Free  Public  Library,  I,  785. 

Missoula  Light  and  Power  Company,  I, 
633. 

Missoula  lode,  I,  222. 

Missoula  Mills,  I,  225. 

Missoula  National  Forest,  I,  624,  741, 
749- 

Missoula  River,  I,  90,  226,  227. 

Missoulian  Publishing  Company,  II,  465. 

Missouri  Fur  Company,  I,  103,  104,  108; 
its  expedition  wiped  out,  109;  no. 

Missouri  River:  its  true  source,  the  Jef- 
ferson, I,  88;  geological  origin  of,  96; 
229. 

Mitchell,  Alonzo  L.,  Ill,  1383. 

Mitchell,  David  D.,  I,  112,  121;  death 
of,  123;  139. 

Mitchell,  Robert  M.,  II,  604. 

Mitchell,  Harry  B.,  II,  608. 

Mitchell,  William,  I,  251. 

Mo,  Elmer  J.,   II,   163. 

Modern  Wolf  Point  Schools  (illustra- 
tion), I,  818. 

Mohn,  Mathis,  II,  625. 

Mohrherr,  John,  III,  1115. 

Molleur,  L.  F.,  Ill,  716. 

Molt,  I,  840. 

Monarch,  I,  699. 

Monberg,  Morris  P.,  II,  270. 

Mondak,  I,  708,  817. 

Monroe,  Hugh,  I,  638. 

Monroe,  James,  I,  16. 

Monroe,  Joseph  E.,  I,  551 ;  II,  339. 

Monroe,  Mary,  III,  1435. 

Montague,  I,  702. 

Montana  ("Land  of  the  Shining  Moun- 
tains"), I,  i;  its  natural  features,  88- 
102;  comparative  area  and  low  altitude 
as  a  Rocky  Mountain  State,  92;  its 
valleys  (by  William  A.  Clark),  93;  its 
geology,  94;  post  tertiary  (glacial) 
period,  96;  variety  and  wealth  of  its 
geological  deposits,  100;  its  coal  and 
precious  stones,  101 ;  first  election  in, 
190;  bar,  212;  its  first  post  office  and 
election,  219,  220;  its  name  and  great 
basins,  226-234;  dawn  of  law  and 
order,  I,  278-315;  territory  organized 
and  first  Bannack  Legislature,  281  ; 
clash  between  assembly  and  judiciary, 
298;  memorials  proposed,  324;  last 
epoch  of  territorial  government,  404- 
413 ;  Supreme  Court  reports,  418,  425 ; 
State  Constitution  of  1889,  439;  appor- 
tionment of  state  senators  and  repre- 
sentatives (1889),  441;  becomes  a 
state,  442 ;  first  state  officers,  443 ;  sec- 
ond legislative  assembly,  448;  final 
contest  for  location  of  state  capital, 
451;  finances  in  1920-21,  486,  488;  her 
system  of  higher  education,  528;  mili- 
tary history  of,  642-666;  merchants: 
increase  in  snet  work  (1900-1920), 
876. 
Montana  Bar  Association,  I,  433,  435. 


Montana  Bridge  and  Ferry  Company,  I, 

286. 

Montana  buffalo  still  ranging   (illustra- 
tion), I,  783. 
Montana  Building,  Louisiana  Exposition 

(illustration),  I,  461. 
Montana  Central  Railway,  I,  375. 
Montana  City,  I,  190,  212;  in  early  days 

(illustration),  287;  288. 
Montana  Club,  Helena,  I,  761. 
Montana  coal  mine  (illustration),  I,  240. 
Montana  Collegiate  Institute,  I,  496. 
Montana  Deaconess  School,  I,  553. 
Mountain  District,  I,  342. 
Montana   Fish   Hatchery,   Anaconda,    I, 

712. 

Montana  Flour  Mills  Company  (illustra- 
tion), I,  693. 
Montana  Game  and  Fish  Commission,  I, 

637- 
Montana  Hide  and  Fur  Company,  I,  304, 

305. 
Montana  Horticultural   Society,   I,  878- 

82. 
Montana    Infantry,    First    Regiment,    I, 

643. 

Montana    Irrigation    Commission :    cre- 
ated, I,  484;  report  of,  for  1920,  586. 
Montana  Mercantile  Company,  II,  555. 
Montana  Mining  Association,  I,  765. 
Montana   Ore   Purchasing  Company,   I, 

376,  377,  378. 

Montana  Pioneers'  Society,  I,  483. 
Montana    Power    Company,    I,   630;    its 
hydro-electric    plants,    632;    689,    719, 
772;  plant  at  Thompson  Falls,  8*24. 
Montana  Quicksilver  Company,  I,  287. 
Montana  School  for  Deaf  and  Blind  and 

Backward  Children,  I,  553. 
Montana    State    Bureau   of    Mines    and 

'Metallurgy;  established,  I,  484;  831. 
Montana  State  College,  I,  500,  528. 
Montana  State  Fair  established,  I,  460. 
Montana  State  Humane  Society  created, 

I,46o. 

Montana  State  Industrial  School,  I,  479. 
Montana   State   Normal   School,  I,  500, 

528,  551. 
Montana   State   Prison,   Deer  Lodge,   I, 

809. 

Montana    State    Reform    School:    name 
changed  to  Montana  State  Industrial 
School,  I,  479. 
Montana  State  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium 

located,  I,  470. 
Montana  Stock  Growers'  Association,  I, 

395- 

Montana  Trade  Commission,  I,  485. 
Montana  Union  Railroad,  I,  375. 
Montana  Volunteer  Militia,  I,  642. 
Montana   Wesleyan    University,    I,    552, 

553;  HI,  II53- 

Montana  Western  Railroad,  I,  568. 
Montana,  Wyoming  and  Southern  Rail- 
road, I,  568. 

Mooney,   Daniel  F.,   II,  600. 
Moore,   I,  717. 
Moore,  Charley,  I,  251. 
Moore,  Elanson  C,  I,  415. 
Moore,  George  F.,  Ill,  1221. 
Moore,  Perry  J.,  Ill,  1220. 


INDEX 


XXXV 


Moorman,  Edward  H.,  II,  272. 

Moran,  John  E.,  Ill,  834. 

Morck,  Fred  D.,  Ill,  1005. 

Morgan,  Edward  F.,  Ill,  1141. 

Morgan,  Heber  G.,  II,  289. 

Morier,  Henry,  I,  218. 

Morony,  Mary  E.,  I,  322. 

Morrell,  Fred,  I,  869. 

Morrill  Acts  of  Congress,  I,  546. 

Morrill,  Almeron  D.,  Ill,  1141. 

Morrill,  Robert  A.,  Ill,  720. 

Morris,  Claude  F.,  Ill,  1004. 

Morris,  Jennie  M.,  Ill,  1029. 

Morrow,  Bayard  S.,  II,  402. 

Morrow,  Thomas  M.,  Ill,  876. 

Morse,  Averill  P.,  II,  281. 

Morse,  Elmer  J.,  Ill,  717. 

Morse,  Frank  M.,  II,  in. 

Morse,  George  W.,  I,  316;  II,  280. 

Morse,  Sherburne,  III,  689. 

Morton,  C.  D.,  Ill,  858. 

Morton,  John  O.,  I,  725. 

Mortson,   O.   C.,   I,   94. 

Mosby,  I,  735. 

Mosby,  O.  P.  J.,  Ill,  846. 

Mosby  Oil  fields,  I,  797. 

Moser,  Gust,  II,  570. 

Mosher,  Esek  R.,  II,  344. 

Moss,  Preston  B.,  II,  218. 

Mother  St.  Joseph,  III,  872. 

Motor  Vehicles  registered,  I,  575. 

Mouat,  Thomas  H.,  Ill,  1382. 

Mount   St.   Charles   College,   Helena,   I, 

553;  755;  HI,  1138. 
Mount  Sentinel,  Missoula,  I,  788. 
Mountain  Crows,  I,  141. 
Movius,  Arthur  J.,  II,  193. 
Movius,  Rex  M.,  Ill,  1065. 
Movius,  Walter  R.,  II,  229. 
Mowatt,  Wilbert,  III,  1067. 
Moulton,  Benjamin  F.,  II,   181. 
Moyer,  H.  D.,  I,  249. 
Moyle,  John  R.,  II,  .421. 
Mueller,  Oscar  O.,  II,  89. 
Muffley,  Theo.,  I,  289. 
Muffly,  Thomas,  I,  415. 
Mullan,  John,  I,  158,  159,  321,  324,  555, 

687,  785- 

Mullan  Government  Road,  I,  555. 
Mullan   Monuments,  I,  320,  321. 
Mullan's  military  road  (1862),  I,  180. 
Mulroney,  Edward  C.,  II,  468. 
Munger,  Frederick  R.,  II,  170. 
Munson,    Lyman    E.,    I,    298,    414,    416, 

417,  418. 

Murn,  Thomas  M.,  Ill,  1343. 
Murphey,  John  M.,  II,  541. 
Murphy,  Charles,  I,  209,  222,  371. 
Murphy,  Charles  F.,  II,  267. 
Murphy,  Franklin  J.,  Ill,  1236. 
Murphy,  George  J.,  Ill,  1241. 
Murphy,  James  K.,  II,  20. 
Murphy,  John  L.,  I,  419. 
Murphy,  Joseph  R.,  Ill,  945. 
Murphy,  Patrick  B.,  Ill,  1078. 
Murphy,  William  L.,  I,  320;  II,  465. 
Murray,  James  A.,  I,  334. 
Murray,  Mathieson,  III,  932. 
Murray,  S.  G.,  I,  459. 
Murtry,  James,  I,  702. 
Musselshell,  I,  797. 


Musselshell  county:  as  a  coal  producer, 
I,  386;  as  oil  producer,  386;  organ- 
ized, 469;  county  irrigation  in,  606; 
settlement  of,  794;  agriculture  and  live 
stock  raising,  795 ;  coal  mines  and  rail- 
roads, 796. 

Musselshell  River :  Lewis  and  Clark  dis- 
cover, I,  33. 

Mussigbrod,  James,  I,  406. 

Muzzy,  J.  E.,  II,  175. 

Myers,  I,  845. 

Myers,  Adolphus  D.,  II,  109. 

Myers,  George  W.,  Ill,  1422. 

Myers,  Guy  C.,  II,  156. 

Myers,  Henry  L.,  sketch  of,  I,  492;  868. 

Myers,  Otto  K.,'  II,  109. 

Nagues,  George  B.,  II,  649. 

Napoleon,  I,  16. 

Napton,  Thomas  L.,  I,  419. 

National  Forests,  Areas  and  locations  of, 
I,  623 ;  funds  to  support,  624. 

National  Guard,  nucleus  of,  I,  642. 

National  Park  Bank,  Livingston,  II, 
269. 

National  Park-to-Park  Highway,  I,  571. 

Navajo,  I,  708. 

Nealy,  E.  B.,  I,  289. 

Needles,  Arthur  S.,  II,  627. 

Neese,  John  T.,  Ill,  681. 

Neihart,   I,  699. 

Neill,  E.  D.,  I,  4. 

Neill,  Henry,  II,  204. 

Nell,  Henry  H.,  II,  159. 

Nelson,  Clarence  W.,  Ill,  1049. 

Nelson,  Cornelius  S.,  II,  232. 

Nelson,  David,  III,  1378. 

Nelson,  Franc  C.,  Ill,  694. 

Nelson,  H.  F.,  Ill,  668. 

Nelson,  John  A.,  Ill,  694. 

Nelson,  N.  L.,  Ill,  792. 

Nelson,  Soren,  II,  486. 

Neubert,  John,  III,  662. 

Nevada,  I,  232. 

Nevin,  Charles  P.,  II,  386. 

Nevin,  John,  III,  1444. 

Nevin,  W.  H.,  Ill,  1227. 

Nevins,  Joseph  H.,  Ill,  901. 

New  Powell  County  High  School  (illus- 
tration), I,  502. 

New  World  mining  district,  I,  798. 

New  York-Montana  Testing  and  Engi- 
neering Company,  Helena,  I,  763. 

Newcomb,  Albert  S.,  Ill,  959. 

Newell,  John  H.,  II,  151. 

Newlon,  Lewis  E.,  Ill,  897. 

Newman,  Louis,  III,  828. 

Newstrom,  Manning  C.,  Ill,  1289. 

Nez  Perces,  I,  118.   • 

Nichols,  Alice,   I,  497- 

Nichols,  Edmund,  II,  48. 

Nickwall,  I,  777. 

Nihill,  I,  848. 

Nims,  William  P.,  Ill,  1185. 

Nina,  I,  777. 

Ninth  Federal  Reserve  District,  I,  663. 

Nissler,  Carl  C.,  II,  12. 

Noble,  Frank  C.,  II,  332. 

Nohle,  Andrew  F.,  Ill,  988. 

Nolan,  Cornelius  B.,  Ill,  664. 

Nolan,  J.  M.,  Ill,  1030. 


XXXVI 


INDEX 


Nordtome,  Clifford,  III,  841. 

Nordtome,  Milford,  III,  841. 

Nordtome,  Robert,  III,  841. 

Norelius,  O.,  I,  285. 

Normile,  John,  II,  250. 

Norris,  I,  771. 

Norris,  Edwin  L.,  I,  464,  868;  III,  674. 

North,  Austin,  III,  1137. 

North,  J.  A.,  II,  94. 

North,  Jo  R.,  II,  145. 

North,  William  P.,  Ill,  859. 

North  Butte  Copper  Company,  I,  379. 

North  Butte  Extension  Development 
Company,  I,  383. 

North  Butte  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Northern  Cheyenne  (Tongue  River)  In- 
dian Reservation,  I,  640;  819. 

Northern  Idaho  &  Montana  Power 
Company,  I,  632. 

Northern  Montana  Agricultural  and 
Manual  Training  College  and  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station  estab- 
lished, I,  476. 

Northern  Pacific  Railroad :  surveys 
(1853-54),  I,  158;  3755  its  mineral 
land  in  dispute,  429,  430;  559;  crippled 
by  Jay  Cooke  failure,  560 ;  electrifica- 
tion of,  568;  630,  794;  hospital,  Glen- 
dive,  710;  hospital  at  Missoula,  786. 

Northwest  Fur  Company  of  Canada,  I, 

73- 

Northwest  Tribune  Publishing  Co.,  Ste- 
vensville,  III,  1381. 

Northwestern  basin  of  Montana,  I,  226, 
228,  229. 

Noxon,  I,  824. 

Noyes,  James  M.,  II,  426. 

Nutt,  Richard  S..-III,  731. 

Nutting,  Lucius  A.,  II,  257. 

Nutting,  W.  B.,  II,  50. 

Nye,  Samuel  M.,  II,  366. 

Nye,  Ward  H.,  II,  236. 
^ 

Oakwood,  Jacob  F.,  Ill,  842. 

Obergfell,  Albert  R.,  Ill,  726. 

O'Boyle,  James,  III,  976. 

O'Brien,  Alfred  L.,  II,  605. 

O'Brien,  Edward,  II,  46. 

O'Brien,  Edward  P.,  Ill,  1347. 

O'Brien,  George  T.,  Ill,  1364. 

O'Brien,  James  D.,  Ill,  723. 

O'Brien,  Joseph  P.,  Ill,  704. 

O'Brien,  Michael  T.,  II,  541. 

O'Connell,  Margaret  F.,  Ill,  1323. 

O'Connell,  Michael  J.,  II,  434. 

O'Connell,  W.  H.,  Ill,  1323. 

O'Connor,  James  F.,  II,  368. 

O'Connor,  Thomas  F.,  II,  549. 

O'Donnell,  Charles,  II,  3. 

O'Donnell,  Charles,  II,  312. 

O'Donnell,  I.  D.,  II,  383. 

O'Fallon,  Benjamin,  I,  no. 

O'Flynn,  Edward  F.,  II,  484. 

Ogden,  Earl,  II,  638. 

O'Hern,  Daniel  L.,  Ill,  1091. 

Oie,  Gustav,  III,  1073. 

Oil  development,  I,  386-390;  Golden  Val- 
ley county,  I,  739;  in  state,  876,  877, 
878. 

Oil,  gas  and  coal  leases,  I,  389. 

Oil  shales,  I,  388. 


Oka,  I,  848. 

O'Keefe,  Davis  C.,  I,  321. 

O'Laughlin,  William,  III,  1336. 

Old  Ignace,  I,  144;  killed  by  Sioux,  145. 

Old  Lewistown  School  (illustration), 
I,  501. 

Oldest  School  in  Montana,  still  in  use 
(illustration),  I,  498. 

O'Leary,  Albert  P.,  II,  265. 

Oleson,  J.  P.,  I,  285. 

Oliver,  A.   J.,   I,   557. 

Oliver  (A.  J.)  and  Company,  I,  219. 

Oliver,  John,  III,  1212. 

Oliver,  Robert  S.,  II,  602. 

Olsen,  June  G.,  Ill,  1184. 

Olson,  Andrew  J.,  Ill,  1229. 

Olson,  George  N.,  II,  457. 

Olson,  Ole  N.,  Ill,  1119. 

O'Neil,   C.   D.,   Ill,  851. 

O'Neil,  Michael  A.,  Ill,  751. 

O'Neill,  Charles  E.,  II,  139. 

O'Neill,  Frank  D.,  Ill,  1236. 

O'Neill,  John  J.,  II,  513. 

Ophir,  I,  335-39;  town  ruined  by  Indian 
massacre,  339. 

Ophir  Gulch,  I,  213. 

Ophir  Town  Company,  I,  335. 

Ordway,  John,  I,  28,  45,  58,  59. 

Oregon   Short   Line,   I,  405,  558,   559. 

Oregon  Steam  Navigation  Company,  I, 
556. 

Oiiginal  lode  (Butte),  I,  222. 

O'Rourke,  James  S.,  II,  543. 

O'Rourke,  John  K.,  II,  443. 

Orr,  George,  I,  199. 

Orr,  Sample,  I,  282,  415. 

Orville,  I,  708. 

Orvis,  John  M.,  II,  441. 

Osborne,  John  N.,  II,  324. 

Osburn,  Roy,  II,  412. 

Osenbrug,  Jacob,  II,  451. 

Osgood,  Lattie  'M.,  Ill,  1256. 

Oswego,  I,  846. 

Osweiler,  Peter  J.,  II,  207. 

Otten,  Elise  R.,  II,  121. 

Otten,  Herman,  II,  120. 

Outline  of  Indian  Operations  and  con- 
ferences (Carrington),  I,  341;  358. 

Ovando,  I,  790,  809. 

Owen,  John,  I,  132;  last  years  of,  134; 
I59,  167,  176,  227,  282. 

Oxford,  I,  848. 

PaTblo  herd  of  buffalo,  I,  784. 

Page,  Billy,   I,  252. 

Page,  Hugh  D.,  II,  323. 

Page,  James  M.,  I,  316. 

Page,  John  M.,  I,  316. 

Pagenkopf,  Herman  C.,  II,  17. 

Pah-sam-er-ri    (Stinkwater),   I,  222. 

Paige,  Merritt  C.,  I,  426. 

Palmer,  Allen  B.,  Ill,  725. 

Palmer,  Wealthy  E.,  Ill,  726. 

Pampel,  Byron  L.,  II,  195. 

Pappin,  Isaac,  III,  826. 

Paradise,  I,  824. 

Parent,  William,  III,  960. 

Paris,   I,   777. 

Parish,  Frank,  I,  249. 

Parish  of  Lewistown,  II,  25. 

Park  City,  I,  840. 


INDEX 


XXXVll 


Park  County,  I,  411;  irrigation  in,  607; 

description   of,   797;    mining   days   in, 

798;  created,  799. 
Parker,  Hazen  M.,  II,  301. 
Parker,  Perry  M.,  II,  410. 
Parker,  Samuel,  I,  145. 
Parkin,  Ernest  J.,  II,  400. 
Parkins,  William  E.,  II,  358. 
Parmly    Billings    Memorial    Library,    I, 

852. 

Parrent,  J.  M.,  I,  721. 
Parrot,  R.  R.,  I,  372. 
Parrot  Lead,  I,  372. 
Parrot  mines,  I,  829. 
Parrott,   R.  B.,   I,  289,  415. 
Parsons,  John  M.  Ill,  766. 
Part-time  schools,  I,  527. 
Patch,  Ralph  E.,  Ill,  781. 
Patten,  Frank  C.,  I,  758,  760. 
Patten,  Truman  M.,  Ill,  1023. 
Patterson,  Ernest  R.,  II,  113. 
Patterson,  George  D.,  Ill,  740. 
Patterson,  John  E.,  II,  464. 
Patterson,  Oliver  B.,  Ill,  678. 
Patton,  Clyde,  III,  775. 
Patton,  Ulysses  C.,  Ill,  1267. 
Patton,  W.  H.,  I,  256. 
Pattonhill,  I,  777. 
Paul,  George,  III,  833. 
Paul,  Goodwin  T.,  Ill,  1415. 
Paul,  Spurgeon  E.,  Ill,  1020. 
Pauly,  Peter,  II,  340. 
Pauwelyn,  Cyril,  II,  214. 
Pearce,  Robert,  III,  1029. 
Pearson,  Frank  M.,  II,  439. 
Pease,  Fellows  D.,  Ill,  1050. 
Pease,  Sarah  W.,  Ill,  1052. 
Peays,  Clara  T.,  Ill,  948. 
Peays,  William  H.,  Ill,  948. 
Peck,  Walter  H.  (Lewistown),  II,  92. 
Peck,  Walter  H.,  Ill,  1216. 
Peckover,  Frederick  W.,  Ill,  1426. 
Peeler,  D.  R.,  I,  727. 
Peeso,  F.  E.,  Ill,  799. 
Peet,  Herbert  M.,  II,  590. 
Peltier,  Joseph,  III,  816. 
Peltier,   Lottie  A.,   Ill,  816. 
Pemberton,  Calvin  W.,  Ill,  1319. 
Pemberton,, William  Y.,  I,  256,  259,  282, 

284,  289,  316,  324;  sketch  of,  435;  II, 

71. 

Pence,  Laverne  K.,  II,  29. 
Pender,  Peter  A.,  II,  160. 
Pendroy,  I,  843. 
Penson,  Thomas,  III,  1417- 
Penwell,  M.  W.,  II,  294. 
Pepin,  Exzelia  J.,  Ill,  750. 
Perham,  Arthur,  II,  576. 
Perham,  George  B.,  Ill,  799. 
Perham,  Josiah,  I,  559. 
Perier,  Garfield  B.,  II,  493- 
Perkins,   Grover   C.,   II,   633. 
Perkins,  Harry  E.,  II,  101. 
Perkins,  James  R.,  Ill,  1116. 
Perm  a,  I,  792,  824. 
Perrine,  Arnold  M.,  Ill,  740. 
Perrine,  James  W.,   Ill,  740. 
Perrine,  Lillian  M.,  Ill,  740. 
Peterson,  Amos  T.,  II,  616. 
Peterson,  Axel  M.,  II,  46. 
Peterson,  John  E.,  Ill,  699. 


Peterson,   Peter  M.,  Ill,  845. 

Peterson,  S.  L.,  I,  503. 

Petit,  Eloise,  I,  698. 

Petrashek,  Mina,  I,  503. 

Petrie,  Donald  A.,  Ill,  993. 

Pfaus,  Mrs.  A.,  I,  721. 

Pfouts,  Paris  S.,  I,  260,  286. 

Phelan,  William  P.,  Ill,  742. 

Philbrick,  Freeman,  III,  1263. 

Philbrick,  Newell  G.,  Ill,  1191. 

Philipsburg,  I,  237,  741. 

Phillips,  Albert  L.,  II,  no. 

Phillips,  Samuel,  III,  1063. 

Phillips  County,  irrigation  in,  I,  607; 
description  of,  801. 

Pickens,  Joseph  E.,  II,  374. 

Pickett,  H.  G.,  I,  761. 

Pickett-Journal,  I,  678. 

Picturesque  Helena  District  (illustra- 
tion), I,  748. 

Piedalue,  Joseph,  II,  312. 

Piegan  Sun  Dance  (illustration),  I,  169. 

Piegans,  I,   140. 

Pierre  group    (geological),  I,  96. 

Pierre's  Hole,  I,  116. 

Pierse,  Allen,  II,  558. 

Pierson,  George  W.,  II,  32. 

Pietila,  John  J.,  II,  225. 

Pigot,  Creswell  T.,  II,  585. 

Pigott,  W.  T.,  I,  435,  436. 

Pilot-Butte  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Piney  Buttes,  I,  91. 

Piniele,  I,  680. 

Pinney,  George  M.,  I,  243. 

Pioneer   (village),  I,  189. 

Pioneer  City,  I,  220. 

Pioneer  Day,  I,  460,  465. 

Pioneer  Gulch,  I,  189,  220. 

Pioneer  Home,  I,  319. 

Pioneer  lawyers  of  Montana,  I,  415. 

Pizanthia,  Joe  (The  Greaser),  I,  249, 
267. 

Place  of  Skulls  (Bradley's  "Journal"), 
I,  310. 

"Place  of  the  Bitter  Root,"  I,  142. 

Placer  mining  and  water  rights,  I,  421. 

Placer  production  in  Helena  Region,  I, 
766. 

Plains,  I,  824. 

Plassman,  Martha  E.,  I,  278. 

Platz,  Albert  E.,  II,  167. 

Plentywood,  I,  825. 

Plevna,  I,  714. 

Plew,  William  R.,  II,  431. 

Plume,  D.  J.,  Ill,   1141. 

Plummer,  F.  M.,  Ill,  1069. 

Plummer,  Henry,  I,  218,  242,  247,  249, 
251,  252;  execution  of,  264,  266;  332. 

Plummer,  Stinson  and  Ray,  execution  of, 
I,  263. 

Plummer-Stinson-Ray  Scaffold  (illus- 
tration), I,  265. 

Poe,  Clinton  J.,  Ill,  1150. 

Point,  Nicholas,  I,  147,  150,  151,  152, 
161. 

Polglase,  Lester  R.,  II,  476. 

Pollard,   Charles   R.,   I,   427. 

Polleys  Lumber  Company,  I,  781. 

Pollinger,  Warren  E.,  Ill,  1287. 

Poison,  I,  724. 

Polytechnic  Institute,  Billings,  I,  855. 


XXXV111 


INDEX 


Pompey's  Pillar ;  named  by  Clark,  I,  63 ; 
Larocque  describes,  83;  reached  by 
Stuart  expedition,  194;  856. 

Pond,  Robert  E.,  II,  479. 

Pondera  County:  created,  I,  483;  irriga- 
tion in,  608;  description  of,  803. 

Pontiac,  I,  848. 

Pony,  I,  771,  775- 

Poore,  James  A.,  II,  513. 

Poorman,  W.  H.,  I,  459. 

Pope,  Joseph,  II,  97. 

Poplar,  I,  817. 

Porcupine  Creek,  I,  31,  32. 

Porter,  Frank,  III,  1428. 

Porter,  George  P.,  I,  869;  III,  1403. 

Porter,  Henry,  I,  829. 

Porter,  H.  H.,  I,  222,  833. 

Post,  Mark,  I,  209. 

Posts  and  Forts  along  the  Yellowstone, 
I,  127. 

Potomac,  I,  790. 

Potter,  Anson  S.,  I,  282,  299. 

Potter,  John,  I,  287;  II,  651. 

Potts,  Benjamin  F.,  becomes  governor, 
death  of,  I,  314;  404,  408;  (portrait), 
410;  868. 

Potts,  John,  I,  28. 

Poultry  raising,  I,  402. 

Powder  River  County :  irrigation  in,  I, 
608;  description  of,  804. 

Powell,  Curtis  W.,  Ill,  1027. 

Powell,  John  W.,  I,  190. 

Powell  County:  irrigation  in,  I,  608; 
description  of,  806. 

Power,  I,  843. 

Power,  T.  C:  elected  U.  S.  Senator 
(1889),  I,  446. 

Power,  Wilber  I.,  II,  138. 

Powers,  Edward  S.,  Ill,  1066. 

Powers,  T.  C.,  I,  761. 

Powers,  William,  III,  905. 

Prairie  County:  irrigation  in,  I,  608; 
description  of,  809;  railroads  and 
trails  in,  810. 

Prairie  Elk,  I,  777. 

Prairie  of  the  Knobs,  I,  59. 

Prairie  of  the  Mass,  I,  146. 

Pratte,  Chouteau  &  Company,  I,  123. 

Pray,  I,  801. 

Pray,  Charles  L.,  I,  463. 

Pray,  Charles  N.,  I,  465,  471. 

Precious  stones  of  Montana,  I,  101. 

Prehistoric  Mammals  of  Montana,  I,  100. 

Prentice,  George  D.,  Ill,  769. 

Presbyterian  missionaries,  I,  145. 

Press :  See  Newspaper  Directory  of 
Montana,  arranged  by  counties,  towns 
and  cities,  and  giving  politics,  date  of 
establishment,  and  names  of  editor  and 
publisher  of  each  newspaper  in  the 
state,  I,  886-94. 
N.  B. — First  item  under  Press,  25. 

Prestbye,  Christ,  II,  628. 

Prestbye,  E.  C.,  Ill,  962. 

Prestbye,  Martin,  II,  628. 

Prestbye,  Matilda  C.,  II,  628. 

Preston,  John  F.,  II,  436. 

Preuitt,  Isom,  III,  724. 

Price,  Benjamin  L.,  II,   140. 

Price,  E.   R.,   II,  265. 

Price,  Lewellyn,  III,   1337. 


Price,  Oliver,  I,  732. 

Price,  Pleas  M.,  Ill,  1010. 

Prickly  Pear  Gold  and  Silver  Mining 
Company,  I,  287,  288. 

Prickly  Pear  Valley,  near  Helena  (illus- 
tration), I,  210;  749,  (illustration), 

759- 

Pridham,   Thomas  H.,   II,  470. 

Priess,  Fred  A.,  Ill,  1424. 

Prindle,  J.  E.,  I,  707. 

Probost,  Etienne,  I,  108. 

Proctor,  Israel  O.,  Ill,  699. 

Proctor,  Louisa  K.,  Ill,  699. 

Proctor,   Merton   D.,   Ill,  699. 

Prohibition :  referendum  on,  I,  478 ; 
liquor  legislation,  483;  in  force,  489; 
Federal  Constitutional  amendment 
ratified  by  States,  490;  State  law  to 
conform  to  Volstead'  Act,  491. 

Prosser,  E.  W.,  I,  761. 

Prosser,  Fred  A.,  Ill,  917. 

Prosser,  John  R.,  Ill,  916. 

Prudhome,  Gabriel,  I,  148. 

Pryor,  I,  61,  63. 

Pryor,   John,   I,   46. 

Pryor,  Nathaniel,  I,  28. 

Pryor  Creek,  I,  46,  63,  81. 

Public  Highways :  of  Fergus  county,  I, 
719. 

Public  Lands  of  Montana,  I,  577. 

Public  road  building:  co-operation  of 
county,  state  and  nation  in,  I,  576. 

Public  School  at  Bozeman  (illustration), 
I,  731. 

Public  Service  Commission :  created,  ab- 
sorbs Board  of  Railroad  Commission- 
ers, I,  472. 

Puehler,  Charles,  I,  696,  732. 

Pugsley,  Robert  D.,  II,  449. 

Pulsifer,  H.  B.,  II,  560. 

Pumpkin  Creek,  I,  82. 

Purcell,   Michael   F.,  Ill,   1112. 

Purdy,  A.  T.,  II,  581. 

Pyper,  William  B.,  Ill,  695. 

Radersburg,  I,  676. 

Radersburg  mining  district,  $3,200,000, 
I,  766. 

Rafferty,  Daniel,  II,  136. 

Ragland,  O.  T.,  II,  37. 

Railroads :  counties  authorized  to  sub- 
scribe for,  I,  315 ;  enter  Butte  copper 
district,  375;  Major  Martin  Maginnis 
as  a  builder  of,  405 ;  Utah  Northern 
penetrates  Montana,  407;  regulated 
(1912), 472;  558-68;  over  the  Montana 
mountains  (illustration),  564;  electri- 
fication of,  567;  accommodating  Great 
Falls,  686 ;  in  Lewis  and  Clark  county, 
751 ;  work  of,  in  Missoula  region,  789; 
first  Utah  and  Northern  passenger 
trains  to  arrive  at  Butte,  830;  lines 
accommodating  Butte,  831. 

Rainbow  Falls  at'  Great  Falls,  I,  630; 
(illustration),  i,  689. 

Rainbow  Lode,  I,  372,  373. 

Rainbow  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Rainbow  Power  Plant,  Great  Falls,  I, 
689. 

Rains,  Robert  H.,  II,  135. 

Rainy  Lake  Missoula  National  Forest 
(illustration),  I,  626. 


INDEX 


XXXIX 


Ralston,  Edward  L.,  Ill,  1175. 

Ramme,  Chris,  III,  1256. 

Ramme,  Louis  T.,  Ill,  1185. 

Ramsay,  George  L.,  I,  761. 

Ramsdell,  Joe,  I,  829. 

Ram's  Horn  Gulch,  I,  231. 

Ramstad,  Otto,  III,  946. 

Rancher,   I,  845. 

Randall,  John  B.,  Ill,  776. 

Rankin,    Carl,    III,    1329. 

Rankin,  Jeannette :  first  Congresswoman 
elected  in  U.  S. ;  sketch  of,  I,  480. 

Rankin,  Wellington  D.,  I,  528,  869. 

Rapelje,  I,  840. 

Rarus  quartz  lode,  I,  377. 

Rarey,  Bert,  III,  1279. 

Rasch,    Carl,    I,    437,   438. 

Rasmussen,  James  A.,  Ill,  919. 

Rasmusson,   Iden  M.,  Ill,   1000. 

Rathbone,  Robert  M.,  Ill,  879. 

Rathert,  Fred  E.,  Ill,  930. 

Rattlesnake  Creek,  I,  167,  230. 

Ravalli,  Anthony,  I,  154;  leaves  St. 
Mary's  mission,  I,  157,  161. 

Ravalli,  I,  792. 

Ravalli  County :  I,  241 ;  created,  442, 
451;  irrigation  in,  608;  description  of, 
810;  young  apple  orchard  (illustra- 
tion), 813;  resources  of,  811. 

Ray,  Julian  D.,  II,  293. 

Ray,  Ned,  I,  242,  249;  execution  of,  264, 
266. 

Raymond,   Winthrop,   III,    1282. 

Raynesford,  I,  699. 

Red  Bluff,  I,  771. 

Red  Cloud   (Sioux  Chief),  I,  341,  343, 

344,   345- 

Red  Lodge,  I,  678-679;  school  (illustra- 
tion), I,  679. 

Red  Rock  Creek,  I,  230,  231. 
Red  Trail,  570,  575. 
Redwater,  I,  777. 
Redwing,  Edward  O.,  Ill,  710. 
Reed,  Clinton  V.,  I,  654. 
Reed,  Frank  S.,  Ill,  790. 
Reed,  Oliver  L.,  Ill,  1407. 
Reed   Point,   I,  840. 
Reese,  H.  J.,  II,  34. 
Reeves,  I,  249,  251. 
Reeves,  A.  I.,  Ill,  737. 
Reiche,  G.  L,  I,  725. 
Reichel,  Frank  J.,  Ill,  1233. 
Reichle,  August,  II,  522. 
Reid,  Edmund  W.,  Ill,  821. 
Reid,  Frank,  III,  838. 
Reid,  James,   I,  500,   548. 
Reifenrath,  Charles  H.,  Ill,  670.      • 
Reinbold,  Theodore,  II,  65. 
Reinoehl,  Charles  M.,  I,  503. 
Reisz,  George  S.,  I,  654. 
Reiter,  W.  H.,  II,  637. 
Remains    of    Bannack's    former   mining 

glory  (illustration),  I,  671. 
Remington,  Sumner  A.,  Ill,  824. 
Rennick,   P.    S.,   II,   528. 
Reno,  William  E.,  Ill,  1379. 
Resner,  Andrew  K.,  II,  508. 
Revised  Codes  of  Montana,  1907,  I,  464. 
Reynolds,  I,  357. 

Reynolds,  F.  B.,  I,  436,  696,  869;  II, 
217. 


Reynolds,  J.  J.,  I,  356. 

Reynolds,  William  P.,  II,  532. 

Rhea,  William  F.,  II,  906. 

Rheem,   L.   M.,   I,  761. 

Rhoades,  William  B.,  Ill,  765 

Rhodes,  William  M.,  Ill,  1221. 

Rice,  Alonzo  F.,  II,  454. 

Rice,   George   C,   II,  465. 

Rice,  Robert  E.,  Ill,  960. 

Richardon,  C.  F.,  II,  581. 

Richards,  David  D.,  II,  436. 

Richards,  Warrington,  II,  448. 

Richardson,  Pliney  S.,  Ill,  1234. 

Richardson,  William  B.,  II,  291. 

Richie,  Arthur  C.,  II,  438. 

Richland  County:    irrigation  in,  I,  609; 

description  of,  813. 
Richmond,  Hunter  L.,  II,  6. 
Rickard,  Campbell  G.,  Ill,  1214. 
Rickards,  John  E.,  I,  443,  446,  447,  725, 

Riddell,  Arthur  M.,  II,  546. 

Riddick,  Carl,  I,  868. 

Rider,  T.  T.,  I,  544. 

Ridley,  Charles  F.,  II,  100. 

Riedeman,  Charles  B.,  II,  593. 

Rimini,  I,  749. 

Rimini  mining  district,  $6,200,000,  I,  766. 

Ring,  David  A.,  Ill,  937. 

Ringling,  John,  I,  778. 

Rising,  Margaret  B.,  Ill,  825. 

Rising,  Martin,  III,  825. 

Ritch,  John  B.,  II,  127. 

Riverside,  I,  777. 

Rixon,  Frederick  P.,  II,  285. 

Rixon,   William    P.,   II,  220. 

Roach,  Jeremiah,  I,  406. 

Roach,  William,  I,  192. 

Road  Agents'  Band  of  Montana,  I,  247; 

personnel  of,  249;  261,  kill  more  than 

one  hundred  people,  250;   last   to  be 

executed,  274. 

Road  Agents  Rock  (illustration),  i,  248. 
Roads  and  Ferries  projected  at  Ophir,  I, 

336. 

Robb,  Fleming  W.,  II,  253. 
Roberts,  A.  J.,  I,  511. 
Roberts,  Albert,  III,  1241. 
Roberts,  Commodore  B.,  Ill,  691. 
Roberts,  Milner,  I,  687. 
Roberts,  Thomas  P.,  I,  88,  687. 
Robertson,  R.  H.,  I,  415. 
Robertson,  R.  W.,  I,  289. 
Robinson,  Grant,  I,  723;  II,  140. 
Robinson,  John  C.,  I,  415. 
Robison,  C.  W.,  II,  383. 
Roche,  John  F.,  Ill,  1427. 
Rochester,  I,  771. 
Rocky  Ford  coal  field,   I,  240. 
Rocky  Mountains :  discovery  of  by  the 

Chevalier  de  la  Verendrye,  I,  9;  first 

view  of,  by  Captain  Lewis,  36;  seen  by 

Larocque,  77- 
Rock   Mountain   Fur   Company,   I,    108, 

no. 
Rocky  Mountain  Wagon  Road  Company, 

I,  304. 

Rodgers,  Henry,  I,  206,  209. 
Rodgers,  John  H.,  I,  282. 
Rodgers,  William  B.,  II,  523. 
Roe,  J.  A.,  Ill,  1033. 


xl 


INDEX 


Roe,  John  J.,  I,  558. 

Roebuck,   Sarah  E.,   Ill,  953. 

Roecher,  Albert  C,   II,  56. 

Roehl,  Edward  R.,  II,  145- 

Roke,  Matthew  J.,  Ill,  1367. 

Rollins,  I,  725. 

Romaine,  Jem,  I,  252. 

Romeyn,     Henry,     account     of     Chief 

Joseph's  Capture,  I,  363-369. 
Romney,  Miles,  II,  538. 
Ronan,  I,  792. 
Ronan,    Peter,   I,  205;    (portrait),   206; 

493- 

Rood,  Guy  L.,  Ill,  733. 

Rood,  William  E.,  Ill,  1054. 

Roosevelt  (Theodore)  Memorial  High- 
way, I,  802. 

Roosevelt  County :  created,  I,  483 ;  Cul- 
bertson  school  (illustration),  527;  irri- 
gation in,  611;  description  of,  815; 
mineral  resources,  816;  tractor  at  work 
in  (illustration),  816. 

Roosevelt  Memorial  Highway  (Glacier 
Park  to  St.  Paul),  I,  570,  575- 

Root,  Fred,  I,  287. 

Root  &  Davis,  I,  217. 

Roper,  Eglantine  L.,  Ill,  764. 

Ropes,  L.  S.,  I,  766. 

Roscoe,  William  P.,  II,  221. 

Rosebud,  I,  821. 

Rosebud  County :  irrigation  in,  I,  609 ; 
description  of,  817 ;  formation  of,  819 ; 
natural  wealth,  820. 

Rosebud  mountain,  I,  91. 

Rosebud   Valley    (illustration),   I,  233. 

Rosedale  schools,  old  and  new  (illus- 
tration), I,  523. 

Rosetta,  Henry,  II,  191. 

Ross,  Alexander,  III,  784. 

Ross,  Carl  B.,  II,  144. 

Ross,  John  D.,  Ill,  736. 

Ross,  Robert  P.,  Ill,  1333. 

Rothwell,  Charles  F.,  II,  421. 

Rotwitt,  Louis,  I,  443. 

Roundup :  center  of  coal  fields  and  oil 
fields,  I,  795. 

Roundup  Public  Schools,  II,  583. 

Roundup  Record,   III,  991. 

Roundup  of  steers  and  horses,  I,  392. 

Rowe,  James  H.,  Ill,  993. 

Rowe,  J.  P.,  I,  238,  239. 

Rowe,  William,  III,  680. 

Rowley,  John  II,  41. 

Roy,  I,  717. 

Royal   Milling  Company,  I,  693. 

Ruby  range,  I,  91. 

Rudyard,  I,  744. 

Rue,  Alfred  W.,  Ill,  923. 

Rue,  Fred  W.,  Ill,  1107. 

Rue,  Jasper  S.,  Ill,  1105. 

Rue,  Leonard  E.,  Ill,  1064. 

Ruff,  Frank,  I,  223. 

Rugg,  Claude  C.,  Ill,   1418. 

Ruhle,  Raymond  L.,  II,  497. 

Runner,   F.  E.,  II,  294. 

Ruppel,    John   F.,  Ill,  841. 

Ruppel,  William,  III,  840. 

Russel,  Edward  C.,  Ill,  1361. 

Russell,  Charles  J.,  Ill,  1338. 

Russell,  C.  M.,  I,  320. 

Russell,  David  H.,  Ill,  1307. 


Russell,  Harry  J.,  II,  205. 
Russell,  Lillian  K.,  Ill,  1361. 
Rutherford,  H.  W.,  II,  466. 
Rutter,  John  H.,  Ill,  1040. 
Ryan,  C.  R.,  II,  240. 
Ryan,  John  D.,  Ill,   1055. 
Ryan,  Michael  J.,  Ill,  658. 
Ryan,  Patrick,  I,  282. 
Ryan,  William  C.,  II,  57. 
Ryerson,  Lloyd  H.,  II,  229. 
Ryniker,  Walter  E.,  II,  261. 
Ryon,  A.  M.,  I,  544,  547,  548. 

Sacajawea  (the  bird  woman),  I,  28,  48, 
50;  reunited  to  brother  and  girlhood 
companion,  55 ;  62,  64 ;  last  years  of, 
65- 

Sacajawea   memorial,    I,   783. 

Sacajawea  monument,  Armstead,  I,  672. 

Sacajawea  Park,  Missoula,  I,  785. 

Saco,  I,  588,  803. 

Sacred  Heart  Mission,  I,  154. 

St.   Ignatius,  I,  792. 

St.  Ignatius  Mission,  I,  151;  (new), 
157,  160. 

St.  John's  Catholic  Hospital,  Helena,  I, 
757- 

St.  Labre  Mission,  I,  162. 

St.  Louis :  center  of  fur  trade,  I,  137. 

St.   Mary  Parish,  Helena,  III,   1030. 

St.  Mary's  Mission:  founding  of,  I,  148; 
abandoned,  154. 

St.  Mary's  River,  I,  91 ;  St.  Paul's  Mis- 
sion, I,  162. 

St.  Peter's  Episcopal  Hospital,  I,  757. 

St.  Peter's  Mission,  I,  161,  162. 

St.  Phillip,  I,  848. 

St.  Regis,  I,  779. 

St.  Vincent's  Academy,  Helena,  I,  755. 

St.   Xavier  Mission,  I,    162. 

Salesville,  I,  729. 

Salish  tribe,  I,  142;  Christian  Sioux 
missionaries  to  the,  144. 

Saltese,  I,  779. 

Samson,  Jemima  A.,  Ill,  850. 

Sampling  Mills  of  Montana,  I,  380. 

Sampson,  Horace,  III,  846. 

Samson,  J.  A.,  Ill,  850. 

Sand  Coulee,  I,  241. 

Sand  Creek,  I,  777. 

Sandell,  Tom,  II,  364. 

Sanden,  Fred   S.,  I,  760;  III,  1443. 

Sanders,  I,  845. 

Sanders,  James  U.,  I,  283,  316. 

Sanders,  L.  P.,  II,  957. 

Sanders,  Wilbur  F.,  I,  243,  255,  257,  259, 
260,  273;  coming  of,  278;  281,  282, 
289,  291,  300,  on  death  of  General 
Meagher,  301 ;  316,  335,  421,  430,  433, 
434,  435,  444;  elected  U.  S.  Senator 
(1889),  446;  452;  death  of,  462;  me- 
morial to,  469;  558,  757,  760;  III,  956. 

Sanders  County:  irrigation  in,  I,  611; 
description  of,  821 ;  lumbering  and 
agriculture  in,  822. 

Sandles,  H.  P.,  II,  391. 

Sanner,  Sydney,  II,  550. 

Sanvik,  Ole,  III,  787. 

Sappington,  Henry  H.,  Ill,  807. 

Sappington,  Ruphema  J.,  Ill,  807. 

Sargent,  Charles  C.,  Ill,  933. 


INDEX 


xli 


Sargent,  F.  E.,  I,  548. 
Sarles,  Frederick  H.,  II,  496. 
Saunders,  John,  I,  185,  187. 
Savage,  M.,  II,  144. 
Saw     Mills     of     Montana:     established 
1898-1919    (see   towns   and   cities)    I, 
871-872. 

Schaefer,  Frank  M.,  Ill,  mi 
Schaefer,   Robert,   II,  82. 
Scheetz,  George,  III,  1324. 
Scheuch,  Frederick  C.,  I,  533,  543. 
Scheuch,  Frederick  G.,  I,  789. 
Schierts,  Peter,  II,  623. 
Schlechten,  Albert,   II,  308. 
Schmidt,  Jacob,  II,  485.    ' 
Schmidt,  Margaret,  II,  486. 
Schmit,  John  P.,  II,  173. 
Schmitz,  Fred  W.,  Ill,  678. 
Schmitz,  Stephen  A.,  II,  580. 
Schneider,  William  G.,  Ill,  972. 
Schoening,  Harry  A.,  Ill,  770. 
Schofield,  John  W.,  II,  425. 
Schofield,  Thomas  F.,  Ill,  1356. 
School    moneys   apportioned    (1921),    I, 

527. 

School  month  defined,  I,  527. 
School  of  Forestry,  I,  532,  789. 
School   of   Journalism,   I,   532,   789. 
School  of  Law  established,  I,  789. 
School  of  Mines:  location  and  buildings, 

I,  550. 

School  of    Pharmacy,   I,   532;    reorgan- 
ized, 789. 

Schoppe,  William  F.,  II,  414. 
Schrump,  August,   II,  585. 
Schuch,  J.  Harry,  II,  174. 
Schwachheim,  Aug.,  Ill,  985. 
Schwingel,  Albert  E.,  Ill,  832. 
Science  Hall,  I,  534. 
Scobey,  I,  708. 
Scott,  F.  P.,  Ill,  867. 
Scott,  James  S.,  II,  625. 
Scott,  Percival  D.,  II,  646. 
Scott,  Thomas  C.,  Ill,  1414. 
Scott,  William  J.,  Ill,  1325. 
Scotty,  Canadian  trader,  I,  175. 
Scovil,  John,  II,  504. 
Scovil,  J.  Ralph,  II,  35. 
Scovill,  C.  D.,  II,  420. 
Sears,  Edward,  II,  154. 
Sears,  Henry  F.,  II,  59. 
Sebree,  Howard,  I,  66q. 
Second     Infantry     Regiment,     Montana 
National     Guard:     in     the     miners' 
trouble,    I,    648;    in    border    troubles, 
649;  at  outbreak  of  World's  war,  650. 
Second      Infantry      Regiment,      United 
States  Volunteers,  I,  650;  overseas  at 
last,  651. 

Sederholm,  Charles  A.,  Ill,  823. 
Seed  House  of  Montana,  II,  2. 
Seel,  John,  III,  894. 
Selby,  Lloyd,  I,  327,  329,  332. 
Self,  James  M.,  II,  118. 
Selters,  J.  B.,  II,  78. 
Selway,  Delos  D.,  Ill,  1401. 
Selway,  John  L.,  Ill,  1017. 
Servis,   Francis   G.,   I,  423. 
Sessions,   H.   G.,  I,  249. 
Settergren,  G.  E.,  II,  143. 
Sevenich,  John  M.,  Ill,  1132. 


Severson,  Clarence  J.,  Ill    774. 

Sewell,  Walter  J.,  II,  573 

Shadoan,  J.  A.,   II,  40. 

Shafer,  Gordon  O.,  Ill,  827. 

Shanley,  Thomas  J.  B.,  II,  112. 

Shannon,  George,  I,  28. 

Shannon,  John  C,  III,  1199 

Sharp,  Ralph  A.,  II,  329. 

Sharpe,  L.  G.,  I,  415. 

Shattuck,  John  E.,  II,  639. 

Shaw,  Leon,  II,  161. 

Shawmut,  I,  848. 

Shears,  George,  I,  249. 

Sheehan,  James,   I,  208. 

Sheep:   raising  of,   I,  397,  399. 

Sheep  ranch   (illustration),  I,  683. 

Sheffield,  Edward,  I,  415. 

Shenefelt,   Monroe   P.,  Ill,  848. 

Shephard,  Harvey  R.,  Ill,  1277. 

Shepherd,   I,  856. 

Sheridan,  I,  771,  775. 

Sheridan,    Ruth,    II,    106. 

Sheridan  county:  created,  I,  474;  irriga- 
tion in,  611;  description  of,  824. 

Sheridan,   Charles   L.,   I,  642,  650,   661, 

869. 

Sherman,  Charles  H.,  Ill,  949, 
Sherman,  Frank  L.,  Ill,   1058. 
Sherman,  Nora  K.,  Ill,  819. 
Sherman,   Thomas   C.,   Ill,   1439. 
Sherman,  W.  P.,  Ill,  819. 
Sherrill,   Albert,  III,   1216. 
Sherwood,  J.  W.,  I,  696. 
Sheuerman,  .A.  A.,  II,  162. 
Shiell,  Robert  G.,  Ill,  1291. 
Shields,  John,  I,  28,  51,  52. 
Shipley,  Whitfield,  II,  181. 
Shipley,  William  H.,  II,  571. 
Shippam,  John,  III,   1001. 
Shippee,  Irvin  L.,  Ill,  1134. 
Shirley,  I,  703. 
Shoaf,   Harriet,   III,   871. 
Shober,  John  H.,  I,  316;  u,  641. 
Shoper,   John   H.,   I,   415,  422. 
Shore,  Will  B.,  II,  269. 
Shorey,  B.  G.,  II,  394. 
Short,   George   N.,   II,   502. 
Shorthill,   Robert   D.,   II,   72. 
Shoshones    (Snake    Indians),   Lewis   in 

touch  with,  I,  53 ;  57. 
Shreveport   (Missouri  river  steamboat), 

I,  178,  179. 

Sibbits,  William,  III,  891. 
Sidney,  I,  814. 
Siegel,   Victor,   II,   553. 
Sigafoos,   Josiah   J.,   Ill,   1425. 
Silver  Bow  City,  I,  223,  372. 
Silver  Bow  county:  as  a  copper  producer, 

I,  384;   number  and   value   of   cattle, 
(1884),   395;    created,  408;    irrigation 

in   611 ;    county   and   city   almost   co- 
extensive, 827;  early  history  of  min- 
ing in,  828;  created,  834. 
Silver  Bow  Creek:   mines  along,  I,  213; 

223. 

Silver  issue  of  1896,  I,  452. 
Silver   Lake,   I,   713. 
Silver  mining:  first  in  Montana,  I,  237; 

rise  of,  I,  372-375- 
Silverthorn,  John,  I,  185,  186. 
Simineo,  Joseph   S.,  II,  208. 


xlii 


INDEX 


Simmons,  A.  J.,  I,  311. 

Simmons,  Hubert  A.,  II,  69. 

Simmons,  Louis,  I,  199. 

Simmons,  Otto  J.,   II,   188. 

Simms,  Samuel,  III,  885. 

Simms,  Susan,  III,  886. 

Simonson,  Charles  C,  II,  277. 

Simpkins,  Justin  C,  III,   1008. 

Simpson,  Charles  M.,  Ill,  1360. 

Simpson,  Joseph  B.,  Ill,  1232. 

Simpson,  T.  W.,  Ill,   1178. 

Sioux,  I,  308;  checked  at  "The  Palace 
of  Skulls,"  308-310;  342. 

Sioux  National  Forest,  I,  624. 

Sisson,   Edward,  II,  565. 

Sisson,  Edward  O. :  sketch  of,  I,  533; 
789. 

Sitting  Bull  (Sioux  Chief),  I,  345,  346; 
again  troublesome,  347;  357,  358;  in 
British  America,  359;  362,  366. 

Skelton,  William,  III,  1295. 

Skillen,  William,   III,  915. 

Skillman,  Charles  N.,  II,  264. 

Skinner,  Cyrus,  I,  249. 

Skinner,  Harry  J.,  II,  495. 

Sklower,  Emanuel,  III,  961. 

Sklower,  Max,  III,  961. 

Skyltead,  Olaf  G.,  Ill,  752. 

Slade,  J.  A.,  I,  269,  270,  271,  272;  last 
days  of,  Beidler's  account,  273. 

Slater,  Peter,  I,  223. 

Slattery,  John  L.,  I,  868;  III,  1218. 

Slayton,  Daniel  W.,   Ill,   1345. 

Sleight,  Frederick  S.,  Ill,  909. 

Sligh,  James  M.,  II,  300. 

Sloan,  Mrs.  M.  A.,  I,  721. 

Smart,  Forrest  V.,  Ill,  1161. 

Smart,  Oscar  G.,  Ill,  1160. 

Small,  Nellie  B.,  II,  493. 

Smelters,  concentrators  and  cyanide 
plants  of  Montana :  established  1889- 
1919  (see  towns  and  cities),  I,  872, 
873. 

Smiley,  George  E.,  II,  501. 

Smith,  Albert  K.,  II,  369. 

Smith,  Andrew  J.,  I,  282,  758,  760. 

Smith,  Donald  A.,  I,  561. 

Smith,  F.  E.,  I,  721. 

Smith,  George  H.,  I,  192,  196. 

Smith,  Glen  A.,  II,  452. 

Smith,  Green  Clay,  succeeds  Governor 
Edgerton,  I,  300;  resigns  governor- 
ship, 314;  415,  868. 

Smith,  J.  Gregory,  I,  559. 

Smith,  Harry  M.,  Ill,  788. 

Smith,  Henry  E.,  II,  170. 

Smith,  Henry  T.,  Ill,  1266. 

Smith,  H.  P.  A.,  I,  219. 

Smith,   I.   C.,   I,  218. 

Smith,  James,   II,   198. 

Smith,  James  C.,  Ill,   1160. 

Smith,  Jedediah  S.,  I,  108,  in. 

Smith,  Lewis  A.,  II,  516. 

Smith,  Napoleon  B.,  Ill,  949. 

Smith,   N.  B.,  II,  227. 

Smith,  Paul,  III,  859. 

Smith,  Robert,  I,  44. 

Smith,  Robert  A.,  I,  454. 

Smith,  Robert  B.,  I,  451;  sketch  of, 
452;  457- 

Smith,  Robert  E.,  I,  868. 


Smith,  Richard  F.,  II,  1039. 

Smith,  Yard,  II,  239. 

Smith,  Veva,  III,  1093. 

Smith,  Wallace  P.,  II,  458. 

Smith,  Walter  S.,  II,  203. 

Smith,  William  B.,  Jr.,  Ill,  1202. 

Smith,  William  N.,  Ill,  666. 

Smith,  W.  Egbert,  I,  496. 

Smith,  W.  P.,  II,  12. 

Smith-Highes  Act,  I,  545. 

Smith's  River,  I,  44. 

Snake  Indians,   I,   28,  48,  50. 

Snake   (Lewis)    River,  I,  58. 

Snell,  Charles  H.,  I,  758,  760. 

Snell,  George  E.,  II,  250. 

Snellbacher,  J.  W.,  II,  203. 

Snidow,  Thomas  A.,  II,  218. 

Snow  Creek  Game  Preserve,  I,  735. 

Snow  Mountains,  I,  42. 

Snow  Storm  Mine,  I,  375. 

Snowden,  J.  C.,  I,  732. 

Snyder,  Clayton  E.,  I,  661. 

Snyder,  Rudolph,  I,  868. 

Snyder,  Willard  F.,  Ill,  1099. 

Society  of  Montana  Pioneers,  I,  316- 
320. 

Soden,  Jack  E.,  II,  646. 

Soderlind,  Will  J.,  II,  43. 

Soft  drinks  and  cereal  beverages  manu- 
factured :  see  towns  and  cities,  I,  874. 

Solberg,  Inga,  II,  415. 

Solberg,  J.  S.,  II,  60. 

Soldiers'  Home,  Columbia  Falls :  classes 
of  inmates  in,  I,  484,  725. 

Somers,  I;  725. 

Somerville,  John,  I,  210;  names  Helena, 

211,   212. 

Sonstelie,  Carl  J.,  I,  661. 

Souders,  Samuel  M.,  II,  234. 

Southmayd,  LeRoy,  II,  532. 

South  Pass :  Bonneville  and  Bridger  go 
through,  I,  114. 

Spanish-American  War,  Montana  in  the, 
I,  643-48. 

Spanish  Creek,  Gallatin  county  (illus- 
tration), I,  106. 

Spanish  Fork  (Deer  Lodge),  I,  222. 

Sparks,  Franklin  F.,  Ill,  1096. 

Spear,  Charles,  II,  303. 

Spear,  J.  M.,  I,  433. 

Specht,  Joseph,  I,  147. 

Spectacular  mine,  I,  379. 

Speer,  James  W.,  Ill,  833. 

Speer,  Owen  D.,  II,  419. 

Spencer,  Almon  C.,  II,  166. 

Spencer,  Gideon  K.,  Ill,  947. 

Spencer,  John  T.,  II,  378. 

Spion  Kop,  I,  609. 

Spivey,  Henry,  I,  257. 

Spogen,   Dominic,   III,  712. 

Spooner,  Armon  C.,  Ill,   1207. 

Spooner,  Henry  R.,  Ill,  701. 

Spotted  Tail  (Indian  Sioux  Chief),  I, 
345. 

Spottswood,  William  C.,  II,  326. 
Sprague,  J.  E.,  I,  725. 
Spratt,  James  G.,  I,  289,  415,  422. 
Spread    Eagle    (Missouri    river    steam- 
boat), I,  178,  179. 
Spring,  L.  H.,  II,   168. 
Sproule,  G.  B.,  I,  459. 


INDEX 


xliii 


Spurling,  James  E.,  II,  370. 

Square  Butte,  I,  702. 

Stafford,  W.  M.,  I,  289. 

Stage  Coach,  early  day  (illustration),  I, 

557- 

Stage  lines :  overland  and  state,  I,  556. 
Stager    (George   N.)    and  Company,   I, 

219. 

Stagg,  J.  P.,   II,  398. 
Stahl,  John  W.,  Ill,  789. 
Stallion  Registration  Board,  I,  530. 
Stalmann,  Otto,  I,  376. 
Stanford,   I,  723. 

Stanley,  David  S.,  I,  309,  345,  346. 
Stanley,  Henry  H.,  II,  607. 
Stanley,   Reginald,   I,  210. 
Stapleton,  Arthur   A.,   II,    114. 
Stapleton,   George   W.,  I,  219,  336;   II, 

544- 

Stapleton,  Wash,  I,  207. 
Stark,  Roy  A.,  II,  409. 
State  Accident  Insurance  and  Disability 

Fund  created,  I,  465. 
State    Arid    Land    Grant    Commission 

created,  I,  452,  453,  454. 
State    Athletic    Commission    created,    I, 

476. 
State   Board   for  Vocational   Education, 

co-operation    with    federal    board,    I, 

527. 
State  Board  of  Agriculture  created,  I, 

453- 
State  Board  of  Commissioners  for  the 

Insane  created,  I,  476. 
State  Board  of  Dairy  Commission  Ex- 
aminers, I,  530. 
State  Board  of  Education,  I,  468,  475; 

first  meeting  at  Bozeman,  544. 
State    Board    of    Educational    Examin- 
ers, first,  I,  511,  530. 
State  Board  of  Entomology  created,  I, 

476. 
State  Board  of  Hail  Insurance  created, 

I,  483. 

State  Board  of  Health,  I,  477,  484. 
State    Board    of    Land    Commissioners 

created,  I,  469,  577. 
State  Board  of   Poultry  Husbandry,  I, 

403,  530. 

State  Board  of  Veterinary  Medical  Ex- 
aminers established,  I,  476. 
State    Bureau    Mines    and    Metallurgy, 

paper    on    ore    sampling,    I,   371,    529, 

549- 

State  Capitol  Commission,  I,  452,  453. 

State  Capitol  contest,  I,  441. 

State  Chemist,  I,  530. 

State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Me- 
chanic Arts,  I,  532. 

State  Constitution  of  1889,  I,  439. 

State  Dairy  Commission,  I,  476. 

State  Department  of  Agriculture  and 
Publicity:  report  on  dairying,  I,  401. 

State  Entomologist,  I,  530. 

State  Fire  Warden  created,  I,  464. 

State  Fish  Hatchery  established,  I,  482. 

State  Grain  Inspector,  I,  530. 

State  Grain  Laboratory,  I,  476. 

State  Highway  Commission :  created,  I, 
475 ;  divides  state  into  twelve  districts, 
483;  biennial  report  of,  1919-1920,  571; 


functions  of,  569,  570,  572;  revenues 
and  expenditures  (1920),  575. 

State  Highway  funds  authorized,  I,  484. 

State  Highway  System,  I,  574. 

State  Historical  Library,  I,  324,  760. 

State  Industrial  School  for  Boys'  I 
703,  704- 

State  Insane  Asylum :  ordered  by  State 
I,  479- 

State  Institutions,  I,  869. 

State  Lands  :  State  Board  of  Land  Com- 
missioners custodians  of,  I,  577;  re- 
ceipts from  all  sources  (1889-1920), 
578,  579,  58o. 

State  Legislative  Assemblies:  first,  I, 
446;  second,  448;  third,  450;  fourth, 
45i;  fifth  and  sixth,  453;  seventh, 
457;  eighth,  459;  ninth,  462;  tenth, 
463;  eleventh,  465;  twelfth,  469;  thir- 
teenth, 470 ;  fourteenth,  477 ;  fifteenth, 
480;  sixteenth,  483;  seventeenth,  486; 
Special  Session  of  1921,  491. 

State  Live  Stock  Commission,  I,  477. 

State  Live  Stock  Sanitary  Board,  I, 
464. 

State  Motor  Vehicle  Law,  I,  475. 

State  Normal  College,  I,  529,  532,  669. 

State  Orphans'  Home,  I,  554,  775. 

State  Parole  Commissioner,  I,  475. 

State  Prison:  Deer  Lodge,  I,  453. 

State  Reform  School:  established,  I, 
5oo;  553. 

State  School  for  Deaf,  Dumb  and 
Blind:  established,  I,  500,  745,  746. 

State  School  Funds,  I,  521. 

State  School  Lands,  I,  498,  499. 

State  School  of  Mines :  established,  I, 
500,  528,  529,  532,  831. 

State  Tax  Commission:  created,  I,  474; 
act  repealed,  478. 

State  Text  Book  Commission :  estab- 
lished, I,  500. 

State  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium :  ordered 
by  State,  I,  479. 

State  University,  Missoula,  I,  528,  529, 
532;  (illustration),  533;  history  of, 
534,  535,  536;  buildings  of,  536;  Col- 
lege of  Arts  and  Sciences,  537;  de- 
partments of,  537-43 ;  Reserve  Officers' 
Training  Corps,  538;  School  of  Busi- 
ness Administration,  538;  School  of 
Journalism,  539 ;  School  of  Forestry, 
539;  Public  School  Music,  540;  School 
of  Law,  540;  School  of  Pharmacy, 
541;  Library  and  Museum,  542;  Bu- 
reau of  Information,  543;  Honor 
Scholarships  and  Prizes,  543;  College 
buildings,  546;  787-789;  (illustration), 
788. 

State  Vocational  School  for  Girls, 
Helena:  established,  I,  484;  757. 

Staunton,  Michael  D.,  II,  584.. 

Steamboat  trip  from  Fort  Union  to 
Fort  Benton  (1862),  I,  178. 

Steamboats  in  Western  Montana,  first, 
I,  556. 

Steele,  George,  I,  215. 

Steele,   Lawrence  W.,   II,  282. 

Steele,  William  L.,  I,  316. 

Steer  feeding  in  Beaverhead  county 
(illustration),  I,  668. 


xliv 


INDEX 


Steere,  E.  A.,  I,  500. 

Stennes,  Odin  T.,  Ill,  778. 

Stephan,  Walter  H.,  II,  348. 

Stephen,  George,  I,  561. 

Stephens,  John  H.,  II,  124. 

Stephens,  W.  J.,  I,  422. 

Stephenson,  Andrew  P.,  II,  14. 

Stephenson,  Sam,  III,  1031. 

Sterling,  A.  M.,  II,  508. 

Sterling,  Frederick  T.,  II,  349- 

Stevens,  Benjamin  F.,  Ill,  9% 

Stevens,  Benjamin  T.,  II,  654. 

Stevens,  Harry  A.,  II,  247. 

Stevens,  Isaac  I.,  I,  158,  159,  687. 

Stevens,  Jesse  H.,  Ill,  871. 

Stevens,  Lawrence  S.,  II,  137. 

Stevens,  Melzer  N.,  Ill,  1230. 

Stevens   Government   expedition    (1853- 

54),  I,  158. 

Stevenson,  Albert  M.,  Ill,  1024. 
Stevenson,  Lon  C.,  Ill,  1086. 
Stevenson     Co-operative     Creamery,     I, 

403- 

Stevensville,  I,  225,  792,  811,  812. 

Stewart,  Charles  T.,  I,  869. 

Stewart,  David,  III,  721. 

Stewart,  John  A.,  Ill,  721. 

Stewart,  Katherine  L.,  II,  586. 

Stewart,  Lon  S.,  II,  1086. 

Stewart,  Samuel  S.,  Ill,  777- 

Stewart,  Samuel  V.,  sketch  of,  I,  472; 
868;  III,  878. 

Stickney,  Ben,  Jr.,  I,  757. 

Stiefel,  Edward  A.,  II,  270. 

Stiehl,  Frank  J.,   Ill,   1129. 

Stierle,  Charles,  III,  753. 

Stiles,  John  M.  S.,  II,  261. 

Stillinger,  C.  A.,  Ill,  1277. 

Stillwater  county:  created,  I,  474;  irri- 
gation in,  611;  description  of,  839. 

Stimpert,  Adam,  II,  611. 

Stinkwater  river,  I,  222,  230,  231. 

Stinson,  Buck,  I,  242,  249;  execution  of, 
264,  332.  . 

Stivers,   Daniel   Gay,  I,  643;   II,  594. 

Stockett,  I,  699. 

Stocking,  Margaret,  II,  586. 

Stocking,  Winfield   S.,   II,  586. 

Stoddard,  Amos,  I,  27. 

Stoddard,  Fred  C,  II,  23. 

Stoddard,  O.  F.,  I,  452. 

Stodden,  William  T.,  II,  418. 

Stoebe,  Herman,  III,  1262. 

Stoebe,  Samuel,  III,  1263. 

Stoebe,  William,  III,  1263. 

Stohr,  August  C.,  Ill,  1109. 

Stoller,  Jacob,  III,  1389. 

Stone,  A.  L.,  I,  321 ;   II,  346. 

Stone,  Elbert  H.,  Ill,  705. 

Stone,  Franklin  L.,  II,  38. 

Story,  Nelson,   Jr.,   I,  869;   II,  85. 

Story,  Nelson,   Sr.,  I,  322,  544,  547. 

Story,   N.,   I,  217. 

Stout,  Charles  O.,  II,  79. 

Stout,  Tom:  sketch  of,  I,  471. 

Strasburger,  Herman,  II,  546. 

Straszer,  Walter  C.,  II,  194. 

Straw,  I,  717. 

Strevell,  J.  W.,  I,  433. 

Strever,  William  J.,  II,  196. 

Strickland,  O.  F.,  I,  289. 

Stringham,  Harry  C.,  II,  214. 


Stripp,  Albert  E.,  II,  154. 

Strobel,  Roger  L.,  Ill,   1122. 

Strode,  Thomas  P.,  Ill,  1233. 

Strong,  William  G.,  I,  840. 

Stroup,  Charles  E.,  II,  223. 

Stryker,  R.  N.,  II,  321. 

Stryker,  William,   II,  40. 

Stuart,  Granville,  I,  5;  161,  186,  187,  199, 

221,  222,  226,  282,  283,  316,  322,  395 ; 

appointed  State  Historian ;  his  death, 

482. 
Stuart,  James,  I,   135;    (portrait),   136; 

161,   186;   commences  to   study  medi- 
cine, 189;  igp,  192;  saves  party  from 

Crow  Indians,  193;  locates  Big  Horn 

town,  195 ;  197,  199,  209,  221,  226,  282 ; 

death  of,  311 ;  312;  798. 
Stuart,  Thomas,  I,  221. 
Stuart  and  Anderson,  I,  395. 
Stuart    Brothers :    early    years    of,    and 

coming  to  Montana,  I,  186,  188 ;  mine 

in  the  spring  of   1862,   189;  200,  213, 

224,  243. 
Stuart  expedition :  attacked  by  Crows,  I, 

195-198. 
Stuart's  first  Yellowstone  expedition,  I, 

192-199. 
Stuart's  second  Yellowstone  expedition, 

I,  209. 

Stubban,  Edward,  III,  887. 
Stufft,  W.  F.,  Ill,  1304. 
Sturgis,  S.  D.,  I,  362. 
Sublette,   Milton,  I,   108,   120. 
Sublette,  William,  I,  108,  in,  120. 
Sudar,  Joseph,  II,  390. 
Sugar    Beets    for    the    Billings    factory 

(illustration),  I,  857. 
Sulgrove,  Leslie,  I,  758,  760. 
Sulier,  Alfred  J.,  Ill,  1097. 
Sullivan,  Ambrose,  III,  698. 
Sullivan,  Andrew  J.,  II,  615. 
Sullivan,  Fred  D.,  Ill,  758. 
Sullivan,  Jeremiah,  III,  746. 
Sullivan,  Nellie  C.,  II,  440. 
Sully,    Alfred,    his    Sioux   campaign    of 

1864,   I,  292-98. 
Sumatra,  I,  821. 
Summer,  Milton,  I,  851. 
Summer  Schools,  I,  515. 
Summers,  H.  L.,  II,  92. 
Summit    Mountain    Mining    District,    I, 

223. 

Summit  Valley  District,  I,  222. 
Sun  Dance  of  the  Piegans  (illustration), 

I,  169. 
Sun  River,  I,  229;  reclamation  project, 

587,  589. 

Sun  River  Valley,  I,  749. 
Sunset,  I,  790. 
Superior,  I,  778. 
Sutherland,  Elizabeth,  I,  511. 
Sutter,  Julian  A.,  II,  95. 
Sutton,  Lucian  H.,  II,  147. 
Sutton,  Roy  E.,  Ill,  1386. 
Swain,  Henry  H.,  I,  528. 
Swan,  Lon  T.,  II,  240. 
Swan,  William  J.,  Ill,  957. 
Swanberg,  Hugo  H.,  II,  440. 
Swandal,  Austin,  II,  375. 
Swaney,  A.  W.,  Ill,  1275. 
Swaney,  Mary  A.,  Ill,  1276. 


INDEX 


xlv 


Swartz,  John  J.,  Ill,  1217. 

Swearingen,  John  R.,  II,  202. 

Sweat,  John  A.,  Ill,  750. 

Sweat,  Ruth,  III,  750. 

Swee,  John  P.,  II,  403. 

Sweeney,  Bill,  I,  206,  209. 

Sweet,  Chester  W.,  Ill,  1433. 

Sweet,  S.  C,  II,  482. 

Sweet,  William  T.,  II,  482. 

Sweet,  William  T.,  Sr.,  II,  481. 

Sweet    Grass    county:    created,    I,    452; 

irrigation  in,  612;  description  of,  840; 

farming  and  stock  raising,  841. 
Sweetland,  Levi  H.,  Ill,  870. 
Sweetman,  Luke  D.,  Ill,  907. 
Sweetman,  Richard  H.,  Ill,  907. 
Sweitzer,  E.  C,  II,  204. 
Swenson,  Christian  T.,  II,  54- 
Swindlehurst,  W.  J.,  I,  489. 
Swine  raising,  I,  400. 
Switzer,  J.  Bertram,  III,  942. 
Switzer,  Lew,  III,  964. 
Sworder,  William,  II,  273. 
Sybert,  Edward  M.,  II,  245. 
Symes,  George  G.,  I,  418,  419,  422. 
Symmes,  Weymouth  D.,  II,  209. 

Taber,  Charles  B.,  Ill,  1314. 

Taffner,  Clarence,  III,  1377. 

Talcott,  E.  H.,  I,  547- 

Talkington,  Henry  C.,  I,  321. 

Tallman,  William  D.,  II,  79. 

Tanner,  Franklin  D.,  Ill,  1330. 

Tattan,   John  W.,   II,  461. 

Taylor,  Cecil  E.,  Ill,  973. 

Taylor,  Don  C.,  II,  68. 

Taylor,  George  H.,  Ill,  1039. 

Taylor,  Thomas  T.,  II,  155- 

Taylor,  Thompson  &  Company,  I,  219. 

Taylor,  William   H.,   II,   578. 

Tbalt,  Nicholas,  I,  254,  255. 

Teachers'  Institutes,   I,  497. 

Teachers'  Retirement  law,  I,  511. 

Telyea,   Ned  A.,   II,   199. 

Templeman,  John  L.,  II,  400. 

Templeton,  H.  A.,  I,  696. 

Ten  Haf,  P.  A.,  I,  732. 

Tennis,  Albert  L.,  Ill,  1182. 

Terrace,  I,  777. 

Territorial  capital  fixed,  I,  422. 

Territorial  Judges   (illustration),  I,  428. 

Territorial  Teachers'  Association,  I,  497. 

Terry,   I,  810. 

Terry,  Alfred  H.,  I,  347,  353,  356,  358, 

359- 

Terwilliger,  Lewis,  II,  234. 

Teton  county:  created,  I,  442,  451;  irri- 
gation in,  612;  description  of,  842. 

Teton  irrigation  project,  I,  584- 

Teton  ridge,  I,  91. 

Teton   River,   I,   229. 

Thaler,  Joseph  A.,  II,  43L 

Theade,  August,  III,  H94- 

Theodore  Roosevelt  International  High- 
way, I,  744- 

Theony,  I,  846. 

Thex,  Charles  H.,  Ill,  1084. 

Thien,  Henry,  III,  986. 

Thomas,  Alfred  L.,  II,  39- 

Thomas,  Arthur,  II,  507. 

Thomas,  Ernest  W.,  Ill,  1190. 

Thomas,  John  P.,  I,  316. 


Thomas,  M.  T.,  I,  292. 
Thomas,  Owen  J.,  II,  246. 
Thomas,  Robert  E.,  Ill,  1176. 
Thomas,  Theodore  H.,  II,  120. 
Thompson,  Carl  N.,   Ill,   1240. 
Thompson,  Frank  M.,  I,  282. 
Thompson,  Frederick.  W.,  Ill,  764. 
Thompson,  Harry  M.,  II,  1322. 
Thompson,  John,  III,  790. 
Thompson,  John  B.,  I,  28. 
Thompson,  Peter,  III,  1190. 
Thompson,  Rufus  B.,  II,  137. 
Thompson,  T.  A.,  Ill,  1141. 
Thompson,  William,  I,  219. 
Thompson,  William  ^3.,  I,  773. 
Thompson  Falls,  I,  824. 
Thomson,  George  C.,  Ill,  837. 
Thorkelson,  Jacob,  II,  365. 
Thornton,  Charles  C.,  II,  342. 
Thoroughman,  Robt.  P.,  Ill,  729. 
Thoroughman,  Thomas,  I,  282,  289,  291, 

415. 

Thorson,  George,  III,  660. 
Three  Buttes,  I,  229. 
Three  Forks,  I,  729. 
Three    Forks    Consolidated    School,   II, 

170. 
Three  Forks  Mill  &  Elevator  Company, 

III,  1050. 
Three    Forks    of    the    Missouri,    Clark 

reaches  the,  I,  46;    (illustration),  47; 

89- 
Three  Forks  Portland  Cement  Company, 

I,  719,  720. 

Three  Forks  Post  abandoned,  I,  104. 
Three-thousand-mile  Island,  I,  52. 
Thurber,  Charles  D.,  II,  307. 
Thurmond,  J.,   I,  249. 
Tiegen,  I,  717. 

Tilly,  George  H.,  death  of,  I,  644- 
Tilzey,  Harold  C.,  II,  139. 
Timber  on  the  State  lands :  regulation 

of,  I,  484- 

Timmons,  Jacob  C.,  II,  630. 
Tingley,  Robert  S.,  Ill,  667. 
Tinklepaugh,  Albert,  II,  146. 
Tinsley,  Basil,  III,  1197. 
Tobacco    Plains,   I,    172;    dispute   as   to 

ownership,  175. 
Tobacco  Root,  I,  91. 
Tobinski,  John  J.,  I,  786;  II,  441. 
Todd,  Calvin,  III,  1235. 
Tolle,  Arthur,  II,  490. 
Toole,  Edwin  W.,  I,  282. 
Toole,   E.  W.,   I,  421. 
Toole,  E.  Warren,  I,  430,  433,  443- 
Toole,  Joseph  K.,  I,  378,  409,  4*9,  422, 

431,  441,  443;   sketch  of,  443;    (por- 
trait), 444;  457,  46o,  858. 
Toole    county:    irrigation    in,    I,    613; 

description  of,  843. 
Tope,  Joseph  C.,  Ill,  131 1- 
Torgrimson,  Henry  A.,   II,  295. 
Toston,  I,  676. 
Totman,  James  E.,  II,  534- 
Tourists'  Park,  Billings,  I,  853. 
Tourtlotte,   Ira  B.,   II,  597- 
Town  Gulch,  Butte,  I,  223. 
Town  of  Poison   (illustration),  I,  724. 
Townsend,  I,  676. 
Tracht,  Simon  J.,  Ill,  695. 


xlvi 


INDEX 


Tracy,  John  J.,  II,  1138. 
Tracy,  Mortimer  O.,  Ill,  1357. ' 
Trandum,  Einar  H.,  Ill,  1349. 

Transportation :  McKenzie  inaugurates 
steamboat  navigation  on  the  Yellow- 
stone, I,  113;  river,  by  mackinaw  boat, 
137;  first  steamboat  arrives  at  Fort 
Union,  138. 

Travelers'  Rest  Creek,  I,  58,  61. 

"Travels  in  the  Interior  of  America" 
(Bradbury),  I,  69. 

Travis,  James,  III,  670. 

Travis,   Jane,    III,   671. 

Travona,  I,  371,  373. 

Treasure  county:  irrigation  in,  I,  613; 
description  of,  844. 

Tregloan,  Thomas  D.,  II,  404. 

Trepp,  Michael,  III,  1359. 

Trevillion,  Samuel  J.,  II,  537. 

Trident,  I,  729. 

Trinder,  Charles  R.,  Ill,  784. 

Trodick,  Alfred  J.,  Ill,  702. 

Trott,  Charlie  T.,  II,  192. 

Trout  Creek,  I,  824. 

Trower,  J.  H.,  II,  119. 

Troy,  I,  770. 

Truax,  Charles  S.,  II,  423. 

Truitt,  L.  W.,  Ill,  1178. 

Trumper,  May,  I,  502;  biennial  report 
for  1920,  503-528;  5ii,  528,  869;  II, 
622. 

Truscott,  John  B.,  II,  157. 

Trusler,  Harvey  S.,  Ill,   1268. 

Tubbs,  Charles  C,  III,  900. 

Tucker,  Frank  F.,  II,  49. 

Tucker,  Roscoe  V.,  Ill,  1042. 

Tullock,  A.  J..  I,  127,  140,  141. 

Tuohy,  William  M.,  II,  516. 

Tuolumne  Mining  Co.,  I,  836. 

Turk,  John  C.,  I,  415. 

Turk,  J.  C.,  I,  289. 

Turnbull,  William  N.,  II,  474. 

Turner,  Charles  F.,  Ill,  1023. 

Turner,  Harry  W.,  II,  542. 

Tutt,  G.,  I,  222. 

Tuttle,  Arthur,  III,  663. 

Tweedie,  J.  Andrew,  III,  967. 

Twin  Bridges,  I,  771,  775. 

Twin  Buttes  Game  Preserve,  I,  749. 

Twining,  W.  R.,  II,  636. 

Two  Dot,  I,  848. 

Tyler,    Clayton    H.,    Ill,    1156. 

Tyler,  Reginald  G.,  Ill,  1164. 

Tyner,  Frank  J.,  Ill,  930. 

Tyson,  Harry  B.,  Ill,  946. 

Ueland,  Andrew,  III,  902. 

Ueland,  Justus  L.,  Ill,   1180. 

Ueland,  Rasmus  R.,  Ill,  805. 

Uehlinger,  John  E.,   Ill,  854. 

Ulm,  William  M.,  Ill,  684. 

Ulmer,  I,  703. 

Underground  mines  at  Butte,  I,  836. 

Underwood,   Drewyer,   I,   192,   196,    197. 

Union  Central  Pacific  Railroad,  I,  559. 

Union  Pacific  System,  I,  558,  559. 

Unionville  mining  district,  $4,110,000,  I, 

766. 
United  States  Assay  Office,  Helena,  I, 

763. 


United  States  Government  Fish  Hatch- 
ery, Bridger  Canyon,  I,  732. 

United  States  Gypsum  Company,  I,  720. 

United  States  officials  (June,  1921),  I, 
868. 

United  States  Reclamation  enterprises 
defined,  I,  590. 

United  States  Reclamation  Service : 
work  of  the,  I,  585-90. 

United  States  Senatorial  election  made 
popular,  I,  476. 

United  States  Senatorship :  contest  over 
(1889),  I,  445-58. 

United  States  Volunteer  Cavalry 
(Rough  Riders),  I,  643. 

University  Hall,  I,  534. 

University  of  Montana:  foundation  laid, 
I,  496,  500;  under  supervision  of  State 
Board  of  Education,  528;  origin  and 
scope,  529;  results  of  unified  adminis- 
tration, 530;  student  enrollments,  532; 
consolidation  of,  544. 

Upper  Geyser  Basin,  Yellowstone  Park, 
I,  118. 

Upper  Stillwater  Lake,  Blackfeet  Na- 
tional Forest  (illustration),  I,  622. 

Upton,  John,  I,  209. 

Utah  &  Northern  (Union  Pacific)  Rail- 
road, I,  375,  407;  extends  into  Mon- 
tana, 558. 

Vagg,  Harry  A.,  II,  256. 

Valencia,  I,  848. 

Valier  irrigation  project,  I,  583. 

Valiton,  Ribot  J.,  II,  149. 

Valley  county:  alfalfa  (illustration),  I, 
401 ;  county  created,  443,  451 ;  irriga- 
tion in,  613;  description  of,  845. 

Valley  of  Sin-Yal-min,  I,  157. 

Van,  John,  III,   1248. 

Vananda,  I,  821. 

Vanatta,  Frank  C.,  Ill,  822. 

van  den  Broeck,  Victor  J.,  II,  26. 

Vanderbilt,  John,  I,  192,  209. 

vander  Pauwert,  John,  III,  1384. 

Van  Duzen  Company,  I,  877. 

Van  Duzen  Oil  Company,   I,  388. 

Van  Etten,  Lee  M.,  II,  519. 

Van  Laken,  Peter  J.,  II,  57. 

Vannett,  Alba  M.,  Ill,  1423. 

Van  Vorous,  Benjamin,  III,  1147. 

Varco,  C.  Earl,  III,  1074. 

Vaughan,  A.  J.,  I,  163,   167. 

Vaughan,  Patrick,  I,  306. 

Vaughn,  L.  H.,  II,  296. 

Vaughn,  Robert,  I,  392. 

Veach,  F.  L,  III,  1050. 

Veblen,  Thorkel  A.,  II,  433. 

Verendrye,  Pierre  de  La,  I,  father  and 
sons,  4,  5,  6,  7,  8;  discovers  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  9,  10;  last  years  of,  I,  u. 

Verona  Town  Company :  records,  site  of 
Virginia  City,  I,  217. 

Veterans'  Welfare  Commission,  I,  488. 

Vezina,  William  R.,  Ill,  1162. 

Viall,  John  D.,  Ill;  1408. 

Vickers,  Robert,   I,  773;   III,  714. 

Victor  (Salish  chief),  I,  157. 

Victor,  I,  792,  812. 

Vida,  I,  777. 

Vigilante  Trail,  I,  771. 


INDEX 


xlvii 


"Vigilantes  in  Montana"   (Dimsdale),  I, 

217,  243,  247,  261,  275. 
Vigilantes   of   Montana,  I,  242-277;  or- 
ganization of,  260;  last  work  of,  275, 

276,  277. 

Vilas,  J.  C,   II,  269. 
Villard,  Henry,  I,  560. 
Vincelette,  Azarias  G.,   Ill,  1385. 
Virginia  City:  founding  of   (Blake),  I, 

216;     incorporated,     220;     232,     298; 

fourth  and   fifth   Assemblies  at,  312; 

3335    territorial    capital    contest,    422; 

771;   of   today,  772-75- 
Virginia  City  Gas  Company,  I,  286. 
Virginia   City  Water   Company,   I,  285, 

773. 

Vivion  county  organized,  I,  469. 
Vocational  education,  I,  545. 
Vocational  work,  I,  516. 
Vollum,  Alfred  T.,  Ill,  814. 
Volstead,  Andrew  J.,  I,  490. 
Volstead  Act,  I,  490. 
Volunteer    Signal    Corps,    Montana,    I, 

643,  644. 

von  Dachenhausen,  A.,  II,  545. 
Von  Eschen,  Frank,  II,  228. 

Waber,  Julius,  III,   1012. 

Wachholz,  John,  III,  1440. 

Wade,  Decius  S.,  I,  404,  412;  service  as 

chief  justice,  419;  421,  427;  (portrait), 

428;  retires  as  chief  justice,  430;  434. 
Wade,  D.  S.,  I,  758,  760. 
Wade,  John,  I,  581. 
Wagenbreth,  Charles  J.,  Ill,  1396. 
Wagnild,  Otto,  III,  751. 
Wagoner,    John    (Dutch),    I,   249,    263; 

execution  of,  268;  334. 
Wait,  Mrs.  Guy,  I,  721. 
Waite,  Charles  W.,  Ill,  928. 
Waite,  John  D.,  II,.  175. 
Waite,  William  T.,  Ill,  1108. 
Wakefield,  Lawrence,  III,  1435. 
Walker,  Annie  P.,  Ill,  1160. 
Walker,  Frank  C.,  II,  521. 
Walker,  Hugh  C.,  Ill,  786. 
Walker,  I.  N.,  II,  561. 
Walker,  James  G.,  I,  322. 
Walker,  J.  W.,  I,  869. 
Walker,  Leonard  O.,  II,  183. 
Walker,  Nancy  J.,  Ill,  856. 
Walker,  Noble  M.,  II,  107. 
Walker,  Samuel  C.,  II,  643. 
Walker,  Thomas  J.,  II,  521. 
Walker  Brothers,  I,  373- 
Walkerville,  I,  827,  834,  836. 
Wall,  Frank  M.,  II,  595- 
Wall,  Nicholas,  I,  183,  287,  558. 
Wallace,  J.  D.,  II,  476. 
Wallace,  Robert  B.:    death  of,  I,  454  J 

645;    (portrait),  646. 
Waller,  Oliver   P.,  Ill,  1166. 
Wallin,  Charles  C.,  II,  84. 
Wallinder,   Peter,  III,  693. 
Walsh,  J.  A.,  I,  461,  868. 
Walsh,  Patrick  J.,  Ill,  855. 
Walsh,  Thomas  J.,   I,  463,  47* ',   sketch 

of,  491 ;  760,  868. 
Walters,  N.  P.,  II,  5^5- 
Walton,  Ernest  L.,  Ill,  965. 
Warner,  William,   III,  870. 


Wandell,  Alexander,  III,  756. 

Warfield,  I,  770. 

Warner,  Alfred  C.,  Ill,  749. 

Warren,    Charles    S.,    I,   222,    316,  '320, 

834,   835;    II,    I. 
Warren,  Fred  R.,  II,  93. 
Warren,   Henry  L.,   I,  419,  422. 
Washoe  Copper  Company,  I,  377. 
Washoe  Sampler,  I,  380. 
Water     of     the     Cottonwood     Groves 

(Stinkwater),   I,  222. 
Wate  Rights  legislation  in  Montana,  I, 

590. 

Waters,  Harry  J.,  II,  51. 
Watkins,  I,  777. 
Watkins,  Charles  F.,  Ill,  1048. 
Watkins,  Charles  L.,  I,  654. 
Watkins,  Cyrus  D.,  I,  192,  196,  197. 
Watson,  John   P.,  II,  428. 
Watson,  Robert  H.,  II,  108. 
Wear,  William  E.,  Ill,  1376. 
Weaver,  George  H.,  Ill,  1156. 
Weaver,  James  A.,  II,  119. 
Weaver,  Samuel  C.,  II,  133. 
Webb,  William  H.,  II,  475. 
Webster,  C.  M.,  I,  698. 
Webster,  Frederick  C.,  II,  461. 
Weed,  Walter  H.,  I,  374- 
Weightman,  John,  III,  795. 
Weil,  Charles  A.,  II,  185.  ' 
Weinrich,  Frank  A.,  Ill,  1139. 
Weinschrott,  John,  III,  1312. 
Weir,  Taylor  B.,  Ill,  739. 
Weitman,  Lutie,  I,  698. 
Welch,  W.  W.,  I,  502. 
Weld,  Horace  A.,  II,   148. 
Weldon,  I,  777. 
Weldon,  James  M.,  II,  7- 
Wellcome,  George   P.,  II,  379- 
Welliver,  Earl  M.,  II,  568. 
Wellman,  William,  II,  622. 
Wells,  Hugh  R.,  Ill,  1346. 
Wells,  Willis  C,  II,  62. 
Welsh,  Thomas  W.,  II,  596. 
Wentworth,  Charles  L.,  II,  in. 
Wentz,  Michael  R.,  Ill,  801. 
Wernham,  James  L,  II,  96. 
Werner,  William,  I,  28. 
Wesch,   Philip,   II,  85. 
West,  Belle  H.,  III.,  1313. 
West,  Charles  M.,  Ill,  1313. 
West,  Sterling  C.,  Ill,  1371. 
Western  Central  Basin  of  Montana,  I, 

230. 

Western  Lumber  Company,  I,  781.  _ 
"Western    Missions    and    Missionaries" 

(De  Smet),  I,  151. 
Western   Montana   Fair  Association,   I, 

786. 

Western   Montana   Park-to-Park  High- 
way Route,  I,  783- 
Western  Newspaper  Union,  Billings,  I, 

854. 

Westmore,  I,  7*4- 
Weston,  Charles  J.,  II,  618. 
Weston,  D.  H.,  I,  404- 
Westover,  George  A.,  II,  375- 
Westover,  Robert  L.,  Ill,  1432. 
Wharton,  Jesse  R.,  II,  519. 
Wheat  Basin,  I,  840. 


r. 


xlviii 


INDEX 


Wheat  Harvest  of  Fergus  county  (illus- 
tration, I,  716. 

Wheatland  county:  created,  I,  482;  irri- 
gation in,  614;  description  of,  846. 

Wheatland  County  Wheat  Farm  (illus- 
tration), I,  847. 

Wheaton,  Sherwood,  I,  761. 

Wheeler,  Burton  K.,  II,  7. 

Wheeler,  Frank  O.,  II,  614. 

Wheeler,  W.  F.,  I,  186. 

Whipps,  William  C.,  II,  187. 

Whipps,  William  O.,  II,  182. 

Whitcomb,  Harry  S.,  Ill,  1048. 

White,  Arthur,  III,  943. 

White,  A.  A.,  Ill,  1274. 

White,  Benjamin  F.,  sketch  of,  I,  412, 
413,  669,  868;  II,  315- 

White,  John,  I,  190,  191,  250. 

White,  Walter  B.,  II,  279. 

White  Earth  River,  I,  29,  30. 

White  Slave  law  passed,   I,  469. 

White   Sulphur   Springs,   I,  778. 

White  Sulphur  Springs  and  Yellowstone 
Park  Railroad,  I,  568. 

Whitebear  Islands,  I,  43,  59. 

Whitefish,  I,  725. 

Whitehall,  I,  746. 

Whitehouse,  Joseph,   I,  28,  46. 

Whitehpuse  Creek,  I,  46. 

Whitepine,  I,  824. 

Whiteside  bill,  I,  535. 

Whitetail,  I,  708. 

Whitford,  O.  B.,  I,  316. 

Whitlach,  J.  W.,  I,  757. 

Whitlash,  I,  768. 

Whitlatch  Mine,  I,  765. 

Whitlock,  Albert  N.,  II,  444. 

Whitman,  Marcus,  I,  145. 

Whitney,  Janet,  III,  1209. 

Whittinghill,  J.  N.,  II,  221. 

Whitty,  Patrick  J.,  II,  572. 

Whyte,  Frederick  W.  C.,  II,  425. 

Whyte,  Jeffrey   P.,   II,  89. 

Wibaux,  I,  848. 

Wibaux,  Pierre,  I,  703. 

Wibaux  county:  irrigation  in,  I,  614; 
description  of,  848. 

Wickes-Corbin  mining  district,  $57,915,- 
ooo,  I,  766. 

Widdifield,  Cecil  J.,  I,  662. 

Wiggins,  Frank,  II,  310. 

Wilcox,  Clyde,  III,  763. 

Wilcox,  Paul  D.,  II,  450. 

Wilcox,  Philip  B.,  Ill,   1124. 

Wild,  Levi  S.,  Ill,  1223. 

Wilder,  Davis  E.,  II,  500. 

Wiley,  A.  S.,  I,  397. 

Wiley,  Bert  E.,  II.  621. 

Wiley,  H.  B.,  I,  707. 

Wilhelm,  Albert  C.,  II,  480. 

Wilhelm,  Charles   C,   II,  255. 

Wilkinson,  Herbert  T.,  II,  464. 

Wilkinson,  James,  I,  18. 

Willard,  Alexander,  I,  28. 

Willard's   Creek,  I,  230. 

Williams,  I,  804. 

Williams,  Captain,   I,  273,  274. 

Williams,  Charles  H.  (Deer  Lodge),  II, 
339- 

Williams,  Charles  H.  (Lewistown),  III, 
1290. 


Williams,  Daniel  S.,  Ill,   1227. 
Williams,   Frank  E.,   II,  157. 
Williams,  Griffith  A.,  II,  46. 
Williams,   Henry,   I,   343. 
Williams,   Henry   F.,   I,  419. 
Williams,  H.  J.,  I,  732. 
Williams,  James,  I,  260,  286. 
Williams,  Joseph  J.,   I,  415. 
Williams,  Julius,   II,   165. 
Williams,  J.  W.,  I,  511. 
,  Williams,  Robert  S.,  I,  698. 
Williams  Creek,  I,  230. 
Williamson,  Albert  E.,  Ill,  1339. 
Willis,  Charles  C,  II,  80. 
Williston,  L.   P.,  I,  298,  414,  416. 
Willow  Creek,  I,  729. 
Wills,  Maude  B.,  Ill,  1397. 
Willson,  Fred  F.,  II,  319. 
Willson,  L.  S.,  I,  547- 
Wilsall,  I,  801. 
Wilson,  Charles,  II,  72. 
Wilson,  Harry  L.,  II,  47. 
Wilson,  Henry  H.,  II,  22. 
Wilson,  John  R.,  I,  316. 
Wilson,  Justice,  L.,  Ill,  1082. 
Wilson,  M.  L.,  I,  707. 
Wilson,  Robert  H.,  I,  760. 
Wilson,  Roy  O.,  II,  94. 
Wiltner,  William  E.,  Ill,  710. 
Wines,  Josiah  L.,  II,  538. 
Winifred,  I,  717. 
Wininger,  McClellan,  II,  634. 
Winkelmann,  William  F.,  Ill,  964. 
Winnecook,   I,   848. 
Winnett,  I,  717. 
Winsor,  Richard,  I,  28. 
Winston    mining    district,    $3,560,000,    I, 

766. 

Winter,  Al  G.,  II,  212. 
Winter,   Christian  F.,   Ill,   1148. 
Winter,  Harold  H.,  II,  212. 
Wiper,   Charles,   II,    15. 
Wisconsin  Gulch,  I,  231. 
Wisdom  river,  I,  60,  61. 
Wise,  John  S.,  Ill,  1002. 
Wiser,  Peter,  I,  28. 
Witherspoon,  Thomas  C.,  Ill,  1211. 
Withington,  Hal  S.,  Ill,  1244. 
Witt,  William,  II,  33. 
Wogan,  Qle  C.,  II,  376. 
Wolcott,  J.  Herman,  II,  248. 
Wolf  Creek,  I,  749. 
Wolf  mountains,  I,  91. 
Wolf  Point,  I,  817. 
.Wolfskill,  Joseph  M.,  II,   177. 
Wolwin,  A.  B.,  I,  836. 
Women  in  the  State  University,  I,  541. 
Women's    Self-Governing    Association : 

State   University,    I,   542. 
Wood,  Charles  L.,  Ill,  1210. 
Wood,  George  J.,  I,  211,  212. 
Wood,  J.  C.,  I,  878,  885;  III,  1152. 
Wood,  J.  M.,  I,  219,  257. 
Woodbridge,  J.  T.,  I,  380. 
Woodburn,  Burl,  III,   1387. 
Woodburn,  William  W.,  Ill,  1386. 
Woodbury,  Frederick  E.,  Ill,  1071. 
Woodbury,  L.  S.,  Ill,  1070. 
Woodbury,  M.  Cerula,  III,   1072. 
Woodman,  Martin  L.,  Ill,  1415. 
Woods,  George  M.,  I,  758,  760. 


INDEX 


xlix 


Woods,   Louis   B.,   Ill,    1004. 

Woods,   Patrick  W.,   Ill,  738. 

Woodworth,  Charles,   II,  75. 

Woody,  Frank  H.,  I,  132,  161,  223,  225, 
316,  426,  431;  (portrait),  432. 

Woolfolk,  Alex  M.,  I,  415. 

Woolston,  Ernest,   III,   1318. 

Word,  R.  Lee,  I,  436. 

Word,  Samuel,  I,  282,  284,  289,  316,  422. 

Worden,  I,  856. 

Worden,  Frank  L.,  I,  223;  (portrait), 
224;  282,  784. 

Worden  and  Company,  I,  223. 

Worden  &  Company  (Missoula),  I,  225. 

Work,  Lester  P.,  II,  88. 

Working,  S.  S.,  II,  325. 

Workman's  Compensation  act,  I,  488. 

World's  War:  Governor  Dixon  on,  I, 
486 ;  Montana  in,  650-663 ;  total  man 
power  raised,  651 ;  first  Montana  man 
to  fall,  652 ;  honor  men  from  Montana, 
653-663 ;  Distinguished  Service  Cross 
men,  654-663 ;  Liberty  Loan  campaigns 
in,  663;  Montana's  subscription  to 
loans  and  funds,  663-665;  Montana's 
allotments  and  subscriptions,  666. 

Worthington,  Lenord  L.,  II,  229. 

Worrell,  Stephen,  I,  18. 

Wright,  I,  848. 

Wright,  Al,   III,   1441. 

Wright,  Clark,  I,  496. 

Wright,  Edmund,  II,  117. 

Wright,  Frank  A.,  Ill,  1412. 

Wright,  Frank  E.,  II,  299. 

Wright,  George,  I,  302. 

Wright,  George  A.,  II,  223. 

Wright,  George  F.,  Ill,  1292. 

Wyeth,  I,  121. 

Wyeth,  Nathaniel  J.,  I,  120. 

Wylie,  W.  W.,  I,  497- 

Wyman,    Cyrus    K.,    II,   263. 

Wyola,  I,  674. 

Yager,  Erastus   (Red),  I,  247;  hanging 

of,  260-63. 
Yankee  Flat,  I,  328. 


Yates,   I,  848. 

Yegen,  Christian,  II,  327. 

Yegen,  Peter,  II,  327.  ^ 

Yellow  Pine  Forests  in  Lincoln  county 

(illustration),  I,  628. 
Yellowstone  county:  number  and  value 

of  cattle  (1884),  I,  395;  irrigation  in, 

614;  description  of,  850;  irrigated  and 

non-irrigated  lands  of,  857 ;  live  stock 

raising  in,  858;  dairy  farming  in,  859. 
Yellowstone  Lake,  I,  69. 
Yellowstone  National   Park,  geysers,  I, 

118;  633. 

Yellowstone  Park  memorials,  I,  481. 
Yellowstone  River :  falls  and  rapids  of 

(illustration),   I,  70;   naming  of,  78; 

geological  origin  of,  96. 
Yellowstone  Trail,  I,  570,  575,  730,  783, 

850. 

Y-G-Bee  Line,  I,  778. 
York   (Negro),  I,  28,  44. 
York,  James  N.,  I,   192,   196,   198. 
Young,  Cleveland  M.,  II,  361. 
Young,  George  T.,  Ill,  1439. 
Young,  George  W.,  II,  135. 
Young,  Ignace,  I,  144,  145. 
Young,  John  F.,  Ill,  1274. 
Young,  William  H.,  Ill,  1353. 
Young,  William  L.,  Ill,  927. 
Young,  Winfield  S.,  Ill,  776. 
Young,  W.  E.,  Ill,  1439. 
Young  Men's   Christian  Association  of 

Miles  City,  I,  704. 
Young     Men's     Christian     Association, 

Bozeman,  I,  732. 
Young  Women's  Christian  Association, 

Missoula,  I,  786. 

Zachary,  Robert,  I,  249. 
Zebinatti,  Peter:  death  of,  I,  154- 
Zeidler,  Leo  G.,  II,  4. 
Zeman,  Joseph  P.,  Ill,  1447- 
Ziebarth,  Albert  W.,  Ill,  886. 
Zimmerman,  Ami,  III,  1271. 
Zinc,   mining   of,    I,    382;    output    IQO&- 
1918,  383. 


History  of  Montana 


CHAPTER   I 

APPROACHES    TO    THE    "LAND    OF   THE    SHINING 
MOUNTAINS" 

In  the  days  of  ancient  classic  lore  when  Rome  was  sending  her  legions 
into  the  rocky  mountains  of  Western  Europe,  the  Latin  authors  spoke 
of  the  strange  and  unexplored  land  as  Montana — the  land  of  the  moun- 
tains. Thus  the  name  became  attached  to  the  American  Land  of  the 
Mountains,  although  her  lovers  of  several  generations  have  chosen  to 
think  of  her  in  the  .translated  poetry  of  the  Indian  christening  bestowed 
upon  the  Rocky  Mountains — the  Land  of  the  Shining  Mountains.  Vague 
rumors  reached  the  whites  of  the  New  World  that  such  poetic  and  grand 
christening  was  based  upon  the  prosaic  but  enticing  fact  of  reflected 
light  from  precious  minerals  and  stones.  The  magnet  was  one  with 
that  which  drew  the  Spaniards  into  the  interior  of  southern  United  States. 

Besides  the  lust  for  precious  substance,  the  French  especially  were 
possessed  with  a  religious  ardor  for  the  conversion  of  the  natives  and 
an  unquenchable  spirit  of  adventure  in  the  discovery  and  exploration 
of  unknown  rivers  and  lands.  America  discovered  as  a  continent,  the 
second  great  quest  for  the  adventurers,  geographers  and  royalists  of 
France  was  to  trace  the  grand  waterways  at  which  the  Indians  had  per- 
sistently hinted,  winding  their  splendid  courses  from  The  Mississippi 
Valley  to  the  coast  of  the  Pacific. 

LA  HONTAN'S  "LONG  RIVER" 

In  1690-1703,  La  Hontan,  a  French  baron,  adventurer  and  somewhat 
romancer,  explored  the  country  around  the  headwaters  of  the  Mississippi 
and  wrote  a  purported  account  of  his  travels  and  "adventures."  In  the 
maps  which  he  published,  Long  River  appeared  as  a  distinguishing 
feature.  It  was  outside  of  his  immediate  field  of  investigation  and 
probably  drawn  from  rather  vague  information  which  he  had  obtained 
from  the  Sioux  of  the  upper  Mississippi  valley.  From  the  fact  that  he 
was  a  proven  prevaricator,  in  many  respects,  most  historians  put  down 
Long  River  as  a  figment  of  his  imagination.  Others  more  charitable,  like 

Vol.  I— 1  1 


LEWIS  AND  CLARK  EXPEDITION  IN  MONTANA 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  3 

the  late  Joaquin  Miller,  who  wrote  a  history  of  Montana  in  1894,  give 
him  this  credit :  "This  is  unjust  to  La  Hontan,  for  there  is  good  reason 
to  believe  that  the  information  concerning  Long  river  which  he  obtained 
from  the  Indians  referred  to  the  Missouri,  but  in  passing  through  the 
many  intervening  tribes,  it  became  greatly  exaggerated.  For  instance, 
the  many  lakes  on  Long  River  do  exist  in  the  vicinity  of  the  headwaters 
of  the  Missouri— such  as  Flathead  lake,  Henry's  lake,  Jackson  lake, 
Yellowstone  lake,  Lake  Pahkokee,  Great  Salt  lake,  etc.,  but  by  the 
time  the  knowledge  of  them  reached  the  Indians  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact,  it  is  very  natural  they  should  locate  them  all  on  and  along  the 
upper  Missouri,  and  it  may  also  be  that  La  Hontan  could  but  very  im- 
perfectly understand  them,  and  therefore  may  have  made  these  mis- 
takes himself." 

ENTER  THE  CATHOLIC  PRIESTS 

Among  those  who  severely  criticised  La  Hontan  was  Father  Bobe,  a 
learned  priest  of  Versailles,  who,  nevertheless,  held  that  the  Mississippi 
swerved  toward  the  west  and  south  and  was  constantly  urging  the 
French  government  to  search  for  a  northern  interior  route  to  the 
Pacific.  On  the  I5th  of  March,  1716,  he  wrote  to  De  L'Isle,  geographer 
of  the  Academy  of  Science,  at  Paris:  "They  tell  me  that  among  the 
Sioux  of  the  Mississippi  there  are  always  Frenchmen  trading;  that  the 
course  of  the  Mississippi  is  from  north  to  west  and  from  west  to  south; 
that  it  is  known  that  toward  the  source  there  is  in  the  highlands  a  river 
that  leads  to  the  western  ocean.  *  *  *  For  the  last  two  years  I  tor- 
mented exceedingly  the  governor-general,  M.  Raudot,  and  M.  Duche,  to 
endeavor  to  discover  this  ocean.  If  I  succeed,  as  I  hope,  we  shall  have 
tidings  before  three  years,  and  I  shall  have  the  pleasure  and  the  consola- 
tion of  having  rendered  a  good  service  to  geography,  to  religion  and  to  the 
state." 

DUKE  OF  ORLEANS  COMMENCES  WESTERN  EXPLORATIONS 

At  this  period,  France  was  being  ruled  by  the  Duke  of  Orleans,  as 
regent,  who  decided  to  launch  the  great  adventure  in  a  practical  way  by 
establishing  three  bases  of  supply  for  the  western  explorations.  The 
first  of  these  was  at  the  head  of  Lake  Superior  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Kaministiguia  River,  where  Sieur  Greysolon  DuLuth  had  founded  a  post 
as  early  as  1678;  a  second  was  ordered  to  be  built  at  Lac  des  Cristineaux 
(Lake  of  the  Woods)  and  a  third  at  Lake  Winnipeg.  The  work  of 
construction  was  under  the  supervision  of  Lieut.  Robertel  de  la 
None.  These  posts  were  not  to  be  a  charge  on  the  French  government. 
Parkman  says,  in  his  "Half  Century  of  Conflict,"  that  "by  a  device 
common  in  such  cases,  those  who  built  and  maintained  them  were  to  be 
paid  by  a  monopoly  of  the  fur  trade  in  the  adjacent  countries."  Once 
the  posts  were  established,  however,  it  would  be  incumbent  upon  the 
government  to  equip,  pay  and  direct  the  future  explorations.* 


*  Historical  Magazine,  New  York,   1859. 


4  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

CHARLEVOIX    INVESTIGATES 

During  the  first  year,  little  more  was  accomplished  than  the  building 
of  a  stockade  at  the  mouth  of  the  Kaministiguia.  Then  passed  three 
years,  when  the  Duke  of  Orleans  sent  Charlevoix,  the  learned  Jesuit,  to 
Canada  to  investigate  these  rumors  of  a  great  western  waterway  to 
a  great  Western  Sea,  and  in  this  work  he  spent  a  year  among  the 
Indians  and  whites  of  the  upper  lake  region,  making  full  records  of 
his  travels  and  conclusions  for  the  benefit  of  the  French  archives  and 
posterity. 

Pierre  Margry,  keeper  of  the  French  archives  in  Paris,  says  of 
Charlevoix's  plans,  formed  as  a  result  of  his  visit  to  the  country  of  the 
upper  Mississippi :  "The  Regent,  in  choosing  between  the  two  plans 
that  Father  Charlevoix  presented  to  him  at  the  close  of  his  journey 
for  the  attainment  of  a  knowledge  of  the  Western  Sea,  through  an 
unfortunate  prudence,  rejected  the  suggestion  which,  it  is  true,  was  the 
most  expensive  and  uncertain,  viz.,  an  expedition  up  the  Missouri  to  its 
source  and  beyond,  and  decided  to  establish  a  post  among  the  Sioux. 
The  post  of  the  Sioux  was  consequently  established  in  1727.  Father 
Conor,  a  Jesuit  missionary  who  had  gone  upon  the  expedition,  we  are 
told,  was,  however,  obliged  to  return  without  being  able  to  discover 
anything  that  would  satisfy  the  expectations  of  the  Court  about  the 
Western  Sea." 

The  decade  of  attempts  to  establish  the  post  at  Lake  Pepin,  named 
Fort  Beauharnois  (after  the  governor  of  Canada),  and  the  mission, 
St.  Michael,  was  surcharged  with  disaster  of  flood  and  Indian  assault,  and 
in  1737  its  commander,  Legardeur  de  Saint-Pierre,  abandoned  all  attempts 
to  get  in  touch  with  the  Sioux  and  advised  his  superiors  that  they  should 
be  exterminated. 

THE  VERENDRYES,  FATHER  AND  SONS 

In  the  meantime,  Pierre  Gaulthier  de  Varenne  (known  afterward  as 
Sieur  de  La  Verendrye),  a  native  of  a  worthy  French  Canadian  family 
of  Three  Rivers,  who  had  served  as  a  brave  soldier  of  fortune  in  the 
War  of  the  Spanish  Succession,  returned  to  Canada  and  become  a 
coureur  de  bois,  had  his  mind  full  of  these  tales  of  Western  rivers  and  a 
Western  Sea.  Furthermore,  the  Indians  stories  were  being  repeatedly 
enforced  by  testimony  presented  by  the  priests  with  whom  he  came 
in  contact. 

In  his  middle  age,  Verendrye  was  so  well  established  as  a  fur  trader 
that  in  1728  he  was  in  command  of  the  post  at  Lake  Nepigon,  Canada, 
whose  waters  flow  into  Lake  Superior  from  the  north.  The  most  complete 
account  of  his  endeavors  to  explore  the  great  western  interior  in  search 
of  a  transcontinental  waterway,  for  which  historic  event  he  laid  the 
foundation  and  two  of  his  sons  enjoyed  the  realization,  was  prepared 
forty-five  years  ago  by  Rev.  E.  D.  Neill,  historian  and  president  of 
Macalester  College,  Minneapolis,  Minnesota;  and  to  his  paper  were 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  5 

added  valuable  notes  by  Granville  Stuart,  the  gold  pioneer  and  long  a 
leader  in  the  up-building  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Montana. 

While  stationed  at  Lake  Nepigon,  Verendrye  received  from  the 
Indians  such  positive  assurances  as  to  a  river  which  flowed  toward  the 
Sea  of  the  West  that  he  resolved  to  make  an  exploration.  At  Mackinaw, 
while  on  his  way  to  confer  with  the  government  of  Canada  upon  the 
subject,  Father  de  Conor  arrived  from  the  post  which  had  been  estab- 
lished among  the  Sioux  nearly  opposite  Maiden  Rock,  Wisconsin,  on 
the  shores  of  Lake  Pepin.  The  latter  is  an  expansion  of  the  Mississippi 
River,  about  midway  between  Minnesota  and  Wisconsin.  "After  an 
interchange  of  views,"  says  Dr.  Neill's  narrative,  "the  priest  promised 
to  assist  him  as  far  as  he  could  in  obtaining  a  permit  and  outfit  for  the 
establishment  of  a  post  among  the  Knisteneaux,  or  the  Assiniboels, 
from  which  to  go  farther  west. 

"Charles  de  Beauharnois,  then  governor  of  Canada,  gave  him  a 
respectful  hearing,  and  carefully  examined  the  map  of  the  region  west 
of  the  great  lakes,  which  had  been  drawn  by  Otchaga,  the  Indian  guide  of 
Verendrye.  Orders  were  soon  given  to  fit  out  an  expedition  of  fifty  men. 
It  left  Montreal  in  1731,  under  the  conduct  of  his  sons  and  nephew,  he 
not  joining  the  party  until  1733,  in  consequence  of  the  detention  of 
business.  After  establishing  several  posts  and  forts  between  Rainy 
Lake  and  Lake  Winnipeg,  their  advance  was  stopped  in  the  Winnipeg 
region  by  the  exhaustion  of  supplies.  In  April,  1735,  arrangements  were 
made  for  a  second  equipment  and  a  fourth  son  joined  the  expedition. 

"In  June,  1736,  while  twenty-one  of  the  expedition  were  camped 
upon  an  isle  in  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  they  were  surprised  by  a  band 
of  Sioux  hostile  to  the  French  allies, 'the  Knisteneaux,  and  all  killed. 
The  island,  upon  this  account,  is  called  in  the  early  maps  Massacre  Island. 
A  few  days  after,  a  party  of  five  Canadian  voyagers  discovered  their 
dead  bodies  and  scalped  heads.  Father  Ouneau,  the  missionary,  was 
found  upon  one  knee,  an  arrow  in  his  head,  his  breast  bare,  his  left  hand 
touching  the  ground  and  the  right  hand  raised. 

"Among  the  slaughtered  was  also  a  son  of  Verendrye,  who  had  a 
tomahawk  in  his  back,  and  his  body  was  adorned  with  garters  and  brace- 
lets of  porcupine.  The  father  was  at  the  fort  at  the  Lake  of  the  Woods 
when  he  received  the  news  of  his  son's  murder,  and  about  the  satae  time 
heard  of  the  death  of  his  enterprising  nephew.  *  *  *  On  the  3rd  of 
October,  1738,  they  built  an  advance  post,  Fort  Le  Reine,  on  the  River 
Assiniboine,  which  they  called  St.  Charles,  and  beyond  was  a  branch 
called  St.  Pierre.  These  two  rivers  received  the  baptismal  name  of 
Verendrye,  which  was  Pierre,  and  Governor  Beauharnois  (governor  of 
Canada),  which  was  Charles.  This  post  (Fort  La  Reine)  became  the 
center  of  trade,  and  point  of  departure  for  explorations  either  north 
or  south." 

At  this  newly  established  post,  La  Verendrye  received  news  from 
the  Assiniboines  (a  friendly  offshot  of  the  Sioux)  of  the  existence  of 
the  strange  Mantanes  (Mandans),  or  White  Beards,  of  the  Dakota 
family,  whose  villages  were  along  the  Missouri.  They  received  that  name 


6  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

from  the  fact  that  they  became  gray  haired  so  young.  The  Assiniboines 
also  assured  the  leader  of  the  expedition,  which  was  more  to  his  mind, 
that  the  Mandans  knew  the  way  to  the  Western  Sea  and  would  furnish 
him  guides  thither.  On  the  i8th  of  October,  1738,  La  Verendrye,  with 
three  of  his  sons  and  a  mixed  company  of  Indians  and  French  Canadians, 
to  the  number  of  fifty-two,  started  for  the  land  of  the  Mandans.  The 
succeeding  ten  days  took  them,  as  is  believed,  to  Turtle  Mountain,  thence 
along  the  Assiniboine  and  the  Mouse  rivers  toward  their  destination, 
gathering  friendly  and  helpful  Indian  guides  on  the  way.  On  the  28th 
of  October,  the  first  Mandans  were  seen,  and  La  Verendrye's  journal 
contains  their  first  description  by  white  men.  At  the  time  of  his  visit 
during  the  first  days  of* December,  they  occupied  six  villages  on  the 
banks  of  the  Missouri,  in  what  is  now  the  northwestern  part  of  North 
Dakota;  and  La  Verendrye  called  the  Missouri  "the  Great  River  of  the 
Couhatchatte  Nation."  While  thus  engaged  in  friendly  intercourse,  the 
leader  was  robbed  of  all  the  presents  which  he  had  brought  with  which 
to  propitiate  the  Indians  along  the  route  of  his  western  journey,  and 
was  therefore  obliged  to  retrace  his  way  to  Fort  La  Reine  to  replace 
his  stock  of  gifts  which  was,  perhaps,  the  most  necessary  part  of  his 
outfit.  Leaving  two  of  his  men  among  the  Mandans  to  learn  their 
language  and  collect  information  which  might  be  of  benefit  to  him,  La 
Verendrye  retraced  his  way  to  Fort  La  Reine.  It  was  a  terrible  journey, 
in  the  dead  of  a  bitter  northern  winter,  and  was  not  completed  until 
near  the  middle  of  February. 

It  was  not  until  September,  1739,  that  the  two  men  who  had  been 
living  with  the  Mandans  returned  to  Fort  La  Reine  to  report  to  their 
leader.  They  brought  tidings  of  strange  western  tribes  who  had  visited 
the  Mandans  in  the  conduct  of  trade  and  told  of  a  Great  Salt  Lake 
and  the  Great  Salt  Water.  La  Verendrye  therefore  dispatched  to  the 
Mandan  villages  as  large  a  company  as  he  could  gather  under  his  oldest 
son,  Pierre,  with  instructions  to  secure  guides  and  push  on  to  the 
Western  Ocean.  But  when  La  Verendrye,  the  younger,  reached  his 
destination,  the  Indians  of  the  farther  west  who  professed  to  know  of 
the  existence  of  that  Western  Ocean  had  departed  from  the  Mandan 
villages  and  left  no  trace  behind  them.  In  the  summer  of  1740,  he 
therefore  did  no  more  than  to  bring  to  Fort  La  Reine  another  bitter 
disappointment  to  the  elder  man,  already  nearly  crushed  with  bodily  and 
mental  struggles. 

In  the  year  named,  La  Verendrye  went  to  Montreal  for  the  third 
time  to  solicit  aid  in  support  of  his  futile  attempts  to  open  up  a  western 
way.  Instead  of  proffered  assistance,  he  found  hungry  creditors  awaiting 
him.  In  his  journal,  published  in  Margry's  collections,  he  further 
describes  the  pitiful  state  of  his  affairs :  "In  spite  of  the  derangement  of 
my  affairs,  the  envy  and  jealousy  of  various  persons  impelled  them  to 
write  letters  to  the  court  insinuating  that  I  thought  of  nothing  but 
making  my  fortune.  If  more  than  forty  thousand  livres  of  debt  which 
I  have  on  my  shoulders  are  an  advantage,  then  I  can  flatter  myself  that 
I  am  very  rich.  In  all  my  misfortunes  I  have  the  consolation  of  seeing 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  7 

that  M.  de  Beauharnois  enters  into  my  views,  recognizes  the  uprightness 
of  my  intentions,  and  does  me  justice  in  spite  of  opposition." 

Francis  Parkman,  in  his  "Half  Century  of  Conflict,"  Vol.  II,  p.  34, 
says:  "Beauharnois  twice  appealed  to  the  court  to  give  La  Verendrye 
some  little  aid,  urging  that  he  was  at  the  end  of  his  resources,  and  that 
a  grant  of  30,00x3  francs,  or  6,000  dollars,  would  enable  him  to  find  a 
way  to  the  Pacific.  All  help  was  refused,  but  La  Verendrye  was  told 
that  he  might  let  out  his  forts  to  other  traders  and  so  raise  means  to 
pursue  the  discovery." 

THE  VERENDRYE  BROTHERS  START  WESTWARD 

Now  broken  in  health  and  subdued  in  spirit,  the  father  turned  over 
his  dear  enterprise  to  his  more  vigorous  sons,  Pierre  de  La  Verendrye 
and  the  Chevalier,  who,  with  two  fellow  Frenchmen,  again  headed  for  the 
Mandans  on  the  Missouri,  in  the  spring  of  1742.  They  left  the  Lake  of 
the  Woods  on  the  2gth  of  April  and  reached  the  Missouri  after  about 
three  weeks  of  travel.  After  impatiently  waiting  for  the  coming  of 
some  western  Indians,  called  Horse  Indians  by  the  Mandans,  and  passing 
the  spring  and  summer  in  tiresome  inaction,  the  young  Frenchmen 
induced  two  of  their  red  friends  to  guide  them  to  the  camping  grounds 
of  the  Horse  tribe.  These  were  found  to  be  deserted.  Parkman  believes 
the  site  of  this  camp  to  be  west  of  the  Little  Missouri  "and  perhaps  a 
part  of  the  Powder  River  Range."  The  locality  would  seem,  at  least, 
to  have  been  in  Southeastern  Montana.  The  time  was  in  August,  1742, 
and  it  was  not  until  nearly  a  month  later,  after  one  of  the  Mandan 
guides  had  deserted  the  party,  that  the  four  Frenchmen  met  a  band  of 
Indians  whom  they  called  Les  Beaux  Hommes,  or  Handsome  Men — 
believed  to  be  the  Crows.  They  were  enemies  of  the  Mandans,  and 
the  remaining  guide  of  that  tribe  hastily  deserted.  The  expedition 
remained  some  three  weeks  with  the  Handsome  Men,  and  on  October 
9th  continued  its  explorations  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  still  looking 
for  the  Horse  Indians. 

When  the  four  reached  the  village  of  these  evident  nomads,  they 
were  told  that  the  tribe  Bows,  still  to  the  southwest,  would  enlighten 
them  as  to  the  Western  Ocean.  As  was  customary,  each  tribe  referred 
the  whites  to  a  more  distant  tribe.  This  seemed  to  have  been  the  settled 
policy  of  the  red  man — to  lure  the  white  farther  and  farther  from  his 
own,  and  by  the  attrition  of  hard  travel  and  slaughter  attempt  to  wear 
away  his  strength  and  life. 

INDIAN  PICTURE  OF  1742 

When,  in  October,  1742,  the  Frenchmen  at  last  reached  the  lodges 
of  the  long-sought  Horse  Indians  (as  stated  by  Parkman,  who  adapts 
his  narrative  from  the  Chevalier's  journal),  they  found  them  in  the 
extremity  of  distress  and  terror.  Their  camp  resounded  with  howls 
and  wailings,  and  not  without  cause,  for  the  Snakes  or  Shoshones — a 


'8  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

formidable  people  living  farther  westward — had  lately  destroyed  most 
of  their  tribe.  The  Snakes  were  the  terror  of  that  country.  The 
brothers  were  told  that  the  year  before  they  had  destroyed  seventeen 
villages,  killing  warriors  and  old  women,  and  carrying  off  the  young 
women  and  children  as  slaves. 

Parkman,  who,  as  he  observes  in  a  footnote,  draws  the  particulars 
of  his  description  from  "repeated  observations  of  similar  scenes,"  draws 
a  graphic  picture  ("Half  Century  of  Conflict/'  Vol.  II,  p.  48)  of  this 
breaking-up  of  the  camp.  "The  squaws,"  he  says,  "took  down  the  lodges 
and  the  march  began  over  prairies  dreary  and  brown  with  the  withering 
touch  of  autumn.  The  spectacle  was  such  as  men  still  young  have  seen 
in  these  western  lands,  but  which  no  man  will  see  again.  The  vast  plain 
swarmed  with  the  moving  multitude.  The  tribes  of  the  Missouri  and 
Yellowstone  had  by  this  time  abundance  of  horses,  the  best  of  which 
were  used  for  war  and  hunting,  and  the  others  as  beasts  of  burden. 
These  last  were  equipped  in  a  peculiar  manner.  Several  of  the  long 
poles  used  to  frame  the  tepees  or  lodges  were  secured  by  one  end  to 
each  side  of  a  rude  saddle,  while  the  other  end  trailed  on  the  ground. 
Crossbars  lashed  to  the  poles  just  behind  the  horse  kept  them  three  or 
four  feet  apart,  and  formed  a  firm  support,  on  which  was  laid,  compactly 
folded  the  buffalo-skin  covering  of  the  lodge.  On  this  again  sat  a 
mother  with  her  young  family,  sometimes  stowed  for  safety  in  a  large 
•open  willow  basket,  with  the  occasional  addition  of  some  domestic  pet — 
such  as  a  tame  raven,  a  puppy  or  even  a  small  bear  cub.  Other  horses 
were  laden  in  the  same  manner  with  wooden  bowls,  stone  hammers  and 
other  utensils,  along  with  stores  of  dried  buffalo-meat  packed  in  cases 
of  rawhide  whitened  and  painted.  Many  of  the  innumerable  dogs — 
whose  manners  and  appearance  strongly  suggested  their  relatives,  the 
wolves,  to  whom,  however,  they  bore  a  mortal  grudge — were  equipped 
in  a  similar  manner,  with  shorter  poles  and  lighter  loads.  Bands  of 
naked  boys,  noisy  and  restless,  roamed  the  prairie,  practicing  their  bows 
and  arrows  on  any  small  animal  they  might  find.  Gay  young  squaws 
adorned  on  each  cheek  with  a  spot  of  ochre  or  red  clay,  and  arrayed  in 
tunic  of  fringed  buckskin  embroidered  with  porcupine  quills — were 
mounted  on  ponies,  astride  like  men ;  while  lean  and  tattered  hags — 
the  drudges  of  the  tribe,  unkempt  and  hideous — scolded  the  lagging 
horses,  or  screeched  at  the  disorderly  dogs,  with  voices  not  unlike  the 
yell  of  the  great  horned  owl.  Most  of  the  warriors  were  on  horseback, 
armed  with  round,  white  shields  of  bull-hide,  feathered  lances,  war- 
clubs,  bows  and  quivers  filled  with  stone  headed  arrows;  while  a  few  of 
the  elders,  wrapped  in  robes  of  buffalo  hide,  stalked  along  in  groups 
with  a  stately  air,  chatting,  laughing  and  exchanging  unseemly  jokes." 

REACH  THE  FRIENDLY  Bow  INDIANS 

Finally  the  Verendryes  reached  the  land  of  the  Bow  Indians  (Gene 
de  1'Arc)  and  found  them  preparing  to  take  the  warpath  against  the 
powerful  Snake  Indians,  who  had  already  nearly  exterminated  the  Horses. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  9 

The  Bow  Indians,  through  their  chief,  were  very  courteous.  They  knew 
nothing  personally  of  the  Western  Sea,  although  they  had  heard  of 
the  Great  Water  from  certain  Snake  prisoners.  Parkman  quotes  from 
the  Chevalier's  Journal  as  follows :  "Thus  far  we  had  been  well  received 
in  all  the  villages  we  had  passed;  but  this  was  nothing  compared  with 
the  courteous  manners  of  the  great  chief  of  the  Bow  Indians,  who, 
unlike  the  others,  was  not  self-interested  in  the  least,  and  who  took 
excellent  care  of  everything  belonging  to  us." 

TRIP  OF  VENGEANCE  AND  DISCOVERY 

Further,  according  to  Parkman's  "Half  Century  of  Conflict,"  the 
courteous  and  honorable  chief  of  the  Bows  extended  this  invitation,  so 
vital  to  the  definite  course  of  this  narrative  and  which  meant  so  much 
to  the  fame  of  the  sons  of  La  Verendrye :  "Come  with  us.  We  are  going 
towards  the  mountains,  where  you  can  see  the  Great  Water  that  you 
are  looking  for." 

The  Great  Water  was  not  to  be  seen,  but  the  vast  shining  piles  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains  were  to  be  first  spread  before  the  eyes  of  white 
travellers  and  recorders. 

The  camp  of  the  Bows  was  broke  up,  its  warriors  poured  across  the 
prairie  eager  to  attack  their  Snake  enemies,  the  Frenchmen  riding  along 
with  the  red  warriors.  Pierre  and  his  younger  brother,  the  Chevalier,  were 
near  the  great  chief.  When,  on  the  first  of  January,  1743,  they  came 
in  sight  of  the  vast  mountain  range,  capped  and  shining  with  snow," 
a  council  of  the  chiefs  and  warriors  was  held  to  determine  what  course 
to  pursue.  The  decision  of  the  council  was  that  the  women  and  children 
and  infirm  be  left  behind  in  a  place  of  comparative  safety,  while  the 
warriors  sallied  forth  in  a  body  to  strike  the  hated  Snakes. 

THE  CHEVALIER  DISCOVERS  THE  ROCKIES 

"Pierre  and  the  Chevalier  were  invited  to  accompany  the  advancing 
army.  After  deliberation,  the  elder  Pierre  determined  to  remain  with 
the  camp,  to  watch  over  and  protect  the  belongings  of  the  party,  and  the 
young  Chevalier  chose  to  proceed  with  the  warriors,  though  he  prudently 
declined  to  engage  in  any  possible  combat  with  the  foe." 

The  war  party  started  on  its  advance  January  21,  1743,  and,  according 
to  the  Chevalier,  who  kept  a  journal  of  the  expedition,  reached  the  base 
of  the  mountains  (probably  the  Big  Horn  Range),  twelve  days  later. 
The  young  French  leader  was  anxious  to  ascend  some  peak  of  the  range 
and  look  for  the  Western  Sea.  But  although  the  Bows  conveyed  the 
idea  that  everything  must  give  place  to  vengeance  upon  the  Snakes  when 
some  of  their  scouts  returned  to  the  main  body  of  the  warriors  with  the 
information  that  they  had  discovered  a  camp  of  the  enemy,  hastily 
abandoned,  the  Bows  were  panic-stricken  over  the  possibility  that  the 
Snakes  had  circumvented  them  and  wiped  out  their  own  camp  of  women, 
children  and  infirm.  The  Indian  war  party  was  completely  demoralized 


10  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  even  the  chief  abandoned  the  Chevalier,  temporarily,  to  endeavor 
to  rally  his  men  and  keep  them  intact.  Finally,  they  had  all  gathered 
at  the  camp,  only  to  find  it  unmolested.  The  chief  and  a  few  of  his 
faithful  warriors  were  the  last  to  return,  as  they  had  been  searching 
the  desolate  and  storm-driven  plain  for  their  guest,  the  Chevalier,  whom 
they  feared  had  perished.  At  length,  the  Indian  chief  appeared  in  camp, 
exhausted  and  grief -stricken,  but,  the  Chevalier  writes,  "his  sorrow 
turned  to  joy,  and  he  could  not  give  us  attention  and  caresses  enough." 

THE  HOMEWARD  JOURNEY 

The  Frenchmen  remained  with  the  chief  of  the  Bows  during  January 
and  February,  1743,  traveling  with  the  Indians  through  deep  snow-drifts 
in  a  southeasterly  direction.  About  the  first  of  March,  they  approached 
the  winter  grounds  of  the  Little  Cherry,  or  Choke  Cherry  Indians  in 
what  is  now  Western  South  Dakota.  The  Verendrye  brothers  at  once 
sent  one  of  their  men  ahead  to  gain  from  that  tribe  any  information 
which  might  be  of  benefit  to  them  in  their  discouraging  search  for  the 
Western  Sea  by  an  overland  route.  The  Choke  Cherries  were  kind  to 
the  courier  and  through  him  invited  the  white  men  to  visit  them,  but 
conveyed  no  information  along  the  line  of  their  investigations. 

On  the  1 5th  of  March,  having  bidden  farewell  to  the  friendly  chief  of 
the  Bows  and  his  immediate  followers,  the  Verendryes,  according  to 
their  journal,  arrived  "among  the  band  of  the  Little  Cherry,  who,  where 
we  found  them,  were  two  days'  march  from  their  camp  on  the  Missouri." 
It  is  believed  that  this  locality  was  about  where  Cherry  Creek  empties 
into  the  Cheyenne,  some  fifty  miles  from  the  Missouri,  and  about  eighty 
miles  West  of  the  present  capital  of  South  Dakota,  Pierre.  Still  travelling 
East  and  not  far  from  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  River,  the  Frenchmen 
erected  a  pile  of  stone,  taking  the  precaution  not  to  reveal  to  the  Indians 
the  significance  of  the  leaden  plate  which  accompanied  it.  According 
to  the  Chevalier's  journal:  "On  an  eminence  near  the  fort  (camp),  I 
placed  a  leaden  plate  engraved  with  the  arms  and  inscription  of  the  King 
and  some  stones  in  shape  of  a  pyramid  in  honor  of  the  General  (Beau- 
harnois)." 

DEATH  OF  SIEUR  DE  LA  VERENDRYE 

On  the  2nd  of  April,  Pierre  and  the  Chevalier  commenced  their 
travels  toward  the  Northwest,  which  brought  them  to  the  Mandan 
villages  on  the  i8th  of  May.  The  return  of  the  sons  to  the  Sieur  de 
La  Verendrye  not  only  lightened  the  anxiety  and  depression  of  the 
father,  but  appears  to  have  improved  his  fortunes.  The  latter  was 
made  captain  of  the  Order  of  St.  Louis,  and  the  two  sons  were  promoted 
in  the  royal  service.  In  1749  the  new  governor,  Monsieur  the  Marquis 
de  la  Jonquiere,  a  hard  man  and  master,  had,  nevertheless,  commissioned 
the  Sieur  to  "look  after  the  posts  and  explorations  in  the  west,"  and 
he  had  already  prepared  maps  and  memoranda  of  his  future  explorations, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  n 

when  death  called  him  from  his  unrealized  ambitions,  on  December  6th 
of  the  year  named  (1749). 

About  a  year  after  the  death  of  his  father,  Chevalier  de  la  Verendrye 
wrote  to  La  Jonquiere  appealing  for  service  in  the  field  of  western  ex- 
plorations on  the  score  of  the  sacrifices  made  by  his  father  and  brothers 
Instead,  the  governor  appointed  one  M.  de  Saint  Pierre  to  head  one  of 
the  expeditions,  and,  by  various  misrepresentations  to  La  Jonquiere,  the 
La  Verendryes  were  made  decidedly  "persona  non  gratis"  and  rejected 
from  all  participation  in  it. 

LAST  YEARS  OF  THE  CHEVALIER 

The  condition  of  the  family  whose  various  members  had  blazed  the 
way  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  is  thus  described  in  the  Chevalier's  petition 
to  the  governor:  "My  returns  this  year  amount  to  half,  and  in  con- 
sequence of  a  thousand  harassments  my  ruin  is  accomplished.  For 
accounts  contracted  by  father  and  myself  I  find  I  am  indebted  for  more 
than  20,000  francs.  I  remain  without  money  or  patrimony;  I  am 
simply  ensign  of  second  grade,  my  elder  brother  has  only  the  same  rank 
as  myself,  and  my  younger  brother  is  only  cadet;  and  this  is  the  actual 
result  of  all  that  my  father,  my  brothers  and  I  have  done.  That  brother 
of  mine  who  was  murdered,  some  years  since,  by  the  Indians,  victim  that 
he  was  by  the  Western  Sea,  was  not  the  most  unfortunate  one;  his  blood 
is  to  us  nothing  worth,  the  sweat  of  our  father  and  ourselves  has  availed 
us  naught;  we  are  compelled  to  yield  that  which  has  cost  us  so  much, 
if  M.  de  St.  Pierre  does  not  entertain  a  better  feeling  and  communicate 
same  to  M.  le  Mqs.  de  la  Jonquiere." 

Both  expeditions  sent  out  by  La  Jonquiere  were  failures.  In  1753, 
about  the  time  that  the  St.  Pierre  fiasco  was  reporting  to  the  authorities, 
the  Chevalier  was  made  ensign  of  the  first  grade  and  four  years  later 
became  a  lieutenant.  In  November,  1761,  after  Quebec  had  fallen  to 
the  English,  the  Chevalier  with  other  fellow  officers  sailed  for  France 
in  the  "Auguste."  One  hundred  persons  were  on  board.  Not  far  from 
the  North  Cape  of  Isle  Royal,  on  the  coast  of  Cape  Breton,  at  the  mouth 
of  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  ship  was  wrecked  and  all  perished  (including 
the  Chevalier),  except  the  captain,  a  colonial  officer  and  five  soldiers. 
Thus  died  the  actual  white  discoverer  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  although 
it  is  still  a  matter  of  conjecture  as  to  how  far  West  he  penetrated,  or 
the  specific  location  of  the  leaden  plate  and  the  rough  stone  monument 
erected  somewhere  in  the  region  of  the  Cheyenne  and  Missouri  rivers 
to  commemorate  the  exploration  and  international  claim  of  France  to 
some  little  portion  of  what  afterward  was  known  as  Louisiana. 

THE  APPROACH  FROM  THE  PACIFIC 

Verendrye  and  his  sons  had  been  approaching  the  "Land  of  the 
Shining  Mountains"  through  the  interior  of  the  East,  and  the  next  prog- 
ress in  tracing  the  transcontinental  waterway  was  to  be  from  the  Pacific- 
Columbia  River  route  of  the  West.  The  Spaniards  and  Portuguese  pushed 


12  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

up  the  Pacific  coast  in  early  historic  times,  and  left  such  names  on  the 
maps  as  Cape  Blanco,  Straits  of  Fuca  and  Oregon,  but  in  their  rush  for 
gold  and  booty  found  little  time  to  record  their  voyages  in  the  interest 
of  cartography. 

Then  came  the  more  reliable  northern  navigators,  Behring,  the  Dane, 
and  Drake,  the  Englishman,  to  approach  the  latitude  of  Montana  on  the 
Pacific  coast,  "but  it  was  left  for  Captain  James  Cook,  so  far  as  we  can 
say  positively,  to  point  his  ships  prow  toward  the  mountains  of  Montana, 
and  break  the  hush  of  ice-bound  seas  as  nearly  urfder  the  beetling  banks 
of  Montana  as  ocean  ships  have  ever  sailed  or  ever  shall  sail."  In  1778, 
while  the  Revolution  was  raging  along  the  fringes  of  the  Atlantic  Coast, 
Captain  Cook  was  exploring  the  Behring  region  and  sailing  up  the  Oregon 
(Columbia)  River  as  far  as  his  ocean  craft  would  take  him,  and  in  the 
following  year  was  killed  by  cannibals  on  the  island  (now  Hawaii) 
which  he  had  discovered  among  a  group  (the  old  Sandwich  islands). 

JONATHAN    CARVER    PROPOSES   TRANSCONTINENTAL    WATERWAY 

It  is  said  that  Jonathan  Carver,  of  Connecticut,  a  captain  in  the  war 
waged  with  England  by  which  France  lost  Canada,  was  the  first  to 
definitely  propose  the  transcontinental  journey  by  way  of  the  Missouri 
and  the  Oregon  (Columbia)  rivers.  Three  years  after  the  peace  of  1763, 
he  left  Boston  to  visit  the  sources  of  the  Mississippi  and  the  adjacent 
regions  for  purposes  of  trade,  exploration  and  investigation  as  to  the 
country  of  the  far  West.  He  applied  himself  to  the  study  of  the  Indian 
languages  that  he  might  pursue  all  these  objects,  and  in  this  work  he  spent 
two  years  and  seven  months.  After  his  return  to  Boston,  in  1768,  he 
published  an  account  of  his  travels  and  experiences,  and  he  tells  us : 
"From  the  intelligence  I  gained  from  the  Nandowessie  Indians,  whose 
language  I  perfectly  obtained  during  a  residence  of  five  months;  and 
also  from  the  accounts  I  afterwards  obtained  from  the  Assinipoils,  who 
speak  the  Chippeway  language  and  inhabit  the  heads  of  the  river  Bourbon 
— I  say  from  these  nations,  together  with  my  own  observations,  I  have 
learned  that  the  four  most  capital  rivers  on  the  continent  of  North 
America,  the  St.  Lawrence,  the  river  Bourbon  (Mississippi)  and  the 
Oregon,  or  the  River  of  the  West,  have  their  sources  in  the  same 
neighborhood.  The  waters  of  the  three  former  are  within  thirty  miles 
of  each  other,  the  latter,  however,  is  rather  farther  west." 

The  want  of  means  prevented  Carver  from  prosecuting  his  design 
with  the  government,  which  was  to  prevail  upon  its  authorities  to  estab- 
lish a  post  near  the  Straits  of  Anian,  after  a  journey  had  been  effected 
to  the  Pacific  coast.  In  1774,  he  obtained  the  support  and  cooperation 
of  Richard  Whitworth,  member  of  the  British  Parliament  for  the  town 
of  Stafford,  of  whom  the  projector  of  the  enterprise  says:  "He  (Mr. 
Whitworth)  designed  to  have  pursued  nearly  the  same  route  that  I  did; 
and  after  having  built  a  fort  at  Lake  Pepin  to  have  proceeded  up  a 
branch  of  the  river  Messorie,  till,  having  discovered  the  source  of  the 
Oregon,  or  River  of  the  West,  on  the  other  side  of  the  lands  that  divide 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  13 

the  waters  which  run  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  from  those  that  fall  into 
the  Pacific  Ocean,  he  would  have  sailed  down  that  river  to  the  place  where 
it  is  said  to  empty  itself,  near  the  Straits  of  Anian.  *  *  *  That 
the  completion  of  this  scheme,"  concludes  Carver,  "which  I  have  had 
the  honor  of  first  planning  and  attempting,  will  some  time  or  other  be 
effected,  I  have  no  doubt.  Those  who  are  so  fortunate  in  it  will  reap 
(exclusive  of  the  national  advantages  that  must  ensue)  emoluments 
beyond  their  most  sanguine  expectations.  And  while  their  spirits  are 
elated  by  their  success,  perhaps  they  may  bestow  some  commendations 
and  blessings  on  the  person  that  first  pointed  out  to  them  the  way. 
These,  though  but  a  shadowy  recompense  for  all  my  toil,  I  shall  receive 
with  pleasure." 

So  that  although  Jonathan  Carver  was  wild  in  his  geographical  as- 
sertion that  the  sources  of  the  great  Canadian  and  American  river 
systems  were  only  thirty  miles  apart,  he  was  among  the  first,  if  not  the 
first,  to  urge  the  sending  of  an  expedition  from  the  Mississippi  valley  to 
the  Pacific  coast  by  way  of  the  Missouri  and  Oregon  (Columbia)  rivers. 
But  the  prosecution  of  such  a  design  by  the  government  was  to  be 
deferred  until  the  country  had  secured  independent  right  to  the  territory 
from  the  Atlantic  coast  to  the  Mississippi  valley,  as  well  as  that  vast 
western  domain  through  which  poured  the  grand  waterways  to  the 
Pacific. 

JEFFERSON  CHECKMATING  ENGLAND  IN  THE  WEST 

In  1783,  the  year  of  the  treaty  of  peace  with  England,  John  Ledyard, 
a  Connecticut  adventurer,  an  educated  man  and  a  British  corporal  of 
marines  under  Captain  Cook — also  a  deserter  from  the  British  army 
before  the  war  closed — published  an  account  of  the  romantic  voyages 
of  that  world  navigator.  The  mercurial  author  also  incorporated  not 
a  little  practical  information,  quoting  Captain  Cook's  glowing  account  of 
the  quantity  of  sea  otter  and  the  superior  quality  of  their  fur,  in  the 
regions  of  the  northwestern  Pacific.  And  although  England  had  lost 
the  war,  her  agents  were  already  preparing  to  explore  the  country  between 
the  Mississippi  valley  and  the  Pacific  coast.  Thomas  Jefferson  was  then 
governor  of  Virginia,  as  he  had  been  during  the  Revolution,  and  in  the 
year  of  the  Peace  he  suggested  to  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark,  the 
elder  brother  of  Capt.  William  Clark,  a  way  to  checkmate  this  obvious 
intention  of  English  policy.  Jefferson's  words  to  Clark  were:  "I  find 
they  have  subscribed  a  very  large  sum  of  money  in  England  for  exploring 
the  country  from  the  Mississippi  to  California.  *  *  *  They  pretend 
it  is  only  to  promote  knowledge.  I  am  afraid  they  have  thoughts  of  colon- 
izing into  that  quarter.  *  *  *  Some  of  us  have  been  talking  here  in  a 
feeble  way  of  making  an  attempt  to  search  that  country,  but  I  doubt 
whether  we  have  enough  of  that  kind  of  spirit  to  raise  the  money.  How 
would  you  like  to  lead  such  a  party?  *  *  *  tho'  I  am  afraid  our 
prospect  is  not  worth  asking  the  question." 

Albeit  a  master  mind  was  pondering  the  scheme  of  a  Mississippi- 


14  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Pacific  expedition,  the  time  was  not  yet  ripe  to  bring  it  to  fruition. 
In  the  year  following  his  proposition  to  General  (not  Captain)  Clark, 
while  serving  as  minister  to  France,  Jefferson  met  Ledyard  in  Paris. 
The  restless  adventurer  was  then  out  of  employment,  and  Jefferson, 
through  the  influence  of  the  Empress  Catherine's  representatives  in 
Europe,  enabled  Ledyard  to  travel  through  Russia  to  within  two  hundred 
miles  of  Kamschatka,  where  he  was  turned  back  arid  dismissed  (1788). 
Their  design  was  to  reach  the  Pacific  coast  of  America  by  way  of  the 
Russian  dominions,  and  pass  up  the  Oregon  Missouri  to  the  Mississippi 
valley.  The  proposed  agent  of  that  journey  died  in  Africa  in  the  follow- 
ing year. 

DISCOVERY  AND  EXPLORATION  OF  COLUMBIA  WATERS 

Ledyard's  account  of  the  voyages  of  Captain  Cook,  with  its  suggestions 
to  thrifty  Yankee  merchants,  was  enthusiastically  discussed  by  Doctor 
Bullfinch,  his  son  Charles,  and  Joseph  Barrell,  the  last  a  business  man  of 
considerable  wealth.  The  result  was  that  two  vessels  were  equipped 
and  an  expedition  fitted  out  to  sail  to  the  Pacific  coast.  They  were 
called  the  Columbia  and  the  Washington,  commanded  respectively  by 
John  Kendrick  and  Robert  Gray.  The  ships  sailed  from  Boston  on 
September  30,  1787,  and  in  January,  1788,  while  rounding  Cape  Horn, 
a  storm  separated  them.  In  August,  the  Washington  reached  the  north- 
west coast  near  the  forty-sixth  degree  of  latitude,  or  about  the  latitude 
of  the  Three  Forks  of  the  upper  Missouri  River  and  the  Oregon 
(Columbia). 

At  that  point  Captain  Gray  believed  that  he  saw  the  mouth  of  a 
river,  but  his  vessel  grounded,  his  party  were  attacked  by  the  Indians,  one 
of  them  killed  and  another  wounded ;  so  he  had  no  opportunity  to  verify 
his  conclusions.  On  the  I7th  of  September,  1788,  the  Washington 
sailed  into  Nootka  Sound,  on  the  west  coast  of  Vancouver  Island — the 
rendezvous  agreed  upon  in  the  event  of  separation,  and  she  was  joined 
there  a  few  days  later  by  the  Columbia. 

Both  ships  wintered  in  the  Sound  and  the  Columbia  continued  there 
during  the  summer  gathering  pelts.  Captain  Gray,  on  the  Washington, 
sailed  the  waters  near  by  making  explorations.  He  returned  to  Nootka, 
and  he  and  Captain  Kendrick  agreed  that  Kendrick  should  command 
the  Washington,  remaining  on  the  coast  to  pursue  his  discoveries,  while 
Captain  Gray,  on  board  the  Columbia,  should  proceed  to  Canton,  China, 
with  a  cargo  of  furs  representing  the  entire  catch  of  both  ships.  This 
plan  was  carried  into  effect.  Gray  reached  Canton,  disposed  of  his 
furs,  purchased  a  shipload  of  tea  and  returned  to  Boston  in  August, 
1790.  He  had  carried  the  United  States  flag  on  its  first  voyage  around 
the  world. 

While  Captain  Gray  was  on  his  voyage,  Kendrick  sailed  to  the  Straits 
of  Fuca,  traversing  their  entire  length  to  the  Pacific,  at  latitude  51  degrees. 
He  discovered  that  the  neighboring  lands  formed  an  island  which,  how- 
ever, took  the  name  of  the  British  commander,  Vancouver,  who  did  not 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  15 

make  the  discovery  until  the  following  year.  Captain  Kendrick  was 
killed  by  an  accident,  while  the  "Washington"  was  exchanging  a  salute 
with  a  Spanish  ship  off  the  Sandwich  islands. 

The  "Columbia,"  under  Gray,  after  discharging  her  cargo  at  Boston, 
was  refitted  by  her  owners  and  sent  on  a  second  voyage,  leaving  her 
home  port  in  September,  1790.  She  reached  a  point  near  the  entrance 
to  the  Straits  of  Fuca  on  June  5,  1791.  After  remaining  in  these  waters 
until  the  following  spring,  trading  and  exploring,  Captain  Gray  sailed 
southward  in  search  of  the  river  which  he  believed  he  had  seen  debouch- 
ing into  the  ocean  at  about  the  forty-sixth  degree  of  latitude.  On  this 
cruise  he  met  the  Vancouver  expedition,  and  notwithstanding  the  dis- 
couraging views  of  the  British  commander  as  to  the  existence  of  "any 
safe  navigable  opening,  harbor  or  place  of  security  for  shipping,  from 
Cape  Mendocinus  to  Fuca's  Strait,"  the  American  captain  proceeded  on 
his  way  southward. 

On  May  n,  1792,  according  to  the  log-book  of  the  ship,  penned  by 
Captain  Gray  himself,  he  saw  "an  entrance  which  had  a  very  good 
appearance  of  a  harbor."  Entering,  he  found  a  bay  which  he  named 
Bulfinch's  harbor,  for  Doctor  Bulfinch,  one  of  the  sip's  owners.  It  is  now 
known  as  Gray's  harbor. 

The  actual  discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  is  thus  recorded: 
"May  ii  (1792),  at  eight  p.  m.,  the  entrance  of  Bulfinch's  harbor  bore 
north,  distance  four  miles.  Sent  up  the  main-top-gallant  yard  and  set 
all  sail.  At  four  a.  m.  saw  the  entrance  of  our  desired  port,  bearing 
east-south-east,  distance  six  leagues.  *  *  *  At  eight  a.  m.,  being  a 
little  windward  to  the  entrance  of  the  harbor,  bore  away  and  ran  in  east- 
north-east  between  the  breakers,  having  from  five  to  seven  fathoms  of 
water.  When  we  were  over  the  bar,  we  found  this  to  be  a  large  river  of 
fresh  water,  up  which  we  steered.  Many  canoes  came  alongside.  At  one 
p.  m.  came  to,  with  the  small  bower  in  ten  fathoms  black  and  white  sand. 
The  entrance  between  the  bars  bore  west-south-west,  distance  ten  miles; 
the  north  side  of  the  river  a  half  mile  distant  from  the  ship,  the  south 
side  of  the  same  two  and  a  half  miles  distant;  a  village  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  west  by  north,  distant  three-quarters  of  a  mile.  Vast 
numbers  of  natives  came  alongside.  People  employed  in  pumping  the  salt 
water  out  of  water-casks,  in  order  to  fill  with  fresh,  while  the  ship 
floats  in.  So  ends." 

JEFFERSON  SENDS  Two  MORE  INEFFECTIVE  AGENTS 

The  discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  Columbia  by  Captain  Gray  laid  a 
firm  international  basis  for  the  American  claim  to  the  vast  extent  of 
country  watered  by  it.  For  a  dozen  years  afterward,  until  the  United 
States  acquired  the  vast  extent  of  country  known  as  Louisiana  from 
France,  the  government,  and  Jefferson  in  particular,  made  no  real  headway 
in  exploring  the  Missouri  and  the  newly  discovered  Columbia.  Capt. 
John  Armstrong,  one  of  those  who  accepted  the  mission,  got  as  far  as 
St.  Louis  and  turned  back  because  of  disquieting  stories  of  hostile  Indians 


16  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

told  to  him  by  French  traders,  and  one  of  Jefferson's  men,  a  famous 
French  botanist,  Michaux,  who  had  traveled  in  many  lands  of  the  Old 
World  in  search  of  strange  plants  and  trees,  had  commenced  his  scientific 
investigations  in  the  New  World.  The  Frenchman  started  from  Phila- 
delphia under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Philosophical  Society,  and  the 
support  of  Washington's  cabinet,  of  which  Jefferson  was  then  secretary  of 
state,  on  the  I5th  of  July,  1794,  but  when  he  reached  Kentucky  got  en- 
tangled in  the  machinations  of  Citizen  Genet  against  Spain  and  England  in 
their  dealings  with  the  United  States,  and  the  two  fell  together.  Michaux 
returned  to  France  in  1796. 

THE  UNITED  STATES  ACQUIRES  LOUISIANA 

In  1800,  after  having  been  shuffled  back  and  forth  between  France 
and  Spain,  for  several  years,  Louisiana  became  French  territory,  and 
Napoleon's  threatened  occupation  of  New  Orleans  menaced  the  free 
navigation  of  the  Mississippi,  as  had  been  the  case  when  it  was  under 
Spanish  ownership.  In  March,  1803,  President  Jefferson  sent  James  Mon- 
roe as  a  special  envoy  to  France  that  the  complications  between  the  two 
countries  might  be  disentangled  without  a  resort  to  war.  Monroe  was  even 
authorized  to  guarantee  to  France  her  holdings  beyond  the  Mississippi,  if 
the  United  States  could  be  assured  an  outlet  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  for  the 
ever-increasing  products  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 

While  Monroe  was  on  his  way  to  France,  Napoleon's  plans  had  all 
centered  on  his  ambition  to  crush  England  in  Europe.  No  outside  cam- 
paigns were  to  be  considered,  and  a  vast  expenditure  of  money  was  re- 
quired to  carry  out  his  consuming  desire.  Robert  R.  Livingston  was  the 
American  minister  at  the  French  Court,  and  while  he  was  in  no  sense 
superseded  by  Monroe,  President  Jefferson  and  his  cabinet  realized  that 
the  issues  involved  were  so  momentous  that  they  justified  the  addition  of 
Monroe's  long  experience  in  diplomatic  matters  to  the  abilities  of  Livings- 
ton. When  Monroe  arrived  Livingston  had  only  asked  of  France,  "  a  bit 
of  marsh  and  sand  off  the  extreme  end  of  West  Florida,  and  the  margin 
of  delta  land  that  lies  east  of  the  main  channel  of  the  Mississippi  between 
Lake  Pontchartrain  and  the  river's  mouth."  These  modest  sites  were  to 
serve  for  the  founding  of  a  town,  or  gateway,  through  which  might  pass 
the  American  trade  of  the  Mississippi  valley. 

Monroe  arrived  with  the  authorization  to  offer  France  $2,000,000 
for  New  Orleans  and  the  Floridas.  After  discussions  and  negotiations, 
in  which  the  chief  figures  were  Livingston,  Monroe  and  their  friend, 
Barbe  Marbois,  minister  of  the  public  treasury,  Tallyrand,  the  tool  of 
Napoleon,  threw  a  bomb  into  the  proceedings  by  suddenly  asking  what  the 
United  States  would  pay  for  the  entire  province  of  Louisiana.  To  cut 
many  corners  of  explanation,  which  are  hardly  apropos  to  a  clear-cut-his- 
tory of  Montana,  the  brilliant  dictator  of  France  offered  Louisiana — if 
taken  quick — to  Livingston  and  Monroe  for  $15,000,000.  There  were  no 
cables  by  which  they  could  consult  their  government,  and  like  brave  men 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  17 

they  assumed  the  heavy  responsibility  of  signing  the  treaty  of  session,  in 
behalf  of  the  United  States,  on  the  3Oth  of  April,  1803. 

This  all-important  treaty  was  between  the  United  States  of  America 
and  the  French  Republic,  or  more  personally,  as  stated  in  the  preamble, 
between  the  president  of  the  United  States  of  America,  and  the  first 
consul  of  the  French  republic,  "in  the  name  of  the  French  people."  It 
also  specified  that  the  treaty  was  made  by  "the  president  of  the  United 
States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the  Senate  of  the  United 
States ;"  consequently  Messrs.  Livingston  and  Monroe  were  assuming  con- 
siderable responsibility. 

The  treaty  traced  the  title  of  the  very  indefinite  province  through 
the  agreements  between  France  and  Spain,  and  stated  that  "the  inhabitants 
of  the  ceded  territory  shall  be  incorporated  in  the  Union  of  the  United 
States,  and  be  admitted  as  soon  as  possible,  according  to  the  principles 
of  the  Federal  Constitution,"  etc.  Provision  was  made  by  the  government 
of  France  to  send  a  commissary  to  Louisiana  to  take  over  that  country 
from  Spain  and  transmit  it  to  the  agent  of  the  United  States.  Special 
mention  was  made  of  the  military  posts  of  New  Orleans,  all  troops,  either 
of  France  or  Spain,  to  embark  from  occupied  territory  within  three 
months  from  the  ratification  of  the  treaty.  The  rights  of  Indians,  secured 
by  previous  treaties,  were  secured.  Equal  duties  were  accorded  Spanish, 
French  and  American  ships  passing  through  the  port  of  New  Orleans  for 
a  period  of  twelve  years  from  the  exchange  of  ratification  of  the  treaty. 
"It  is.  however,  well  understood,"  continues  the  article  dealing  with  this 
subject,  "that  the  object  of  the  above  article  is  to  favor  the  manufacture, 
commerce,  freight  and  navigation  of  France  and  Spain,  so  far  as  relates  to 
the  importations  that  the  French  and  Spanish  shall  make  into  the  said 
ports  of  the  United  States,  without  in  any  sort  affecting  the  regulations 
that  the  United  States  may  make  concerning  the  exportation  of  the 
produce  and  merchandise  of  the  United  States,  or  any  right  that  may  have 
to  make  such  regulations." 

Article  8  reads:  "In  future  and  forever,  after  the  expiration  of  the 
twelve  years,  the  ships  of  France  shall  be  treated  upon  the  footing  of 
the  most  favored  nations  in  the  ports  above  mentioned." 

When  news  of  the  daring  transactions  reached  Washington  in  June, 
1803,  there  was  a  storm  of  dissenting  opinions,  mostly  caused  by  politi- 
cal heats.  The  Republicans  (Democrats)  applauded  it  and  the  Federalists 
(Republicans)  vigorously  opposed  it,  but  it  was  ratified  by  Congress  in 
October.  In  November  and  December,  1803,  the  transfer  from  Spain 
to  France  and  from  France  to  the  United  States  was  formally  made  at 
New  Orleans,  and  in  the  early  part  of  March,  1804,  similar  ceremonies 
occurred  in  St.  Louis.  The  American  transfer  commissioner  at  St.  Louis 
was  Capt.  Amos  Stoddard,  an  officer  of  the  United  States  army  there 
stationed  and  accompanied,  the  greater  part  of  the  winter,  by  Capt. 
Meriwether  Lewis,  who  was  then  about  to  start  on  the  history-making 
expedition  to  the  Pacific  coast,  via  the  Missouri  and  Columbia  rivers. 
The  entire  province  had  been  transferred  by  the  Spanish  commission- 


18  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ers  to  Pierre  Clement  Laussat,  the  French  representative,  and  by  him 
to  the  American  commissioners,  William  C.  C.  Claiborne,  who  had  been 
appointed  governor  of  the  new  province,  and  Gen.  James  Wilkinson, 
military  commander.  The  French  flag  was  then  hauled  down  and  Laussat 
proceeded  to  perform  the  same  offices  at  St.  Louis.  He  ordered  De 
Lassus,  lieutenant  governor  of  Upper  Louisiana,  with  headquarters  in  that 
place,  to  turn  his  district  over  to  Captain  Stoddard. 

On  March  9,  1804,  the  American  troops  under  command  of  Captain 
Stoddard's  adjutant,  Lieut.  Stephen  Worrell,  crossed  the  river  and 
escorted  Captains  Stoddard  and  Lewis  and  other  prominent  Americans 
to  the  government  house.  From  that  mansion  De  Lassus  read  a  pro- 
clamation releasing  all  French  inhabitants  in  the  district  from  allegiance 
to  their  mother  country.  After  this  the  transfer  was  formally  signed 
by  Lassus  for  France  and  Stoddard  for  the  United  States,  and  among 
the  witnesses  who  affixed  their  signatures  thereto  was  Capt.  Meri- 
wether  Lewis.  As  had  been  done  in  New  Orleans,  the  tri-color  of  France 
was  then  lowered,  the  Stars  and  Stripes  were  raised,  and  artillery  salutes 
and  martial  music  proclaimed  that  all  of  Louisiana  was  territory  of  the 
United  States. 


CHAPTER  II 
EXPEDITION  THROUGH  TRANS-MISSISSIPPI  LAND 

The  United  States  having  acquired  a  good  color  of  title  to  the  Oregon 
country  through  Captain  Gray's  discovery  of  the  mouth  of  the  great 
Western  River  and  Jefferson,  evidently  convinced  that  Louisiana  would 
eventually  become  an  American  possession,  continued  his  efforts  to  obtain 
some  definite  knowledge  of  the  geography  and  possibilities  of  the  Trans- 
Mississippi  land.  Previous  failures  in  no  wise  dampened  his  ardor  to 
delve  into  the  grand  mysteries  of  that  unknown  country  which  loomed 
just  beyond  the  States.  Mature  men,  adventurers  and  scientists  had 
failed  him,  and  he  now  turned  to  young,  eager,  educated,  practical  and 
brave  young  men  for  the  consummation  of  the  grand  adventure.  He 
selected  for  this  purpose,  Capt.  Meriwether  Lewis,  his  private  secretary 
for  two  years  and  whom  he  greatly  admired  and  loved,  and  Capt.  Will- 
iam Clark,  a  younger  brother  of  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clark  and  an 
intimate  friend  of  Lewis.  When  Captain  Lewis  was  present  in  St.  Louis, 
as  one  of  the  prominent  figures  in  the  official  transfer  of  Louisiana  to  the 
United  States,  he  was  deep  in  the  work,  under  the  authority  and  instruc- 
tions of  President  Jefferson,  of  preparing  the  expedition  for  its  advance 
up  the  Missouri  to  the  Rockies  and  the  great  beyond. 

INITIAL  STEPS  OF  THE  LEWIS-CLARK  EXPEDITION 

More  than  three  months  before  Louisiana  had  been  sold  to  the  United 
States — that  is,  January  18,  1803 — President  Jefferson  sent  a  confiden- 
tial communication  to  Congress  asking  that  $2,500  be  appropriated  for  an 
exploring  party  to  establish  friendly  relations  with  the  Indians  along  the 
route  and  secure  the  fur-trade  to  the  United  States  rather  than  leave 
it  in  the  hands  of  the  English  companies.  He  recommended  the  estab- 
lishment of  government  trading  posts,  by  which  he  hoped  to  "place 
within  their  (the  Indians')  reach  those  things  which  will  contribute 
more  to  their  domestic  comfort  than  the  possession  of  extensive  and 
uncultivated  wilds."  Jefferson  doubtless  felt  the  grandeur  of  the  pro- 
ject, but,  with  the  wisdoip  of  a  statesman  who  knew  he  was  dealing  with 
a  practical  nation  and  Congress,  placed  the  material  benefits  of  such 
an  expedition  and  exploration  foremost.  Elsewhere  in  his  message  of 
the  date  given,  he  adds :  "An  intelligent  officer,  with  ten  or  twelve  chosen 
men,  fit  for  the  enterprise  and  willing  to  undertake  it,  taken  from  our 
posts  where  they  may  be  spared  without  inconvenience,  might  explore 
the  whole  line  even  to  the  Western  ocean,  have  conference  with  the  natives 
on  the  subject  of  commercial  intercourse,  get  admission  among  them  for 

19 


20  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

\ 

our  traders  as  others  are  admitted,  agree  on  convenient  deposits  for  an 
interchange  of  articles,  and  return  with  the  information  acquired  in  the 
course  of  two  summers.  Their  arms  and  accoutrements,  some  instru- 
ments of  observation  and  light  and  cheap  presents  for  tlie  Indians  would 
be  all  the  apparatus  they  could  carry,  and  with  the  expectation  of  a 
soldier's  portion  of  land  on  their  return  would  constitute  the  whole  ex- 
pense. Their  pay  would  be  going  on  whether  here  or  there.  While  other 
civilized  nations  have  encountered  great  expense  to  enlarge  the  boundaries 
of  knowledge  by  undertaking  voyages  of  discovery,  and  for  other  lit- 
erary purposes,  in  various  parts  and  directions,  our  nation  seems  to  owe 
to  the  same  object,  as  well  as  to  its  own  interests,  to  explore  this,  the 
only  line  of  easy  communication  across  the  continent,  and  so  directly 
traversing  our  own  part  of  it.  The  interests  of  commerce  place  the 
principal  object  within  the  constitutional  powers  and  care  of  Congress, 
and  that  it  should  incidentally  advance  the  geographical  knowledge  of  our 
own  continent  cannot  but  be  an  additional  gratification." 

In  April,  1803,  while  negotiations  were  still  pending  with  France, 
Captain  Lewis  was  collecting  his  equipment  at  Lancaster,  Harpers  Ferry 
and  other  places ;  in  May,  before  news  of  the  treaty  had  reached  America, 
he  received  his  first  set  of  instructions  from  the  President,  and  on  the 
5th  of  July,  after  the  tidings  had  been  received  in  Washington,  the  young 
leader  of  the  historic  expedition — then  in  his  twenty-eight  year — bade 
his  great  patron  farewell. 

LITERARY  SOURCES  OF  INFORMATION 

The  most  authentic  source  of  information  regarding  the  famous  ex- 
pedition was  its  history  prepared,  by  order  of  the  Government  of  the 
United  States,  in  1814,  by  Paul  Allen.  In  the  preface  to  that  edi- 
tion the  editor  states :  "It  was  the  original  design  of  Captain  Lewis  to 
have  been  himself  the  editor  of  his  own  travels,  and  he  was  on  his 
way  towards  Philadelphia  for  that  purpose  when  his  sudden  death  frus- 
trated these  intentions.  After  a  considerable  and  unavoidable  delay, 
the  papers  connected  with  the  expedition  were  deposited  with  another 
gentleman,  who,  in  order  to  render  the  lapse  of  time  as  little  injurious 
as  possible,  proceeded  immediately  to  collect  and  investigate  all  the 
materials  within  his  reach. 

"Of  the  incidents  of  each  day  during  the  expedition  a  minute  jour- 
nal was  kept  by  Captain  Lewis  or  Captain  Clark,  and  sometimes  by 
both,  which  was  afterward  revised  and  enlarged  at  the  different  periods 
of  leisure  which  occurred  on  the  route.  These  were  carefully  perused 
in  conjunction  wtth  Captain  Clark  himself,  who  was  able  from  his  own 
recollection  of  the  journey,  as  well  as  from  a  constant  residence  in 
Louisiana  since  his  return,  to  supply  a  great  mass  of  explanations,  and 
much  additional  information  with  regard  to  part  of  the  route  which  has 
been  more  recently  explored.  Besides  these,  recourse  was  had  to  the 
manuscript  journals  kept  by  two  of  the  sergeants  (Patrick  Gass  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  21 

Charles  Floyd),  one  of  which,  the  least  minute  and  valuable,*  has  already 
been  published.  That  nothing  might  be  wanting  to  the  accuracy  of 
these  details,  a  very  intelligent  and  active  member  of  the  party,  Mr. 
George  Shannon,  was  sent  to  contribute  whatever  his  memory  might 
add  to  this  accumulated  fund  of  information.  *  *  * 

"To  give  still  further  interest  to  the  work,  the  editor  addressed 
a  letter  to  Mr.  Jefferson,  requesting  some  authentic  memoirs  of  Captain 
Lewis.  For  the  very  curious  and  valuable  information  contained  in  his 
answer,  the  public,  as  well  as  the  editor  himself,  owe  great  obligations 
to  the  politeness  and  knowledge  of  that  distinguished  gentleman." 

JEFFERSON'S  SKETCH  OF  MERIWETHER  LEWIS 

Jefferson's  article  is  not  only  of  deep  personal  interest  as  furnishing 
the  best  biography  of  Captain  Lewis,  of  limited  compass,  which  has  been 
published,  but  is  weighted  with  valuable  historic  matter  to  form  a  rich 
background  to  the  great  expedition  itself.  After  noting  the  birth  of 
Meriwether  Lewis,  "late  Governor  of  Louisiana,"  near  the  town  of 
Charlotteville,  Virginia,  August  18,  1778,  the  distinguished  statesman, 
who  writes  from  Monticello,  sketches  the  distinguished  Lewis  family 
of  Virginia.  His  great-uncle  married  a  sister  of  George  Washington,  and 
several  of  his  relatives  were  prominent  in  the  Revolutionary  war,  one  of 
whom  (his  uncle  and  guardian,  Nicholas)  fought  bravely  as  commander 
of  a  regiment  sent  against  the  Cherokee  Indians. 

Meriwether  Lewis  lost  his  father  at  an  early  age  and  this  brave, 
honest,  courteous  and  tender  uncle  and  his  widowed  mother  cared  for 
the  bold,  out-of-doors  boy,  huntsman  and  student.  At  thirteen  he  was 
put  to  Latin  school  and  after  five  years  of  schooling  returned  to  the 
home  farm,  but  his  instinct  for  adventure  induced  him  to  volunteer 
as  a  militiaman  in  the  suppression  of  the  Whiskey  Rebellion  of  West- 
ern Pennsylvania.  Soon  afterward  he  was  transferred  to  the  regular 
service  as  a  lieutenant  in  the  line  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  was 
promoted  to  a  captaincy;  "and,"  adds  Jefferson,  "always  attracting  the 
first  attention  where  punctuality  and  fidelity  were  requisite,  he  was 
appointed  paymaster  to  his  regiment.  • 

JOHN  LEDYARD'S  MISADVENTURE 

"About  this  time  a  circumstance  occurred  which,  leading  to  the  transac- 
tion which  is  the  subject  of  this  book,  will  justify  a  recurrence  to  its 
original  idea.  While  residing  in  Paris  (as  minister  to  France),  John 
Ledyard,  of  Connecticut,  arrived  there,  well  known  in  the  United  States 

*  This  low  estimate  of  the  value  of  the  Gass  Journal,  made  in  1814,  has  not 
been  sustained  by  estimates  of  historians  subsequently  made.  His  first  edition, 
published  in  1807,  was  for  seven  years  the  only  source  from  which  any  authentic 
knowledge  of  the  enterprise  could  be  obtained,  and  ever  since  (with  the  issue  of 
1814)  it  has  been  recognized  as  an  important  supplement  to  the  work  based  upon 
the  diaries  of  the  great  captains. 


22  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

for  energy  of  body  and  mind.  He  had  accompanied  Captain  Cook  on 
his  voyage  to  the  Pacific  Ocean  and  distinguished  himself  on  that  voy- 
age by  his  intepidity.  Being  of  a  roaming  disposition,  he  was  now 
panting  for  some  new  enterprise.  His  immediate  object  at  Paris  was 
to  engage  a  mercantile  company  in  the  fur  trade  of  the  western  coast 
of  America,  in  which,  however,  he  failed.  I  then  proposed  to  him  to  go 
by  land  to  Kamchatka,  cross  in  some  of  the  Russian  vessels  to  Nootka 
Sound,  fall  down  into  the  latitude  of  the  Missouri,  and  penetrate  to, 
and  through  that,  to  the  United  States.  He  eagerly  seized  the  idea, 
and  only  asked  to  be  assured  of  the  permission  of  the  Russian  Govern- 
ment. I  interested  in  obtaining  that,  M.  de  Simoulin,  minister  plenipo- 
tentiary of  the  empress  at  Paris,  but  more  especially  the  Baron  de  Grimm, 
minister  plenipotentiary  of  Saxe-Gotha,  her  more  special  agent  and  cor- 
respondent there  in  matters  not  immediately  diplomatic.  Her  permis- 
sion was  obtained,  and  an  assurance  of  protection  while  the  course  of  the 
voyage  should  be  through  her  territories. 

"Ledyard  set  out  from  Paris  and  arrived  at  St.  Petersburgh  after  the 
empress  had  left  that  place  to  pass  the  winter,  I  think,  at  Moscow.  His 
finances  not  permitting  him  to  make  unnecessary  stay  at  St.  Petersburgh, 
he  left  it  with  a  passport  from  one  of  the  ministers,  and  at  two  hundred 
miles  from  Kamschatka,  was  obliged  to  take  up  his  winter  quarters.  He 
was  preparing,  in  the  spring,  to  resume  his  journey,  when  he  was  arrested 
by  an  officer  of  the  empress,  who  by  this  time  had  changed  her  mind 
and  forbidden  his  proceeding.  He  was  put  into  a  closed  carriage  and  con- 
veyed day  and  night,  without  even  stopping,  till  they  reached  Poland, 
where  he  was  set  down  and  left  to  himself.  The  fatigue  of  this  journey 
broke  down  his  constitution,  and  when  he  returned  to  Paris,  his  bodily 
strength  was  much  impaired.  His  mind,  however,  remained  firm,  and  he 
after  this  undertook  the  journey  to  Egypt.  I  received  a  letter  from  him, 
full  of  sanguine  hopes,  dated  at  Cairo,  the  fifteenth  of  November,  1788, 
the  day  before  he  was  to  set  out  for  the  head  of  the  Nile ;  on  which  day, 
however,  he  ended  his  career  and  life — and  thus  failed  the  first  attempt 
to  explore  the  western  part  of  our  northern  continent." 

BOTANIST  FAILS  AS  EXPLORER 

"In  1792  I  proposed  to  the  American  Philosophical  Society  that  we 
should  set  on  foot  a  subscription  to  engage  some  competent  person  to 
explore  that  region  in  the  opposite  direction;  that  is,  by  ascending  the 
Missouri,  crossing  the  Stony  mountains  and  descending  the  nearest  river 
to  the  Pacific.  Captain  Lewis,  being  then  stationed  at  Charlottesville 
on  the  recruiting  service,  warmly  solicitated  me  to  obtain  for  him  the 
execution  of  that  object.  I  told  him  it  was  proposed  that  the  person  en- 
gaged should  be  attended  by  a  single  companion  only,  to  avoid  exciting 
alarm  among  the  Indians.  This  did  not  deter  him ;  but  Mr.  Andre  Michaux, 
a  professed  botanist,  author  of  the  'Flora  Boreali-Americana,'  and  of  the 
'Histoire  des  Chesnes  d'  Amerique,'  offering  his  services,  they  were  ac- 
cepted. He  received  his  instructions,  and  when  he  had  reached  Kentucky 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  23 

in  the  prosecution  of  his  journey  he  was  overtaken  by  an  order  from 
the  minister  of  France,  then  at  Philadelphia,  to  relinquish  the  expedition, 
and  to  pursue  elsewhere  the  botanical  inquiries  on  which  he  was  employed 
by  that  government — and  thus  failed  the  second  attempt  for  exploring  that 
region. 

CAPTAIN  LEWIS'  REMARKABLE  QUALIFICATIONS 

"In   1803,  the  act  for  establishing  trading  houses  with  the  Indian 
tribes  being  about  to  expire,  some  modifications  of  it  were  recommended 
to  Congress  by  a  confidential  message  of  January  i8th,  and  an  exten- 
sion of  its  views  to  the  Indians  on  the  Missouri.     In  order  to  prepare 
the  way,  the  message  proposed  the  sending  an  exploring  party  to  trace 
the  Missouri  to  its  source,  to  cross  the  Highlands  and  follow  the  best 
water  communication  which  offered  itself  thence  to  the  Pacific  ocean. 
Congress  approved  the  proposition  and  voted  a  sum  of  money  for  carry- 
ing it  into  execution.    Captain  Lewis,  who  had  then  been  near  two  years 
with  me  as  private  secretary,  immediately  renewed  his  solicitations  to 
have  the  direction  of  the  party.    I  had  now  had  opportunities  of  know- 
ing him  intimately.     Of  courage  undaunted;  possessing  a  firmness  and 
perseverance  of  purpose  which  nothing  but  impossibilities  could  divert 
from  its  direction ;  careful  as  a  father  of  those  committed  to  his  charge, 
yet  steady  in  the  maintenance  of  order  and  discipline;  intimate  with  the 
Indian  character,  customs  and  principles ;  habituated  to  the  hunting  life ; 
guarded,  by  exact  observation  of  the  vegetables  and  animals  of  his  own 
country,  against  losing  time  in  the  description  of  objects  already  pos- 
sessed ;  honest,  disinterested,  liberal,  of  sound  understanding,  and  a  fidelity 
to  truth  so  scrupulous  that  whatever  he  should  report  would  be  as  cer- 
tain as  if  seen  by  ourselves — with  all  these  qualifications,  as  if  selected 
and  implanted  in  one  body  for  his  express  purpose,  I  could  have  no 
hesitation  in  confiding  the  enterprise  to  him.     To  fill  up  the  measure' 
desired,  he  wanted  nothing  but  a  greater  familiarity  with  the  technical 
language   of   the   natural   sciences,   and   readiness   in   the   astronomical 
observations  necessary  for  the  geography  of  his  route.    To  acquire  these, 
he  repaired  immediately  to  Philadelphia  and  placed  himself  under  the 
tutorage   of   the   distinguished   professors   of  that  place,   who,   with   a 
zeal  and  emulation  enkindled  by  an  ardent  devotion  to  science,  communi- 
cated to  him  freely  the  information  requisite  for  the  purposes  of  the  jour- 
ney.    While  attending,  too,  at  Lancaster,  the  fabrication  of  the  arms 
with  which  he  chose  that  his  men  should  be  provided,  he  had  the  benefit 
of  daily  communication  with  Mr.  Andrew  Ellicot,  whose  experience  in 
astronomical  observation  and  practice  of  it  in  the  woods,  enabled  him 
to  apprise  Captain  Lewis  of  the  wants  and  difficulties  he  would  en- 
counter, and  of  the  substitutes  and  resources  offered  by  a  woodland  and 
uninhabited  country." 

JEFFERSON'S  FIRST  INSTRUCTIONS  TO  LEWIS 

In   April,    1803,    a   draft   of   his   instructions   was    sent   to    Captain 
Lewis,  and  President  Jefferson  signed  them  on  the  following  2Oth  of 


24  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

June.  These  included  a  list  of  accouterments,  instruments,  etc.,  to  be 
taken  by  the  expedition  of  from  ten  to  twelve  men,  and  assurances  of 
safe  conduct  from  the  ministers  of  France,  Spain  and  Great  Britain. 
Louisiana  had  been  ceded  by  Spain  to  France,  and  the  protection  of 
Great  Britain  entitled  Lewis  and  Clark,  with  their  men,  to  the  friendly 
aid  of  any  British  traders  whom  they  might  encounter.  After  stating 
the  main  object  of  the  mission  was  to  ascertain  "the  most  direct  and 
practicable  water  communication  across  the  continent  for  the  purposes 
of  commerce,"  Jefferson  entered  more  into  details:  "Beginning  at  the 
mouth  of  the  Missouri,  you  will  take  observations  of  latitude  and  lon- 
gitude at  all  remarkable  points  on  the  river,  and  especially  at  the 
mouths  of  rivers,  at  rapids,  at  islands  and  other  places,  and  objects 
distinguished  by  such  natural  marks  and  characters,  of  a  durable  kind 
as  that  they  may  with  certainty  be  recognized  hereafter.  The  courses 
of  the  river  between  these  points  of  obsevation  may  be  supplied  by  the 
compass,  the  log-line  and  by  time,  corrected  by  the  observations  them- 
selves. The  variations  of  the  needle,  too,  in  different  places  should  be 
noted. 

"The  interesting  points  of  the  portage  between  the  heads  of  the 
Missouri  and  of  the  water  offering  the'  best  communication  with  the 
Pacific  ocean,  should  also  be  fixed  by  observation ;  and  the  course  of  the 
water  to  the  ocean,  in  the  same  manner  as  that  of  the  Missouri." 

The  president  cautioned  the  leader  of  the  expedition  to  take  great 
pains  in  recording  his  observations ;  to  make  several  copies  of  them,  and, 
as  a  special  safeguard  against  their  destruction  make  one  of  them  "on  the 
cuticular  membrane  of  the  paper-birch,  as  less  liable  to  injury  from 
damp  than  common  paper."  He  defined  the  special  objects  of  research 
among  the  different  Indian  tribes,  and  the  examination  of  the  physical 
features  of  the  country  was  to  be  conducted  with  a  view  of  ascertaining 
the  existence  of  vegetable  products  and  animals  not  known  to  the  "United 
States;"  also,  mineral  productions  of  any  kind,  especially  "metals,  lime 
stone,  pit-coal  and  saltpetre;  salines  and  mineral  waters,  noting  the  tem- 
perature of  the  last,"  and  "volcanic  appearances." 

"Although  your  route  will  be  along  the  channel  of  the  Missouri," 
the  instructions  continue,  "yet  you  will  endeavor  to  inform  yourself, 
by  inquiry,  of  the  character  and  extent  of  the  country  watered  by  its 
branches,  and  especially  on  its  southern  side.  The  North  river,  or  Rio 
Bravo,  which  runs  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  and  the  Rio  Colorado,  which 
runs  into  the  Gulf  of  California,  are  understood  to  be  the  principal 
streams  heading  opposite  to  the  waters  of  the  Missouri  and  running 
southwardly.  Whether  the  dividing  grounds  between  the  Missouri  and 
them  are  mountains  or  flat  lands,  what  are  their  distances  from  the 
Missouri,  the  character  of  the  intermediate  country  and  the  people  in- 
habiting it,  are  worthy  of  particular  inquiry.  The  northern  waters  of 
the  Missouri  are  less  to  be  inquired  after,  because  they  have  been  ascer- 
tained to  a  considerable  degree,  and  are  still  in  a  course  of  ascertain- 
ment by  English  traders  and  travelers;  but  if  you  can  learn  anything 
certain  of  the  most  northern  source  of  the  Mississippi,  and  of  its  position 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  25 

relatively  to  the  Lake  of  the  Woods,  it  will  be  interesting  to  us.  Some 
account,  too,  of  the  path  of  the  Canadian  traders  from  the  Mississippi, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Ouisconsing,  to  where  it  strikes  the  Missouri,  and 
of  the  soil  and  rivers  in  its  course,  is  desirable." 

Kind  treatment  of  the  natives  was  urged,  even  to  the  length  of 
offering  to  receive  some  of  their  young  people  and  educating  them  at 
government  expense.  Kine-pox  (vaccine)  matter  was  to  be  taken,  and 
endeavors  made  to  introduce  it  as  a  preventive  against  small-pox,  the 
scourge  of  the  red  race.  As  it  was  impossible  to  foresee  how  the  ex- 
pedition would  be  received  by  the  natives,  it  was  instructed  to  turn 
back,  if  it  met  with  extended  and  dangerous  opposition. 

"Should  you  reach  the  Pacific  Ocean,"  instructs  President  Jeffer- 
son, "inform  yourself  of  the  circumstances  which  may  decide  whether 
the  furs  of  those  parts  may  not  be  collected  as  advantageously  at  the 
head  of  the  Missouri  (convenient,  as  is  supposed,  to  the  waters  of  the" 
Colorado  and  Oregon  or  Columbia)  as  at  Nootka  sound,  or  any  other 
point  of  that  coast ;  and  that  trade  be  consequently  conducted  through  the 
Missouri  and  United  States  more  beneficially  than  by  the  circumnaviga- 
tion now  practiced." 

That  last  part  of  the  instructions  includes  advice  to  return  to  the 
United  States  by  way  of  Cape  Horn  or  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  if  the 
overland  trip  should  be  deemed  too  hazardous;  instructions  as  to  meet- 
ing expeditionary  expenses  and  the  appointment  of  a  successor  to  head 
the  expedition,  in  the  event  of  Captain  Lewis's  death. 

"While  these  things  were  going  on  here,"  continues  Jefferson,  "the 
country  of  Louisiana,  lately  ceded  by  Spain  to  France,  had  been  the  sub- 
ject of  negotiation  at  Paris  between  us  and  this  last  power,  and  had 
actually  been  transferred  to  us  by  treaties  executed  at  Paris  on  the 
thirtieth  of  April  (1803).  This  information,  received  about  the  first  of 
July,  increased  infinitely  the  interest  we  felt  in  the  expedition  and 
lessened  the  apprehension  of  interruption  from  other  powers.  Every- 
thing in  this  quarter  being  now  prepared,  Captain  Lewis  left  Washington 
on  the  fifth  of  July,  1803,  and  proceeded  to  Pittsburg,  where  other  articles 
had  been  ordered  to  be  provided  for  him.  The  men,  too,  were  to  be 
selected  from  the  military  stations  on  the  Ohio.  Delays  of  preparation, 
difficulties  of  navigation  down  the  Ohio  and  other  untoward  obstruc- 
tions, retarded  his  arrival  at  Cahokia  until  the  season  was  so  far 
advanced  as  to  render  it  prudent  to  suspend  his  entering  the  Missouri 
before  the  ice  should  break  up  in  the  succeeding  spring. 

"From  this  time  his  journal,  now  published,  will  give  the  history 
of  his  journey  to  and  from  the  Pacific  ocean,  until  his  return  to  St. 
Louis  on  the  23rd  of  September,  1806.  Never  did  a  similar  event  excite 
more  joy  through  the  United  States.  The  humblest  of  its  citizens  had 
taken  a  lively  interest  in  the  issue  of  this  journey,  and  looked  forward 
with  impatience  for  the  information  it  would  furnish.  Their  anxieties, 
too,  for  the  safety  of  the  corps  had  been  kept  in  a  state  of  excitement 
by  lugubrious  rumours,  circulated  from  time  to  time  on  uncertain 
authorities,  and  uncontradiction  by  letters  or  other  direct  information, 


26  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

from  the  time  they  had  left  the  Mandan  towns  on  their  ascent  up  the 
river  in  April  of  the  preceding  year  (1805)  until  their  actual  return 
to  St.  Louis." 

ESTIMATED  COST  OF  THE  EXPEDITION 

The  president  requested  Captain  Lewis  to  estimate  the  cost  of  the 
expedition,  which  the  latter  did  as  follows : 

Mathematical  instruments $    217 

Arms  and  accoutrements 81 

Camp  equipage 255 

Medicine  and  packing 55 

Means  of  transportation 43° 

Indian  presents 696 

Provisions 224 

Materials   for  making  up  the  various   articles   into 

portable  packs 55 

For  the  pay  of  hunters,  guides  and  interpreters 300 

In  silver  coin,  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  party 
from  Nashville  to  the  last  white  settlement  on  the 

Missouri    100 

Contingencies   87 


Total    $2,500 

These  were  but  preliminary  estimates  and,  as  the  importance  of 
the  expedition  increased  during  the  period  of  delay  which  resulted  in 
Louisiana  becoming  American  territory,  it  is  evident  that  they  were  not 
adhered  to. 

CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  CLARK 

The  personnel  of  the  expedition  was  of  prime  importance,  however, 
Capt.  William  Clark,*  who  shared  the  honors  of  leadership  with  Captain 
Lewis,  was  four  years  the  senior  of  the  latter,  and  was  also  a  Virginian. 
During  his  boyhood,  the  family  moved  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  in 
1796,  after  serving  for  eight  years  in  the  United  States  army  he  re- 
signed his  lieutenancy  in  the  service  on  account  of  ill  health.  At  one 
time,  Meriwether  Lewis  served  under  him.  In  March,  1804,  after  he  had 
been  selected  as  Captain  Lewis'  assistant,  he  received  a  commission  as 
second  lieutenant  of  artillery  and  not  as  captain  of  engineers,  as  he  had 
hoped.  So  that  the  title  of  "captain"  is  generally  applied  to  him ;  officially 
he  was  not  entitled  to  it.  He  was  also  Lewis'  subordinate,  although 

*  In  three  editions  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  journals,  the  latter  name  is  spelled 
with  an  "e";  Washington  Irving  also  gives  it  that  spelling.  On  the  contrary,  Cap- 
tain Clark  himself  omits  the  "e"  in  the  inscription  left  by  him  on  Pompey's  pillar; 
his  brother,  the  general,  always  signed  himself,  Clark,  as  did  his  son,  Jefferson 
Clark  of  St.  Louis.  As  the  bearer  of  the  name  himself,  as  well  as  his  near  relatives, 
invariably  omitted  the  "e",  it  should  be  the  duty  of  the  historian  to  follow  their 
preferences. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  27 

his  official  superior  made  him  his  practical  equal  in  every  way  and  evi- 
dently they  were  both  harmoniously  working  for  the  common  cause— the 
laudable  success  of  a  great  American  expedition. 

"The  selection  of  the  men  for  the  expedition,"  says  a  modern  ac- 
count of  the  fine  venture,  "was  a  matter  of  importance  secondary  only 
to  the  choice  of  the  chiefs  themselves.  There  were  in  all — that  is, 
including  Lewis  and  Clark — forty-five  souls.  Among  them  were  frontier 
soldiers  of  the  regular  army,  who  volunteered  to  go.  They  had  seen 
service  at  the  posts  of  the  west.  There  were,  besides,  nine  young  Ken- 
tuckians,  two  French  watermen,  a  hunter,  who  also  served  as  interpreter, 
and  York,  the  negro  valet  of  Captain  Lewis.  Of  these  men,  all  but 
the  last  named,  were  enlisted  as  privates,  their  services  to  endure  through 
the  active  life 'of  the  expedition.  Three  of  them,  namely,  Floyd,  Pryor 
and  Ordway,  were  promoted  by  the  leaders  to  the  rank  of  sergeant. 
Besides  the  party  designed  for  the  complete  journey  of  exploration  a 
corporal,  six  soldiers  and  nine  watermen  were  taken  as  an  escort  as 
far  as  the  Mandan  villages  on  the  Missouri,  to  aid  in  transporting 
stores  and  also  to  give  their  military  aid  in  case  of  attack  by  hostile 
savages,  those  most  feared  dwelling  between  the  Wood  River  and  the 
Missouri." 

THE  JOURNEY  TO  THE  MANDAN  VILLAGES 

It  is  far  beyond  the  scope  of  this  story  to  trace  the  real  com- 
mencement of  the  expedition  at  Pittsburg,  in  the  summer  of  1803,  when 
Captain  Lewis  was  there  recruiting  for  members  and  arranging  for 
transportation  down  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri.  Dr.  James 
K.  Hosmer,  in  his  introduction  to  the  "Gass  Journal"  (edition  of  1904) 
goes  into  many  interesting  details  regarding  this  phase  of  the  enter- 
prise and  the  care  taken  by  Captain  Lewis  in  the  selection  of  his  men. 
The  Falls  of  the  Ohio,  Louisville,  were  at  last  reached,  and  at  the 
Point  of  Rock,  the  home  of  George  Rogers  Clark,  Lewis  met  his  yoke- 
fellow, William  Clark,  who  added  to  the  company  nine  young  men  from 
Kentucky,  carefully  selected  from  a  throng  of  volunteers.  Among  them 
was  John  Colter,  whose  adventures  were  to  be  the  most  thrilling  of  all 
the  members  of  the  expedition.  Delaying  as  little  as  possible,  Clark 
taking  charge  of  the  boat  with  its  important  freight,  worked  his  way 
down  stream,  then  up  to  St.  Louis;  while  Lewis,  following  the  "Vin- 
cennes  trace,"  proceeded  across  country  to  Kaskaskia.  Recruits  were 
picked  from  various  frontier  posts,  among  others  John  Ordway  and  Pat- 
rick Gass,  who  both  contributed  materially  to  the  literature  of  the  ex- 
pedition. 

"During  the  winter  of  1803-04,"  writes  Doctor  Hosmer,  "the  company 
was  well  disciplined  and  instructed  in  the  camp  at  Wood  River,  and  on 
the  9th  of  May  took  part  in  a  memorable  ceremony.  Major  Amos  Stod- 
dard  crossing  from  Cahokia,  received  from  Don  Carlos  de  Haut  de  Lassus, 
the  Spanish  governor,  the  surrender  of  St.  Louis,  the  last  post  in  the  pur- 
chased Louisiana.  It  was  an  occasion  of  solemnity.  The  flag  of  Spain 


28  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

being  lowered,  the  flag  of  France  took  its  place  for  a  brief  season. 
Then  arose  the  flag  of  the  stars  and  stripes,  its  dominion  henceforth 
unchallenged.  Confronting  the  Spanish  infantry  stood,  at  present,  the 
American  line,  among  them  the  picked  soldiers  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  a 
fine  array  of  manhood.  The  new  land  was  now  completely  possessed, 
and  the  next  week  the  Captains  set  forth  to  see  what  it  contained." 

The  chief  incidents  developed  by  the  voyage  from  St.  Louis,  up  the 
Missouri  River,  to  Fort  Mandan — near  the  present  site  of  Bismarck, 
North  Dakota — a  trip  of  sixteen  hundred  miles — was  the  death  of  Ser- 
geant Floyd,  at  the  present  site  of  Sioux  City,  Iowa,  on  August  20,  1804 ; 
the  desertion  of  two  of  the  men,  and  the  severe  punishment  (seventy-five 
lashes  with  the  "ramrod")  and  discharge  of  the  one  recaptured. 

THE  BIRD  WOMAN  AND  HER  HUSBAND,  CHARBONNEAU 

The  start  from  St.  Louis  was  made  May  14,  1804,  and  the  Mandan 
villages  and  the  fort  were  reached  on  the  2nd  of  November,  of  that 
year.  There  the  party  were  joined  by  Charbonneau,  the  French-Cana- 
dian trapper  and  former  employe  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  and  his 
wife,  Sacajawea,  the  Bird  Woman,  a  native  of  the  Shoshone,  or  Snake 
nation,  and  whose  services  as  guide  and  advisor  gave  her  a  standing  in 
the  expedition  next  to  the  leaders  themselves.  Charbonneau,  who  was 
engaged  as  interpreter,  was  quarrelsome  and  unreliable;  his  wife,  the 
Bird  Woman,  was  brave,  faithful,  familiar  with  every  detail  of  her  na- 
tive land,  through  which  the  expedition  was  to  pass,  and  absolutely  re- 
liable. On  February  n,  1804,  she  had  been  delivered  of  a  son,  so  that 
when  the  expedition  of  thirty-two  members  left  Fort  Mandan,  on  April  7, 
1805,  Sacajawea  carried  with  her  a  baby  of  fourteen  months. 

The  Lewis-Clark  Journal  launches  the  expedition  thus:  "Having 
made  all  our  arrangements,  we  left  the  fort  about  five  o'clock  in  the 
afternoon.  The  party  now  consisted  of  thirty-two  persons.  Besides 
ourselves  were  Sergeants  John  Ordway,  Nathaniel  Pryor  and  Patrick 
Gass ;  the  privates  were  William  Bratton,  John  Colter,  John  Collins, 
Peter  Cruzatte,  Robert  Frazier,  Reuben  Fields,  Joseph  Fields,  George 
Gibson,  Silas  Goodrich,  Hugh  Hall,  Thomas  P.  Howard,  Baptiste  Lapage, 
Francis  Labiche,  Hugh  M'Neal,  John  Potts,  John  Shields,  George  Shannon, 
John  B.  Thompson,  William  Werner,  Alexander  Willard,  Richard  Winsor, 
Joseph  Whitehouse,  Peter  Wiser  and  Captain  Clark's  black  servant,  York. 
The  two  interpreters  were  George  Drewyer  and  Toussaint  Charbonneau. 
The  wife  of  Charbonneau  also  accompanied  us  with  her  young  child,  and 
we  hope  may  be  useful  as  an  interpreter  among  the  Snake  Indians.  She 
was  herself  one  of  that  tribe,  but  having  been  taken  in  war  by  the  Min- 
netarees,  by  whom  she  was  sold  as  a  slave  to  Charbonneau,  who  brought 
her  up  and  afterwards  married  her.  One  of  the  Mandans  also  embarked 
with  us,  in  order  to  go  to  the  Snake  Indians  and  obtain  a  peace  with  them 
for  his  countrymen.  All  this  party  with  the  baggage  was  stowed  in  six 
small  canoes  and  two  large  pirogues.  We  left  the  fort  with  fair, 
pleasant  weather,  though  the  northwest  wind  was  high,  and  after  making 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  29 

about  four  miles  encamped  on  the  north  side  of  the  Missouri,  nearly 
opposite  the  first  Mandan  village.  At  the  same  time  that  we  took  our 
departure  our  barge,  manned  with  seven  soldiers,  two  Frenchmen  and  Mr. 
Gravelines  as  pilot,  sailed  for  the  United  States  loaded  with  our  pres- 
ents and  despatches." 

REACH  THE  MOUTH  OF  THE  YELLOWSTONE 

The  party  proceeded  up  the  Missouri,  past  the  mouths  of  the  Big 
Knife,  Little  Missouri,  White  Earth  and  other  tributaries  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Yellowstone,  through  a  pleasant  land  of  elk,  deer,  beaver,  and 
Mandans  and  Assiniboines.  The  disagreeable  features  of  this  part  of 
the  expedition  were  evidently  the  high  winds,  which  caused  the  men's* 
eyes  to  be  sore,  and  the  cold  weather.  On  April  25th,  as  the  Yellow- 
stone was  approached,  near  the  present  boundary  between  North  Dakota 
and  Montana,  the  temperature  fell  so  low  that  the  water  froze  on  the 
oars  as  the  men  rowed,  which,  with  the  high  wind,  forced  a  halt.  "This 
detention  from  the  wind,"  notes  the  Journal,  under  that  date,  "and  the 
reports  from  our  hunters  of  the  crookedness  of  the  river,  induced  us 
to  believe  that  we  were  at  no  great  distance  from  the  Yellowstone  River. 
In  order,  therefore,  to  prevent  delay  as  much  as  possible,  Captain  Lewis 
determined  to  go  on  by  land  in  search  of  that  river  and  make  the  neces- 
sary observations,  so  as  to  be  enabled  to  proceed  on  immediately  after  the 
boats  should  join  him;  he  therefore  landed  about  eleven  o'clock  on  the 
south  side,  accompanied  by  four  men ;  the  boats  were  prevented  from 
going  until  five  in  the  afternoon,  when  they  went  on  a  few  miles  far- 
ther, and  encamped  for  the  night  at  the  distance  of  fourteen  and  a 
half  miles." 

Captain  Clark  evidently  writes  the  journal  at  this  point,  as  he 
says,  under  date  of  April  26,  1805 :  "We  continued  our  voyage  in  the 
morning  and  by  twelve  o'clock  encamped,  at  eight  miles  distance,  at  the 
junction  of  the  Missouri  and  Yellowstone  rivers,  where  we  were  soon 
joined  by  Captain  Lewis. 

"On  leaving  us  yesterday,  he  pursued  his  route  along  the  foot  of 
the  hills,  which  he  ascended  at  the  distance  of  eight  miles;  from  these 
the  wide  plains  watered  by  the  Missouri  and  the  Yellowstone  spread 
themselves  before  the  eye,  occasionally  varied  with  the  wood  of  the  banks, 
enlivened  by  the  irregular  windings  of  the  two  rivers  and  animated 
by  vast  herds  of  buffalo,  deer,  elk  and  antelope. 

"The  confluence  of  the  two  rivers  was  concealed  by  the  wood,  but 
the  Yellowstone  itself  was  only  two  miles  distant  to  the  south.  He 
therefore  descended  the  hills  and  encamped  on  the  bank  of  the  river, 
having  killed  as  he  crossed  the  plain  four  buffaloes;  the  deer  alone 
are  shy  and  retire  to  the  woods,  but  the  elk,  antelope  and  buffalo  suf- 
fered him  to  approach  without  alarm  and  often  followed  him  quietly  for 
some  distance.  This  morning  he  sent  a  man  up  the  river  to  examine 
it,  while  he  proceeded  down  to  the  juncture. 

"The  ground  on  the  lower  side  of  the  Yellowstone  near  its  mouth 


30  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

is  flat  and  for  about  a  mile  seems  to  be  subject  to  inundation,  while 
that  at  the  point  of  juncture,  as  well  as  that  on  the  opposite  side  of 
the  Missouri,  is  at  the  usual  height  of  ten  or  eighteen  feet  above  the 
water  and  therefore  not  overflown.  There  is  more  timber  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  this  place  and  on  the  Missouri  as  far  below  as  the  White  Earth 
river,  than  on  any  other  part  of  the  Missouri  on  this  side  of  the  Cheyenne ; 
the  timber  consists  principally  of  cottonwood,  with  some  small  elm,  ash 
and  box  elder.  On  the  sandbars  and  along  the  margin  of  the  river  grows 
the  small-leafed  willow ;  in  the  low  grounds  adjoining  are  scattered  rose- 
bushes three  or  four  feet  high,  the  redberry,  serviceberry  and  redwood. 
The  higher  plains  are  either  immediately  on  the  river,  in  which  case  they 
are  generally  timbered  and  have  an  undergrowth  like  that  of  the  low- 
grounds,  with  the  addition  of  the  broad-leafed  willow,  gooseberry,  choke 
cherry,  purple  currant  and  honeysuckle;  or  they  are  between  the  low 
grounds  and  the  hills,  and  for  the  most  part  without  wood  or  anything 
except  large  quantities  of  wild  hysop;  this  plant  rises  about  two  feet 
high  and,  like  the  willow  of  the  sandbars,  is  a  favorite  food  of  the  buffalo, 
elk,  deer,  grouse,  porcupine,  hare  and  rabbit.  *  *  * 

"The  man  who  was  sent  up  the  river  reported  in  the  evening  that  he 
had  gone  about  eight  miles,  that  during  that  distance  the  river  winds 
on  both  sides  of  a  plain  four  or  five  miles  wide,  that  the  current  was 
gentle  and  much  obstructed  by  sandbars,  that  at  five  miles  he  had 
met  with  a  large  timbered  island,  three  miles  beyond  which  a  creek 
falls  in  on  the  southeast  above  a  high  bluff  in  which  are  several  strata 
of  coal.  The  country,  as  far  as  he  could  discern,  resembled  that  of 
the  Missouri,  and  in  the  plain  he  met  several  of  the  bighorn  animals 
but  they  were  too  shy  to  be  obtained. 

"The  bed  of  the  Yellowstone,  as  we  observed  it  near  the  mouth, 
is  composed  of  sand  and  mud,  without  a  stone  of  any  kind.  Just  above 
the  confluence  we  measured  the  two  rivers,  and  found  the  bed  of  the 
Missouri  five  hundred  and  twenty  yards  wide,  the  water  occupying  only 
three  hundred  and  thirty,  and  the  channel  deep;  while  the  Yellowstone, 
including  its  sandbar,  occupied  eight  hundred  and  fifty-eight  yards  with 
two  hundred  and  ninety-seven  yards  of  water;  the  deepest  part  of  the 
channel  is  twelve  feet,  but  the  water  is  now  falling  and  seems  to  be 
nearly  at  summer  height. 

"We  left  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone  (April  27th).  From  the 
point  of  juncture  a  wood  occupies  the  space  between  the  two  rivers, 
which  at  the  distance  of  a  mile  came  within  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards 
of  each  other.  There  a  beautiful  low  plain  commences  and  widening, 
as  the  rivers  recede,  extends  along  each  of  them  for  several  miles,  rising 
about  half  a  mile  from  the  Missouri  into  a  plain  twelve  feet  higher 
than  itself.  The  low  plain  is  a  few  inches  above  high  water  mark, 
and  where  it  joins  the  higher  plain  there  is  a  channel  of  sixty  or  seventy 
yards  in  width,  through  which  a  part  of  the  Missouri,  when  at  its 
greatest  height,  passes  into  the  Yellowstone.  At  two  and  a  half  miles 
above  the  juncture  and  between  the  high  and  low  plain,  is  a  small 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  31 

lake  two  hundred  yards  wide,  extending  for  a  mile  parallel  with  the 
Missouri,  along  the  edge  of  the  upper  plain. 

"At  the  lower  extremity  of  this  lake,  about  four  hundred  yards 
from  the  Missouri  and  twice  that  distance  from  the  Yellowstone,  is  a 
small  lake  highly  eligible  for  a  trading  station;  it  is  in  the  high  plain 
which  extends  back  three  miles  in  width  and  seven  or  eight  miles  in 
length,  along  the  Yellowstone,  where  it  is  bordered  by  an  extensive 
body  of  woodland  and  along  the  Missouri  with  less  breadth,  till  three 
miles  above  it  is  circumscribed  by  the  hills  within  a  space  of  four 
yards  in  width.  A  sufficient  quantity  of  limestone  for  building  may 
easily  be  procured  near  the  junction  of  the  rivers;  it  does  not  lie  in 
regular  stratas,  but  is  in  large  irregular  masses,  of  a  light  color  and 
apparently  of  an  excellent  quality.  Game,  too,  is  very  abundant  and  as 
yet  quite  gentle.  Above  all,  its  elevation  recommends  it  as  preferable 
to  the  land  at  the  confluence  of  the  rivers,  which  their  variable  channels 
may  render  very  insecure." 

For  several  days,  or  until  about  the  ist  of  May,  1805,  wind  and 
weather  were  favorable  for  sailing,  and  the  Eastern  Missouri  valley  was 
traversed  until  the  Porcupine  Creek  was  reached.  This  is  a  northern 
tributary  of  the  Whitewater  River,  which,  with  the  Milk  River,  drains 
quite  a  section  of  Northern  Montana,  and  joins  the  Missouri  River  in 
the  southern  part  of  what  is  now  Valley  County.  All  along  the  route, 
game  was  very  abundant,  such  as  the  black  tailed  deer,  elk,  buffalo, 
antelope,  brown  bear  and  geese.  At  places,  the  beaver  had  committed 
great  ravages  among  the  trees,  "one  of  which,  nearly  three  feet  in 
diameter,  had  been  gnawed  through  by  them."  Captain  Lewis  had  a 
narrow  escape  from  a  wounded  white  bear  (a  grizzly,  evidently,  as  it. 
is  described  as  yellowish  brown  in  color).  In  the  vicinity  of  Martha's 
River,  east  of  Porcupine  Creek,  it  was  noted  that  "there  are  greater 
appearances  of  coal  than  we  have  hitherto  seen,  the  stratas  of  it  being 
in  some  places  six  feet  thick,  and  there  are  stratas  of  burnt  earth,  which 
are  always  on  the  same  level  with  those  of  coal." 

Speaking  of  the  antelope,  the  journal  observes:  "This  fleet  and 
quick-sighted  animal  is  generally  the  victim  of  its  own  curiosity:  when 
they  first  see  the  hunters,  they  run  with  great  velocity;  if  he  lies  down 
on  the  ground  and  lifts  up  his  arm,  his  hat  or  his  foot,  the  antelope 
returns  on  a  light  trot  to  look  at  the  object  and  sometimes  goes  and 
returns  two  or  three  times,  till  they  approach  within  reach  of  the  rifle; 
so,  too,  they  sometimes  leave  their  flock  to  go  and  look  at  the  wolves, 
who  crouch  down,  and  if  the  antelope  be  frightened  at  first,  repeat 
the  same  manoeuvre,  and  sometimes  relieve  each  other  till  they  decoy  it 
from  the  party,  when  they  seize  it.  But  generally  the  wolves  take  them 
as  they  are  crossing  the  rivers,  for,  although  swift  of  foot,  they  are 
not  good  swimmers." 

On  May  2nd,  while  nearing  Porcupine  Creek  "one  of  the  hunters, 
in  passing  an  old  Indian  camp,  found  several  yards  of  scarlet  cloth 
suspended  on  the  bough  of  a  tree,  as  a  sacrifice  to  the  deity  by  the  Assini- 
boines,  the  custom  of  making  these  offerings  being  common  among  that 


32  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

people,  as  indeed  among  all  the  Indians  on  the  Missouri."  On  the 
following  day,  near  their  encampment,  was  passed  "a  curious  collection 
of  bushes,  about  thirty  feet  high  and  ten  or  twelve  in  diameter,  tied 
in  the  form  of  a  fascine  (a  faggot  used  in  fortifications)  and  standing 
on  end  in  the  middle  of  the  low  ground."  It,  also,  was  supposed  to  have 
been  left  by  the  Indians  as  a  religious  offering. 

Fourteen  miles  farther  up  the  river  the  expedition  reached  the 
mouth  of  the  Porcupine  named  from  the  unusual  number  of  the  animal 
named  found  near  it.  In  the  journal  of  the  explorers,  it  may  be  con- 
founded with  Whitewater  River,  as  it  is  described  as  "a  bold  and 
beautiful  stream  one  hundred  and  twelve  yards  wide,  though  the  water 
is  only  forty  yards  at  its  entrance.  Captain  Clark,  who  ascended  it 
several  miles  and  passed  it  above  where  it  enters  the  highlands,  found  it 
continued  nearly  of  the  same  width  and  about  knee  deep,  and  as  far 
as  he  could  distinguish  for  twenty  miles  from  the  hills  its  course  was 
a  little  to  the  east  of  north.  There  was  much  timber  on  the  low  grounds ; 
he  found  some  limestone,  also,  on  the  surface  of  the  earth  in  the  course 
of  his  walk,  and  saw  a  range  of  low  mountains  at  a  distance  to  the 
west  of  north  (Little  Creek  Mountains)  whose  direction  was  northwest, 
the  adjoining  country  being  everywhere  level,  fertile,  open  and  ex- 
ceedingly beautiful. 

"The  water  of  this  river  is  transparent,  and  is  the  only  one  that 
is  so  of  all  those  that  fall  into  the  Missouri ;  before  entering  a  large 
sandbar  through  which  it  discharges  itself,  its  low  grounds  are  formed 
of  a  stiff  blue  and  black  clay,  and  its  banks,  which  are  from  eight  to 
ten  feet  high  and  seldom,  if  ever,  overflow,  are  composed  of  the  same 
materials. 

"From  the  quantity  of  water  which  this  river  contains,  its  direction 
and  the  nature  of  the  country  through  which  it  passes,  it  is  not  im- 
probable that  its  sources  may  be  near  the  main  body  of  the  Saskaskawan 
(Saskatchewan),  and  as  in  high  water  it  can  be  no  doubt  navigated  to  a 
considerable  distance,  it  may  be  rendered  the  means  of  intercourse  with 
the  Athabasky  country,  from  which  the  northwest  company  derive  so 
many  of  their  valuable  furs. 

"A  quarter  of  a  mile  beyond  this  river,  a  creek  falls  in  on  the 
south,  to  which,  on  account  of  its  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the 
Missouri,  we  gave  it  the  name  of  Two-thousand  Mile  creek;  it  is  a 
bold  stream,  thirty  yards  wide." 

Game,  both  small  and  large,  was  very  abundant  in  this  region,  where 
members  of  the  party  encountered  and  killed  the  largest  brown  bear  they 
had  yet  seen.  Although  pierced  with  five  rirle  balls  through  his  lungs  and 
five  others  in  other  portions  of  his  body,  he  swam  half  way  across 
the  river  to  a  sandbar  and  then  survived  twenty  minutes.  The  animal 
weighed  about  six  hundred  pounds  and  measured  over  eight  and  a  half 
feet  from  the  nose  to  the  extremity  of  the  hind  foot,  five  feet  and  ten 
inches  around  the  breast  and  three  feet  eleven  inches  around  the  neck. 
'On  May  6th,  the  expedition  crossed  and  named  Big  Dry  and  Little 
Dry  creeks,  in  the  present  county  of  Garfield,  which  still  appear  on  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  33 

map  under  those  designations.  The  origin  of  the  name  is  given  in  the 
Lewis-Clark  journal,  thus:  "We  passed  three  streams  on  the  south: 
the  first,  at  the  distance  of  one  mile  and  a  half  from  our  camp,  was 
about  twenty-five  yards  wide,  but  although  it  contained  some  water  in 
standing  pools,  it  discharges  none.  This  we  called  Little  Dry  Creek, 
about  eight  miles  beyond  which  is  Big  Dry  creek,  fifty  yards  wide,  without 
any  water;  the  third  is  six  miles  further,  and  has  the  bed  of  a  large 
river  two  hundred  yards  wide,  yet  without  a  drop  of  water;  like  the 
other  two,  this  stream,  which  we  called  Big  Dry  river,  continues  its 
width  undiminished  as  far  as  we  can  discern." 

DISCOVER  AND  NAME  THE  MILK  RIVER 

Two  days  afterward,  a  light  breeze  from  the  east  carried  their  boat, 
sixteen  miles,  to  the  mouth  of  a  river  which  came  in  from  the  north. 
Captain  Clark,  on  ascending  a  high  point  opposite  to  its  entrance,  dis- 
covered a  level  and  beautiful  country  which  it  watered;  that  its  course 
for  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  was  northwest,  when  it  divided  into  two 
nearly  equal  branches,  one  pursuing  a  direction  nearly  north,  the  other  to 
the  west  of  north.  Its  width  at  the  entrance  to  the  Missouri,  in  the 
southern  part  of  what  is  now  Valley  County,  was  one  hundred  and  fifty 
yards.  A  few  miles  up  stream,  it  was  found  to  be  of  the  same  breadth — 
deep,  gentle  and  carrying  a  large  volume  of  water.  Its  bed  was  formed 
of  a  dark,  rich  loam  and  blue  clay;  banks  some  twelve  feet  in  height; 
the  low  grounds  near  it  wide  and  fertile  and  bearing  much  cottonwood 
and  willow.  The  river  had  to  be  named,  and  the  expeditionary  journal 
of  May  8,  1805,  makes  record:  "It  seems  to  be  navigable  for  boats  and 
canoes,  and  this  circumstance,  joined  to  its  course  and  the  quantity  of 
water,  which  indicates  that  it  passes  through  a  large  extent  of  country, 
we  are  led  to  presume  that  it  may  approach  the  Saskashawan  and  afford 
a  communication  with  that  river.  The  water  has  peculiar  whiteness, 
such  as  might  be  produced  by  a  table  spoon  full  of  milk  in  a  dish  of  tea, 
and  this  circumstance  induced  us  to  call  it  Milk  River." 

THE  MUSSELSHELL  RIVER 

The  next  river  of  any  consequence  reached  by  the  expedition  was 
the  Muscleshell,  or  Musselshell.  Progress  to  this  point  had  been  ac- 
complished by  a  twelve-days'  journey  from  the  Milk  River  district.  On 
May  20th,  the  camp  was  pitched  at  the  upper  point  of  the  river's  juncture 
with  the  Missouri,  from  the  south.  "This  stream,"  says  the  record, 
"which  we  suppose  to  be  that  called  by  the  Minnetarees  the  Muscleshell 
river,  empties  into  the  Missouri  two  thousand  two  hundred  and  seventy 
miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  latter  river,  and  in  latitude  47°  o'  24"6 
north.  It  is  one  hundred  and  ten  yards  wide  and  contains  more  water 
than  streams  of  that  size  usually  do  in  this  country;  its  current  is  by 
no  means  rapid  and  there  is  every  appearance  of  its  being  navigable  by 
canoes  for  a  considerable  distance;  its  bed  is  chiefly  formed  of  coarse 

Vol.  1—8 


34  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

sand  and  gravel,  with  an  occasional  mixture  of  black  mud;  the  banks 
abrupt  and  nearly  twelve  feet  high,  so  that  they  are  secure  from  being 
overflowed;  the  water  is  of  a  greenish  yellow  cast  and  much  more  trans- 
parent than  that  of  the  Missouri,  which  itself,  though  clearer  than  below, 
still  retains  its  whitish  hue  and  a  portion  of  its  sediment.  Opposite  to 
the  point  of  juncture  the  current  of  the  Missouri  is  gentle  and  two 
hundred  and  twenty-two  yards  in  width,  the  bed  principally  of  mud 
(the  little  sand  remaining  being  wholly  confined  to  the  points)  and  still 
too  deep  to  use  the  setting  pole.  If  this  be,  as  we  suppose,  the  Muscle- 
shell,  our  Indian  information  is  that  it  rises  in  the  first  chain  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  not  far  from  the  sources  of  the  Yellowstone,  whence, 
in  its  course  to  this  place,  it  waters  a  high,  broken  country,  well 
timbered,  particularly  on  its  borders,  and  interspersed  with  handsome 
fertile  plains  and  meadows.  *  t*  *  They  also  reported  that  the 
country  is  broken  and  irregular  like  that  near  our  camp;  that  about  five 
miles  up  a  handsome  river  about  fifty  yards  wide,  which  we  named  after 
Charbonneau's  wife,  Sahcajahweah,  or  Birdwoman's  river,  discharges 
itself  into  the  Muscleshell  on  the  north  or  upper  side. 

"Another  party  found  at  the  foot  of  the  southern  hills,  about  four 
miles  from  the  Missouri,  a  fine  bold  spring,  which  in  this  country  is 
so  rare  that  since  we  left  the  Mandans  we  have  found  only  one  of  a 
similar  kind,  and  that  was  under  the  bluffs  on  the  south  side  of  the 
Missouri,  at  some  distance  from  it  and  about  five  miles  below  the 
Yellowstone;  with  this  exception,  all  the  small  fountains,  of  which  we 
have  met  a  number,  are  impregnated  with  the  salts  which  are  so  abundant 
here,  and  with  which  the  Missouri  is  itself  most  probably  tainted  though 
to  us  who  have  been  so  much  accustomed  to  it,  the  taste  is  not  per- 
ceptible." 

Continuing  up  the  Missouri  River,  the  game  became  scarcer  and  the 
country  more  broken,  and  the  leaders  commenced  to  speculate  whether  or 
not  they  were  not  approaching  the  outposts  of  the  great  Rockies,  or 
continental  divide,  which  was  the  immediate  objectt  of  their  voyage. 
On  May  25th,  they  record :  "The  high  country  through  which  we  have 
passed  for  some  days,  and  where  we  now  are,  we  suppose  to  be  a 
continuation  of  what  the  French  traders  called  the  Cote  Noire  or  Black 
Hills.  The  country  thus  denominated  consists  of  high,  broken,  irregular 
hills  and  short  chains  of  mountains,  sometimes  one  hundred  and  twenty 
miles  in  width,  sometimes  narrower,  but  always  much  higher  than  the 
country  on  either  side.  They  commence  about  the  head  of  the  Kansasa, 
where  they  diverge,  the  first  ridge  going  westward  along  the  northern 
shore  of  the  Arkansaw;  the  second  approaches  the  Rocky  Mountains 
obliquely  in  a  course  a  little  to  the  west  of  northwest,  and  after  passing 
the  Platte  above  its  forks  and  intersecting  the  Yellowstone  near  the 
Bigbend,  crosses  the  Missouri  at  this  place,  and  probably  swell  the 
country  as  far  as  the  Saskashawan,  though  as  they  are  represented  much 
smaller  here  than  to  the  south  they  may  not  reach  that  river." 

What  are  now  known  as  the  Black  .Hills  are  much  more  circum- 
scribed than  the  supposititious  range  noted  in  the  Lewis-Clark  journal. 


o 

a 

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36  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

FIRST  VIEW  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS 

On  the  day  after  noting  the  broken  appearance  of  the  country  through 
which  they  were  passing,  the  first  view  was  obtained  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  From  the  description,  they  were  probably  some  portions 
of  the  Belt  Range  of  Central  Montana.  "It  was  here,"  says  the  journal, 
"that,  after  ascending  the  highest  summits  of  the  hills  on  the  north 
side  of  the  river,  Captain  Lewis  first  caught  a  distant  view  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  the  object  of  all  our  hopes  and  the  reward  of  all  our 
ambition.  On  both  sides  of  the  river  and  at  no  great  distance  from  it, 
the  mountains  followed  its  course;  above  these,  at  the  distance  of  fifty 
miles  from  us,  an  irregular  range  of  mountains  spread  themselves  from 
west  to  northwest  from  his  position.  To  the  north  of  these  a  few  elevated 
points,  the  most  remarkable  of  which  bore  north  65°  west,  appeared 
above  the  horizon,  and  as  the  sun  shone  on  the  snows  of  their  summits 
he  obtained  a  clear  and  satisfactory  view  of  those  mountains  which 
close  on  the  Missouri  the  passage  of  the  Pacific." 

It  is  probable  that  the  hills  from  which  Captain  Lewis  thus  obtained 
his  first  ravishing  view  of  the  outskirts  of  the  Rockies  were  what  are 
now  known  as  Little  Creek  Mountains,  as  shortly  afterward  the  members 
of  the  party  congratulated  themselves  "as  having  escaped  from  the  last 
ridges  of  the  Black  Mountains,"  and  discovered  and  named  "Bull  creek." 
"To  further  fix  the  locality,  on  the  following  day  they  came  to  a  handsome 
river,  which  discharges  itself  on  the  south  and  which  we  ascended  to 
the  distance  of  a  mile  and  a  half.  We  called  it  Judith  river;  it  rises 
in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  about  the  same  place  with  the  Muscleshell 
and  near  the  Yellowstone  river." 

WHOLESALE  SLAUGHTER  OF  BUFFALO 

"On  the  north,"  reads  the  journal  of  May  29,  1805,  "we  passed  a 
precipice  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  high,  under  which  lay 
scattered  the  fragments  of  at  least  one  hundred  carcasses  of  buffaloes, 
although  the  water,  which  had  washed  away  the  lower  part  of  the  hill, 
must  have  carried  off  many  of  the.  dead.  These  buffaloes  had  been 
chased  down  the  precipice  in  a  way  very  common  on  the  Missouri,  and 
by  which  vast  herds  are  destroyed  in  a  moment.  The  mode  of  hunting 
is  to  select  one  of  the  most  active  and  fleet  young  men,  who  is  disguised 
by  a  buffalo  skin  round  his  body,  the  skin  of  the  head,  with  the  ears  and 
horns,  fastened  on  his  own  head  in  such  a  way  as  to  deceive  the 
buffalo ;  thus  dressed  he  fixes  himself  at  a  convenient  distance  between  a 
herd  of  buffalo  and  any  of  the  river  precipices,  which  sometimes  extend 
for  some  miles.  His  companions,  in  the  meantime,  get  in  the  rear  and 
side  of  the  herd,  and  at  a  given  signal  show  themselves  and  advance 
toward  the  buffalo ;  they  instantly  take  the  alarm  and  finding  the  hunters 
beside  them,  they  run  toward  the  disguised  Indian  or  decoy,  who  leads 
them  on  at  full  speed  toward  the  river,  when  suddenly  securing  himself 
in  some  crevice  of  the  cliff  which  he  had  previously  fixed  on,  the  herd 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  37 

is  left  on  the  brink  of  the  precipice.  It  is  then  in  vain  for  the  foremost  to 
retreat  or  even  stop.  They  are  pressed  on  by  the  hindmost  rank,  who, 
seeing  no  danger  but  from  the  hunters,  goad  on  those  before  them 
till  the  whole  are  precipitated  and  the  shore  is  strewn  with  their  dead 
bodies. 

"Sometimes  in  this  perilous  seduction,  the  Indian  is  himself  either 
trodden  under  foot  by  the  rapid  movements  of  the  buffalo,  or  missing 
his  footing  in  the  cliff  is  urged  down  the  precipice  by  the  falling  herd. 
The  Indians  then  select  as  much  meat  as  they  wish,  and  the  rest  is 
abandoned  to  the  wolves,  and  creates  a  most  dreadful  stench.  The 
wolves  who  had  been  feasting  on  these  carcasses  were  very  fat,  and  so 
gentle  that  one  of  them  was  killed  with  an  esponton.  Above  this  place 


EARLY  INHABITANTS  OF  THE  PLAINS 

we  came  to  for  dinner  at  the  distance  of  seventeen  miles,  opposite  to  a 
bold  running  river  of  twenty  yards  wide,  and  falling  in  on  the  south. 
From  the  objects  we  had  just  passed  we  called  this  stream  Slaughter 
river." 

For  several  days,  the  party  passed  through  a  region  of  fantastic 
sandstone  cliffs  and  hills  of  freestone,  and  obtained  another  distant 
view  of  the  Rockies  from  some  of  the  most  considerable  eminences.  On 
the  2nd  of  June  a  string  of  islands  drew  their  attention,  and  at  night 
of  that  day  they  encamped  "in  a  handsome  low  cotton  wood  plain  on  the 
south,"  where  they  remained  "for  the  purpose  of  making  some  celestial 
observations  during  the  night,  and  of  examining  in  the  morning  a  large 
river"  which  flowed  into  the  Missouri  opposite  their  encampment,  from 
the  north. 

At  an  early  hour  of  the  following  day  (June  3rd),  the  expedition 
pitched  its  camp  in  the  point  formed  by  the  junction  of  Maria's  River 
with  the  Missouri.  "It  now  became  an  interesting  question,"  continues 


38  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  journal  of  the  perplexed  explorers,  "which  of  these  two  streams 
is  what  the  Minnetarees  call  Ahmateahza,  or  the  Missouri,  which  they 
described  as  approaching  very  near  to  the  Columbia.  On  our  right 
decision  much  of  the  fate  of  the  expedition  depends;  since  if,  after 
ascending  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  or  beyond  them,  we  should  find  that 
the  river  we  were  following  did  not"  come  near  the  Columbia,  and  be 
obliged  to  return,  we  should  not  only  lose  the  traveling  season,  two 
months  of  which  hard  already  elapsed,  but  probably  dishearten  the  men 
so  much  as  to  induce  them  either  to  abandon  the  enterprise,  or  yield 
us  a  cold  obedience  instead  of  the  warm  and  zealous  support  which  they 
have  hitherto  afforded  us. 

"We  determined,  therefore,  to  examine  well  before  we  decided  on 
our  future  course ;  and  for  this  purpose  dispatched  two  canoes  with  three 
men  up. each  of  the  streams,  with  orders  to  ascertain  the  width,  depth 
and  rapidity  of  the  current,  so  as  to  judge  of  their  comparative  bodies 
of  water.  At  the  same  time  parties  were  sent  out  by  land  to  penetrate 
the  country  and  discover  from  the  rising  grounds,  if  possible,  the  distant 
bearings  of  the  two  rivers;  and  all  were  directed  to  return  towards 
evening.  While  they  were  gone  we  ascended  together  the  high  grounds 
in  the  forks  of  these  two  rivers,  whence  we  had  a  very  extensive  prospect 
of  the  surrounding  country. 

"On  every  side  it  was  spread  into  one  vast  plain  covered  with  verdure, 
in  which  innumerable  herds  of  buffaloes  were  roaming,  .attended  by 
their  enemies,  the  wolves ;  some  flocks  of  elks  were  seen,  and  the  solitary 
antelopes  were  scattered  with  their  young  over  the  face  of  the  plain.  To 
the  south  was  a  range  of  lofty  mountains,  which  we  supposed  to  be  a 
continuation  of  the  South  Mountain,  stretching  themselves  from  southeast 
to  northwest  (probably  the  Belt  Range),  and  terminating  abruptly  about 
southwest  from  us.  These  were  partially  covered  with  snow;  but  at 
a  great  distance  behind  them  was  a  more  lofty  ridge  completely  covered 
with  snow,  which  seemed  to  follow  the  same  direction  as  the  first,  reaching 
from  west  to  the  north  of  northwest  (perhaps  the  Big  Belt  Mountains), 
where  their  snowy  tops  were  blended  with  the  horizon. 

"The  direction  of  the  rivers  could  not,  however,  be  long  dis- 
tinguished, as  they  were  soon  lost  in  the  extent  of  the  plain.  On  our 
return  we  continued  our  examination;  the  width  of  the  north  branch 
is  two  hundred  yards,  that  of  the  south  is  three  hundred  and  seventy-two. 
The  north,  although  narrower  and  with  a  gentler  current,  is  deeper  than 
the  south ;  its  waters,  too,  are  of  the  same  whitish  brown  color,  thickness 
and  turbidness ;  they  run  in  the  same  boiling  and  rolling  manner  which 
has  uniformly  characterized  the  Missouri ;  and  its  bed  is  composed  of 
some  gravel,  but  principally  mud.  The  south  fork  is  deeper,  but  its 
waters  are  perfectly  transparent;  its  current  is  rapid,  but  the  surface 
smooth  and  unruffled;  and  its  bed,  too,  is  composed  of  round  and  flat 
smooth  stones  like  those  of  rivers  issuing  from  a  mountainous  country. 
The  air  and  character  of  the  north  fork  so  much  resemble  those  of  the 
Missouri  that  almost  all  the  party  believe  that  to  be  the  true  course  to 
be  pursued.  We,  however,  although  we  have  given  no  decided  opinion 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  39 

are  inclined  to  think  otherwise,  because,  although  this  branch  does  give 
the  colour  and  character  to  the  Missouri,  yet  these  very  circumstances 
induce  an  opinion  that  it  rises  in  and  runs  through  an  open  plain  country, 
since  if  it  came  from  the  mountains  it  would  be  clearer,  unless,  which 
from  the  position  of  the  country  is  improbable,  it  passed  through  a  vast 
extent  of  low  ground  after  leaving  them.  We  thought  it  probable  that 
it  did  not  even  penetrate  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  drew  its  sources 
from  the  open  country  towards  the  lower  and  middle  parts  of  the 
Saskashawan,  in  a  direction  north  of  this  place. 

"What  embarrasses  us  most  is,  that  the  Indians,  who  appeared  to  be 
well  acquainted  with  the  geography  of  the  country,  have  not  mentioned 
this  northern  river;  for  'the  river  which  scolds  at  all  others,'  as  it  is 
termed,  must  be,  according  to  their  account,  one  of  the  rivers  which  we 
have  passed;  and  if  this  north  fork  be  the  Missouri,  why  have  they  not 
designated  the  south  branch,  which  they  must  also  have  passed  in  order 
to  reach  the  great  falls  which  they  mention  on  the  Missouri?" 

ROMANCE  OF  MARIA'S  RIVER 

The  foregoing  extracts  are  taken  from  the  journal  to  show  the  care 
with  which  the  leaders  examined  all  the  evidences  and  the  wisdom  of 
their  general  conclusion  that  their  way  to  the  mountains  lay  along  the 
south  rather  than  the  north  fork.  After  examining  the  streams  and 
the  neighboring  country  several  days  more,  Captain  Lewis  became  con- 
vinced that  the  northern  stream  pursued  a  direction  too  far  north  for 
their  desired  route  to  the  Pacific,  by  way  of  the  Columbia.  On  the  8th 
of  June,  1805,  as  his  party  came  down  the  river,  all  its  members,  except 
he  himself,  "were  of  opinion  that  this  river  was  the  true  Missouri;  but 
Captain  Lewis,  being  fully  persuaded  that  it  was  neither  the  main  stream 
nor  that  which  it  would  be  advisable  to  ascend,  gave  it  the  name  of 
Maria's  River.  After  travelling  all  day  they  reached  the  camp  at  five 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  and  found  Captain  Clark  and  the  party  very 
anxious  for  their  safety,  as  they  had  staid  two  days  longer  than  had 
been  expected." 

Elsewhere  Captain  Lewis  states :  "I  determined  to  give  it  a  name,  and 

in  honour  of  Miss  Maria  W d  called  it  Maria's  River.  It  is  true  that 

the  hue  of  the  waters  of  this  turbulent  and  troubled  stream  but  illy 
comport  with  the  pure  celestial  virtues  and  amiable  qualifications  of  that 
lovely  fair  one;  but  on  the  other  hand  it  is  a  noble  river;  one  destined 
to  become  in  my  opinion  an  object  of  contention  between  the  two  great 
powers  of  America  and  Great  Britain,  with  respect  to  the  adjustment  of 
the  North-westwardly  boundary  of  the  former,  and  that  it  will  become  one 
of  the  most  interesting  branches  of  the  Missouri." 

Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  the  learned  editor  of  the  1893  edition  of  the  journal, 
adds  this  enlightening  bit  of  information :  "The  Ulyssean  young  captain 
is  not  successful  in  concealing  the  name  of  'that  lovely  fair  one';  for 
<W— d'  spells  'Wood'  without  any  vowels.  This  lady  was  Miss  Maria 
Wood,  a  cousin  of  his,  afterward  Mrs.  M.  Clarkson.  There  were  a 


40  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

number  of  intermarriages  between  the  Virginia  Meriwethers,  Lewises 
and  Woods ;  but  one  such,  the  prospect  of  which  Captain  Lewis  may  have 
cherished  in  his  heart  of  hearts,  was  destined  never  to  be." 

Captain  Clark's  independent  explorations  up  the  valley  of  Maria's 
River  had  also  reconfirmed  his  belief  that  the  stream  mentioned  was 
not  the  one  to  be  pursued.  Furthermore,  as  he  states  in  his  contribution 
to  the  journal,  "the  Indians  had  assured  us,  also,  that  the  water  of 
the  Missouri  was  nearly  transparent  at  the  falls ;  this  is  the  case  with  the 
southern  branch;  that  the  falls  lay  a  little  to  the  south  of  sunset  from 
them ;  this,  too,  is  in  favor  of  the  southern  fork,  for  it  bears  considerably 
to  the  south  of  this  place ;  that  the  falls  are  below  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
and  near  the  northern  termination  of  one  range  of  those  mountains. 
Now,  there  is  a  ridge  of  mountains  which  appear  behind  the  South 
mountains  and  terminates  to  the  southwest  of  us  (Little  Belt  Mountains), 
at  a  sufficient  distance  from  the  unbroken  chain  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
to  allow  spaces  for  several  falls,  indeed,  we  fear,  for  too  many  of  them." 

The  observations  and  conclusions  of  Captains  Lewis  and  Clark  were 
communicated  to  the  reunited  party.  But  every  one  of  them  were  of  a 
contrary  opinion,  and  much  of  their  belief  depended  on  Crusatte,  an 
experienced  waterman  on  the  Missouri,  who  gave  it  as  his  decided  judg- 
ment that  the  north  fork  was  the  genuine  Missouri.  The  men  therefore 
said  that  although  they  would  cheerfully  follow  their  leaders  wherever 
they  should  direct,  they  were  afraid  that  the  south  fork  would  soon 
terminate  in  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  leave  the  expedition  at  a  great 
distance  from  the  Columbia.  That  no  radical  error  might  be  committed, 
the  leaders  agreed  that  one  of  them  should  ascend  the  southern  branch 
by  land  until  either  the  falls  or  the  mountains  should  be  reached,  and 
that  the  main  camp  should  be  pitched  on  the  north  side  of  the  Missouri 
near  the  entrance  of  Maria's  River  and  await  the  return  of  the  in- 
vestigators. 

LEWIS  FINDS  THE  GREAT  FALLS  OF  THE  MISSOURI 

On  June  nth,  Captain  Lewis,  with  four  men,  set  out  on  this  ex- 
pedition up  the  south  branch.  Two  days  afterward,  while  traveling 
southwardly  through  a  country  of  alternate  plains  and  river  hills,  from 
the  latter  of  which  he  could  obtain  views  of  the  Rocky  Mountains, 
"fearful  of  passing  the  falls  before  reaching  the  mountains,"  the  Lewis 
party  left  the  hills  and  proceeded  across  the  plain.  "In  this  direction," 
continues  his  narrative,  "Captain  Lewis  had  gone  about  two  miles  when 
his  ears  were  saluted  with  the  agreeable  sound  of  a  fall  of  water  and 
as  he  advanced  a  spray,  which  seemed  driven  by  a  high  southwest  wind, 
arose  above  the  plain  like  a  column  of  smoke  and  vanished  in  an  instant. 
Towards  this  point  he  directed  his  steps  and  the  noise,  increasing  as  he 
approached,  soon  became  too  tremendous  to  be  mistaken  for  anything 
but  the  great  falls  of  the  Missouri.  Having  travelled  seven  miles  after 
first  hearing  the  sound,  he  reached  the  falls  about  twelve  o'clock.  The 
hills,  as  he  approached,  were  difficult  of  access  and  two  hundred  feet 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  41 

high.  Down  these  he  hurried  with  impatience  and  seating  himself  on 
some  rocks  under  the  center  of  the  falls,  enjoyed  the  sublime  spectacle 
of  this  stupendous  object  which  since  the  creation  had  been  lavishing  its 
magnificence  upon  the  desert,  unknown  to  civilization." 

SUCCESSION  OF  WONDERFUL  RAPIDS  AND  FALLS 

Captain  Lewis  gives  some  wonderful  descriptions  of  the  Great  Falls 
and  the  succession  of  smaller  falls  and  rapids  farther  up  the  river 
and  to  fully  enjoy  them,  the  reader  must  consult  the  text  of  the  Journal, 
especially  the  edition  of  1902,  edited  by  Dr.  James  K.  Hosmer.  At  this 
point  in  the  story,  it  reads:  "The  river  immediately  at  its  cascade  is 
three  hundred  yards  wide  and  is  pressed  in  by  a  perpendicular  cliff 
on  the  left,  which  rises  to  about  one  hundred  feet  and  extends  up  the 
stream  for  a  mile;  on  the  right  the  bluff  is  also  perpendicular  for  three 
hundred  yards  above  the  falls.  For  ninety  or  a  hundred  yards  from  the 
left  cliff,  the  water  falls  in  one  smooth,  even  sheet  over  a  precipice  of 
at  least  eighty  feet.  The  remaining  part  of  the  river  precipitates  itself 
with  a  more  rapid  current,  but  being  received,  as  it  falls,  by  the  irregu- 
lar and  somewhat  projecting  rocks  below,  forms  a  splendid  prospect 
of  perfectly  white  foam,  two  hundred  yards  in  length  and  eighty  in 
perpendicular  elevation.  This  spray  is  dissipated  into  a  thousand  shapes, 
sometimes  flying  up  in  columns  of  fifteen  or  twenty  feet,  which  are 
then  oppressed  by  larger  masses  of  the  white  foam,  on  all  which  the 
sun  impresses  the  brightest  colours  of  the  rainbow.  As  it  rises  from 
the  fall,  it  beats  with  fury  against  a  ledge  of  rocks  which  extend  across 
the  river  at  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  the  precipice  *  *  * 
At  the  distance  of  three  hundred  yards  from  the  same  ridge  is  a  second 
abutment  of  solid  perpendicular  rock  about  sixty  feet  high,  projecting 
at  right  angles  from  the  small  plain  on  the  north  for  one  hundred  and 
thirty-four  yards  into  the  river." 

Captain  Lewis  encamped  for  the  night  under  a  tree  near  the  falls 
and  walked  along  the  river  to  find  a  place  beyond  where  the  canoes 
might  be  again  launched,  but  for  three  miles  below  found  a  succession 
of  rapids  and  cascades.  On  the  following  morning  he  sent  one  of  his 
men  to  Captain  Clark  with  an  account  of  the  discovery  of  the  falls  and 
resumed  his  course  along  the  river  toward  the  southwest.  Five  miles 
above,  he  found  a  second  fall.  Here  the  river  was  about  four  hundred 
yards  wide,  and  for  the  distance  of  three  hundred  throws  itself  so 
irregularly  that  the  captain  called  this  succession  of  pitches  Crooked  Falls. 

"Above  this  fall,"  continues  the  narratice,  "the  river  bends  suddenly 
to  the  northward;  while  viewing  this  place  Captain  Lewis  heard  a  loud 
roar  above  him  and  crossing  the  point  of  a  hill  for  a  hundred  yards, 
he  saw  one  of  the  most  beautiful  objects  in  nature:  the  whole  Missouri 
is  suddenly  stopped  by  one  shelving  rock,  which,  without  a  single  niche, 
and  with  an  edge  as  straight  and  regular  as  if  formed  by  art,  stretches 
itself  from  one  side  of  the  river  to  the  other  for  at  least  a  quarter  of 
a  mile.  Over  this  it  precipitates  itself  in  an  even  uninterrupted  sheet 


42  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

to  the  perpendicular  depth  of  fifty  feet,  whence  dashing  against  the  rocky 
bottom  it  rushes  rapidly  down,  leaving  behind  it  a  spray  of  the  purest 
foam  across  the  river.  The  scene  wyhich  it  presented  was  indeed 
singularly  beautiful,  since,  without  any  of  the  wild,  irregular  sublimity 
of  the  lower  falls,  it  combined  all  the  regular  elegances  which  the  fancy 
of  a  painter  would  select  to  form  a  beautiful  waterfall." 

For  several  miles  above,  rapids  .and  cascades,  or  smaller  waterfalls, 
break  the  course  of  the  river.  During  the  day  Lewis  ascended  a  high 
hill,  whence  he  could  trace  the  course  of  the  Missouri  to  the  base  of  the 
Snow  Mountains  (Big  Belt  range)  toward  the  southwest,  as  well  as 
note  a  large  river  flowing  from  the  northwest  and  joining  it  about  four 
miles  above  his  point  of  observation.  After  descending  the  hill  and 
wounding  a  buffalo,  while  preparing  to  see  him  fall  and  provide  meat 
for  himself  and  men,  he  was  attacked  by  a  large  brown  bear.  His  rifle 
was  unloaded  and  he  only  escaped  death  by  fleeing  to  the  river,  plunging 
in  and  facing  boldly  about.  He  then  continued  his  course  toward  the 
western  river,  found  that  it  "was  a  handsome  stream  about  two  hundred 
yards  wide,  apparently  deep,  with  a  gentle  current,  its  waters  clear,  and 
its  banks,  which  were  formed  principally  of  dark  brown  and  blue  clay 
were  about  the  same  height  as  the  Missouri,  that  is,  from  three  to  five 
feet.  *  *  *  This  river  is  no  doubt  that  which  the  Indians  call 
Medicine  River,  which  they  mentioned  as  emptying  into  the  Missouri 
just  above  the  falls."  Before  he  returned  to  camp,  Captain  Lewis  was 
all  but  attacked  by  three  bull  buffaloes,  and  on  the  following  morning, 
when  awaking,  found  a  large  rattlesnake  on  the  trunk  of  the  tree  under 
which  he  had  been  sleeping.  All  of  which  were  taken  as  the  usual  risks 
of  such  an  adventure  as  his.  The  messenger  sent  to  Captain  Clark 
returned  with  the  information  that  the  latter  had  arrived  five  miles 
below  at  a  rapid,  which  he  did  not  think  it  prudent  to  ascend,  and  would 
wait  until  Captain  Lewis  and  his  party  rejoined  him. 

MAKING  THE  PORTAGE  AROUND  GREAT  FALLS 

On  June  i6th,  the  two  parties  were  reunited  by  Captain  Lewis  joining 
the  main  body,  under  Captain  Clark,  about  five  miles  below  the  falls. 
Captain  Clark  spent  a  number  of  days  in  examining  the  surrounding 
country  for  some  feasible  portage  around  Great  Falls  and  the  succession 
of  rapids  and  cascades  beyond.  Portage  Creek,  so  called,  was  finally 
selected  for  that  purpose,  and  to  facilitate  the  transportation  of  the 
canoes  and  the  goods,  rough  carriages  or  wagons  were  made.  "We  were 
very  fortunate,"  notes  the  journal,  "in  finding,  just  below  Portage  Creek. 
a  cottonwood  tree  about  twenty-two  inches  in  diameter,  and  large  enough 
to  make  the  carriage  wheels;  it  was  perhaps  the  only  one  of  the  same 
size  within  twenty  miles ;  and  the  cottonwood,  which  we  were  obliged 
to  employ  in  the  other  parts  of  the  work,  is  extremely  soft  and  brittle. 
The  mast  of  the  white  periogue,  which  we  mean  to  leave  behind,  supplied 
us  with  two  axletrees." 

The  hunters  were  sent  out  to  kill  buffaloes  and  other  game,  in  order 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  43 

to  collect  meat  to  last  while  the  transportation  over  the  portage  was  being 
made.  He  carefully  examined  the  route  and  fixed  stakes  to  mark  the 
definite  line  of  the  portage,  having  decided  upon  a  locality  about  a  mile 
beyond  the  juncture  of  the  Medicine  with  the  Missouri  as  the  best  point 
for  the  farther  extremity  of  the  portage.  The  three  islands  at  that  place 
were  named  Whitebear  Islands,  from  the  fact  that  a  number  of  the 
animals  were  observed  upon  them.  The  portage  was  made  with  some 
difficulty,  as  various  parts  of  the  carriage  broke  under  the  weight  of 
the  goods  and  provisions,  but  finally  the  camp  was  selected  in  a  small 
grove  of  timber  opposite  the  Whitebear  Islands  and  various  scattered 
hunters  were  there  collected  before  a  general  forward  movement  was 
attempted.  Captain  Lewis  was  in  charge  of  the  camp  near  the  Medicine 
River  and  Captain  Clark,  the  one  at  Portage  Creek. 

NARROW  ESCAPE  OF  CAPTAIN  CLARK,  THE  BIRD  WOMAN,  ET  AL. 

On  June  28th,  Captain  Clark  started  for  the  other  end  of  the  portage 
with  a  portion  of  the  baggage,  but  was  overtaken  by  a  cloudburst  and 
was  obliged  to  leave  the  heaviest  articles  behind.  On  the  following  day 
"finding  it  impossible  to  reach  the  end  of  the  portage  with  their  present 
load,  in  consequence  of  the  state  of  the  road  after  the  rain,  he  sent  back 
nearly  all  his  party  to  bring  on  the  articles  which  had  been  left  yesterday. 
Having  lost  some  notes  and  remarks  which  he  had  made  on  first 
ascending  the  river,  he  determined  to  go  up  to  the  Whitebear  Island 
along  its  banks,  in  order  to  supply  the  deficiency.  He  left  one  man  to 
guard  the  baggage  and  went  on  to  the  falls,  accompanied  by  his  servant, 
York,  Charbonneau  and  his  wife  with  her  young  child.  On  his  arrival 
there,  he  observed  a  very  dark  cloud  rising  in  the  west  which  threatened 
rain,  and  looked  around  for  some  shelter,  but  could  find  no  place 
where  they  would  be  secure  from  being  blown  into  the  river  if  the  wind 
should  prove  as  violent  as  it  sometimes  does  in  the  plains.  At  length, 
about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  above  the  falls,  he  found  a  deep  ravine  where 
there  were  some  shelving  rocks  under  which  he  took  refuge.  They  were 
on  the  upper  side  of  the  ravine  near  the  river,  perfectly  safe  from  the 
rain,  and  therefore  laid  down  their  guns,  compass  and  other  articles 
which  they  carried  with  them.  The  shower  was  at  first  moderate,  it 
then  increased  to  a  heavy  rain,  the  effects  of  which  they  did  not  feel; 
soon  after  a  torrent  of  rain  and  hail  descended;  the  rain  seemed  to  fall 
in  a  solid  mass,  and  instantly  collecting  in  the  ravine  came  rolling  down 
in  a  dreadful  current,  carrying  the  mud  and  rocks  and  everything 
that  opposed  it.  Captain  Clark  fortunately  saw  it  a  moment  before 
it  reached  them,  and  springing  up  with  his  gun  and  shotpouch  in  his 
left  hand,  with  his  right  clambered  up  the  steep  bluff,  pushing  on  the 
Indian  woman  with-  her  child  in  her  arms ;  her  husband,  too  had  seized 
her  hand,  and  was  pulling  her  up  the  hill,  but  he  was  so  terrified  at  the 
danger  that,  but  for  Captain  Clark,  himself  and  his  wife  and  child  would 
have  been  lost. 

"So   instantaneous   was  the   rise  of  the  water  that  before   Captain 


44  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Clark  had  reached  his  gun  and  begain  to  ascend  the  bank  the  water  was 
up  to  his  waist,  and  he  could  scarce  get  up  faster  than  it  rose,  till  it 
reached  the  height  of  fifteen  feet  with  a  furious  current,  which,  had 
they  waited  a  moment  longer,  would  have  swept  them  into  the  river  just 
above  the  great  falls,  down  which  they  must  inevitably  have  been  pre- 
cipitated. They  reached  the  plain  in  safety  and  found  York,  who  had 
been  separated  from  them  just  before  the  storm  to  hunt  some  buffalo, 
and  was  now  returning  to  find  his  master.  They  had  been  obliged  to 
escape  so  rapidly  that  Captain  Clark  lost  his  compass  and  umbrella, 
Charbonneau  left  his  gun,  shotpouch  and  tomahawk,  and  the  Indian 
woman  had  just  time  to  grasp  her  child  before  the  net  in  which  it  lay  at 
her  feet  was  carried  down  the  current." 

VOYAGE  UP  THE  MISSOURI  RESUMED 

It  was  not  until  July  15,  1805,  that  the  expedition  was  ready  to  proceed 
up  the  Missouri.  Much  time  was  spent  in  attempting  to  complete  a 
large  boat  of  skins,  which  had  been  prepared  for  the  purpose  at  Harper's 
Ferry.  Its  frame  was  of  iron,  thirty-six  feet  long,  four  feet  and  a  half 
beam  and  twenty-six  inches  wide  at  the  bottom.  The  design  was  to 
complete  its  construction  with  timber,  but  the  native  supply  of  cotton- 
wood,  willow  and  box-alder  was  found  ill  adapted  for  the  purpose. 
Neither  were  the  builders  able  to  obtain  the  necessary  tar  to  properly 
close  the  seams.  As  a  substitute  they  formed  a  composition  of  pounded 
charcoal,  beeswax  and  buffalo  tallow,  and  sewed  the  skins  together  with 
sharp-edged,  instead  of  pointed  needle.  On  the  9th  of  July,  the  boat 
was  launched,  but  a  heavy  wind  prevented  its  departure  and  on  the 
following  morning  it  was  found  that  the  composition  had  separated 
from  the  skins,  leaving  the  seams  exposed,  and  the  boat  and  the  venture 
along  this  line  had  to  be  abandoned.  To  make  a  long,  trying  experience 
short  in  the  telling,  the  boat  was  taken  to  pieces  and  its  various  parts 
worked  into  canoes,  and  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  July  I5th  they 
were  loaded  with  the  expeditionary  baggage,  and  the  voyage  up  the 
Missouri  was  resumed. 

SMITH'S  AND  DEARBORN  RIVERS 

Smith's  River,  which  comes  into  the  Missouri  from  the  south,  rising 
in  the  Little  Belt  Mountains  and  flowing  through  the  west-central  por- 
tions of  Cascade  County,  was  named  after  Robert  Smith,  who  was  then 
secretary  of  the  navy.  "At  six  miles"  (from  camp),  the  journal  notes, 
"we  came  to  an  island  opposite  to  a  bend  toward  the  north  side,  and 
reached,  at  seven  and  a  half  miles,  the  lower  point  of  a  woodland  at  the 
entrance  of  a  beautiful  river,  which,  in  honour  of  the  Secretary  of 
the  Navy,  we  called  Smith's  river.  This  stream  falls  into  a  bend  on  the 
south  side  of  the  Missouri  and  is  eighty  yards  wide.  As  far  as  we  could 
discern  its  course  wound  through  a  charming  valley  towards  the 
southeast,  in  which  many  herds  of  buffalo  were  feeding,  till  at  the  distance 
of  twenty-five  miles,  it  entered  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  was  lost  from 
our  view." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  45 

Three  days  after  striking  and  naming  Smith's  River,  the  secretary 
of  war^  Henry  Dearborn,  was  honored  by  the  explorers  in  the  naming 
of  the  "handsome,  bold  and  clear  stream"  emptying  itself  from  the  north 
and  coming,  as  we  would  now  describe  it,  from  vast  masses  of  the  Con- 
tinental Divide,  through  the  Montana  county  of  Lewis  and  Clark.  Soon 
after  leaving  Dearborn's  river,  the  expedition  reached  a  creek  which  was 
named  after  Sergeant  John  Ordway,  and  on  the  following  day,  July 
I9th,  were  entering  the  rocky  wilds  of  the  present  Helena  district. ' 

THE  GATES  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS 

For  a  dozen  miles,  or  more,  the  flotilla  of  canoes  had  been  following 
the  numerous  bends  of  the  Missouri,  through  a  hot  and  confined  valley, 


AT  THE  GATES  OF  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS 

with  the  mountains  in  the  near  distance  covered  with  patches  of  pine, 
cedar  and  fir  and  capped  with  snow,  when  the  ranges  on  either  side 
suddenly  approached  the  river,  "forming  a  most  sublime  and  extraor- 
dinary spectacle.  For  five  and  three  quarters  miles  these  rocks  rise 
perpendicularly  from  the  water's  edge  to  the  height  of  nearly  twelve 
hundred  feet.  They  are  composed  of  a  black  granite  near  its  base,  but 
from  its  lighter  colour  above,  and  from  the  fragments,  we  suppose  the 
upper  part  to  be  flint  of  a  yellowish  brown  and  cream  colour.  Nothing 
can  be  imagined  more  tremendous  than  the  frowning  darkness  of  these 
rocks,  which  project  over  the  river  and  menace  us  with  destruction.  The 
river,  of  one  hundred  and  fifty  yards,  in  width,  seems  to  have  forced  its 
channel  down  this  solid  mass,  but  so  reluctantly  has  it  given  way  that 
during  the  whole  distance  the  water  is  very  deep,  even  at  the  edges,  and 
for  the  first  three  miles  there  is  not  a  spot,  except  one  of  a  few 
yards,  in  which  a  man  could  stand  between  the  water  and  the  towering 
perpendicular  of  the  mountain.  The  convulsion  of  the  passage  must 


46  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

have  been  terrible,  since  at  its  outlet  there  are  vast  columns  of  rock 
torn  from  the  mountain  which  are  strewed  on  both  sides  of  the  river, 
the  trophies,  as  it  were,  of  the  victory.  Several  fine  springs  burst  out 
from  the  chasms  of  the  rock,  and  contribute  to  increase  the  water,  which 
has  now  a  strong  current,  but  very  fortunately  we  are  able  to  overcome 
it  with  our  oars,  since  it  would  be  impossible  to  use  either  the  cord  or  the 
pole.  We  were  obliged  to  go  on  some  time  after  dark,  not  being  able  to 
find  a  spot  large  enough  to  encamp  on;  but  at  length,  about  two  miles 
above  a  small  island  in  the  middle  of  the  river,  we  met  with  a  spojt  on  the 
left  side  where  we  procured  plenty  of  lightwood  and  pitch  pine.  This 
extraordinary  range  of  rocks  we  called  the  Gates  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains." 

A  short  distance  from  the  Gates,  the  perpendicular  rocks  ceased 
and  the  hills  retired  from  the  valley  of  the  Missouri  which  again  broad- 
ened, bounded  by  parallel  chains  of  mountains.  Captain  Clark  lead  a 
party  along  the  valley  lands,  hunting  and  investigating  as  he  went. 
Before  encamping  for  the  night,  the  boats  stopped  and  took  aboard  the 
meat  which  his  men  had  collected  during  the  day's  hunt,  and  Captain 
Lewis  received  from  his  coworker  an  account  of  his  investigations  by 
land.  The  bed  of  the  river  was  now  diversified  by  many  islands  which 
were  much  frequented  by  otter  and  beaver.  Pryor,  Whitehouse  and  Gass 
creeks  were  named  after  John  Pryor,  Joseph  Whitehouse  and  Patrick 
Gass,  members  of  the  expedition. 

» 

CLARK  REACHES  THE  THREE  FORKS 

In  the  meantime,  Captain  Clark  had  continued  his  land  travel  along 
the  Indian  road,  and  on  July  25,  1805,  "arrived  at  the  three  forks  of  the 
Missouri.  Here  he  found  that  the  plains  had  been  recently  burnt  on 
the  north  side,  and  saw  the  track  of  a  horse  which  seemed  to  have  passed 
about  four  or  five  days  since.  After  breakfast  he  examined  the  rivers, 
and  finding  that  the  north  branch  (the  Jefferson)  although  not  larger, 
contained  more  water  than  the  middle  branch,  and  bore  more  to  the 
westward,  he  determined  to  ascend  it.  He  therefore  left  a  note  informing 
Captain  Lewis  of  his  intention,  and  then  went  up  that  stream  on  the 
north  side  for  about  twenty-five  miles.  Here  Charbonneau  was  unable 
to  proceed  any  further,  and  the  party  therefore  encamped,  all  of  them 
much  fatigued,  their  feet  blistered  and  wounded  by  the  prickly  pear." 

LEWIS  AT  THE  THREE  FORKS 

Captain  Lewis  and  his  party  were  ascending  the  Missouri,  while  his 
companion,  who  had  been  taken  sick  in  the  midst  of  his  explorations, 
was  endeavoring  to  join  him.  The  former  reached  the  three  forks  on 
the  27th.  He  says :  "A  range  of  high  mountains  partially  covered  with 
snow  is  seen  at  a  considerable  distance,  running  from  south  to  west, 
and  nearly  all  around  us  are  broken  ridges  of  country  like  that  below 
through  which  those  united  streams  appear  to  have  forced  their  passage. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


47 


After  observing  the  country  (from  a  high  limestone  cliff,  which  he  had 
ascended),  Captain  Lewis  descended  to  breakfast.  We  then  left  the 
mouth  of  the  southeast  fork,  which,  in  honour  of  the  secretary  of  the 
treasury  we  called  Gallatin's  River,  and  at  the  distance  of  half  a  mile 
reached  the  confluence  of  the  southwest  and  middle  branches  of  the 
Missouri.  Here  we  found  the  letter  from  Captain  Clark,  and  as  agreed 
with  him  that  the  direction  of  the  southwest  fork  (the  Jefferson)  gave 
it  a  decided  preference  over  the  others,  we  ascended  that  branch  of  the 
river  for  a  mile,  and  encamped  in  a  level  handsome  plain  on  the  left,  hav- 
ing advanced  only  seven  miles.  Here  we  resolved  to  wait  the  return  of 


THREE  FORKS  OF  THE  MISSOURI 

Captain  Clark,  and  in  the  meantime  make  the  necessary  celestial  observa- 
tions, as  this  seemed  an  essential  point  in  the  geography  of  the  western 
world,  and  also  to  recruit  men  and  air  the  baggage.  It  was  accordingly 
all  unloaded  and  stowed  away  on  shore. 

"Near  the  three  forks  we  saw  many  collections  of  the  mud-nests  of 
the  small  martin  attached  to  the  smooth  faces  of  the  limestone  rock, 
where  they  were  sheltered  by  projections  of  the  rock  above  it;  and  in 
the  meadows  were  numbers  of  the  duck  or  mallard,  with  their  young, 
who  are  now  nearly  grown.  The  hunters  returned  towards  evening 
with  six  deer,  three  otter  and  a  muskrat,  and  had  seen  great  numbers  of 
antelopes,  and  much  sign  of  the  beaver  and  elk. 

"During  all  last  night  Captain  Clark  had  a  high  fever  and  chills, 
accompanied  with  great  pain.  He,  however,  pursued  his  route  eight 
miles  to  the  middle  branch,  where  not  finding  any  fresh  Indian  tracks, 
he  came  down  it  and  joined  us  about  three  o'clock,  very  much  exhausted 


48  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

with  fatigue  and  the  violence  of  his  fever.  Believing  himself  bilious 
he  took  a  dose  of  Rush's  pills,  which  we  have  always  found  sovereign 
in  such  cases,  and  bathing  the  lower  extremities  in  warm  water. 

"We  are  now  very  anxious  to  see  the  Snake  Indians.  After  advanc- 
ing for  several  hundred  miles  into  this  wild  and  mountainous  country, 
we  may  soon  expect  that  the  game  will  abandon  us.  With  no  information 
of  the  route,  we  may  be  unable  to  find  a  passage  across  the  mountains 
when  we  reach  the  head  of  the  river,  at  least  such  a  one  as  will  lead 
us  to  the  Columbia,  and  even  were  we  so  fortunate  as  to  find  a  branch 
of  that  river,  the  timber  which  we  have  hitherto  seen  in  these  mountains 
does  not  promise  us  any  fit  to  make  canoes,  so  that  our  chief  dependence 
is  on  meeting  some  tribe  from  whom  we  may  procure  horses.  Our 
consolation  is  that  this  southwest  branch  can  scarcely  head  with  any 
other  river  than  the  Columbia,  and  that  if  any  nation  of  Indians  can 
live  in  the  mountains  we  are  able  to  endure  as  much  as  they,  and  have 
even  better  means  of  procuring  subsistence." 

JEFFERSON  AND  MADISON  RIVERS  NAMED  AND  DESCRIBED 

The  entries  in  the  journal  under  date  of  July  28,  1805,  are  even 
of  greater  interest — historical,  geographical  and  personal — and  are  given 
without  further  comment:  "On  examining  the  two  streams,  it  became 
difficult  to  decide  which  was  the  larger  or  the  real  Missouri;  they  are 
each  ninety  yards  wide,  and  so  perfectly  similar  in  character  and  ap- 
pearance that  they  seem  to  have  been  formed  in  the  same  mould.  We 
were  therefore  induced  to  discontinue  the  name  of  Missouri  and  gave 
to  the  southwest  branch  the  name  of  Jefferson,  in  honor  of  the  president 
of  the  United  States  and  the  projector  of  the  enterprise,  and  called  the 
middle  branch  Madison,  after  James  Madison,  secretary  of  state.  These 
two,  as  well  as  Gallatin  River,  run  with  great  velocity  and  throw  out 
large  bodies  of  water.  Gallatin  River  is,  however,  the  most  rapid  of  the 
three  and,  though  not  quite  as  deep,  yet  navigable  for  a  considerable 
distance.  Madison  River,  though  much  less  rapid  than  the  Gallatin,  is 
somewhat  more  rapid  than  the  Jefferson;  the  beds  of  all  of  them  are 
formed  of  smooth  pebble  and  gravel,  and  the  waters  are  perfectly 
transparent.  *  *  *  * 

.  • 

THE  BIRD  WOMAN  IN  HER  HOME  LAND 

"Sacajawea,  our  Indian  woman,  informs  us  that  we  are  encamped 
on  the  precise  spot  where  her  countrymen,  the  Snake  Indians,  had  their 
huts  five  years  ago,  when  the  Minnetarees  of  Knife  River  first  came  in 
sight  of  them,  and  from  which  they  hastily  retreated  three  miles  up  the 
Jefferson  and  concealed  themselves  in  the  woods.  The  Minnetarees, 
however,  pursued  and  attacked  them,  killed  four  men,  as  many  women, 
and  a  number  of  boys,  and  made  prisoners  of  four  other  boys  and  all  the 
females,  of  whom  Sacajawea  was  one;  she  does  not,  however,  show  any 
distress  at  these  recollections,  nor  any  joy  at  being  restored  to  her 


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50  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

country;  for  she  seems  to  possess  the  folly  or  the  philosophy  of  not 
suffering  her  feelings  to  extend  beyond  the  anxiety  of  having  plenty 
to  eat  and  a  few  trinkets  to  wear." 

Two  days  afterward,  Captain  Clark,  feeling  much  better,  and 
observations  having  been  made  to  fix  the  longitude  of  this  important 
geographical  point  on  the  western  continent,  the  men  reloaded  the  canoes 
and  the  expedition  moved  up  the  Jefferson  River.  The  Indian  Bird 
Woman  was  now  on  home  ground  and  the  leaders  figuratively  placed 
themselves  in  her  hands.  For  some  time,  she  was  the  most  important 
member  of  the  party.  Soon  after  the  start  she  pointed  out  to  Captain 
Lewis  the  place  where  she  had  been  made  prisoner.  Her  fellow  country- 
men, being  too  few  to  contend  with  the  Minnetarees,  had  mounted  their 
horses  and  fled  as  soon  as  the  attack  began.  The  women  and  children 
dispersed,  and  Sacajawea,  as  she  was  crossing  the  river  at  a  shoal  place, 
was  overtaken  by  her  pursuers  and  captured. 

LEWIS  ASCENDS  THE  JEFFERSON  (BEAVERHEAD) 

Captain  Lewis,  with  the  Indian  woman  as  guide  and  Charbonneau 
as  interpreter,  now  assumed  the  land  travel  in  search  of  the  Snake 
Indians.  He  found  and  named  Philosophy  River.  His  companions  were 
also  Sergeant  Gass  and  Drewyer.  Frazier  and  Fields  creeks  (named  after 
Robert  Frazier  and  Reuben  Fields)  were  also  placed  on  the  map  of  the 
present  Montana,  along  this  route.  Both  leaders  floundered  around, 
either  along  various  streams  or  over  the  surrounding  country,  endeavor- 
ing to  find,  beyond  mistake,  the  true  continuation  of  the  Jefferson,  and 
finally  decided  on  the  middle  branch.  Finally,  after  nine  days  from  the 
commencement  of  its  ascent,  or  August  8th,  Sacajawea  recognized  a 
curious  projection  into  the  river  of  an  elevated  plain  as  the  point  which 
her  people  called  Beaver  Head,  from  a  supposed  resemblance  to  that 
object.  She  said  it  was  not  far  from  the  summer  retreat  of  her  country- 
men, which  was  on  a  river  beyond  the  mountains  and  running  to  the 
west.  She  was  therefore  certain  that  the  Shoshonees  would  be  either 
on  the  Jefferson  River,  or  immediately  west  of  its  source,  which  from 
the  size  of  the  stream  was  judged  to  be  not  far  distant. 


Captain  Lewis,  with  three  of  his  men,  therefore  set  out  to  search  for 
the  Snake  Indians,  or  any  other  nation  which  could  supply  horses  with 
which  to  transport'  the  baggage  of  the  expedition  across  the  mountains 
opposite  the  source  of  the  Missouri.  Some  twenty  or  twenty-five  miles 
from  Beaver  Head,  on  the  following  day  (August  loth)  he  had  traced 
the  Jefferson  to  a  high  cliff,  which  he  christened  Rattlesnake,  from  the 
number  of  that  reptile  which  he  saw  there.  Beyond  the  stream  forked, 
and  choosing  the  road  along  the  one  which  showed  the  freshest  tracks 
of  horses,  he  fixed  a  dry  willow  pole  at  that  point  bearing  a  note  to 
Captain  Clark,  recommending  him  to  await  his  return  at  that  place.  On 
the  day  mentioned,  Captain  Lewis  and  his  men  had  travelled  thirty 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  51 

miles,  and  on  the  following  day  (August  nth)  the  former  "had  the 
mortification  to  find  the  track  which  he  followed  yesterday  soon  dis- 
appeared." 

While  he  and  his  companions  (Drewyer  and  Shields)  were  searching 
for  the  lost  trail,  "Captain  Lewis  perceived  with  the  greatest  delight, 
a  man  on  horseback  at  the  distance  of  two  miles  coming  down  the  plain 
toward  them.  On  examining  him  with  the  glass,  Captain  Lewis  saw  that 
he  was  of  a  different  nation  from  any  Indians  we  had  hitherto  met; 
he  was  armed  with  a  bow  and  a  quiver  of  arrows ;  mounted  on  an  elegant 
horse  without  a  saddle,  and  a  small  string  attached  to  the  under  jaw 
answered  as  a  bridle.  Convinced  that  he  was  a  Shoshonee,  and  knowing 
how  much  of  our  success  depended  on  the  friendly  offices  of  that  nation, 
Captain  Lewis  was  full  of  anxiety  to  approach  without  alarming  him, 
and  endeavor  to  convince  him  that  he  was  a  white  man.  He  therefore 
proceeded  on  towards  the  Indian  at  his  usual  pace.  When  they  were 
within  a  mile  of  each  other,  the  Indian  suddenly  stopped — Captain  Lewis 
immediately  followed  his  example,  took  his  blanket  from  his  knapsack 
and  holding  it  with  both  hands  at  two  corners  threw  it  above  his  head 
and  unfolded  it  as  he  brought  it  to  the  ground  as  if  in  the  act  of  spreading 
it.  This  signal,  which  originates  in  the  practice  of  spreading  a  robe  or 
a  skin,  as  a  seat  for  guests  to  whom  they  wish  to  show  a  distinguished 
kindness,  is  the  universal  sign  of  friendship  among  the  Indians  on  the 
Missouri  and  the  Rocky  Mountains.  As  usual,  Captain  Lewis  re- 
peated this  signal  three  times;  still  the  Indian  kept  his  position,  and 
looked  with  an  air  of  suspicion  on  Drewyer  and  Shields  who  were  now 
advancing  on  each  side.  Captain  Lewis  was  afraid  to  make  any  signal 
for  them  to  halt,  lest  he  should  increase  the  suspicion  of  the  Indian, 
who  began  to  be  uneasy,  and  they  were  too  distant  to  hear  his  voice. 
He  therefore  took  from  his  pack  some  beads,  a  looking  glass  and  a  few 
trinkets,  which  he  had  brought  for  the  purpose  and,  leaving  his  gun, 
advanced  unarmed  towards  the  Indian.  The  latter  remained  in  the  same 
position  till  Captain  Lewis  came  within  two  hundred  yards  of  him,  when 
he  turned  his  horse  and  began  to  move  off  slowly. 

"Captain  Lewis  then  called  out  to  him  in  as  loud  a  voice  as  he  could, 
repeating  the  words  tabba  bone  f  which  in  the  Shoshonee  language  means 
'white  man';  but  looking  over  his  shoulder  the  Indian  kept  his  eyes  on 
Drewyer  and  Shields,  who  were  still  advancing,  without  recollecting  the 
impropriety  of  doing  so  at  such  a  moment,  till  Captain  Lewis  made  a 
signal  to  them  to  halt;  this  Drewyer  obeyed,  but  Shields  did  not  observe 
it,  and  still  went  forward.  Seeing  Drewyer  halt,  the  Indian  turned  his 
horse  about  as  if  to  wait  for  Captain  Lewis,  who  now  reached  within 
150  paces,  repeating  the  words,  tabba  bone!  and  holding  up  the  trinkets 
in  his  hand,  at  the  same  time  stripping  up  the  sleeve  of  his  shirt  to  show 
the  colour  of  his  skin.  The  Indian  suffered  him  to  advance  within  100 
paces,  then  suddenly  turned  his  horse  and,  giving  him  the  whip,  leaped 
across  the  creek  and  disappeared  in  an  instant  among  the  willow  bushes  ; 
with  him  vanished  all  the  hopes  which  the  sight  of  him  had  inspired  of 
a  friendly  introduction  to  his  countrymen." 


52  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Unfortunately  a  rain  obliterated  all  traces  of  the  Indian  or  his 
red  companions,  Captain .  Lewis  and  his  men  making  every  endeavor 
to  run  them  down.  While  thus  engaged,  they  passed  a  large  island 
which  they  called  Three-thousand-mile  Island,  "on  account  of  its  being 
that  distance  from  the  mouth  of  the  Missouri." 

PASSAGE  OF  THE  CONTINENTAL  DIVIDE 

The  lost  trail  and  the  persistent  search  for  it  resulted,  on  the  following 
day  (August  12,  1805),  in  one  of  the  great  events  of  history  and 
geography — the  discovery  and  passage  of  the  great  continental  watershed 
of  the  United  States  of  America.  In  view  of  the  significance  of  the 
event,  its  details,  as  recorded  in  the  Lewis-Clark  journal  are  of  absorbing 
interest.  The  morning  of  the  day  mentioned  saw  Captain  Lewis  and 
his  two  comrades  still  endeavoring  to  trace  the  tracks  of  the  horse 
which  they  had  lost  in  the  mountains,  on  the  previous  day.  The  waters 
of  the  Jefferson  were  now  shallow  and  rapid  and  flowed  from  a  cove  in 
the  mountains,  winding  across  a  low  plain  which  was  further  inter- 
sected by  bayous. 

The  story  is  thus  told  in  the  journal:  "Captain  Lewis  now  decided 
on  making  the  circuit  along  the  foot  of  the  mountains  which  formed  the 
cove,  expecting  by  that  means  to  find  a  road  across  them,  and  accordingly 
sent  Drewyer  on  one  side  and  Shields  on  the  other.  In  this  way  they 
crossed  four  small  rivulets  near  each  other,  on  which  were  some  bowers 
or  conical  lodges  of  willow  brush,  which  seemed  to  have  been  made 
recently.  From  the  manner  in  which  the  ground  in  the  neighborhood 
was  torn  up,  the  Indians  appeared  to  have  been  gathering  roots,  but 
Captain  Lewis  could  not  discover  what  particular  plant  they  were  search- 
ing for,  nor  could  he  find  any  fresh  track,  till  at  the  distance  of  four  miles 
from  his  camp  he  met  a  large  plain  Indian  road  which  came  into  the 
cove  from  the  northwest,  and  wound  along  the  foot  of  the  mountains 
to  the  southwest,  approaching  obliquely  the  main  stream  he  had  left 
yesterday.  Down  this  road  he  now  went  toward  the  southwest;  at  the 
distance  of  five  miles  it  crossed  a  large  run  or  creek,  which  is  a  principal 
branch  of  the  main  stream  into  which  it  falls,  just  above  the  high  cliffs 
or  gates  observed  yesterday,  and  which  they  now  saw  before  them.  Here 
they  halted  and  breakfasted  on  the  last  of  the  deer,  keeping  a  small  piece 
of  pork  in  reserve  against  accident.  They  then  continued  through  the 
low  bottom  along  the  main  stream,  near  the  foot  of  the  mountains  on 
the  right. 

"For  the  first  five  miles  the  valley  continues  towards  the  southwest 
from  two  to  three  miles  in  width;  then  the  main  stream,  which  had 
received  two  small  branches  from  the  left  in  the  valley,  turns  abruptly 
to  the  west  through  a  narrow  bottom  between  the  mountains.  The  road 
was  still  plain,  and  as  it  led  them  directly  on  towards  the  mountain  the 
stream  gradually  became  smaller,  till  after  going  two  miles  it  had  so 
greatly  diminished  in  width  that  one  of  the  men  in  a  fit  of  enthusiasm, 
with  one  foot  on  each  side  of  the  river,  thanked  God  that  he  had  lived 
to  bestride  the  Missouri ! 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  53 

"As  they  went  along,  their  hopes  of  soon  seeing  the  waters  of  th'e 
Columbia  arose  almost  to  painful  anxiety;  when,  after  four  miles  from 
the  last  abrupt  turn  of  the  river,  they  reached  a  small  gap  formed  by 
the  high  mountains  which  recede  on  each  side,  leaving  room  for  the 
Indian  road.  From  the  foot  of  one  of  the  lowest  of  these  mountains, 
which  rises  with  a  gentle  ascent  of  about  half  a  mile,  issues  the  remotest 
water  of  the  Missouri.  They  had  now  reached  the  hidden  sources  of 
that  river,  which  had  never  yet  been  seen  by  civilized  man;  and  as 
they  quenched  their  thirst  at  the  chaste  and  icy  fountain — as  they  sat 
down  by  the  brink  of  that  little  rivulet,  which  yielded  its  distant  and 
modest  tribute  to  the  parent  ocean — they  felt  themselves  rewarded  for 
all  their  labours  and  all  their  difficulties. 

"They  left  reluctantly  this  interesting  spot  and,  pursuing  the  Indian 
road  through  the  intervals  of  the  hills,  arrived  at  the  top  of  a  ridge, 
from  which  they  saw  high  mountains  covered  with  snow,  still  to  the  west 
of  them.  The  ridge  on  which  they  stood  formed  the  dividing  line 
between  the  waters  of  the  Atlantic  and  Pacific  oceans.  They  followed  a 
descent  much  steeper  than  on  the  eastern  side,  and  at  the  distance  of  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  reached  a  handsome  bold  creek  of  cold  clear  water 
running  to  the  westward.  They  stopped  to  taste  for  the  first  time  the 
waters  of  the  Columbia." 

The  expedition  had  achieved  one  of  its  chief  objects — that  is,  to 
find  the  gateway  through  the  Rocky  Mountains  by  which  communication 
might  be  obtained  between  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri  and  the 
Columbia,  and  a  virtually  continuous  waterway  be  opened  from  the 
Mississippi  Valley  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  The  secondary  step  in  the 
venture  was  to  get  into  touch  with  the  Shoshonee  Indians  or  other 
interior  tribe  who  could  supply  information,  or  guidance,  which  should 
enable  further  progress  toward  the  far  western  destination. 

IN  TOUCH  WITH  FRIENDLY  SHOSHONES 

So  Captain  Lewis  and  his  two  companions  resumed  the  Indian  road 
which  had  led  them  through  the  mountains  and  to  the  headwaters  of 
the  Salmon  River,  or  the  commencement  of  the  Columbia  River  Valley. 
They  soon  met  a  number  of  female  Shoshones,  whom  they  propitiated 
with  trinkets  and  whose  cheeks  were  painted  with  bright  vermillion  by 
the  whites  as  an  even  more  effective  peace  offering.  The  Indian  women 
conducted  Captain  Lewis  and  his  men  toward  the  camp  of  their  nation 
down  the  river,  and  after  going  about  two  miles  "met  a  troop  of  nearly 
sixty  warriors,  mounted  on  excellent  horses  riding  at  full  speed  toward 
them.  As  they  advanced  Captain  Lewis  put  down  his  gun,  and  went  with 
the  flag  about  fifty  paces  in  advance.  The  chief,  who,  with  two  men, 
was  riding  in  front  of  the  main  body,  spoke  to  the  women,  who  now 
explained  that  the  party  was  composed  of  white  men,  and  showed 
exultingly  the  presents  they  had  received.  The  three  men  immediately 
leaped  from  their  horses,  came  up  to  Captain  Lewis  and  embraced  him 
with  great  cordiality,  putting  their  left  arm  over  his  right  shoulder 


54  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  clasping  his  back;  applying,  at  the  same  time,  their  left  cheek  to 
his,  and  frequently  vociferating  ah  hi  e!  ah  hi  e!  'I  am  much  pleased, 
I  am  much  rejoiced !'  The  whole  body  of  warriors  now  came  forward, 
and  our  men  received  the  caresses,  and  no  small  share  of  the  grease  and 
paint,  of  their  new  friends.  After  this  fraternal  embrace  of  which  the 
motive  was  much  more  agreeable  than  the  manner,  Captain  Lewis  lighted 
a  pipe  and  offered  it  to  the  Indians,  who  had  now  seated  themselves 
in  a  circle  around  the  party.  But  before  they  would  receive  this  mark 
of  friendship  they  pulled  off  their  moccasins,  a  custom,  as  we  afterwards 
learned,  which  indicates  the  sacred  sincerity  of  their  professions  when 
they  smoke  with  a  stranger,  and  which  imprecates  upon  themselves  the 
misery  of  going  barefoot  forever  if  they  are  faithless  to  their  words, 
a  penalty  by  no  means  light  to  those  who  rove  over  the  thorny  plains 
of  their  country." 

More  presents  were  distributed — this  time,  among  the  warriors — 
and  about  four  miles  distant  Captain  Lewis  and  his  men  were  introduced 
to  their  quarters  in  the  Indian  camp,  which  was  on  a  level  meadow  on 
the  bank  of  the  river.  After  formally  smoking  a  pipe  of  peace  with  the 
chief  and  his  warriors,  Captain  Lewis  explained  the  purposes  of  his 
visit  and  distributed  the  remainder  of  the  small  articles  he  had  brought 
with  him.  The  chief  informed  him  that  the  stream  discharged  itself, 
•at  the  distance  of  half  a  day's  march  into  another  of  twice  its  size  coming 
from  the  southwest.  There  were  a  great  number  of  horses  feeding 
in  every  direction  around  the  camp,  which  encouraged  the  captain  to 
believe  that  the  expeditionary  stores  and  goods  could  be  transported 
across  the  mountains,  if  necessary.  On  his  way  from  the  river  to  his 
lodge,  Captain  Lewis  met  an  Indian  who  "invited  him  into  his  bower 
and  gave  him  a  small  morsel  of  boiled  antelope  and  a  piece  of  fresh 
salmon.  This  was  the  first  salmon  he  had  seen  and  perfectly  satisfied 
him  that  he  was  now  on  the  waters  of  the  Pacific." 

LEWIS  AND  SHOSHONES  JOIN  CLARK 

After  some  persuasion,  the  chief  of  the  Shoshones,  Cameahwait, 
with  eight  of  his  warriors,  was  induced  to  accompany  Captain  Lewis 
and  his  men  on  the  return  trip  to  the  forks  of  the  Jefferson,  where 
Captain  Clark  and  the  remainder  of  the  expedition  were  to  meet  them. 
Captain  Lewis  was  obliged  to  resort  to  all  sorts  of  stratagems  in  order 
to  allay  the  suspicions  of  the  Indians  that  they  were  being  led  into 
some  kind  of  a  trap,  various  articles  of  clothing  being  exchanged  so 
that  it  would  be  difficult  for  an  enemy  to  distinguish  a  white  from  a 
red  man. 

The  i/th  of  August,  1805,  marked  the  day  when  final  preparations 
were  made  to  enter  the  second  stage  of  the  journey  to  the  Pacific ; 
therefore,  the  interesting  events  of  that  day  are  quoted  at  length  from 
the  official  journal,  and  thereafter  the  main  events  of  the  expedition 
must  be  condensed.  Under  date  of  Saturday,  August  i/th,  the  story  runs: 
"Captain  Lewis  rose  very  early  and  despatched  Drewyer  and  the  Indian 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  55 

down  the  river  in  quest  of  the  boats.  Shields  was  sent  out  at  the  same 
time  to  hunt,  while  M'Neal  prepared  a  breakfast  out  of  the  remainder 
of  the  meat.  Drewyer  had  been  gone  about  two  hours,  and  the  Indians 
were  all  anxiously  waiting  for  some  news,  when  an  Indian  who  had 
straggled  a  short  distance  down  the  river  returned  with  a  report  that 
he  had  seen  the  white  men,  who  were  only  a  short  distance  below,  and 
were  coming  on.  The  Indians  were  all  transported  with  joy  and  the 
chief,  in  the  warmth  of  his  satisfaction  renewed  his  embrace  to  Captain 
Lewis,  who  was  quite  as  much  delighted  as  the  Indians  themselves. 

"The  report  proved  most  agreeably  true.  On  setting  out  at  seven 
o'clock,  Captain  Clark,  with  Charbonneau  and  his  wife,  walked  on  shore ; 
but  they  had  not  gone  more  than  a  mile  before  Captain  Clark  saw 
Sacajawea,  who  was  with  her  husband  100  yards  ahead,  begin  to  dance 
and  show  every  mark  of  the  most  extravagant  joy,  turning  round  him  and 
pointing  to  several  Indians,  whom  he  now  saw  advancing  on  horseback, 
sucking  her  fingers  at  the  same  time  to  indicate  that  they  were  of  her 
native  tribe.  As  they  advanced,  Captain  Clark  discovered  among  them 
Drewyer  dressed  like  an  Indian,  from  whom  he  learned  the  situation  of  • 
the  party.  While  the  boats  were  performing  the  circuit  he  went  toward 
the  forks  with  the  Indians,  who,  as  they  went  along,  sang  aloud  with 

the  greatest  appearance  of  delight. 

i': 

SACAJAWEA  REUNITED  TO  GIRLHOOD  COMPANION 

"We  soon  drew  near  to  the  camp,  and  just  as  we  approached  it,  a 
woman  made  her  way  through  the  crowd  towards  Sacajawea,  and,  recog- 
nizing each  other,  they  embraced  with  the  most  tender  effection.  The 
meeting  of  these  two  young  women  had  in  it  something  peculiarly  touching( 
not  only  in  the  ardent  manner  in  which  their  feelings  were  expressed  but 
from  the  real  interest  of  their  situation.  They  had  been  companions 
in  childhood;  in  the  war  with  the  Minnetarees  they  had  both  been  taken 
prisoners  in  the  same  battle,  they  had  shared  and  softened  the  rigours 
of  their  captivity,  till  one  of  them  had  escaped  from  the  Minnetarees, 
with  scarce  a  hope  of  ever  seeing  her  friend  relieved  from  the  hands  of 
her  enemies. 

BROTHER  AND  SISTER  ALSO  REUNITED 

"While  Sacajawea  was  renewing  among  the  women  the  friendships  of 
former  days,  Captain  Clark  went  on  and  was  received  by  Captain  Lewis 
and  the  chief,  who,  after  the  first  embraces  and  salutations  were  over, 
conducted  him  to  a  sort  of  circular  tent  or  shade  of  willow.  Here  he 
was.  seated  on  a  white  robe,  and  the  chief  immediately  tied  in  his  hair 
six  small  shells  resembling  pearls,  an  ornament  highly  valued  by  these 
people,  who  procured  them  in  the  course  of  trade  from  the  seacoast.  The 
moccasins  of  the  whole  party  were  then  taken  off,  and  after  much 
ceremony  the  smoking  began.  After  this,  the  conference  was  to  be 
opened,  and  glad  of  an  opportunity  of  being  able  to  converse  more  in- 


INDIAN  CHIEFS  AND  WARRIORS 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  57 

telligibly,  Sacajawea  was  sent  for;  she  came  into  the  tent,  sat  down  and 
was  beginning  to  interpret,  when  in  the  person  of  Cameahwait  she 
recognized  her  brother;  she  instantly  jumped  up,  and  ran  and  embraced 
him,  throwing  over  him  her  blanket  and  weeping  profusely;  the  chief 
was  himself  moved,  though  not  in  the  same  degree.  After  some  con- 
versation between  them  she  resumed  her  seat  and  attempted  to  inter- 
pret for  us,  but  her  new  situation  seemed  to  overpower  her,  and  she 
was  frequently  interrupted  by  her  tears.  After  the  council  was  finished, 
the  unfortunate  woman  learnt  that  all  her  family  were  dead  except  two 
brothers,  one  of  whom  was  absent,  and  a  son  of  her  eldest  sister,  a  small 
boy,  who  was  immediately  adopted  by  her. 

"The  canoes  arriving  soon  after,  we  formed  a  camp  in  a  meadow  on 
the  left  side,  a  little  below  the  forks,  took  out  our  baggage,  and  by 
means  of  our  sails  and  willow  poles  formed  a  canopy  for  our  Indian 
visitors.  About  four  o'clock  the  chiefs  and  warriors  were  collected, 
and  after  the  customary  ceremony  of  taking  off  the  moccasins  and  smok- 
ing a  pipe,  we  explained  to  them  in  a  long  harangue  the  purposes  of  our 
visit,  making  themselves  one  conspicuous  object  of  the  good  wishes  of 
our  government,  on  whose  strength  as  well  as  its  friendly  disposition 
we  expatiated.  We  told  them  of  their  dependence  on  the  will  of  our  gov- 
ernment for  all  future  supplies  of  whatever  was  necessary  either  for 
their  comfort  or  defence ;  that  as  we  were  soon  to  discover  the  best 
route  by  which  merchandise  could  be  conveyed  to  them,  and  no  trade 
would  be  begun  before  our  return,  it  was  mutually  advantageous  that  we 
should  proceed  with  as  little  delay  as  possible;  that  we  were  under 
the  necessity  of  requesting  them  to  furnish  us  with  horses  to  transport 
our  baggage  across  the  mountains,  and  a  guide  to  show  us  the  route,  but 
that  they  should  be  amply  remunerated  for  their  horses,  as  well  as  for 
every  other  service  they  should  render  us.  In  the  meantime  our  first 
wish  was  that  they  should  immediately  collect  as  many  horses  as  were 
necessary  to  transport  our  baggage  to  their  village,  where,  at  our  leisure, 
we  could  trade  with  them  for  as  many  horses  as  they  could  spare." 

It  was  finally  agreed  that  Captain  Clark  should  set  off  in  the  morn- 
ing with  eleven  men,  furnished,  besides  their  arms,  with  tools  for  mak- 
ing canoes;  that  he  should  take  Charbonneau  and  his  wife  to  the  camp 
of  the  Shoshones,  where  he  was  to  leave  them  in  order  to  hasten  the 
collection  of  the  horses ;  that  he  was  then  to  lead  his  men  down  the 
Columbia,  and  if  he  found  it  navigable  and  the  timber  in  sufficient  quan- 
tity, begin  to  build  canoes.  As  soon  as  he  had  decided  as  to  the  pro- 
priety of  proceeding  down  the  Columbia  or  across  the  mountains,  he 
was  to  send  back  one  of  the  men  with  information  of  it  to  Captain 
Lewis,  who  by  that  time  would  have  brought  up  the  whole  party  and  the 
rest  of  the  baggage  as  far  as  the  Shoshonee  village. 

It  is  impossible  to  give  the  details  of  the  journey  of  the  expedi- 
tion, now  divided  under  the  two  leaders,  now  reunited,  but  always  harmo- 
nious ;  the  discovery  and  naming  of  Lewis  River  by  Captain  Clark  and 
Clark  River,  by  Captain  Lewis,  and  the  terrible  sufferings  of  the  party, 
which  caused  all  their  Shoshone  friends  to  desert  them  except  one  old 


58  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

man,  the  final  entrance  into  the  Snake (  Lewis)  River,  the  joyful  arrival 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Snake,  where  it  joins  the  Columbia,  and  their  cheering 
sight  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  on  November  16,  1805.  A  winter  camp  was 
built  close  to  the  ocean,  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Columbia. 

THE  RETURN  TRIPS  EASTWARD 

On  March  23,  1806,  camp  was  broken  and  the  loaded  flotilla  of 
canoes  started  up  the  Columbia  on  the  long  return  trip  eastward.  If  re- 
membered, the  toils  and  hardships  of  the  western  trip  were  ignored. 
On  June  3Oth,  the  party  had  arrived  at  what  was  noted  as  Travelers' 
Rest  Creek,  where  it  empties  into  Clark's  (Flathead)  River.  There, 
the  leaders  decided  upon  a  separation,  the  party  under  Captain  Lewis 
to  pursue  a  northerly  route  through  Montana  and  that  under  Captain 
Clark,  a  southerly.  Specifically,  as  recorded  in  the  journal  entry  of 
July  i,  1806,  the  plan  agreed  upon  was  as  follows:  "Captain  Lewis,  with 
nine  men,  was  to  pursue  the  most  direct  route  to  the  falls  of  the  Mis- 
souri, where  three  of  his  party  were  to  be  left  to  prepare  carriages  for 
transporting  baggage  and  canoes  across  the  portage  of  eighteen  miles 
from  Portage  Creek  to  Whitebear  Island.  With  the  remaining  six 
he  was  to  ascend  Maria's  River,  to  explore  the  country  and  ascertain 
whether  any  branch  of  it  reaches  as  far  north  as  the  latitude  of  fifty 
degrees,  after  which  he  was  to  descend  that  river  to  its  mouth. 

"The  rest  of  the  men  were  to  accompany  Captain  Clark  to  the  head  of 
Jefferson  river,  which  Sergeant  Ordway  and  a  party  of  nine  men  would 
descend  with  the  canoes  and  other  articles  deposited  there.  Captain 
Clark's  party,  which  would  thereby  be  reduced  to  ten,  would  then  pro- 
ceed to  the  Yellowstone  at  its  nearest  approach  to  the  three  forks  of 
the  Missouri.  There,  he  was  to  build  canoes  and  descend  that  river 
with  seven  of  his  party  and  wait  at  its  mouth  till  the  rest  of  the 
party  should  join  him.  Sergeant  Pryor,  with  two  other,  was  then  to 
take  the  horses  by  land  to  the  Mandans.  From  that  nation  he  was  to  go 
to  the  British  posts  on  the  Assiniboine  with  a  letter  to  Mr.  Henry,  to 
procure  his  endeavors  to  prevail  on  some  of  the  Sioux  chiefs  to  accom- 
pany him  to  the  city  of  Washington." 

CAPTAIN  LEWIS'S  HOMEWARD  TRIP 

All  preparations  being  completed,  "the  two  parties  who  had  been 
long  companions  now  separated,  with  an  anxious  hope  of  soon  meeting 
after  each  had  accomplished  the  purpose  of  its  destination."  The  plan 
as  arranged  by  Lewis  and  Clark  was  carried  out  in  all  its  essentials. 
Captain  Lewis,  directed  by  the  Indians,  followed  the  eastern  branch  of 
Clark's  River.  They  also  told  him  of  a  river  (Cokalahishkit),  "the  river 
of  the  road  to  buffalo,"  which  would  guide  him  to  the  dividing  ground 
between  the  headwaters  of  the  Columbia  and  the  Missouri  along  the 
northern  route.  Pursuing  this  route,  in  about  three  days  a  rather  flat 
country  was  reached,  on  the  western  side  of  the  mountains,  which  Cap- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  59 

tain  Lewis  called  "Prairie  of  the  Knobs."  Along  this  he  traveled  for  a 
few  miles  and  reached  a  ridge,  passed  over  the  divide,  and  after  thirty 
or  forty  miles  reached  the  headwaters  of  Medicine  River,  which  flows 
into  the  Missouri  near  the  great  falls.  The  captain  'then  cut  across 
country  to  Whitebear  Island,  while  his  hunters  were  sent  out  for 
game.  On  opening  the  cache,  it  was  found  that  a  number  of  bearskins 
there  deposited  had  been  destroyed  by  the  river  flood  as  well  as  valuable 
specimens  of  plants ;  "but  the  chart  of  the  Missouri  River  still  remained 
unhurt."  Preparations  were  continued  for  transporting  the  preserved 
articles,  as  the  carriage  wheels  were  in  good  order  and  the  iron  frame 
of  the  boat  had  not  materially  suffered.  On  the  i6th  of  July,  1806, 
started  with  Drewyer  and  the  two  Fields,  with  six  horses,  to  seek  the 
sources  of  Maria's  River.  He  again  slept  under  the  Great  Falls,  which 
he  sketched.  Two  days  out,  the  party  reached  the  river,  and  traveled 
up  its  northern  side,  ascending  its  northern  branch  until  it  entered  the 
mountains.  On  the  22nd,  his  journal  makes  the  record:  "And  as  we 
have  ceased  to  hope  that  any  branches  of  Maria's  river  extend  as  far 
north  as  the  fiftieth  degree  of  north  latitude,  we  deem  it  useless  to  pro- 
ceed farther,  and  rely  chiefly  on  Milk  and  White  Earth  rivers  for  the 
desired  boundary." 

While  preparing  to  return  down  the  river,  Captain  Lewis  and  his 
party  fell  in  with  a  band  of  thieving  Gros  Ventres,  or  Minnetarees,  who, 
after  smoking  a  peace  pipe  and  accepting  the  warmth  of  the  white  men's 
camp  fire,  attempted  to  steal  the  rifles  of  Captain  Lewis  and  the  Field 
brothers.  One  of  the  Fields,  in  attempting  to  regain  them,  fatally  stabbed 
one  of  the  Indian  thieves.  The  Indians  afterward  attempted  to  run  off 
the  horses  of  the  party,  and,  in  the  pursuit,  one  of  the  ungrateful  savages 
was  fatally  shot  by  Captain  Lewis,  who  was  using  his  pistol.  The  white 
leader  himself  had  a  narrow  escape  from  death  as  the  wounded  Indian 
returned  his  fire  just  before  expiring.  In  the  melee,  the  whites  captured 
four  of  the  Indians'  horses  and  lost  only  one  of  their  own.  "Besides 
which,"  continues  the  captain's  account  of  the  affair,  "we  found  in  the 
camp  four  shields,  two  bows  with  quivers,  and  also  the  flag  which  we  had 
presented  to  them,  but  left  the  medal  around  the  neck  of  the  dead  man,  in 
order  that  they  might  be  informed  who  we  were." 

Captain  Lewis  and  his  men  now  made  a  dash  for  the  mouth  of 
Maria's  River,  fearful  not  only  for  their  own  safety  and  the  valuable 
papers  and  instruments  which  he  carried,  but  for  Sergeant  Gass  and 
Willard  who  had  been  left  at  the  falls.  By  good  fortune  they  met,  as 
well  as  Sergeant  Ordway's  party,  which  had  spent  six  days  in  descending 
the  river  from  the  mouth  of  the  Madison  to  White  Bear  Island,  and 
spending  another  week  there  at  the  falls,  in  collecting  the  baggage,  trans- 
porting it  over  the  portage  and  starting  it  down  the  river  in  the  periogue 
of  five  canoes.  Gass  and  Willard  had  set  out  from  the  falls  at  the  same 
time  with  the  horses  of  the  main  expedition. 

It  was  more  than  two  weeks,  however,  before  the  two  leaders  re- 
joined their  forces  below  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone,  on  the  Mis- 
souri. On  the  7th  of  August  Captain  Lewis  made  a  run  of  eighty-three 


60  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

miles  down  the  Missouri,  in  order  to  reach  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone. 
"At  four  o'clock,"  it  was  noted  in  the  journal  of  that  date,  "we  reached 
the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone,  where  we  found  a  note  from  Captain  Clark 
informing  us  of  his  intention  of  waiting  for  us  a  few  miles  below.  We 
therefore  left  a  memorandum  for  our  two  huntsmen,  whom  we  now  sup- 
posed must  be  behind  us,  and  then  pursued  our  course  till  night  came  on, 
and  not  being  able  to  overtake  Captain  Clark,  we  encamped." 

Captain  Lewis  and  most  of  his  men  were  now  over  what  is  now  the 
North  Dakota  boundary,  and  it  was  not  until  the  I2th  of  August,  1806, 
at  i  :oo  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  at  a  point  in  the  Missouri  River,  be- 
yond the  mouth  of  the  White  Earth  River,  in  the  region  of  the  Burnt 
Hills,  that  Lewis  especially  desired  to  "make  the  observation  of  the  lati- 
tude of  the  Burnt  Hills,  which  is  chiefly  desirable,"  he  notes,  "as 
being  the  most  northern  parts  of  the  Missouri."  As  he  did  not  reach 
the  locality  until  twenty  minutes  after  noon  it  was  too  late  to  take 
the  meridian  altitude,  and  while  waiting  over  until  the  following  day 
to  do  so  he  was  severely  wounded  in  the  thigh  by  one  of  his  huntsmen 
who  had  mistaken  his  hidden  movements  on  the  bank  of  the  river  for 
those  of  elk  which  had  been  sighted.  The  wound  was  very  painful  and 
brought  on  a  high  fever,  but  the  journey  was  continued  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing day,  August  I2th,  he  and  his  men  came  up  with  Captain  Clark. 

CAPTAIN   CLARK'S   NINE   DAYS'  JOURNEY 

During  the  nine  days  of  their  separation,  the  journey  of  the  Cap- 
tain Clark  contingent  had  been  of  interest,  although  not  so  stirring  as 
that  of  Captain  Lewis.  On  taking  leave  of  Lewis,  July  3,  1806,  with 
fifteen  men  and  fifty  horses,  Clark  had  set  out  through  the  valley  of 
Clark's  River,  along  the  western  side  of  which  they  rode  in  a  south- 
erly direction.  "Having  made  sixteen  miles  (in  the  morning  of  July 
4th),  we  halted  at  an  early  hour  for  the  purpose  of  doing  honor  to  the 
birthday  of  our  country's  independence.  The  festival  was  not  very  splen- 
did, for  it  consisted  of  a  mush  made  of  cows  and  a  saddle  of  venison,  nor 
had  we  anything  to  tempt  us  to  prolong  it."  , 

On  the  6th  of  July  the  watershed  was  reached  which  separates  the 
middle  fork  of  Clark's  River  from  the  waters  of  Wisdom  and  Lewis 
rivers.  Reaching  the  other  side  of  the  mountain,  they  came  to  Glade 
Creek.  They  found  "appearances  of  old  buffalo  paths,  and  some  old 
heads  of  buffaloes;  and  as  these  animals  have  wonderful  sagacity  in  the 
choice  of  their  routes,  the  coincidence  of  a  buffalo  with  an  Indian  road 
was  the  strongest  assurance  that  it  was  the  best.  In  the  afternoon  we 
passed  along  the  hillside  north  of  the  creek  till  in  the  course  of  six  miles 
we  entered  an  extensive  level  plain.  Here  the  tracks  of  the  Indians 
scattered  so  much  that  we  could  no  longer  pursue  it,  but  Sacajawea 
recognized  the  plain  immediately.  She  had  traveled  it  often  during  her 
childhood,  and  informed  us  that  it  was  the  great  resort  of  the  Shoshones, 
who  came  for  the  purpose  of  gathering  quamash  and  cows,  and  of  taking 
beaver,  with  which  the  plain  abounded ;  and  that  Glade  Creek  was  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  61 

branch  of  Wisdom  River,  and  that  on  reaching  the  highest  part  of  the 
plain  we  should  see  a  gap  in  the  mountain,  on  the  course  to  our  canoes, 
and  from  that  gap  a  high  point  of  mountain  covered  with  snow. 

"At  the  distance  of  a  mile  we  crossed  a  large  creek  from  the  right 
rising,  as  well  as  Fish  creek,  in  a  snowy  mountain  over  which  there  is 
a  gap.  Soon  after,  on  ascending  a  rising  ground,  the  country  spreads 
itself  into  a  beautiful  plain  extending  north  and  south,  about  fifteen 
miles  wide  and  thirty  in  length,  and  surrounded  on  all  sides  by  high 
points  of  mountains  covered  with  snow,  among  which  was  the  gap  pointed 
out  by  the  squaw,  bearing  S.  56  E." 

On  the  7th,  Captain  Clark's  party  reached  Wisdom  River,  following 
it  to  a  gap  in  the  mountains,  which  led  him  to  the  west  branch  of  the 
Jefferson  River.  Down  this  the  men  went  to  the  "forks,"  where  they 
had  deposited  their  merchandise  in  the  previous  August.  The  lack  of 
tobacco  had  been  their  greatest  deprivation,  "and  such  was  their  eager- 
ness to  procure  it  after  so  long  a  deprivation  that  they  scarcely  took 
their  saddles  from  their  horses  before  they  ran  to  the  cave,  and  were 
delighted  at  being  able  to  resume  this  fastidious  indulgence."  Some  of 
the  men  whose  tomahawks  were  so  constructed  as  to  answer  the  purpose 
of  pipes,  broke  the  handles  of  these  instruments,  and  after  cutting  them 
into  small  fragments,  chewed  them,  the  wood  having  by  frequent  smok- 
ing become  strongly  impregnated  with  the  taste  of  that  plant. 

The  party  led  by  Captain  Clark  had  now  traveled  from  Traveler's 
Rest  Creek  to  the  head  of  Jefferson  River,  about  160  miles,  and  the 
journal  records:  "It  is  a  very  excellent,  and  by  cutting  a  few  trees 
might  be  rendered  a  good  route  for  wagons,  with  the  exception  of  about 
four  miles  over  one  of  the  mountains  which  would  require  some  levelling. 
On  July  loth,  with  a  white  frost  covering  the  ground  and  ice  forming 
the  boats  were  loaded  and  the  men  divided  into  two  bands,  one  to  de- 
scend the  river  with  the  baggage,  while  Clark,  with  the  other  party, 
proceeded  on  horseback  to  the  Rochejaume  (Yellowstone).  After  travel- 
ing about  fifteen  miles  down  the  eastern  side  of  Jefferson  river,  through 
Service  valley  and  over  the  Rattlesnake  mountain  into  Beaverhead  val- 
ley, Captain  Clark  discovered  that  the  canoes  could  advance  more  rapidly 
than  the  horses;  he  therefore  left  the  horses  with  Sergeant  Pryor  and 
himself  continued  by  water.  Three  Thousand  Mile  Island,  Beaver  Head, 
Philanthrophy  river,  Wisdom  river,  Panther  and  Field  creeks,  and 
other  features  made  familiar  by  the  outward  voyage  of  the  previous 
year.  The  entrance  of  Madison  river  into  the  Missouri  was  reached 
by  Clark  and  the  boats  about  an  hour  after  Sergeant  Ordway  had  arrived 
with  the  horses,  on  Sunday,  July  I3th.  The  horses  were  then  driven 
across  Madison  and  Gallatin  rivers,  and  the  whole  party  halted  to  dine  and 
unload  the  canoes  below  the  mouth  of  the  latter.  Here  the  two  parties 
again  separated,  Ordway  with  nine  men  setting  out  in  six  canoes  to  de- 
scend the  river,  while  Captain  Clark,  with  the  remaining  twenty  and  the 
wife  and  child  of  Charbonneau,  and  fifty  horses,  started  by  land  for 
the  Yellowstone.  This  was  according  to  programme,  but  had  Clark  not 
taken  the  precaution  to  take  with  him  the  faithful,  astute  and  thoroughly 


62  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

posted  Bird  Woman,  the  prompt  performance  of  his  part  of  the  pre- 
arranged plan  is  problematical." 

Late  in  the  afternoon  of  the  I3th,  the  land  party  set  out  from  the 
forks  of  the  Missouri,  but  because  of  the  sore  feet  of  the  horses  were 
obliged  to  travel  slowly  and  halted  for  the  night,  after  going  only 
four  miles,  on  the  bank  of  Gallatin's  River.  The  plain  beyond  led  to  a 
gap  in  the  mountains,  twenty  miles  distant,  which  the  captain  would 
have  taken,  had  not  the  Indian  woman  recommended  one  farther  to  the 
south.  Under  her  guidance,  the  main  channel  of  the  Medicine  River 
was  reached,  and  finally,  on  the  I4th,  the  gap  in  the  mountains  was 


NEAR  THE  SOURCE  OF  THE  MISSOURI 

reached  through  the  three  branches  of  the  Gallatin  Pass,  as  well  as  the 
great  buffalo  road  described  by  the  invaluable  squaw. 

FROM  MISSOURI'S  HEADWATERS  TO  THE  YELLOWSTONE 

The  journal  entry  of  Tuesday,  I5th  (July,  1806),  is  of  special  sig- 
nificance: "After  an  early  breakfast  they  pursued  the  buffalo  road 
over  a  low  gap  in  the  mountain  to  the  heads  of  the  eastern  fork  of  Gal- 
latin's  river  near  which  they  had  encamped  last  evening,  and  at  the 
distance  of  six  miles  reached  the  top  of  the  dividing  ridge  (Bozeman 
pass)  which  separates  the  waters  of  the  Missouri  and  the  Yellowstone; 
and  on  descending  the  ridge  they  struck  one  of  the  streams  of  the  latter 
river.  They  followed  its  course  through  an  open  country,  with  high 
mountains  on  each  side,  partially  covered  with  pine  and  watered  by  sev- 
eral streams,  crowded  as  usual  by  beaver  dams.  Nine  miles  from  the 
top  of  the  ridge  they  reached  the  Yellowstone  itself,  about  a  mile  and  a 
half  below  where  it  issues  from  the  Rocky  mountains. 

"It  now  appeared  that  the  communication  between  the  two  rivers 
was  short  and  easy.  From  the  head  of  the  Missouri  at  its  three  forks 
to  this  place  is  a  distance  of  forty-eight  miles,  the  greater  part  of  which 
is  through  a  level  plain ;  indeed,  from  the  forks  of  the  eastern  branch 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  63 

of  Gallatin's  river,  which  is  here  navigable  for  small  canoes  to  this  part 
of  the  Yellowstone,  the  distance  is  no  more  than  eighteen  miles,  with 
an  excellent  road  over  a  high,  dry  country,  with  hills  of  inconsiderable 
height  and  no  difficulty  in  passing.  *  *  * 

"At  the  distance  of  nine  miles  from  the  mountain  a  river  discharges 
itself  into  the  Yellowstone  from  the  northwest,  under  a  high  rocky 
cliff.  It  rises  from  the  snowy  mountains  in  that  direction;  is  about 
thirty-five  yards  wide;  has  a  bold,  deep  current; 'is  skirted  by  some 
cottonwood  and  willow  trees ;  and,  like  the  Yellowstone  itself,  seems  to 
abound  in  beaver.  They  gave  it  the  name  of  Shield's  river,  after  one 
of  the  party." 

As  many  of  the  horses  in  the  Clark  party  were  either  lamed  by  the 
hard  travel  or  stolen  by  the  Indians,  two  canoes  were  built,  twenty- 
eight  feet  in  length,  lashed  together,  and  on  the  23rd  of  July  all  but  three 
of  its  members  continued  the  trip  down  the  Yellowstone.  Sergeant  Pryor, 
with  two  other  men,  was  directed  to  take  the  remaining  horses  to  the 
Mandans,  and  (still  according  to  programme)  "if  he  found  that  Mr. 
Henry  (Indian  agent)  was  on  the  Assiniboin  river,  to  go  thither  and  de- 
liver him  a  letter,  the  object  of  which  was  to  prevail  on  the  most  dis- 
tinguished chiefs  of  the  Sioux  to  accompany  him  to  Washington." 

LAST  VIEW  OF  THE  ROCKIES 

Sergeant  Pryor  was  to  join  Clark  where  the  Big  Horn  River  entered 
the  Yellowstone.  A  wide  river  coming  in  from  the  south  was  at  first 
thought  to  be  the  Big  Horn;  "but  afterwards  when  the  Big  Horn  was 
found  the  name  of  Clark's  fork  was  given  to  this  stream."  Pryor's 
Creek  was  also  named  along  the  route.  Littlewolf  Mountains  were 
passed  on  the  way,  and  one  of  the  cliffs  which  juts  into  the  Yellow- 
stone in  that  region  was  named  by  Captain  Clark,  Pompey's  Pillar. 
Just  before  reaching  the  Big  Horn  River,  on  the  26th,  he  shot  two  of 
the  animals  from  his  boat  which  gave  their  name  to  that  stream.  He 
states  that  "there  are  no  permanent  settlements  near  it,  but  the  whole 
country  which  it  waters  is  occasionally  visited  by  roving  bands  of  hunt- 
ers from  the  Crow  tribe,  the  Paunch,  a  band  of  Crows,  and  the  Castahana, 
a  small  band  of  Snake  Indians."  On  the  morning  of  July  27,  1806, 
"they  again  set  out  very  early,  and  on  leaving  the  Big  Horn  took  a  last 
look  at  the  Rocky  mountains,  which  had  been  constantly  in  view  from 
the  first  of  May." 

Their  course  down  the  Yellowstone  brought  them  through  a  country 
crowded  with  buffalo,  elk  and  wolves,  and  on  Tuesday,  August  3,  1806, 
eight  miles  below  Field's  Creek,  reached  its  junction  with  the  Missouri. 
He  had  traveled  down  its  valley  for  a  distance  of  more  than  eight  hun- 
dred miles.  At  the  confluence  of  the  two  rivers  he  wrote  the  note  to  Cap- 
tain Lewis  which  the  latter  found  four  days  afterward.  On  the  8th, 
Clark  was  joined  by  Sergeant  Pryor  and  his  two  companions  but  minus 
the  horses  which  had  been  stolen  by  the  Indians. 


64  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

HAPPILY  REUNITED  EXPEDITION 

Under  date  of  August  12,  1806,  Clark's  journal  says:  "The  party 
continued  to  slowly  descend  the  river.  One  of  the  skin  canoes  was  by 
accident  pierced  with  a  small  hole,  and  they  halted  for  the  purpose  of 
mending  it  with  a  piece  of  elk-skin  and  also  to  wait  for  two  of  the 
party  who  were  behind.  Whilst  there  they  were  overjoyed  at  seeing 
Captain  Lewis's  boats  heave  in  sight  about  noon.  But  this  feeling  was 
changed  into  alarm  on  seeing  the  boats  reach  the  shore  without  Captain 
Lewis,  who  they  then  learned  had  been  wounded  the  day  before,  and  was 
then  lying  in  the  periogue.  After  giving  to  hi,s  wound  all  the  atten- 
tion in  our  power  we  remained  here  some  time,  during  which  we  were 
overtaken  by  our  two  men,  accompanied  by  Dickson  and  Hancock,  who 
wished  to  go  with  us  as  far  as  the  Mandans.  The  whole  party  being  now 
happily  reunited,  we  left  the  two  skin  canoes,  and  all  embarked  together 
about  three  o'clock  in  the  boats." 

THE  INVALUABLE  SACAJAWEA 

The  "happily  reunited"  expedition  arrived  at  the  Mandan  Village 
August  14,  1806.  Three  days  afterward  Lewis  and  Clark  parted  from 
Sacajawea,  the  faithful  Indian  "squaw"  and  guide,  and  Charbonneau, 
her  unreliable,  cowardly  and  unworthy  husband,  who,  however,  had  been 
of  considerable  service.  The  wife,  however,  had  been  of  far  greater 
service,  but  both  preferred  to  remain  with  the  Indians.  Sacajawea  is 
thus  noted  in  the  journal :  "Indeed,  she  has  borne  with  a  patience  truly 
admirable  the  fatigues  of  a  long  route,  encumbered  with  the  charge 
of  an  infant,  who  is  even  now  only  nineteen  months  old.  We  therefore 
paid  Charbonneau  his  wages,  amounting  to  $500.33,  including  the  price  of 
a  horse  and  a  lodge  purchased  of  him ;  and  soon  afterward  dropped  down 
to  the  village  of  Big  White,  attended  on  shore  by  all  the  Indian  chiefs 
who  went  to  take  leave  of  him." 

UNSELFISH  CO-OPERATION  OF  LEADERS  AND  MEN 

In  sketching  the  leading  characters  of  the  most  famous  land  expedi- 
tion recorded  in  American  history,  Doctor  Hosmer  writes :  "Though  the 
closing  weeks  of  summer  the  boats  drifted  rapidly  down,  and  one  day  in 
September,  1806,  saluting  the  flag  they  had  carried  so  far  with  a  part- 
ing volley,  the  Captains  and  their  men  stepped  ashore  at  St.  Louis. 
Never  was  success  more  complete.  From  first  to  last  all  went  smoothly, 
not  at  all  because  the  dangers  and  difficulties  were  small,  but  because 
the  skill  and  courage  with  which  they  were  confronted  were  consummate. 
Lewis  and  Clark  were  never  found  wanting,  and  in  all  the  effort  they 
co-operated  without  a  touch  of  jealousy.  From  first  to  last  among  the 
men  there  was  scarcely  a  trace  of  insubordination;  each  worked  to  his 
full  capacity,  yielding  to  the  guidance  of  the  leaders,  whose  natural 
ascendency  they  thoroughly  recognized.  The  student  of  Lewis  and  Clark 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  65 

learns  to  respect  them  all— the  stout  sergeants,  Pryor,  Ordway  and 
Patrick  Gass,  the  latter  of  whom  in  his  quaint  diary  supplements  nobly 
the  record  of  the  chiefs;— the  blacksmith  Shields,  York  the  negro  slave 
whom  the  Indians  thought  great  'medicine',  the  half-breed  Drewyer, 
past-master  of  woodcraft,  the  Frenchman,  Cruzat,  whose  fiddle  re- 
sounded night  after  night  in  the  desolate  camps  while  the  men  danced 
off  their  pains  and  fears. 

LAST  YEARS  OF  THE  FAITHFUL  BIRD  WOMAN 

"But  most  of  all  the  lone  woman,  Sacajawea,  is  an  object  of  inter- 
est. Her  figure  in  the  story  of  Lewis  and  Clark  is  very  pathetic  and 
engaging,  and  in  Indian  story  few  characters  appear  whose  desert  was 
greater.  A  captive  and  a  slave,  she  followed  the  trail  or  worked  with 
the  men  in  forcing  on  the  canoes.  Her  husband,  Charbonneau,  soon 
proved  to  be  inefficient  and  cowardly;  but  as  dangers  and  hardships 
gathered,  the  heart  and  head  of  the  squaw  showed  ever  new  resources.  It 
is  doubtful  if  the  expedition  could  have  pushed  its  way  through  without 
her." 

In  after  years,  Charbonneau's  name  appears  in  the  record  of  various 
American  explorers  as  an  interpreter,  and  as  one  of  small  character  he 
fades  away.  His  noble  wife  was  tenderly  cared  for  by  her  son,  Baptiste, 
and  her  adopted  son,  Bazil — the  orphaned  son  of  her  eldest  sister,  whom 
she  adopted  in  the  Shoshone  country,  while  about  to  return  to  civilization. 
The  latter  especially  thoughtful  of  the  welfare  of  his  mother,  by  adoption, 
cared  for  her  in  her  declining  years,  and  was  buried  with  the  medal  around 
his  neck  which  Lewis  and  Clark  had  presented  to  Charbonneau.  Saca- 
jawea lived  to  be  one  hundred  years  of  age,  and  died  and  was  buried  in 
1884,  on  the  Shoshone,  or  Wind  River  reservation,  in  Fremont  County, 
Wyoming.  Over  her  grave  is  a  tablet  which  reads :  "Sacajawea,  guide  to 
Lewis  and  Clark  Expedition,  1805-1807.  Identified  by  Rev.  John  Roberts, 
who  officiated  at  her  burial,  April  21,  1884." 

THE  SAD  END  OF  CAPTAIN  LEWIS 

Captains  Lewis  and  Clark  started  for  Washington  about  .five  months 
after  they  arrived  in  St.  Louis.  The  sad  sequel  of  the  former's  brilliant 
and  brief  public  career  is  thus  sketched  by  his  great  patron  and  warm 
friend,  Jefferson :  "It  was  the  middle  of  February,  1807,  before  Captain 
Lewis  and  his  companion,  Captain  Clark,  reached  the  city  of  Washing- 
ton, where  Congress  was  then  in  session.  That  body  granted  to  the 
two  chiefs  and  their  followers  the  donation  of  lands  which  they  had 
been  encouraged  to  expect  in  reward  of  their  toils  and  dangers.  Cap- 
tain Lewis  was  soon  after  appointed  governor  of  Louisiana,  and  Cap- 
tain Clark  a  general  of  militia,  and  agent  of  the  United  States  for  Indian 
affairs  in  that  department.  A  considerable  time  intervened  before  the 
governor's  arrival  at  St.  Louis.  He  found  the  territory  distracted  by 
feuds  and  contentions  among  the  officers  of  the  government  and  the 

Vol.  1—5 


66  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

people  themselves  divided  by  these  into  factions  and  parties.  He  de- 
termined at  once  to  take  no  sides  with  either;  but  to  use  every  endeavor 
to  conciliate  and  harmonize  them.  The  even-handed  justice  he  adminis- 
tered to  all  soon  established  a  respect  for  his  person  and  authority ;  and 
perseverance  and  time  wore  down  animosities  and  reunited  the  citizens 
again  into  one  family. 

"Governor  Lewis  had,  from  early  life,  been  subject  to  hypochon- 
driac affections.  It  was  a  constitutional  disposition  in  all  the  nearer 
branches  of  the  family  of  his  name,  and  was  more  immediately  inher- 
ited by  him  from  his  father.  They  had  not,  however,  been  so  strong  as 
to  give  uneasiness  to  his  family.  While  he  lived  with  me  in  Washing- 
ton I  observed  at  times  sensible  depressions  of  mind;  but  knowing  their 
constitutional  source,  I  estimated  their  course  by  what  I  had  seen  in 
the  family.  During  his  western  expedition,  the  constant  exertion  which 
that  required  of  all  the  faculties  of  body  and  mind,  suspended  these 
distressing  affections;  but  after  his  establishment  in  St.  Louis  in 
sedentary  occupations  they  returned  upon  him  with  redoubled  vigor  and 
began  seriously  to  alarm  his  friends.  He  was  in  a  paroxysm  of  one  of 
these  when  his  affairs  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  go  to  Washington. 
He  proceeded  to  Chickasaw  Bluffs,  where  he  arrived  on  the  i6th  of 
September,  1809,  with  a  view  of  continuing  his  journey  thence  by  water. 

"Mr.  Neely,  agent  of  the  United  States  with  the  Chickasaw  Indians, 
arriving  there  two  days  after,  found  him  extremely  indisposed,  and  be- 
traying at  times  some  symptoms  of  a  derangement  of  mind.  The  rumors 
of  a  war  with  England,  and  apprehensions  that  he  might  lose  the  papers 
he  was  bringing  on,  among  which  were  the  vouchers  of  his  public  accounts 
and  the  journals  and  papers  of  his  western  expedition,  induced  him  here 
to  change  his  mind,  and  to  take  his  course  by  land  through  the  Chick- 
asaw country.  Although  he  appeared  somewhat  relieved,  Mr.  Neely 
kindly  determined  to  accompany  and  watch  over  him.  Unfortunately, 
at  their  encampment,  after  having  passed  the  Tennessee  one  day's  jour- 
ney, they  lost  two  horses,  which  obliging  Mr.  Neely  to  halt  for  their 
recovery,  the  governor  proceeded,  under  a  promise  to  wait  for  him  at 
the  house  of  the  first  white  inhabitant  on  his  road.  He  stopped  at  the 
house  of  a  Mr.  Grinder,  who,  not  being  at  home,  his  wife  alarmed  at 
the  symptoms  of  derangement  she  discovered,  gave  him  up  the  house 
and  retired  to  rest  herself  in  an  out-house,  the  governor's  and  Neely's 
servants  lodging  in  another.  About  three  o'clock  in  the  night  he  did 
the  deed*  which  plunged  his  friends  into  affliction  and  deprived  his 
country  of  one  of  her  most  valued  citizens,  whose  valor  and  intelli- 
gence would  now  have  been  employed  in  avenging  the  wrongs  of  his  coun- 
try, and  in  emulating  by  land  the  splendid  deeds  which  have  honored 
her  arms  on  the  ocean.  It  lost,  too,  to  the  nation  the  benefit  of  receiv- 


*  The  facts  accompanying  the  death  of  Meriwether  Lewis  have  never  been 
consistently  stated,  and  his  death  by  pistol  shot  at  a  public  house  of  questionable 
reputation — Grinder's  Stand,  on  the  Natchez  Trace  (military  road) — is  still  open 
to  discussion  as  to  whether  it  was  through  suicide  or  murder.  Jefferson,  obviously, 
favors  the  former  explanation.  A  monument  of  Tennessee  marble  stands  at  the 
locality  where  his  death  occurred. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  67 

ing  from  his  own  hand  the  narrative  now  offered  them  of  his  suffer- 
ings and  successes,  in  endeavoring  to  extend  for  them  the  boundaries  of 
science,  and  to  present  to  their  knowledge  that  vast  and  fertile  country, 
which  their  sons  are  destined  to  fill  with  arts,  with  science,  with  free- 
dom and  happiness." 

GENERAL  CLARK'S  HONORABLE  PUBLIC  CAREER 

After  serving  for  six  years  as  brigadier  general  of  militia  and 
Indian  agent  for  the  territory  of  Louisiana,  in  1813  General  Clark  was 
made  governor  of  Missouri.  He  honored  that  position  until  Missouri 
became  a  state  in  1820,  and  afterward  became  superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs,  which  he  held  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Clark  held  other  re- 
sponsible public  positions  and  died  in  St.  Louis,  generally  respected  and 
loved,  in  1838.  There  was  probably  no  character  better  known  or  loved 
by  the  Indians  in  the  West  than  General  Clark,  who  affectionately  spoke 
of  him  as  the  "Red-Head,"  and  St.  Louis  was  known  by  his  red  friends 
as  "Red-Head's  town." 


CHAPTER    III 


Two  days  after  Lewis  and  Clark  had  joined  each  other,  with  their 
parties,  below  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone  and  started  for  the  Man- 
dan  country,  on  their  way  to  St.  Louis,  John  Colter,  a  member  of  the 
expedition,  obtained  an  honorable  discharge  from  the  leaders  and,  again 
answered  the  call  of  the  wilds.  The  journal  narrates  the  incident,  thus, 
under  date  of  August  14,  1806:  "In  the  evening  we  were  applied  to  by 
one  of  our  men,  Colter,  who  was  desirous  of  joining  the  two  trappers  who 
had  accompanied  us  and  who  now  proposed  an  expedition  up  the  river 
(Missouri),  in  which  they  were  to  find  traps  and  give  him  a  share  of 
the  profits.  The  offer  was  a  very  advantageous  one,  and  as  he  had  always 
performed  his  duty  and  his  services  might  be  dispensed  with,  we  agreed 
that  he  might  go,  provided  none  of  the  rest  would  ask  or  expect  a  similar 
indulgence.  To  this  they  cheerfully  answered  that  they  wished  Colter 
every  success  and  would  not  apply  for  liberty  to  separate  before  we 
reached  St.  Louis.  We  therefore  supplied  him,  as  did  his  comrades  also, 
with  powder  and  lead,  and  a  variety  of  articles  which  might  be  useful 
to  him  and  he  left  us  the  next  day. 

JOHN  COLTER  AGAIN  CALLED  TO  THE  WILDS 

"The  example  of  this  man  shows  how  easily  men  may  be  weaned  from 
the  habits  of  a  civilized  life  to  the  ruder  but  scarcely  less  fascinating 
manners  of  the  woods.  This  hunter  has  been  now  absent  for  many  years 
from  the  frontiers,  and  might  naturally  be  presumed  to  have  some  anxiety, 
or  some  curiosity  at  least,  to  return  to  his  friends  and  his  country ;  yet 
just  at  the  moment  when  he  is  approaching  the  frontiers  he  is  tempted, 
by  a  hunting  scheme,  to  give  up  those  delightful  prospects  and  go  back 
without  the  least  reluctance  to  the  solitude  of  the  woods." 

Before  Colter  was  to  return  to  American  civilization,  he  was  to 
have  adventures  and  wide  wanderings  among  the  grandeurs  and  wonders 
of  the  Rockies  which  would  thrill  even  a  hardened  boy  of  scout  and 
Indian  literature.  Where  he  spent  the  winter  of  1806-07  is  not  recorded, 
but  in  the  spring  of  the  latter  year  he  built  a  canoe  of  logs  and  started 
down  the  Missouri  river  for  St.  Louis.  Even  now  he  was  not  to  lead  the 
q[uiet  life  of-  a  settler;  for  at  the  mouth  of  the  Platte,  he  met  a  party 
winding  up  the  river  from  Missouri,  under  the  leadership  of  the  keen  and 
fearless  Spanish  fur  trader,  Manuel  Lisa,  and  under  the  immediate  guid- 
ance of  George  Drewyer,  Lewis  and  Clark's  old  hunter  and  interpreter 

68 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  69 

and  one  of  the  mainstays  of  the  expedition.  Lisa  was  headed  for  the  great 
beaver  country,  through  which  the  expedition  had  passed;  Colter  had 
since  investigated  the  trapping  grounds  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri 
and  was  the  man  most  needed  to  insure  success  to  the  commercial  venture 
of  the  Spanish  fur  trader. 

FORT  LISA  ESTABLISHED 

Colter  was  therefore  again  turned  back  toward  the  western  wilds  and 
the  re-enforced  party  proceeded  up  the  Missouri  to  the  mouth  of  the  Yel- 
lowstone, thence  up  that  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn.  There 
(in  the  spring  or  early  summer  of  1807)  Lisa  established  the  post  known 
variously  as  Fort  Lisa,  Fort  Manuel  and  Manuel's  Fort.  He  then  sent 
out  Colter  alone  as  a  herald  to  announce  to  the  neighboring  Indians  the 
fact  and  object  of  his  coming.  The  exact  route  of  his  wanderings  in  1807 
is  not  known,  although  Capt.  William  Clark,  whom  he  met  in  1810  and 
who  obtained  from  him  a  narrative  of  his  travels,  marked  upon  one  of 
the  maps  of  the  expedition  "Colter's  route  in  1807."  From  this  and  other 
reports  gathered  from  others  whom  Colter  met  in  St.  Louis,*  it  is  prob- 
able that  he  traveled  from  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  to  the  forks  of  the 
Shoshone  or  Snake  River,  where  he  found  a  great  tar  spring,  which  came 
to  bear  the  name  of  Colter's  "Hell  Hole."  Then  journeying,  in  a  north- 
westerly direction,  through  what  is  now  the  Yellowstone  National  Park, 
he  reached  Yellowstone  Lake,  forded  the  Yellowstone  River  near  Twin 
Falls  and  followed  the  Indian  trail  that  led  to  the  Valley  of  Clark's  Fork. 
Thence  he  returned  to  the  forks  of  the  Shoshone  and  up  the  Big  Horn 
Valley  to  Lisa's  Fort. 

The  difficulties  encountered  in  this  journey  and  so  bravely  over- 
come by  Colter  place  him  in  the  front  rank  of  the  heroic  explorers  of 
interior  America.  It  is  believed  that  he  met  the  Crows  somewhere  in 
the  Wind  River  region  and,  with  a  small  band  of  them,  crossed  the  great 
Wind  River  Mountains  by  way  of  Union  Pass  and  the  Teton  Range 
through  the  pass  by  that  name.  The  Crows  were  attacked  by  a  war  party 
of  Blackfeet  and  Colter  was  badly  wounded  in  the  leg.  The  Indians,  with 
whom  he  was  traveling  and  with  whom  he  had  fought,  turned  back  in 
alarm  and  left  the  white  man,  wounded  as  he  was,  to  shift  for  himself. 
It  was  now  impossible  for  him  to  think  of  treating  with  the  Blackfeet 
at  the  three  forks  of  the  Missouri,  as  had  been  the  original  intention, 
for  he  had  been  seen  by  their  warriors  in  the  mountain  encounter.  He 
therefore  started  for  Lisa's  Fort,  and.  wounded  as  he  was,  struck  bravely 
down  the  wooded  northern  slope  of  the  Teton  Mountains  and  across  the 
southern  part  of  the  present  Yellowstone  Park.  In  the  words  of  Chit- 
tendenrt  "It  may,  with  difficulty,  be  imagined  what  must  have  been  his 
astonishment  when,  emerging  from  the  forests  upon  the  shores  of  that 
surpassingly  beautiful  mountain  lake  near  the  source  of  the  Yellowstone 


*John  Bradbury,  English  botanist,  and  author  of  "Travels  in  the  Interior  of 
America";  Henry  W.  Brackenridge,  explorer  and  writer. 

f  Captain  H.  M.  Chittenden :    "American  Fur  Trade  of  the  Far  West." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  71 

river,  he  found  its  shores  steaming  with  innumerable  boiling  springs  and 
geysers." 

COLTER'S  REMARKABLE  ADVENTURES 

Exactly  where  he  met  with  the  most  remarkable  adventure  of  his 
stirring  carreer  is  not  known.  Neither  is  it  known  when  or  where  he  met 
the  Potts,  who  figures  in  the  story  and  who  incidentally  appears  as  a 
member  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  party.  The  main  facts,  as  related  to 
Bradbury,  after  Colter's  return  to  St.  Louis,  are  these :  Colter  and  Potts 
were  examining  their  traps  early  one  morning  in  a  creek  which  they  were 
ascending  in  a  canoe,  when  they  suddenly  heard  a  great  noise  resembling 
the  tramping  of  animals ;  but  they  could  not  ascertain  the  fact,  as  the  high, 
perpendicular  banks  on  each  side  of  the  river  impeded  their  view.  Colter 
immediately  pronounced  it  to  be  occasioned  by  Indians  and  advised  an  in- 
stant retreat,  but  was  accused  of  cowardice  by  Potts,  who  insisted  the 
noise  was  occasioned  by  buffaloes,  and  they  proceeded  on.  In  a  few 
minutes  afterward,  their  doubts  were  removed  by  the  appearance  of  five 
or  six  hundred  Indians  on  both  sides  of  the  creek,  who  beckoned  them 
to  come  ashore.  As  retreat  was  now  impossible,  Colter  turned  the  head 
of  the  canoe  to  the  shore ;  and  at  the  moment  of  its  touching  an  Indian 
seized  the  rifle  belonging  to  Potts.  But  Colter,  who  was  a  remarkably 
strong  man,  immediately  retook  it  and  handed  it  to  Potts,  who  remained 
in  the  canoe  and,  upon  receiving  it,  pushed  off  into  the  river.  He 
had  scarcely  quitted  the  shore,  when  an  arrow  was  shot  at  him  and  he 
cried  out  'Colter,  I  am  wounded !'  Colter  remonstrated  with  him  on  the 
folly  of  attempting  to  escape  and  urged  him  to  come  ashore.  Instead  of 
complying,  he  instantly  leveled  his  rifle  at  an  Indian  and  shot  him  dead 
on  the  spot. 

This  conduct  may  appear  to  have  been  an  act  of  madness,  but  it  was 
doubtless  the  effect  of  sudden,  but  sound  enough  reasoning;  for  if 
taken  alive,  he  must  have  expected  to  have  been  tortured  to  death,  ac- 
cording to  the  Indian  custom.  And,  in  this  respect,  the  Indians  of 
that  region  excelled  all  others  in  the  ingenuity  they  displayed  in  tor- 
turing their  prisoners.  He  was  instantly  pierced  with  arrows,  so  numer- 
ous that,  to  use  the  language  of  Colter,  "he  was  made  a  riddle  of." 

They  now  seized  Colter,  stripped  him  entirely  naked,  and  began  to 
consult  on  the  manner  in  which  he  should  be  put  to  death.  They  were 
first  inclined  to  set  him  up  as  a  mark  to  be  shot  at;  but  the  chief 
interfered  and,  seizing  him  by  the  shoulder,  asked  him  if  he  could  run 
fast.  Colter,  who  had  been  some  time  among  the  Kee  Katsa,  or  Crow  In- 
dians, had,  in  a  considerable  degree,  acquired  the  Blackfoot  language, 
and  was  also  well  acquainted  with  Indian  customs.  He  knew  that  he  had 
now  run  for  his  life,  with  the  dreadful  odds  of  five  or  six  hundred  against 
him,  and  these  armed  Indians.  He  therefore  cunningly  replied  that  he 
was  a  very  bad  runner,  although,  in  truth,  he  was  considered  by  the 
hunters  as  remarkably  swift. 

The  chief  now  commanded  the  party  to  remain  stationary,  and  led 
Colter  out  on  the  prairie  three  or  four  hundred  yards,  and  released  him, 


72  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

to  save  himself  if  he  could.  At  that  instant,  the  war-whoop  sounded 
in  the  ears  of  poor  Colter  who,  urged  with  the  hope  of  preserving  life, 
ran  with  a  speed  at  which  he  himself  was  surprised.  He  proceeded  to- 
ward Jefferson's  Fork,  having  to  traverse  a  plain  six  miles  in  breadth, 
abounding  with  the  prickly  pear,  on  which  he  every  instant  was  tread- 
ing with  his  naked  feet.  He  ran  nearly  half  way  across  the  plain  before  he 
ventured  to  look  over  his  shoulder,  when  he  perceived  that  the  Indians 
were  very  much  scattered,  and  that  he  had  gained  ground  to  a  considerable 
distance  from  the  main  body;  but  one  Indian,  who  carried  a  spear,  was 
much  before  all  the  rest,  and  not  more  than  a  hundred  yards  from  him. 

A  faint  gleam  of  hope  now  cheered  the  heart  of  Colter.  He  derived 
confidence  from  the  belief  that  escape  was  within  the  bounds  of  pos- 
sibility. But  that  confidence  was  nearly  fatal  to  him;  for  he  exerted 
himself  to  such  a  degree  that  the  blood  gushed  from  his  nostrils  and 
soon  almost  covered  the  fore  part  of  his  body.  He  had  now  arrived 
within  a  mile  of  the  river,  when  he  distinctly  heard  the  appalling  sound 
of  footsteps  behind  him,  and  every  instant  expected  to  feel  the  spear 
of  his  pursuer.  He  again  turned  his  head  and  saw  the  savage  not  twenty 
yards  from  him. 

Determined,  if  possible,  to  avoid  the  expected  blow,  he  suddenly 
stopped,  turned  around  and  spread  out  his  arms.  The  Indian,  surprised 
at  the  suddenness  of  the  action  and  perhaps  at  the  bloody  appearance  of 
Colter,  also  attempted  to  stop;  but,  exhausted  with  running,  he  fell 
while  attempting  to  throw  his  spear,  which  stuck  in  the  ground  and 
broke  in  his  hand.  Colter  instantly  snatched  up  the  pointed  part,  with 
which  he  pinned  him  to  the  earth,  and  then  continued  his  flight. 

The  foremost  of  the  Indians,  on  arriving  at  the  place,  stopped 
until  others  came  up  to  join  them,  and  then  gave  a  hideous  yell.  Every 
moment  of  this  time  was  improved  by  Colter  who,  although  fainting  and 
exhausted,  succeeded  in  gaining  the  skirting  of  cottonwood  trees  on  the 
borders  of  the  fork  to  which  he  ran  and  plunged  into  the  river.  For- 
tunately for  him,  a  little  below  this  place  was  an  island,  against  the 
upper  point  of  which  a  raft  of  drift  timber  had  lodged.  He  dived 
under  the  raft  and,  after  several  efforts,  got  his  head  above  water, 
among  the  trunks  of  trees  covered  over  with  smaller  wood  to  the  depth 
of  several  feet.  Scarcely  had  he  secured  himself  when  the  Indians 
arrived  on  the  river,  screeching  and  yelling,  as  Colter  expressed  it,  "like 
so  many  devils." 

They  were  frequently  on  the  raft  during  the  day  and  were  seen 
through  the  chinks  by  Colter,  who  was  congratulating  himself  on  his 
escape,  until  the  idea  arose  that  they  might  set  the  raft  on  fire.  In 
horrible  suspense,  he  remained  until  night,  when,  hearing  no  more  from 
the  Indians,  he  dived  under  the  raft  and  swam  down  the  river  to  a  con- 
siderable distance,  when  he  landed  and  traveled  all  night.  Although 
happy  in  having  escaped  frorp  the  Indians,  his  situation  was  still  dread- 
ful. He  was  completely  naked,  under  a  burning  sun ;  the  soles  of  his 
feet  were  filled  with  the  thorns  of  the  prickly  pear;  he  was  hungry,  and 
had  no  means  of  killing  game,  although  he  saw  abundance  around  him ; 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  73 

and  was  at  a  great  distance  from  the  nearest  settlement.  Almost  any  man 
but  an  American  hunter  would  have  despaired  under  such  circumstances. 
The  fortitude  of  Colter  remained  unshaken.  After  seven  days  of  sore 
travel,  during  which  he  had  no  other  sustenance  than  the  root  known  by 
naturalists  under  the  name  of  'psoralea  esculenta,  he  at  length  arrived 
in  safety  at  Lisa's  Fort,  on  the  Big  Horn  branch  of  the  Roche  Jaune, 
or  Yellowstone  River. 

.  In  May,  1810,  Colter  returned  alone  to  St.  Louis,  where,  for  the 
first  time,  he  met  Bradbury,  the  botanist,  and  Brackenridge,  the  exploror, 
and  renewed  his  friendship  with  Capt.  (then  General)  William  Clark, 
who  was  brigadier  general  and  Indian  agent  of  Louisiana  Territory.  To 
them  he  narrated  his  remarkable  adventures,  and  it  is  from  their  pens 
that  history  is  mainly  indebted  for  the  narrative.  The  last  view  of 
Colter  recorded  in  the  annals  of  those  times  was  his  meeting  with  Brad- 
bury on  March  18,  1811,  and  the  final  decision  of  the  frontiersman  to  join 
the  naturalist  and  his  party,  members  of  the  Astoria  Company,  in  a 
journey  up  the  Missouri  River.  At  last  he  yielded  to  the  love  of  a 
newly-wedded  wife  and  remained  with  civilization,  forever  divorced  from 
the  wilderness. 

LAROCQUE'S  EXPEDITION  TO  THE  CROWS 

• 

While  the  Lewis  and  Clark  explorations  were  being  conducted  by  the 
Government,  in  1805-06,  the  Northwest  Fur  Company  of  Canada  was 
sending  its  agents  into  the  furthermost  limits  of  the  great  domain  covered 
by  its  operations,  and  it  was  but  natural  that  Government  and  Trade 
should  cross  lines.  Among  the  prominent  agents  of  the  fur  company  were 
the  McKenzies  and  Francois  Antoine  Larocque.  Charles  McKenzie  and 
Larocque,  clerks,  were  particularly  intimate  and  made  three  expeditions 
together,  in  1804-06,  at  least  two  of  which  were  in  charge  of  the  latter. 
It  is  the  second  journey  which  is  of  most  interest  to  readers  of  Montana 
history,  as  it  included  a  visit  of  about  three  months  to  the  Crow  Indians 
of  what  is  now  our  state — with  the  exception  of  the  La  Verendrye  ex- 
plorers, the  first  whites  to  leave  a  record  of  the  habits  and  peculiarities 
of  that  tribe.  A  daily  journal,  written  by  Larocque,  and  which  had  been 
obtained  by  Roderick  McKenzie,  of  the  Northwest  Fur  Company,  for  a' 
projected  work  never  realized,  has  never  been  recovered;  "but  what 
purports  to  be  an  exact  copy  is  now  in  the  library  of  Laval  University, 
Montreal,  with  a  number  of  other  manuscripts  bequeathed  to  that  institu- 
tion by  the  late  Judge  Baby  of  that  city.  This  'Journal  of  a  Voyage  to  the 
Rocky  Mountains  from  my  leaving  the  Assinibois  River  on  the  2d  June, 
1805,'  as  it  is  entitled,  is  now  (1910)  printed  for  the  first  time,  being, 
so  far  as  can  be  ascertained  at  present,  a  verbatim  translation  of  the 
original." 

From  the  best  information  obtainable,  it  would  appear  that  La- 
rocque was  a  man  of  intellectual  abilities  and  great  courage,  well  read 
in  French  and  English.  He  had  a  brother  who  became  even  more  prom- 
inent in  the  fur  trade  than  he  himself.  The  author  of  the  Journal  soon 


74  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

left  the  employ  of  the  Northwest  Fur  Company  and  located  in  Montreal, 
where  he  failed  as  a  merchant.  He  passed  the  last  years  of  his  life  in 
close  retirement  and  arduous  study  and  died,  much  advanced  in  years, 
in  the  Grey  Nunnery  of  St.  Hyacinthe.  Whatever  his  ambitions,  the 
Journal  of  his  trip  to  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  the  Crow  Indians  is  the 
only  piece  of  his  work  which  has  survived,  and  even  Lewis  and  Clark 
anticipated  his  first  view  of  the  great  continental  divide  by  some  six  weeks. 

Larocque  was  sent  by  Charles  J.  B.  Chaboillez,  a  partner  of  the 
Northwest  Company  in  charge  of  the  Upper  Red  River  (Assiniboine) 
Department,  to  ascertain  whether  there  were  any  beaver  in  the  Crow 
country  and,  if  so,  to  open  up  a  fur  trade  with  the  Indians.  He  had  en- 
tered the  service  of  the  company  in  1801  and  for  about  three  years  was 
in  its  employ  in  the  region  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  Red  rivers,  Canada. 
In  the  autumn  of  1804,  he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Assiniboine  and,  with 
Charles  Mackenzie,  J.  B.  Lafrance  and  four  voyageurs,  took  a  trip  to 
the  Mandans  of  the  Missouri.  Both  his  Journal  and  the  first  part  of 
Charles  Mackenzie's  "Missouri  Indians"  cover  the  journey  to  the  Man- 
dan  country.  There  Mackenzie  left  the  expedition  and  the  recovered 
Larocque  Journal  (or  the  well  authenticated  copy  of  it)  is  relied  upon  to 
convey  the  graphic  details  of  the  trip  through  Southeastern  Montana, 
along  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  to  the  regions  of  the  Big  Horn  River 
and  mountains  and  the  4and  of  the  Crows. 

Larocque's  expedition  started  from  Fort  a  la  Bosse,  on  the  Assini- 
boine, Canada,  on  June  2,  1805.  As  he  states,  he  there  "prepared  for 
going  on  a  voyage  of  discovery  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  set  of  (sic) 
on  2nd  June  with  two  men  having  each  of  us  two  horses,  one  of  which 
was  laden  with  goods  to  facilitate  an  intercourse  with  the  Indians  we 
might  happen  to  see  on  our  road.  Mr.  Charles  MacKenzie  and  Mr.  Las- 
sana  set  out  with  me  to  go  and  pass  the  summer  at  the  Missouri,  and  hav- 
ing to  pursue  (sic)  the  same  road  we  kept  company  as  far  as  the 
B.  B.* 

Larocque  and  his  men  crossed  what  is  now  the  international  bound- 
ary at  a  branch  of  the  Souris,  or  Mouse  River,  in  the  northwestern  part 
of  Botineau  County,  North  Dakota,  just  west  of  Turtle  Mountain.  Strik- 
ing toward  the  southwest,  the  party  crossed  the  Souris  River.  On  ac- 
count of  the  high  water,  the  goods  were  loaded  on  a  raft  and  the  horses 
swam  over.  On  the  loth  of  June,  about  a  week  out,  they  slept  in  the 
Mandan  plain — the  Coteau  du  Missouri,  or  tableland  separating  the 
waters  of  the  Missouri  from  those  of  the  Assiniboine.  The  banks  of  the 
Missouri  were  sighted  on  the  following  day,  and  the  expedition  arrived  in 
the  Mandan  territory  on  the  I2th. 

MANDANS  AND  BIG  BELLIES  OBSTRUCTIVE 

The  Mandans  seem  to  have  been  disagreeably  insistent  to  sell  their 
horses  to  the  white  travelers,  but  Larocque  set  them  right  on  that  point. 
"I  told  them,"  he  said,  "that  the  purpose  of  our  coming  was  not  to  pur- 


*  Big  Bellies,  called  by  the  French  Gros  Ventres.     The  name  has  been  applied 
to  tribes  of  both  Algonquin  and  Sioux  stock. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  75 

chase  horses  either  from  them  or  the  Rocky  Mountains,  that  we  came  for 
Skins  and  Robes,  and  that  for  that  purpose  one  of  us  was  to  pass  the 
summer  with  them  and  one  at  the  Mandans;  that  I  and  two  men  were 
sent  by  the  white  people's  Chief  to  smoke  a  pipe  of  peace  and  amity  with 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Indians  and  to  accompany  them  to  their  lands  to 
examine  them  and  see  if  there  were  Beavers  as  is  reported,  and  to  engage 
them  to  hunt  it,  that  we  would  not  purchase  a  horse  from  none,  therefore 
that  their  best  plan  would  be  to  dress  buffalo  robes,  so  as  to  have  ammuni- 
tion to  trade  with  the  Rocky  Mountain  Indians. 

"They  pretend  to  be  in  fear  of  the  surrounding  nations,  that  is, 
Assineboines,  Sioux,  Chetenne  and  Ricaras  (Pawnees),  so  as  to  have 
an  excuse  for  not  trading  with  their  guns  with  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Indians  and  likewise  to  prevent  us.  Some  of  those  Rocky  Mountain 
Indians  have  been  here  already,  and  are  gone  back,  but  more  are  expected, 
with  whom  I  intend  to  go." 

On  the  following  day,  Larocque  was  sent  for  by  one  of  the  chiefs 
of  the  Big  Bellies  who,  says  the  leader,  "asked  me  what  I  intended  to 
do  with  the  pipe  stem  I  had  brought.  Upon  my  telling  him  that  it  was  for 
the  Rocky  Mountain  Indians  he  made  a  long  harangue  to  dissuade 
me  from  going  there,  saying  that  I  would  be  obliged  to  winter  there 
on  account  of  the  length  of  the  way,  that  the  Cayennes  and  the  Ricaras 
were  enemies  and  constantly  on  the  road  and  that  it  was  probable  that 
we  should  be  killed  by  them."  Various  other  alarming  stories  were  told 
to  discourage  the  further  progress  of  the  expedition. 

I 

MEET  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  INDIANS 

Finally,  a  considerable  band  of  Rocky  Mountain  Indians  arrived. 
"About  one  in  the  afternoon,"  says  the  leader,  "the  Rocky  Mountain 
Indians  arrived.  They  encamped  at  a  little  distance  from  the  village 
with  the  warriors  to  the  number  of  645;  passed  through  the  village  on 
horseback  with  their  shields  and  other  warlike  implements."  When  the 
chiefs  of  the  different  bands  had  assembled,  two  days  afterward, 
Larocque  made  them  the  following  presents:  Two  large  and  two  small 
axes;  eight  ivory  combs,  ten  wampum  shells,  eight  fire  steels  and  flint, 
four  cassetete  (combination  of  tomahawk  and  pipe),  six  masses  B.  C. 
(Blue  Canton),  four  f.  tobacco,  eight  cock  feathers,  sixteen  large  knives, 
twelve  small  knives,  two  pounds  of  vermillion,  eight  dozen  rings,  four 
papers,  co'd  glasses,  four  dozen  awls,  one  and  a  half  pounds  of  blue 
beads,  two  dozen  blue  beads  and  1,000  balls  and  powder.  He  induced 
the  Crows  to  smoke  a  pipe  of  peace  and  told  them  the  Chief  of  the 
White  People  knew  that  "they  were  pitiful  and  had  no  arms  to  defend 
themselves  from  their  enemies,  but  that  they  should  cease  to  be  pitiful  as 
soon  as  they  sliould  make  themselves  brave  hunters."  He  informed  the 
Crows  that  he  and  two  men  were  going  with  them  to  see  their  lands  and 
that  if  they  would  behave  well  and  "kill  beavers,  otters  and  bears,  they 
would  have  white  people  on  the  lands  in  a  few  years  who  would  winter 
with  them  and  supply  them  with  all  their  wants."  They  then  exchanged 


76  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

presents  and  Larocque  promised  the  chief  who  came  to  meet  him  that 
if  the  Crows  encouraged  the  white  people  "all  their  chiefs  who  would 
behave  well  would  get  a  Coat." 

Camp  was  broken  on  the  29th  of  June  and  a  fair  start  was  made  for 
the  Rocky  Mountain  country  of  the  southwest,  along  the  north  bank 
of  the  Big  Knife  River,  which  enters  the  Missouri  from  the  south.  On 
the  fourth  of  July,  the  expedition  had  reached  the  Heart  River,  also  a 
little  branch  of  the  Missouri  in  Western  North  Dakota,  and  on  the  I3th 
had  reached  the  banks  of  the  Little  Missouri.  Two  days  later,  still 
traveling  in  a  generally  southwestern  direction,  the  men  encamped  on  its 
banks  about  fourteen  miles  higher  up.  There  the  Indians  killed  "a  few 
beaver,  of  which  I  got  two  dressed  by  my  men  to  show  them  how  to  do 
it.  We  remained  the  whole  day  here,"  continued  the  Journal.  "The 
Indians  tried  to  dance  the  Bull  dance  in  imitation  of  the  B.  Belley's,  but 
did  it  very  ill." 

As  the  party  left  the  Little  Missouri  and,  headed  still  toward  the 
southwest,  its  route  took  them  over  the  present  line  between  North 
Dakota  and  Montana  into  a  land  of  beaver  and  buffalo,  on  the  26th  of 
July  it  reached  the  Powder  River  mountains  and,  on  the  following  day, 
the  river  itself,  as  it  took  its  northerly  course  toward  the  Yellowstone. 
In  that  locality  herds  of  elks  were  found  in  the  woods  and  beaver  dams 
were  seen  all  along  the  river.  "When  we  arrived  here,"  says  Larocque, 
"the  plains  on  the  western  side  of  the  river  were  covered  with  buffaloes 
and  the  bottoms  full  of  elk  and  jumping  deer  (antelope)  and  bears, 
which  last  are  mostly  yellow  and  very  fierce  (grizzlies).  It  is  amazing  • 
how  very  barren  the  ground  is  between  this  and  the  lesser  Missouri ; 
nothing  can  hardly  be  seen  but  those  Corne  de  Raquettes.*  Our  horses 
were  nearly  starved.  There  is  grass  in  the  woods  but  none  in  the  plains 
which  by  the  by  might  (sic)  with  more  propriety  be  called  hills,  for 
though  there  is  very  little  wood  it  is  impossible  to  find  a  level  spot  of  one 
or  two  miles  in  extent  except  close  to  the  river.  The  current  in  that  river 
is  very  strong  and  the  water  so  muddy  as  to  be  hardly  drinkable.  The 
Indians  say  it  is  always  so,  and  that  is  the  reason  they  call  it  Powder 
River,  from  the  quantity  of  drifting  fine  sand  set  in  motion  by  the 
coast  wind  t  which  blinds  people  and  dirtys  the  water.  There  are  very 
large  sand  shoals  along  the  river  for  several  acres  breadth  and  length, 
the  bed  of  the  river  is  likewise  sand  and  its  course  north  east." 

Under  date  of  July  3Oth  it  is  recorded:  "Early  this  morning  we  set 
out;  the  body  of  the  people  followed  the  river  for  about  seventeen  miles 
S.  W.  while  I  with  the  chief  and  a  few  others  went  hunting.  We  wounded 
cabrio,  buffalo  and  the  large  horned  animal  (mountain  sheep,  or  Big 
Horn),  but  did  not  kill  any,  which  made  the  chief  say  that  some  one  had 
thrown  bad  medicine  on  our  guns  and  that  if  he  could  know  him  he  would 
surely  die. 

"The  country  is  very  hilly  about  the  river,  but  it  does  not  appear  to 
be  so  much  so  towards  the  north.  About  two  miles  above  the  encampment 


*  Probably   the   dogwood    (Cornus). 

f  Probably  refers  to  the  well-known  Chinook  winds. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  77 

a  range  of  high  hills  begins  on  the  west  side  of  the  river  and  continues 
north  for  about  twenty  miles,  when  it  appears  to  finish.  The  Tongu 
River  *  is  close  on  the  other  side  of  it.  There  is  a  parting  ridge  between 
the  two  rivers. 

"I  ascended  (sic)  some  very  high  hills  on  the  side  of  which  I  found 
plenty  of  shells  of  the  Cornu  anionys  species  t  by  some  called  snake  shell, 
likewise  a  kind  of  shining  stone  lying  bare  at  the  surface  of  the  ground 
having  to  all  appearance  been  left  there  by  the  rain  water  washing  away 
the  surrounding  earth.  They  are  of  different  size  and  form,  of  a  clear 
water  colour  and  reflect  with  as  much  force  as  a  looking  glass  of  its  size. 
It  is  certainly  those  stones  have  given  the  name  of  shining  to  that 
mountains.^  The  hills  are  high,  rugged  and  barren,  mostly  rocks  with 
beds  of  loose  red  gravel  on  their  tops  or  near  it  which  being  washed  down 
by  the  rain  water  give  the  hills  a  reddish  appearance.  On  many  hills 
a  heap  of  calomid  stone  (calumet  or  pipestone?)  among  which  some- 
times I  find  pumice  stone. 

"When  we  left  the  encampment  this  morning  we  were  stopped  by  a 
party  of  their  soldiers  who  would  not  allow  us  to  proceed,  as  they  intended 
to  have  a  general  hunt,  for  fear  that  we  should  rise  the  buffaloes,  but 
upon  promises  being  made  by  the  chief  whom  I  accompanied  that  he 
would  not  hunt  in  the  way  of  the  camp,  and  partly  on  my  account,  we 
were  suffered  to  go  on.  We  were,  however,  under  the  necessity  of  gliding 
away  unperceived  to  prevent  jealousy." 

Larocque  and  his  expedition  continued  up  the  Tongue  River,  and  on 
August  2nd,  the  leader  reports:  "Last  night  some  children  playing  at 
some  distance  from  the  Camp  on  the  river  were  fired  at.  The  Camp 
was  alarmed  (sic)  and  watchers  were  set  for  the  night,  but  nothing 
appeared.  *  *  *  The  hills  of  the  river  are  at  a  less  distance  from 
one  another  than  they  were  here  before.  The  bottoms  or  points  of  the 
river  are  not  so  large  nor  so  well  wooded  and  the  grass  entirely  eaten  up 
by  the  Buffaloes  and  Elk. 

"Saturday  3rd  (August) — We  sat  out  at  sun  rise  and  encamped  at 
one  in  the  afternoon,  having  pursued  a  South  Course  with  fare  (fair) 
weather  and  a  south  east  wind.  We  followed  the  River  (Tongue)  as 
usually;  its  bends  are  very  short  not  exceeding  two  miles  and  many  not 
one.  The  face  of  the  country  indicates  our  approach  to  the  large  Moun- 
tains and  to  the  heads  of  the  River.  A  few  Jumping  (deer)  or  Chev- 
reuils  were  killed  today.  It  has  been  very  Cold  these  few  nights. 

SAW  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAINS 

"Sunday  4th.— We  did  not  rise  the  Camp  till  late  in  the  evening. 
In  the  morning  we  ascended  (sic)  the  hills  of  the  River  and  saw  the 


stone. 


*  The  Tongue  River.    Indian  name,  Lazeka. 

t  Ammonite;  a  fossil  shell  related  to  the  nautilus.    Popularly  known  as  snake 

>n±Says  the  editor  of  the  Journal:  "Larocque's  statement  is  scarcely  probable 
It  seems  more  reasonable  to  suppose  that  the  name— which  must  have  first  reached 
European  ears  through  Indian  report— had  its  origin  in  the  brilliant  snow-capped 
peaks  of  the  Rockies.  See  Thwaites'  'Rocky  Mountain  Explorations,  Chapter  II. 


78  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Rocky  Mountains  not  at  a  very  great  distance  with  Spy  Glass,  its  cliffs 
and  hollows  could  be  easily  observed  with  the  woods  interspersed  among 
the  Rocks." 

L.  J.  Burpee,  editor  of  the  "Journal  of  Larocque,"  published  (in 
1910)  "by  authority  of  the  minister  of  agriculture  and  under  the  direction 
of  the  archivist"  of  the  Canadian  Government,  has  this  commenting  foot- 
note :  "Lewis  and  Clark  anticipated  Larocque  by  a  few  weeks  in  their 
first  view  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  but  neither  could  claim  the  honor  of 
discovery,  La  Verendrye  having  achieved  that  distinction  some  sixty-two 
years  before.  Larocque  had,  as  a  matter  of  fact,  only  reached  the  Big 
Horn,  an  offshoot  of  the  main  range." 

WITH  THE  CROWS  IN  THE  BIG  HORN  COUNTRY 

The  generally  southwesternly  course  of  the  expedition  brought  it  to 
the  Montana  streams  of  the  Big  Horn,  the  Indians  killing  many  buffalo, 
and  quite  a  number  of  beaver,  although  in  the  supplies  of  the  latter 
Larocque  was  apparently  disappointed.  Under  date  of  August  nth, 
while  encamped  at  the  foot  of  the  Mountains,  the  Journal  notes :  "They 
(the  Indians)  are  undetermined  in  what  course  to  proceed  from  this 
place.  They  have  sent  a  party  of  young  men  along  the  Mountains 
Westerly  and  are  to  wait  here  until  they  return.  They  often  enquire  with 
anxious  expectation  of  our  departure,  when  I  intend  to  leave  them,  and 
today  they  were  more  troublesome  than  usual.  What  I  have  seen  of  their 
lands  hitherto  has  not  given  me  the  satisfaction  I  look  for  (in)  Beavers. 
I  told  them  that  I  would  remain  with  them  20  or  30  days  more.  That 
I  wished  very  much  to  see  the  River  aux  Roches  Jaunes*  and  the  place 
they  usually  inhabit,  otherwise  that  I  would  be  unable  to  return  and 
bring  them  their  wants.  They  saw  it  was  true,  but  to  remove  the  ob- 
jection of  my  not  knowing  their  lands  a  few  of  them  assembled  and 
draughted  on  a  dressed  skin  I  believe  a  very  good  map  of  their  Country 
and  they  showed  me  the  place  where  at  different  season  they  were  to  be 
found.  The  only  reason  I  think  they  have  in  wishing  my  departure,  is 
their  haste  to  get  the  goods  I  still  have." 

On  the  I2th  of  August,  after  a  conference  among  the  Indian  leaders 
and  guides  with  the  Larocque  party,  it  was  decided  to  proceed  west  along 
the  Tongue  River  and  thence  to  the  region  of  the  Rosebud  Mountains, 
which  separate  the  streams  of  that  river  from  the  Little  Horn.  On  the 
way,  Larocque  traded  with  the  Indians,  purchasing  a  horse,  beavers,  etc., 
saddle  and  bridle,  for  English  flannels,  powder,  balls,  etc.  His  Journal 
makes  note  that:  "The  Indians  Killed  Buffaloes  and  a  few  Bears.  The 
latter  they  hunt  for  pleasure  only,  as  they  do  not  eat  the  flesh  but  in  case 
of  absolute  necessity.  Perhaps  the  whole  nation  is  employed  about  a 
bear,  whom  they  have  caused  to  take  refuge  in  a  thicket.  There  they 
plague  him  a  long  while  and  then  Kill  him ;  he  is  seldom  stripped  of  his 
skin.  *  *  *  The  Indians  having  hunted  yesterday  (August  i6th), 


*  Yellowstone  River.    Riviere  aux  Roches  Jaunes  was  the  original  French  name, 
probably  derived  from  some  native  equivalent. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  79 

we  did  not  rise  the  Camp  but  remained  here  all  day.  There  were  many 
bears  hereabout,  who  are  attracted  by  the  quantity  of  Choak  Cherries  and 
other  fruit  there  is  here.  The  Woods  along  the  Rivers  are  as  thickly 
covered  with  Bears  Dung  as  a  Barn  floor  of  that  of  the  cattle.  Large 
Cherry  trees  are  broken  down  by  them  in  Great  number.  The  Indians 
kill  one  or  two  almost  every  day.  The  Tongue  River  here  is  small,  being 
only  about  20  feet  broad  with  two  feet  water  in  the  deepest  part  of 
the  rapids.  It  receives  many  additional  small  streams  in  its  way  to  the 
River  Roches  Jaunes.  *  *  * 

"Sunday  i8th  (August).  At  7  o'clock  we  left  our  encampment  and 
proceeded  Northward ;  at  noon  we  stopped  on  a  branch  of  the  small  Horn 
River  and  the  greatest  part  of  the  Indians  went  on  to  the  small  Horn 
River  to  hunt.  At  half  past  two  in  the  afternoon  we  sat  off  again  and 
crossing  the  River  we  encamped  on  its  Borders  where  we  found  the 
hunting  party  with  their  horses  loaded  with  fresh  meat.  We  travelled 
about  15  miles  this  day  and  are  farther  from  the  mountain  than  yes- 
terday though  still  Close  to  it. 

"Monday  ipth.  Since  we  are  close  to  the  mountain  many  women  have 
deserted  with  their  lovers  to  their  fine  tents  that  are  across  the  mountain. 
There  are  no  Cattle  in  the  mountain  nor  on  the  other  side,  so  that  they 
are  loth  to  go  that  way,  while  the  desertion  of  their  wives  strongly  call 
them  there.  Harangues  were  twice  made  to  rise  the  Camp,  and  counter 
orders  were  given  before  the  tents  were  thrown  down.  The  reason  of 
this  is  that  the  wife  of  the  Spotted  Crow  who  regulates  our  movements 
has  deserted.  He  is  for  going  one  way  while  the  Chief  of  the  other  bands 
are  for  following  our  old  course.  Horses  have  been  killed  and  women 
wounded  since  I  am  with  them  on  the  score  of  jealousy.  Today  a  Snake 
Indian  shot  his  wife  dead  but  it  seems  not  without  reason,  for  it  is  said 
it  was  the  third  time  he  found  her  and  the  Gallant  together.  The  Small 
Horn  River  runs  east  from  the  Mountain  to  this  place.  Here  it  makes  a 
bend  N.  by  East  and  passing  round  of  the  wolf  teeth  it  falls  into  the 
large  Horn  river.  The  bed  of  the  River  here  is  Rocks,  a  continual  rapid, 
the  water  clear  and  cold  as  ice,  the  ground  barren  on  the  banks  of  the 
river  thinly  wooded  with  some  kind  of  wood  as  heretofore." 

The  record  indicates  that  on  August  22nd,  Larocque  was  called  to 
a  council  of  the  Indians,  at  which  Spotted  Crow  resigned  his  "employ- 
ment of  regulating  the  marches,"  and  that  "another  old  man  took  the 
office  upon  himself,"  announcing  that  "he  intended  to  pursue  their  old 
course  to  the  River  aux  Roches  Jaune."  The  march  was  then  resumed 
northerly  toward  the  Big  Horn  River  and,  eventually  the  Yellowstone. 

HORRORS  OF  INDIAN  WARFARE 

At  this  point  in  the  narrative,  Larocque's  "Journal"  depicts  an  in- 
cident illustrative  of  the  horrors  of  Indian  warfare.  "This  morning" 
(August  24th),  it  says,  "we  were  allarmed  (sic)  by  the  report  that  three 
Indians  had  been  seen  on  the  first  hill  of  the  mountain  and  that  three 
Buffaloes  were  in  motion  and  that  two  shots  had  been  heard  towards 


80  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  large  Horn  River.  Thirty  men  saddled  their  horses  and  immediately 
went  off  to  see  what  was  the  matter  while  all  the  other  Kept  in  readiness 
to  follow  if  necessary.  In  a  few  hours  some  came  back  and  told  us  that 
they  had  seen  35  on  foot  walking  on  the  banks  of  one  of  the  branches 
of  the  Large  Horn  River.  In  less  time  than  the  Courier  Could  well  tell 
his  news  no  one  remained  in  the  Camp,  but  a  few  old  men  and  women,  all 
the  rest  scampered  off  in  pursuit.  I  went  along  with  them.  We  did  not 
all  Set  off  together  nor  could  we  all  Keep  together  as  some  horses  were 
slower  than  others,  but  the  foremost  stopped  galloping  on  a  hill  and  con- 
tinued on  with  a  small  trot  as  people  came  up.  They  did  the  dance  (war 
dance)  when  the  Chief  arrived.  He  and  his  band,  or  part  of  it,  galloped 
twice  before  the  main  body  of  the  people  who  still  continued  their  trot 
intersecting  the  line  of  their  course  while  one  of  his  friends,  I  suppose 
his  aide-de-camp,  harangued.  They  were  all  dressed  in  their  best  Cloths. 
Many  of  them  were  followed  by  their  wives  who  carried  their  arms,  and 
who  were  to  deliver  them  at  the  time  of  Battle.  There  were  likewise 
many  children,  but  who  could  Keep  their  saddles.  Ahead  of  us  were 
some  young  men  on  different  hills  making  signs  with  their  robes  which 
way  we  were  to  go.  As  soon  as  all  the  chiefs  were  come  up  and  had 
made  their  harangue  everyone  set  off  the  way  he  liked  best  and  pursued 
according  to  his  best  judgment.  The  Country  is  very  hilly  and  full  of 
large  Creeks  whose  banks  are  Rocks,  so  that  the  pursued  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  being  able  to  get  into  places  where  it  was  impossible  to  go 
with  horses  &  hide  themselves. 

"All  escaped  but  two  of  the  foremost  who  being  scouts  of  the  party 
had  advanced  nearer  to  us  than  the  others  and  had  -not  discovered  us. 
They  were  surrounded  after  a  long  race  but  Killed  and  scalped  in  a 
twinkling.  When  I  arrived  at  the  dead  bodies  they  had  taken  but  his 
scalp  and  the  fingers  of  his  right  hand  with  which  the  outor  was  off.  They 
borrowed  my  hanger  with  which  they  cut  off  his  left  hand  and  returned  it 
(the  knife)  to  me  bloody  as  a  mark  of  honour.  Men,  women  and  children 
were  thronging  to  see  the  dead  Bodies  and  taste  the  Blood.  Everyone 
was  desirous  of  stabbing  the  bodies  to  show  what  he  would  have  done 
had  he  met  them  alive,  and  insulted  and  frotted  at  them  in  the  worst 
language  they  could  give.  In  a  short  time  the  remains  of  a  human  body 
was  hardly  distinguishable.  Every  young  man  had  a  piece  of  flesh  tied  to 
his  gun  or  lance  with  which  he  rode  off  to  the  Camp  singing  and  ex- 
ultingly  showing  it  to  every  young  woman  in  his  way.  Some  women 
had  whole  limbs  dangling  from  their  saddles.  The  sight  made  me  shudder 
with  horror  at  such  Cruelties  and  I  returned  home  in  quite  different  frame 
from  that  in  which  I  left  it. 

"Sunday  25th.  The  Scalp  dance  was  danced  all  night  and  the  scalps 
carried  in  procession  through  the  day." 

En  route,  the  camp  was  in  constant  expectation  of  attack  from  enemy 
Indians,  the  young  children  being  often  tied  to  the  saddles  and  the  horses 
loaded  with  valuables  during  the  night  and  early  morning.  "The  Indians 
hunted  and  saw  Strange  Indians,"  continued  Larocque.  "There  was  a 
continual  harangue  by  different  Chiefs  the  whole  night  which  with  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  81 

singing  and  dancing  of  the  scalp  prevented  any  Sleep  being  had.  We 
pitched  the  tents  on  a  small  creek  running  into  the  large  Horn  River 
distant  about  20  miles  from  our  last  encampment." 

Farther  along,  a  few  miles,  one  of  the  famous  canons  of  the  Big  Horn 
River  was  described,  and  the  additional  information  given:  "There  is  a 
fall  in  this  River  30  or  40  miles  above  this  where  presides  a  Manitoin  or 
Devil.*  These  Indians  say  it  is  a  Man  Wolf  who  lives  in  the  fall  and 
rises  out  of  it  to  devour  any  person  or  beast  that  go  too  near.  They  say  it 
is  impossible  to  Kill  him  for  he  is  ball  proof.  *  *  *  The  Mountain 
is  here  a  solid  Rock  in  most  places  bare  and  naked  ,in  other  places 
Cloathed  with  a  few  Red  Pine.  The  sides  of  some  Coule  are  as  smooth 
and  perpendicular  as  any  wall  and  of  an  amazing  height;  and  in  some 
places  there  are  holes  in  those  perpendicular  Rocks  resembling  much  those 
niches  in  which  statues  are  placed.  Others  like  church  doors  &  vaults, 
the  tout  ensemble  is  grand  and  striking.  Beautiful  prospects  are  to  be 
had  from  some  parts  of  those  Rocks,  but  the  higher  places  are  inex- 
cessible.  The  Large  Horn  River  is  seen  winding  through  a  level  plain  of 
about  3  miles  breadth  for  a  great  distance  almost  to  its  conflux  with  the 
River  aux  Roches  Jaunes." 

This  stage  of  the  journey  brings  the  time  to  September  ist,  and  the 
expedition  was  ascending  the  Big  Horn  Valley  toward  the  Yellowstone. 
Traveling  in  a  generally  northwesternly  direction,  it  swerved  from  the 
Big  Horn  Valley,  in  what  would  now  be  the  northern  part  of  the  Crow 
Indian  Reservation,  and  at  two  o'clock,  in  the  afternoon  of  September 
loth,  arrived  at  the  Yellowstone,  below  what  is  known  as  Pryor's 
Fork,  Yellowstone  County,  a  few  miles  northeast  of  Billings.  There  the 
expedition  camped  on  a  large  island,  and  three  days  afterward  crossed 
to  the  west  side  of  the  river  and  about  nine  miles  farther  up  stream 
encamped  at  a  point  where  the  Indians  "usually  make  their  fall  medicine." 

When  the  expedition  arrived  at  the  Yellowstone,  a  delegation  of  Big 
Bellies  arrived  to  see  if  they  could  trade  horses.  They  were  well  re- 
ceived by  the  other  Indians  and  presents  of  different  articles  were  made 
to  them.  They  told  Larocque  that  they  had  traded  during  the  previous 
winter  with  Mr.  McDonald  (John),  whom  they  called  Crooked  Arm, 
because  of  his  deformed  arm.  When  McDonald  was  eighty-five  years 
of  age,  he  wrote  a  series  of  interesting  Autobiographical  Notes  (1791- 
1816).  Although  graphically  written,  they  are  not  always  to  be  relied 
upon. 

DEPARTURE  FROM  THE  CROW  COUNTRY 

The  arrangements  made  with  his  Indian  comrades  and  co-traders  and 
his  final  departure  from  the  Crow  country,  on  Saturday,  September  14, 
1805,  are  thus  described  in  the  "Journal  of  Larocque,"  the  original 
spelling,  capitalization,  etc.,  being  generally  retained :  "Having  now  full 

*  Foot  Note  by  the  editor  of  the  Journal :  "Manitou,  or  more  properly, 
Windego.  Scores  of  waterfalls  have  been  the  reputed  home  of  this  picturesque 
but  rather  bloodthirsty  spirit.  In  one  form  or  another,  and  under  varying  names, 
the  Windego  ranged  almost  from  the  Atlantic  to  the  Pacific." 


82  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

filled  the  instructions  I  received  from  Mr.  Chaboillez,  which  were  to 
examine  the  lands  of  the  Crow  Indians  and  see  if  there  is  Beaver  as  was 
reported,  and  I  to  invite  them  to  hunt  it,  I  now  prepared  to  depart.  I 
assembled  the  Chiefs  in  Council,  and  after  having  smoked  a  f»w  pipes, 
I  informed  them  that  I  was  setting  off,  that  I  was  well  pleased  with  them 
and  their  behavior  toward  me,  and  that  I  would  return  to  them  next 
fall.  I  desired  them  to  kill  Beavers  and  Bears  all  winter,  for  that  I 
would  come  and  trade  with  them  and  bring  them  their  wants.  I  added 
many  reasons  to  show  them  that  it  was  their  interest  to  hunt  Beavers, 
and  then  proceeded  to  settle  the  manners  of  Knowing  one  another  next 
fall,  and  how  I  am  to  find  them  which  is  as  follows:  Upon  my  arrival 
at  the  Island  if  I  do  not  find  them  I  am  to  go  to  the  Mountain  called 
Amanchabe  Chije  &  then  light  4  fires  on  4  successive  days,  and  they  will 
Come  to  us  (for  it  is  very  high  and  the  fire  can  be  seen  at  a  great  dis- 
tance) in  number  4  &  not  more.  If  more  than  four  come  to  us  we  are 
to  act  upon  the  offensive,  for  it  will  be  other  Indians.  If  we  light  less 
than  3  fires,  they  will  not  come  to  us,  but  think  it  is  enemies.  They  told 
me  that  in  winter  they  were  always  to  be  found  at  a  Park  by  the  foot 
of  the  Mountain  a  few  mile's  from  this  or  there  abouts.  In  the  spring 
and  fall,  they  are  upon  this  River  and  in  summer  upon  the  Tongue  and 
Horses  River.*" 

"I  have  122  Beavers  4  Bears  and  two  otters  which  I  traded,  not  so 
much  for  their  value  (for  they  are  all  summer  skins)  as  to  show  them 
that  I  set  some  value  on  the  Beavers  and  our  property.  The  presents 
I  made  them  I  thought  were  sufficient  to  gain  their  good  will,  in  which 
I  think  I  succeeded. 

"I  never  gave  them  anything  without  finding  means  to  let  them  know 
it  was  not  for  nothing.  Had  more  been  given,  they  would  have  thought 
that  goods  were  so  common  among  us  than  to  set  no  value  upon  them, 
for  Indians  that  have  seen  few  white  men  will  be  more  thankful  for  a 
few  articles  given  them  than  for  a  great  many,  as  they  think  that  little 
or  no  value  is  attached  to  what  is  so  liberally  given.  It  was  therefore  I 
purchased  their  Bears  and  likewise  as  a  proof  that  there  is  Beaver  in 
those  parts.  Besides  it  saved  to  distribute  the  goods  I  had  into  the  most 
deserving  hands,  that  is  the  less  lazy. 

"We  departed  about  noon.  2  Chiefs  accompanied  us  about  8  miles. 
We  stopped  and  smoked  a  parting  pipe.  They  embrased  (sic)  us.  We 
shook  hands  and  parted.  They  followed  us  about  one  mile,  at  a  distance 
gradually  lessening  their  steps  till  we  were  almost  out  of  sight  and  Crying 
or  pretending  to  Cry  they  then  turned  their  backs  and  went  home.  At 
parting  they  promised  that  none  of  their  young  men  would  follow  us. 
They  took  heaven  and  earth  to  witness  to  attest  their  sincerity  in  what 
they  told  us,  and  they  had  opened  their  ears  to  my  words  and  would  do 
as  I  desired  them.  They  made  me  swear  by  the  same  that  I  would  re- 
turn; and  that  I  told  them  no  false  words  (and  I  certainly  had  no  in- 


*  Possibly,  Pumpkin  Creek,  the  chief  branch  of  Tongue  River. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  83 

tention  of  breaking  my  oath  nor  have  I  still.    If  I  do  not  keep  them  my 
word  it  certainly  is  not  my  fault.)" 

LAROCQUE  DESCRIBES  POMPEY'S  PILLAR 

On  the  next  day  (Sunday,  September  15*),  the  Larocque  party 
crossed  to  the  south  side  of  the  Yellowstone,  and  near  what  is  now 
Shannon's  Creek  mentions  a  "Whitish  perpendicular  Rock  on  which  is 
painted  with  Red  earth  a  battle  between  three  persons  on  horseback  and 
3  on  foot."  The  editor  of  Larocque's  Journal  believes  it  to  be  the  same 
remarkable  rock,  visited  by  Captain  Clark  in  July,  1806,  while  he  was 
descending  the  Yellowstone  on  his  return  from  the  Pacific  Coast.  Clark 
describes  it  as  "nearly  four  hundred  paces  in  circumference,  two  hundred 
feet  high,  and  accessible  only  from  the  northeast,  the  other  sides  being  a 
perpendicular  cliff  of  a  light-coloured  gritty  rock.  The  Indians  have 
carved  the  figures  of  animals  and  other  objects  on  the  sides  of  the  rock, 
and  on  the  top  are  raised  two  piles  of  stones."  He  named  this  remarkable 
rock  Pompey's  Pillar,  and  it  is  so  marked  on  his  map. 

Two  days  afterward,  the  Big  Horn  River  was  crossed.  The  ex- 
pedition passed  through  some  rough,  rocky  country,  as  it  had  no  guides  on 
the  return  trip.  At  times,  also,  the  weather  was  so  cold  that  ice  formed 
on  the  Yellowstone  and  other  streams.  The  Tongue  River  was  reached 
in  about  a  week  and  the  Powder  a  day  afterward,  about  midway  between 
the  forks  and  the  mouth.  By  the  first  week  in  October,  the  party  arrived 
at  the  Little  Missouri  in  southeastern  Montana,  and  took  substantially  the 
same  course  through  western  and  northwestern  Dakota  to  the  region  of 
the  Assiniboine  River,  as  it  had  taken  in  the  outward  trip.  The  last  week 
was  windy  and  cold.  As  stated,  River  la  Sourie  Fort,  on  the  south  side 
of  the  Assiniboine,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Sourie  River,  was  reached  Octo- 
ber 22,  1805,  and  thus  was  concluded  a  journey  which  made  known  to 
the  world  a  large  portion  of  southeastern  Montana  which  had  not  before 
been  explored  or  described. 

THE  CROW  INDIANS  OF  1805 

Larocque's  Journal  also  contains,  as  a  section  separate  from  the  con- 
tinuous narrative,  "A  Few  Observations  on  the  Rocky  Mountain  Indians 
with  Whom  I  Passed'  the  Summer,  1805,"  in  which  the  customs  of  the 
Crow  and  Flathead  tribes  are  so  particularly  described  as  to  constitute 
a  real  contribution  to  the  aboriginal  lore  of  that  day.  The  author  in- 
troduces his  dissertation  by  observing  that:  "This  nation  (the  Rocky 
Mountain  Indians)  known  among  the  Sioux  by  the  name  of  Crow  In- 
dians inhabit  the  eastern  part  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  at  the  head  of  the 
River  aux  Roches  Jaunes  (which  is  known  by  the  Kinistinaux  and 
Assiniboines  by  the  name  of  the  River  a  la  Biche,  from  the  great  number 
of  elks  with  which  all  the  country  along  it  abounds)  and  its  branches 
and  close  to  the  head  of  the  Missouri."  On  account  of  the  ravages  of 
small  pox  for  many  successive  years,  which  had  continued  up  to  about 


84  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

1802,  the  Crows  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  had  been  reduced  from  2,000 
lodges  or  tents,  to  300  tents,  comprising  some  2,400  persons.  In  1805 
they  were  "able  to  raise  600  warriors,  like  the  Sioux  and  Assiniboines. 
They  wander  about  in  leather  tents  and  remain  where  there  are  buffaloes 
and  elks.  After  having  remained  a  few  days  in  one  place  so  that  game  is 
not  so  plentiful,  as  it  was,  they  flit  to  another  place  where  there  are 
buffaloes  or  deers  and  so  on  all  the  year  around." 

Continuing  to'  adapt  this  account  from  Larocque,  it  was  stated  that 
many  of  the  Indians  who  did  not  expose  themselves  to  the  sun  were 
almost  as  fair  as  white  people.  One  of  their  marked  peculiarities  was  the 
early  age  at  which  many  of  them  became  gray.  They  were  so  well 
supplied  with  horses  that  they  were  able  to  transport  their  sick  and 
infirm,  and  the  result  was  a  noticeable  prevalence  of  cripples  and 
decrepid  old  men.  As  the  country  abounded  in  buffaloes  and  deer,  the 
Crows  found  little  difficulty  in  providing  for  a  plurality  of  wives  and 
large  families.  Unlike  the  Assiniboines,  the  Crows  were  sociable  and 
upstanding.  As  noted  in  the  Journal :  "When  a  Sauteux  or  Assiniboine 
enter  a  stranger's  tent,  they  (sic)  keep  down  their  head,  or  muffle  it  so 
in  their  robe  or  blanket  that  it  can  hardly  be  seen.  These  Indians  never 
do  it.  They  are  bold  and  keep  up  their  heads  in  any  place,  and  say  it  is 
a  sign  of  having  bad  designs  when  one  is  ashamed  to  show  his  face. 
*  *  *  It  is  not  out  of  bashfulness  that  the  Sautaux  hide  their  face 
when  entering  a  strange  tent,  but  they  esteem  it  polite.  When  they  begin 
to  smoke,  or  after  they  have  smoked  a  few  pipes,  they  uncover  their 
face,  but  the  custume  (sic)  is  in  general  with  the  young  men  than  those 
of  a  certain  age." 

Like  all  other  Indian  nations,  the  women  did  most  of  the  work.  The 
men  would  kill  the  buffaloes  and  their  wives  would  follow  and  skin 
the  animals  and  dress  them,  while  the  husbands  sat  calmly  looking  on. 
The  women  even  saddled  the  horses,  and  their  lords,  when  they  retired, 
did  not  take  the  trouble  to  remove  shoes  or  leggings.  "In  flitting,"  adds 
Larocque,  "the  women  ride  and  have  no  loads  to  carry  on  their  backs, 
as  is  common  among  other  nations,  though  it  is  certain  had  they  no 
horses  they  would  be  in  the  same  predicament  as  their  less  fortunate 
neighbors,  for  though  the  men  are  fond  of  their  wives  and  use  them 
well,  yet  it  is  not  to  be  supposed  that  they  Ovould  take  a  greater  share  of 
work  than  other  Indians.  The  women  are  indebted  solely  to  their  having 
horses  for  the  ease  they  enjoy  more  than  their  neighbours.  They  are 
very  fond  of  their  children,  but  seldom  or  never  reprimand  them."  In 
short,  the  Crows  were  considered  among  the  Indian  aristocrats.  They 
squandered  their  food,  it  was  so  plentiful,  killing  an  "amazing"  number 
of  buffaloes  and  deer,  and  taking  with  them  only  the  choicest  cuts.  They 
seldom  ate  bear  or  beaver  flesh;  and  fish,  never.  An  old  chief  was 
always  chosen  to  conduct  their  hunts,  and  regulate  their  encampments 
and  feasts.  The  Conductor,  as  he  was  called,  must  consult  the  other 
chiefs  before  doing  anything  of  consequence. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  85 

BREAKING  CAMP 

Correcting  and  adapting  the  spelling  and  punctuation  to  modern  re- 
quirements, Larocque's  description  of  "Breaking  Camp"  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  Conductor  reads :  "His  tent  is  thrown  down  the  first  when 
they  rise  the  camp.  He  goes  foremost  all  the  way  (except  a  few  young 
men  who  go  far  before  as  scouts)  and  pitches  his  tent  the  first.  All  the 
others  encamp  about  him.  Previous  to  their  flitting,  he  rides  about  the 
camp  and  tells  them  to  throw  down  their  tents ;  that  they  are  going  to 
such  a  place  and  for  such  and  such  reason.  Some  of  the  soldiers  go 
far  ahead  and  others  remain  far  behind  to  watch  and  see  if  there  be  no 
enemies.  When  buffaloes  are  seen  on  the  road  and  they  wish  to  hunt 
they  cause  the  people  to  stop  and  the  old  man  harangues  from  one  end 
to  the  other.  When  all  are  ready  the  huntsmen  set  off  and  the  body  of 
the  people  follow  slowly." 

It  would  seem  that  the  young  male  before  marriage  seldom  hunted, 
but  spent  most  of  his  time  in  preening  himself  like  a  peacock,  and  was 
far  more  vain  than  the  young  female.  "A  young  man,"  says  the  narrative, 
"rises  late  in  the  morning,  about  midday  he  begins  to  dress  and  has  not 
finished  until  late  in  the  evening.  He  then  mounts  his  horse,  on  which 
he  has  spread  red  and  blue  blankets,  and,  in  company  with  his  associates 
he  rides  about  the  camp,  with  the  wing  of  a  bustard  or  hawk  before  his 
face,  in  lieu  of  a  fan,  to  keep  him  from  the  burning  sun.  At  night,  he 
dismounts,  courts  the  women,  or  goes  to  the  place  of  rendezvous,  and 
at  daylight  comes  in  to  sleep." 

The  ceremonials  and  regulations  attending  the  smoking  of  a  pipe  of 
tobacco,  would  hardly  be  tolerated  by  the  impatient  white  man.  "A  pipe 
is  never  smoked,"  remarks  Larocque,  "without  the  first  whiffs  being 
offered  to  the  rising  midday  and  setting  sun,  to  the  earth,  to  the  heavens, 
and  to  these  the  stem  is  pointed  to  the  respective  place  they  occupy,  and 
a  whiff  is  blown  to  the  same  quarter.  Then  a  few  whiffs  are  blown  to 
diverse  spirits  which  the  smoker  names  and  to  whom  he  mutters  a  few 
words ;  and  then  the  pipe  goes  round,  each  person  smoking  four  whiffs 
and  no  more.  The  pipe  must  always  go  to  your  left  hand  man,  as  that 
is  the  course  that  the  sun  takes.  *  *  * 

SMOKING  REGULATIONS 

"They  are  not  superstitious  with  regard  to  the  pipe,  which  is  the 
object  of  their  most  sacred  regard.  Numberless  are  the  ceremonies  at- 
tended on  smoking  a  pipe  of  tobacco.  The  regulations  common  to  all 
are  these :  The  pipe  and  stem  must  be  clean ;  a  coal  must  be  drawn  out 
of  the  fire  to  light  the  pipe  with ;  care  must  be  taken  not  to  light  the  pipe 
in  the  flames  or  ashes,  and  none  must  empty  the  ashes  out  of  the  pipe 
but  he  that  filled  or  lighted  it.  There  being  but  little  fire,  I  once  lighted 
the  pipe  in  the  ashes.  My  landlord  told  me  a  few  days  after  that  his 
eyes  were  sore,  and  my  lighting  the  pipe  in  the  ashes  was  the  occasion 
thereof. 


86  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

"Some  will  not  smoke  if  the  pipe  has  touched  grass ;  another  if  there 
are  women  in  the  tent;  if  there  are  guns;  if  shoes  are  seen  when  smoking; 
if  a  part  ot  wearing  apparel  be  thrown  over  the  pipe ;  if  some  one  biows 
in  the  pipe  stem  to  clean  it.  Some  will  not  allow  the  stem  before  the  door. 
Another  must  empty  the  ashes  on  cowdung  brought  in  on  purpose.  An- 
other, again,  will  not  smoke  unless  every  smoker  be  naked,  and  none  but 
smokers  are  allowed  to  remain  in  the  tent.  To  one  the  pipe  must  be 
given  stem  foremost,  to  another  the  reverse.  Another  will  not  take  it 
unless  you  push  it  as  hard  as  you  can;  to  some  it  must  be  given  quite 
slowly.  In  short,  every  man  has  his  particular  way  of  smoking,  from 
which  it  seems  he  has  vowed  never  to  swerve.  *  *  *  Some  who  are 
ceremonious  in  their  smoking  do  not  smoke  but  with  their  intimates  and 
those  that  are  well  acquainted  with  their  mummery;  those  that  are  less 
so  take  care  to  sit  next  to  a  man  that  knows  in  what  manner  the  pipe 
is  to  be  given  to  them.  The  women  never  smoke.  Before  the  smoking 
begins,  he  that  has  some  peculiarity  in  his  way  of  smoking  tells  in  what 
manner  it  is,  and  everyone  attends  to." 

A  NATION  OF  HORSEMEN 

Larocque  again  refers  to  the  Crows  as  an  Indian  nation  of  horses  and 
horsemen.  They  obtained  most  of  their  horses  from  the  Flatheads  and 
traded  them,  at  double  the  purchase  price,  to  the  Big  Bellies  and  the 
Mandans.  "He  is  reckoned  a  poor  man  that  has  not  ten  horses  in  the 
spring  before  the  trade  at  the  Missouri  takes  place,  and  many  have  thirty 
or  forty.  Everybody  rides— men,  women  and  children.  The  females 
ride  astride  as  the  men  do.  A  child  that  is  too  young  to  keep  his  saddle 
is  tied  to  it,  and  a  small  whip  is  tied  to  his  wrist.  He  whips  away,  and 
gallops  or  trots  the  whole  day,  if  occasion  requires.  Their  saddles  are 
so  made  as  to  prevent  falling  either  backwards  or  forward,  the  hind  part 
reaching  as  high  as  between  the  shoulders  and  the  fore  part  of  the  breast. 
The  women  saddles  are  especially  so.  Those  of  the  men  are  not  quite 
so  high,  and  many  use  saddles  such  as  the  Canadians  make  in  the  N.  W. 
Country." 

Being  thus  trained  from  infancy,  the  Crows  were  naturally  most 
expert  horsemen.  As  warriors  on  horseback  they  were  unexcelled.  De- 
pending upon  them  as  they  do,  these  Indians  were  very  fond  and  careful 
of  their  horses.  They  were  not  warlike,  but  courageous  and  fierce  when 
attacked.  Their  arms  were  bows  and  arrows,  lances  and  guns.  When 
they  went  to  war  they  took  their  medicine  bags,  which  they  opened 
before  beginning  the  attack.  Shortly  afterward,  the  warriors  smoked 
and  then  went  into  action.  They  were  pronounced  excellent  marksmen 
with  the  bow  and  arrow,  and,  although  "poor  shots"  with  the  gun,  on 
account  of  lack  of  ammunition,  they  were  becoming  expert  with  daily 
practice  of  late  years.  They  were  getting  their  guns  and  ammunition  from 
the  Mandans  and  the  Big  Bellies,  in  exchange  for  horses,  robes,  leggins 
and  shirts.  They  likewise  purchased  corn,  pumpkins  and  tobacco  from 
the  Big  Bellies,  as  they  did  not  cultivate  the  ground. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  87 

DRESSY  AND  CLEANLY 

After  describing  in  detail  the  elaborate  dress  of  the  men  and  the 
more  simple  costume  of  the  women,  made  of  deer,  elk,  buffalo,  wolf  and 
skunk  skins,  ornamented  with  porcupine  quills,  bear's  claws,  beads, 
fringes,  etc.,  variously  colored,  the  author  adds  that  "the  boys  go  naked 
till  they  are  eight  or  ten  years  old,  not  for  want  of  clothes,  but  to  be 
more  at  their  ease;  but  the  girls  never.  Both  sexes  are  very  cleanly, 
washing  and  bathing  every  morning  in  the  river,  and  in  winter  in  the 
snow.  They  keep  their  clothes  clean  and  as  white  as  snow,  with  a  kind 
of  white  earth  resembling  chalk,  with  which  they  daily  clean  their  clothes. 
*  *  *  A  woman  never  sets  the  kettle  on  the  fire  in  the  morning 
without  first  washing  her  hands,  and  the  men  do  not  eat  without  the 
same  precaution.  *  *  * 

"They  make  very  expressive  signs  with  their  hands  to  a  person  that 
does  not  understand  their  language.  They  often  told  me  long  stories 
without  hardly  opening  their  lips  and  I  understood  very  well.  They 
represent  a  Sioux  by  passing  the  edge  of  their  hand  across  their  neck, 
a  Panis  by  showing  large  ears,  a  Flathead  by  pressing  with  both  hands  on 
each  side  the  head." 

THE  FLATHEADS 

/ 

The  Journal  of  Larocque  has  this  to  say  (the  text  edited  somewhat) 
regarding  the  Flathead  Indians,  which  then  held  the  western  slopes  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains:  "The  Flatheads  inhabit  the  western  side  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  at  the  heads  of  the  rivers  that  have  a  southwesterly 
course  and  flow  into  the  western  ocean.  The  ridge  of  mountains  that 
parts  those  waters  from  the  Missouri  can  be  crossed  in  two  days  and  no 
more  mountains  are  found  to  the  ocean.  They  come  every  fall  to  the 
fort  of  the  Missouri  or  thereabout  to  kill  buffaloes,  of  which  there  are 
none  across  that  range  of  mountains,  dress  robes  and  dry  meat  with  which 
they  returned  as  soon  as  the  winter  set  in.  They  have  deers  of  various 
kinds  on  their  lands  and  beaver  with  which  they  make  themselves  robes, 
but  they  prefer  buffaloes.  They  have  a  great  many  horses  which  they 
sell  for  a  trifle  and  give  many  for  nothing." 


CHAPTER  IV 
MONTANA'S  NATURAL  FEATURES 

The  explorations  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition  discovered  the 
bold  natural  features  of  the  "Land  of  the  Shining  Mountains,"  which 
was  not  to  be  christened  by  the  sonorous  and  characteristic  name  of  the 
present  until  more  than  half  a  century  had  elapsed  since  those  able  and 
intrepid  young  men  made  history  and  geography  for  Jefferson  and  the 
United  States  of  America.  They  not  only  traced  the  main  courses  of  the 
mighty  Missouri  to  their  sources,  but  found  that  its  great  northern  trib- 
utary headed  in  the  mountain  ranges  of  the  Hudson  Bay  divide.  After 
careful  investigation  and  the  wise  weighing  of  natural  data — such  as  the 
color,  the  volume  and  the  current  of  the  Milk  River  and  its  tributaries — 
they  decided,  in  opposition  to  the  opinion  of  the  old  and  experienced 
boatmen  of  their  party,  that  they  must  follow  the  southern  branches  of 
the  main  stream  to  the  clear  waters  rushing  from  the  purifying  rocks 
and  valleys  of  the  mountains  before  they  could  hope  to  reach  a  position 
on  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  continental  divide  which  should  be  sub- 
stantially opposite  the  sources  of  any  streams  which  would  lead  to  a 
western  waterway  to  the  Pacific.  The  deduction  and  decision  of  Lewis 
and  Clark  saved  the  expedition  from  defeat,  if  not  disaster,  the  Missouri 
was  traced  to  its  true  southern  source,  and  the  real  fountain  of  its  might, 
the  Jefferson  fork  of  the  river,  and  a  few  miles  over  an  easy  pass  in  the 
continental  divide  were  found  the  equally  limpid  and  lively  waters  of  the 
great  southern  branch  of  the  Columbia. 

THE  GREAT  MISSOURI  RIVER  SYSTEM 

The  explorers  of  1805  had  decided  from  all  their  available  data  that 
the  Jefferson  was  the  parent  stream,  and  their 'conclusion  was  verified 
scientifically  and  accurately  nearly  seventy  years  afterward.  In  1872, 
Thomas  P.  Roberts,  under  the  direction  of  the  government,  examined  the 
upper  Missouri  from  the  Three  Forks  to  Fort  Benton  for  the  purpose 
of  ascertaining  its  capacity  for  navigation  by  light-draught  steamers. 
The  part  of  his  report  which  is  pertinent  is  this :  "The  junction  of  the 
Gallatin,  Madison  and  Jefferson  rivers — which  streams  from  the  Missouri 
proper — is  effected  in  a  basin  or  valley  some  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  in 
diameter,  with  mountains  in  full  view  west,  south  and  east,  varying  in 
altitude  from  two  thousand  to  four  thousand  feet  above  the  sea.  Some 
presented  a  denuded  appearance,  while  others  were  well  timbered,  and 
though  it  was  late  in  July,  their  highest  summits  and  gorges  were  still 
streaked  with  silvery  lines  of  snow. 

88 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


89 


"It  is  difficult  to  determine  from  which  points  of  the  compass  the 
three  rivers  debouch,  though  from  the  top  of  the  bluffs  at  the  exit  pas- 
sage of  the  united  rivers,  which  almost  deserves  to  be  called  a  canyon, 
there  is  a  fine  view  of  their  meanderings.  The  courses  of  the  streams,' 
with  their  numerous  cut-offs  and  sloughs,  are  marked  by  graceful  belts 
and  lines  of  cotton  wood  and  black  alder,  by  islands  clothed  with  the 
richest  verdure  and  by  groves  and  jungles  of  the  wild  currant,  but  by 
far  the  greater  portion  of  this  immense  park  is  open  and  covered  with 
varieties  of  the  rich  bunch-grass,  for  which  Montana  is  celebrated.  The 
sheen  of  the  sparkling  waters  seen  through  openings  of  timber  among 
the  islands  and  channels,  with  the  soft  shadowy  forms  of  the  silvery 
rimmed  mountains  in  the  distance  surrounding  the  landscape,  formed  in 
the  long  twilight,  a  beautiful  and  enchanting  picture. 

"While  here  we  gauged  the  volume  of  the  rivers,  not  only  to  discover 
which  of  the  three  was  the  largest  or  parent  stream,  but  also  to  ascer- 
tain how  much  water  there  was  to  deal  with  at  that  season  of  the  year, 
for  the  purpose  of  navigation. 

"When  we  began  the  reconnoissance,  the  streams  were  about  four  feet 
below  the  high-water  mark,  and,  according  to  the  statement  of  the  old 
ferryman,  only  eight  inches  above  the  lowest  water-mark.  It  is  one  of 
the  most  striking  characteristics  of  the  Upper  Missouri,  and  the  same 
may  be  said  of  nearly  all  the  Montana  streams,  that  they  never  overflow 
their  banks  to  any  extent,  and  that  they  are  more  regular  and  unfailing 
in  their  discharge  than  streams  of  equal  annual  flowage  in  the  United 
States  east  of  the  Mississippi  River.  This  equable  flowage  is  due  almost 
entirely  to  the  regularity  of  the  melting  of  the  snow  in  the  highest  regions 
of  the  mountains,  from  which  source  their  principal  supply  is  drawn. 

"We  found  that  the  Jefferson  discharged  226,728  cubic  feet  per 
minute,  the  Madison,  160,277,  and  the  Gallatin,  125,480.  There  can, 
therefore,  be  but  little  doubt  that  the  Jefferson  is  the  father  of  the 
Missouri,  which  fact  makes  it,  by  fair  inheritance,  the  grandfather  of  the 
Mississippi,  a  distant  but  noble  relative.  Adding  these  figures  together, 
we  have  a  total  flowage  of  512,408  cubic  feet  per  minute  for  the  Upper 
Missouri  at  the  Three  Forks.  Reducing  their  quantity  to  tfye  lowest  stage 
known,  there  will  remain  over  300,000  cubic  feet  per  minute  in  the 
Missouri  at  this  point,  which  is  three  times  the  volume  of  the  Ohio  at 
Pittsburgh  when  at  its  lowest  stage. 

"The  length  of  this  wonderful  watercourse,  the  Missouri,  can  be 
best  appreciated  when  it  is  considered  that  we  were  here  camped  two 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  below  the  extreme  heads  of  the  Jefferson  and 
about  the  same  distance  above  Fort  Benton.  Fort  Benton  is  not  less 
than  2,900  miles  above  St.  Louis,  which  city  is  still  1,200  miles  above 
the  mouth  of  the  river.  The  entire  length  of  the  river  is  not  less  than 
4,600  miles,  some  geographies  to  the  contrary  notwithstanding,  they  var- 
iously estimating  its  length  to  be  from  4,000  to  4,300  miles. 

"Returning  to  the  Jefferson — a  large  island  at  its  mouth  divides  the 
stream  and  in  exploring  it  a  mile  above  our  camp  we  discovered  where 
its  waters  first  mingle  with  those  of  the  Madison.  I  note  this  particular 


90  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

junction  because  I  never  before  saw  streams  unite  in  the  same  manner. 
They  run  with  swift  current  five  or  six  feet  deep  and  some  two  hundred 
feet  wide  directly  toward  each  other,  and  thence,  at  a  right  angle,  their 
united  volume,  agitated  with  the  rude  contact,  rushes  northward.  The 
meeting  of  the  currents  created  great  swirls  in  the  water,  which  nearly 
swamped  our  boat  when  we  attempted  to  shoot  through.  A  basin  seems 
to  have  been  scoured  out  in  the  gravelly  bottom  by  the  action  of  the 
stream,  the  depth  of  which  we  were  unable  to  ascertain  with  either  pole 
or  line." 

The  Jefferson  River,  thus  admitted  to  be  the  father  of  the  Missouri, 
does  not  rise  in  the  exact  locality  described  by  Captain  Lewis  in  the 
journal  of  the  expedition,  but  farther  to  the  east  in  the  rivulets  which 
feed  Red  Rock  Lake,  near  the  extreme  southern  point  of  Montana  and 
not  far  west  of  the  National  Park.  Both  the  Gallatin  and  the  Madison 
have  their  fountain  heads  in  the  park,  outside  the  bounds  of  Montana, 
as  well  as  the  Yellowstone,  the  great  southern  tributary  of  the  Missouri. 
Yellowstone  Lake,  its  source,  is  believed  to  have  been  discovered  by 
John  Colter,  the  noted  adventurer  of  the  Lewis-Clark  expedition.  Cap- 
tain Clark  explored  the  Yellowstone  within  Montana  on  the  return  trip 
(1806),  while  Captain  Lewis  was  investigating  Maria's  River,  the  north- 
ern tributary  of  the  Missouri. 

Clark's  fork  of  the  Columbia  drains  most  of  the  western  or  Pacific 
watershed  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  western  and  northwestern  Montana. 
What  Captain  Lewis  named  Clark's  Fork  is  now  known  as  the  Bitter 
Root  River,  rises  in  the  triangle  formed  by  the  mountain  range  by  that 
name  and  the  Continental  Divide,  and  flows  along  the  eastern  bases  of 
the  Bitter  Root  Mountains.  It  empties  into  the  Hellgate  River,  in  the 
vicinity  of  Missoula,  and  the  two  streams  thus  united  take  the  name  of 
Missoula,  which,  in  turn,  flows  into  Lake  Pend  d'Oreille,  Idaho,  and 
emerges  as  Clark's  River,  or  the  Clark's  Fork  of  the  Columbia,  as  now 
recorded  on  the  maps.  From  Montana  it  passes  between  the  Bitter  Root 
and  the  Cabinet  mountains  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  state,  through 
the  northern  corner  of  Idaho  and  joins  the  Columbia  at  49°  north,  on 
the  boundary  Jbetween  the  state  of  Washington  and  British  Columbia. 
Before  leaving  Montana,  however,  it  receives  a  large  and  intricate  system 
of  waters  from  the  north.  The  backbone  of  this  combination  of  rivers 
and  lakes  is  the  Flathead  River,  the  north  fork  of  which  rises  just  across 
the  international  border  and  bounds  Glacier  National  Park  on  the  west. 
The  south  fork  heads  in  the  great  north-and-south  Continental  Divide 
in  Powell  and  Lewis  and  Clark  counties,  flows  northwest  between  that 
vast  range  and  the  Flathead  Mountains,  and  unites  with  the  'north  fork 
and  a  smaller  tributary  stream  near  Columbia  Falls,  Fhthead  County, 
and  thence  enters  Flathead  Lake.  The  river  emerges  from  the  south- 
western extremity  of  the  lake,  is  reinforced  by  the  Little  Bitter  Root, 
the  Jocko  and  other  streams  and  finally  reaches  Clark's  Fork  near  the 
western  boundary  line  of  the  state  in  the  Mineral  Range  of  mountains, 
an  outlying  flank  of  the  Bitter  Root  Range. 

The  more  northerly  branch  of  the  Columbia,  the  Kootenai,  takes  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  91 

small  loop  out  of  Northwestern  Montana,  rising  in  British  Columbia  and 
through  its  tributaries,  the  Stillwater  and  Yaak  rivers,  draining  a  small 
portion  of  that  part  of  the  state.  To  the  east  of  the  drainage  basin  of 
the  Clark's  Fork  and  the  Kootenai  is  the  St.  Mary's  River,  which  is  a 
tributary  of  the  Saskatchewan  and  empties  into  Hudson  Bay! 

It  is  evident  that  Western  Montana,  the  birthplace  of  the  vast  river 
systems  which  mold  the  valleys  and  basins  of  the  state,  holds  the  key 
to  the  topography  of  the  country  included  in  its  bounds.  That  region 
contains  the  fountain  heads  of  the  rushing  waters  and  their  commercial 
powers.  Mountains,  valleys  and  basins  comprise  the  grand  natural  fea- 
tures of  Montana. 

MONTANA  SYSTEMS 

As  to  its  mountains,  the  following  is  a  fair  summary,  mainly  drawn 
from  data  furnished  by  Robert  H.  Chapman,  the  geologist  and  topog- 
rapher: The  main  Rocky  mountain  mass  is  actually  made  up  of  two 
principal  ranges,  generally  parallel  with  axes  in  a  northwesterly  and 
southwesterly  direction,  the  easternmost  of  which  is  the  Lewis  range, 
which  extends  but  a  short  distance  across  the  Canadian  boundary.  The 
western  or  Livingston  range,  persists  much  farther  northward.  At  a 
point  about  eleven  miles  south  of  Canada  it  becomes  the  watershed  of  the 
Continental  divide,  which  has  previously  followed  the  ridge  of  the 
Livingston  range. 

The  range  is  rugged  in  contour  and  vast  in  extent,  with  many  spurs, 
buttresses  and  lesser  ranges.  Magnificent  pinnacles  and  peaks,  cloaked 
with  eternal  snow,  encrusted  with  glacial  ice,  mark  its- serrated  outline. 
Nevertheless  the  mountains  of  Montana,  though  equally  noble  in  form  are 
not  so  lofty  as  those  of  Colorado.  Immediately  east  of  the  Continental 
divide,  at  the  extreme  north,  is  the  Hudson  Bay  divide,  and  the  Big 
Belt  Mountains,  which  commence  in  the  center  of  the  state  and  run 
parallel  with  the  main  Rocky  mountain  range.  To  the  east  of  the  Big 
Belt  is  Bird  Tail  divide,  and  to  the  south  the  Tobacco  Root,  the  Ruby, 
the  Madison,  the  Gallatin  and  the  Bridger  ranges.  East  of  the  Big  Belt 
range  and  also  in  central  Montana,  are  the  Teton  ridge,  the  Little  Belt 
and  Belt  ranges,  and  to  the  south,  in  southern  Montana,  are  the  Cayuse 
Hills  and  the  Assaroka  range.  East  of  the  Little  Belt  range,  in  East- 
central  Montana,  are  the  Big  Snowy  Mountains,  and  just  northeast  of  the 
northern  extremity  of  the  range  lie  the  Highwood  Mountains.  Still 
farther  to  the  east,  in  North-eastern  Montana,  are  other  minor  ranges  or 
groups  of  high  hills  dignified  with  such  names  as  Bear  Paw,  Little  Rocky 
or  Little  Creek  mountains.  The  easternmost  hills  of  any  considerable 
magnitude  are  Piney  Buttes,  in  the  triangle  formed  by  the  Missouri  and 
its  tributary,  Big  Dry  River.  In  the  far  southeast,  the  Big  Horn  Moun- 
tains protrude  into  the  Crow  Indian  Reservation  from  Wyoming,  and 
the  smaller  independent  range  formed  by  the  Wolf  and  Rosebud  moun- 
tains, a  little  farther  east,  is  almost  wholly  within  the  state  boundaries. 

West  of  the  Continental  divide,  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  Mon- 


92  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

tana,  is  the  Purcell  range  of  the  Kootenai  system.  Farther  east,  beyond 
the  Stillwater  River,  is  the  Whitefish  range,  a  southeastern  continuance 
of  which  brings  one  to  the  Flathead  range.  Parallel  to  the  latter  and 
west  of  it,  are  the  majestic  Mission  Mountains,  the  northern  portions  of 
which  are  massed  along  the  eastern  shores  of  Flathead  Lake.  The 
Bitter  Root  Mountains  stretch  as  a  majestic  barrier  to  form  the  western 
bounds  of  Montana,  from  48  degrees,  east  by  south  to  about  46°  30', 
where  they  meet  the  Continental  divide,  extending  toward  the  northeast. 
The  Bitter  Root  Mountains  form  by  far  the  larger  portion  of  the 
western  side  of  the  substantial  rectangle  formed  by  the  144,000  square 
miles  comprising  the  area  of  Montana.  It  is  a  grand  domain — nearly 
three  times  larger  than  the  state  of  New  York,  and  only  exceeded  by 
Texas  and  California  in  territorial  extent  of  the  commonwealths  in  the 
Union.  California  only  exceeds  it  by  12,000  square  miles. 

Low  ALTITUDE  AS  A  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  STATE 

Although  virtually'  half  of  Montana  is  mountainous,  and  it  is 
classified  as  a  Rocky  Mountain  state,  its  general  elevation  is  compar- 
atively low.  Professor  Gannett  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey 
says:  "The  average  elevation  of  Montana  above  sea  level  is  3,900  feet. 
The  average  elevation  of  other  states  in  this  section  are  given  as 
follows  :  Nevada,  5,600  feet ;  Wyoming,  6,400 ;  Colorado,  7,000  feet.  Be- 
low an  elevation  of  4,000  feet  Utah  has  no  square  miles,  Colorado  has 
only  9,000,  while  Montana  has  51,600.  Below  3,000  feet  in  altitude  are 
40,000  square  miles  in  Montana." 

"Taking  the  area  of  the  state  (Montana)  as  a  whole,"  says  a  United 
States  Census  Bulletin,  "it  has  been  ascertained  that  49  per  cent,  is  under 
5,000  feet  above  sea  level;  21  per  cent,  from  5,000  to  6,000  feet;  14  per 
cent,  from  6,000  to  7,000 ;  9  per  cent,  from  7,000  to  8,000,  and  7  per  cent, 
over  8,000  feet." 

Helena,  at  the  base  of  the  northwest  and  southeast  Continental  divide 
in  Montana,  has  an  elevation  of  4,110  feet  above  sea  level ;  Salt  Lake  City, 
4,350;  Denver,  5,300,  and  Santa  Fe,  6,840  feet. 

The  fact  of  Montana's  comparatively  low  altitude,  with  mountain 
passes  of  low  and  easy  access,  has  had  a  beneficial  effect  upon  her 
climate  and  settlement.  A  very  high  altitude  in  a  country  or  state  limits 
permanent  settlement  to  the  small  class  of  people  whose  physical  tem- 
perament allows  them  to  reside  under  such  condition.  The  numerous 
low  passes  in  the  mountains  not  only  enabled  the  streams  of  emigrants 
to  pass  into  Montana's  domains  from  either  direction,  many  of  them 
becoming  her  substantial  settlers,  but  also  admits  the  mild  currents  from 
the  farther  west  and  southwest,  warming  the  valleys  and  modifying  the 
climate  generally. 

WILLIAM  A.  CLARK  ON  MONTANA'S  VALLEYS 

After  noting  the  Coeur  d'Alene,  Pointed  Heart,  or  Bitter  Root  moun- 
tains  as  "a  white  line  in  the  zigzag  of  the  mountains'  crest  in  the  regions 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  93 

of  perpetual  snow,  William  A.  Clark,  in  his  centennial  address,  adds, 
apropos  of  the  "valley"  feature  of  Montana:  "Farther  eastward  the 
main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  rising  in  colossal  grandeur,  tends 
diagonally  to  the  northwest  across  the  territory,  while  between  these  two 
distinct  ranges  and  far  eastward  from  the  latter,  the  country  is  diversi- 
fied by  a  system  of  subordinate,  transverse  and  parallel  ranges,  enclosing 
the  most  beautiful  valleys. 

"These  valleys,  varying  from  one  to  fifteen  miles  in  width  and  from 
ten  to  two  hundred  miles  in  length,  are  level  or  gently  undulating,  re- 
sembling prairies  covered  with  grasses  and  meadows,  each  drained  by 
a  main  stream  running  through  the  center  which,  at  short  intervals,  re- 
ceives tributaries  from  the  enclosing  mountains.  These  form  lateral 


BITTER  ROOT  VALLEY 

valleys  of  smaller  extent.  A  line  of  willow,  or  alder  bushes,  with  here 
and  there  a  clump  of  cottonwood  trees,  marks  the  course  of  every 
stream  and  beautifies  the  landscape.  Lying  between  the  large  valleys 
there  are,  in  many  places,  passes  in  the  mountains,  many  of  them  so 
low  and  easily  accessible  as  to  form  natural  highways  for  all  vehicles.  On 
some  of  these  dividing  elevations  are  presented  views  of  surpassing 
beauty  and  grandeur.  Below  you  behold  the  picturesque  valleys;  about 
you,  the  terraced,  or  corrugated  grassy  plains;  on  either  side,  the  ever- 
green woodlands  with  their  parks  and  rippling  brooklets,  stretching  down 
from  the  mountain  sides,  and  above  all  and  beyond  the  limit  of  vegetable 
growth,  the  towering  rock-ribbed  mountains.  There,  in  communication 
with  the  clouds,  are  the  great  fountains  which  form  the  sources  of  the 
Missouri  and  the  Columbia,  in  many  places  gathering  their  cold  and 
crystal  waters  from  the  same  snow  girdled  peaks." 

THE  GEOLOGICAL  STORY 

Montana  presents  a  problem  and  a  picture  of  deep  and  varied  interest 
when  viewed  from  a  geological  standpoint;  when  an  attempt  is  made 


94  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

to  analyze  the  vast  mountain  ranges  which  loom  and  stretch  through  her 
central  and  western  portions,  and  to  account  for  the  courses  and  grand 
vagrancies  of  her  mighty  rivers,  which  attempted  to  lose  themselves  in 
the  fastnesses  of  the  Rockies,  but  could  not  because  of  the  persistency 
and  bravery  of  men;  to  list  her  bewildering  variety  of  minerals  and 
account  for  their  composition  and  the  strange  forms  of  their  deposits,  and, 
in  general,  to  unseal  the  weird,  silent  lips  of  Nature  and  force  her  to 
explain  the  methods  by  which  she  created  a  little  section  of  what  is 
really  but  the  skin  of  the  earth. 

To  account  for  the  mountain  ranges  of  Montana  and  the  precious 
metals  cast  from  their  bowels,  one  must  go  back  to  the  primary  ages  of 
the  fire  rocks  (igneous  and  metamorphic),  and  to  explain  the  broken 
and  irregular  strata  of  the  vast  rocky  beds  laid  down  by  the  waters  of  the 
prehistoric  oceans  and  seas,  the  student  must  imagine  the  outbreak  of 
immeasurable  subterranean  forces  and  the  upheaval  of  the  very  founda- 
tions of  the  earth. 

Dr.  F.  V.  Hayden,  U.  S.  Geologist,  did  much  to  fix  and  record  the 
geology  of  Montana,  in  the  '/os,  and  in  1876  the  Historical  Society  of 
Montana  (Vol.  I,  p.  285)  published  an  instructive  and  well  written  paper 
entitled  "Geological  Notes  on  Northern  and  Central  Montana,"  by  O.  C. 
Mortson,  which  was  of  more  general  value  than  its  title  indicated.  The 
author  traces  the  eastern  boundary  line  of  the  great  area  of  igneous  rocks 
as  follows:  Commencing,  at  the  British  line,  following  southwardly 
along  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Dearborn  River, 
following  that  stream  to  the  Missouri  River,  crossing  which  it  follows  the 
Great  Belt  Mountains  for  a  short  distance  and  then  strikes  off  to  the 
western  peaks  of  the  Little  Belt  Mountains,  and  from  there,  along  the 
eastern  side,  to  the  Judith  Gap;  it  then  strikes  southwardly  along  the 
eastern  base  of  the  Crazy  Mountains  across  the  Yellowstone  River  and 
by  the  eastern  base  of  the  Snow  Mountains.  The  Judith,  Snowy  and 
Highwood  mountains  are  surrounded  by  stratified  rocks,  though  connected 
with  the  same  upheaval  as  the  other  mountains.  All  rocks  east  of  the 
above-mentioned  line  are  pertaining  to  the  cretaceous  periods  (later  than 
the  igneous)  and  in  places,  tertiary  (still  later)  deposits. 

The  upheaval  of  all  the  mountains  in  Central  Montana  most  probably 
took  place  in  the  tertiary  period,  and  attained  a  still  higher  altitude  in 
the  post-tertiary ;  again  being  brought  to  nearly  their  present  level  in 
the  latter  part  of  this  period.  The  Bearpaw  Mountains  are  ascribed  to 
a  later  period,  their  upheaval  having  distorted  the  strata  in  their  vicinity, 
and  later  tertiary  rocks  being  found  among  and  in  them.  The  origin  of 
these  mountains  is  undoubtedly  volcanic,  the  center  of  action  being  the 
western  peaks.  One  peak,  which  is  the  highest  in  that  vicinity,  is  an 
extinct  crater,  lava,  tufa  and  volcanic  sand  being  plentiful.  The  Sandy 
creeks  rise  near  this  peak,  and  it  is  owing  to  the  volcanic  sand  in  their 
beds  that  they  derive  their  names.  The  upheaval  of  these  mountains  is 
ascribed  to  the  post-tertiary  period,  probably  the  same  disturbance  that 
occurred  in  the  early  part  of  the  glacial  period. 

All  the  other  ranges  of  mountains  in  central  and  northern  Montana 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  95 

are  thought  to  have  been  formed  about  the  same  time,  both  from  the 
similar  character  of  the  rocks  comprising  their  peaks  and  foothills  and 
from  the  number  of  dikes  connecting  them.  These  connecting  ridges 
are  sometimes  trap,  but  generally  of  granite.  The  elevated  and  distorted 
strata  which  thus  protrudes  have  been  variously  metamorphized  by  the 
action  of  the  igneous  rocks,  while  in  a  state  of  fusion  limestone  has  been 
turned  into  marble  and  laminated  clays  into  slate.  A  large  number  of 
these  dikes  branch  from  the  east  side  of  the  Great  Belt  range,  crossing 
diagonally  Deep  Creek  valley  and  connectiong  with  the  Little  Belt  range 
and  the  Highwood  Mountains.  The  dikes  mentioned  are  composed  of 
dark  granite.  Other  series  connect  the  different  peaks  of  the  district. 
From  the  igneous,  or  fire  rocks,  the  geologist  passes  upward  toward 
the  earth's  surface  through  the  stratified  rocks  of  five  distinct  periods. 
The  lowest  stratum  examined  by  Mr.  Mortson,  which  contained  fossils, 
was  the  Jurassic.  A  belt  of  the  latter  rocks  was  found  to  stretch  from 
the  neighborhood  of.  the  Black  Hills,  in  the  southeast,  across  the  Yellow- 
stone River,  striking  the  Musselshell  near  the  great  bend,  and  reaching  the 
Missouri  in  the  neighborhood  of  Little  Rocky  Mountain  Creek  and 
Carroll,  Deer  Lodge  County.  Remains  of  the  larger  fossils  are  found  in 
this  stratum  in  such  quantities  as  to  form  masess  of  rocks  in  themselves. 
In  a  later  epoch  of  the  same  period,  carrying  sandstones  and  layers  of 
clay  were  found  fresh  water  shells  and  abundant  remains  of  insects, 
fishes  and  reptiles. 

The  rocks  of  the  cretaceous,  or  chalky  period,  occupy  the  largest  area 
of  any  stratified  ones  in  Montana,  being  found  even  in  the  foothills  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  occupying  a  large  area  north  of  the  Missouri 
River.  They  form  a  section  of  the  great  belt  which  stretches  across  the 
continent  from  Mackenzie's  River  in  the  north  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico 
in  the  south.  Most  of  the  rocks  are  of  marine  formation,  although  a  few 
are  the  results  of  fresh  water  deposits,  and  their  composition  is  sandstone, 
clay,  marl,  limestone  and  colored  sands.  The  latter  are  exceedingly 
friable,  and  the  green  variety  has  been  profitably  used  as  a  fertilizer. 

The  lower  beds  of  the  cretaceous  period  are  known  as  the  Dakota 
group,  as  they  have  been  most  extensively  developed  in  the  territory  of 
the  Dakotas.  In  Montana,  these  beds  may  be  found  near  the  headwaters 
of  Sun  River,  in  the  vicinity  of  St.  Peter  and  on  the  flanks  of  Highwood 
and  Little  Belt  mountains,  in  the  present  counties  of  Cascade  and  Teton. 
The  Dakota  series  is  remarkable  for  the  beds  of  lignite  and  numerous 
vegetable  remains  found  in  it.  The  leaves  of  numerous  genera  of  trees 
are  also  found,  some  of  which  are  allied  to  living  species.  Near  Fort 
Shaw  the  beds  have  yielded  a  fine  building  sandstone,  which,  though 
soft  when  quarried,  hardens  by  exposure  to  the  atmosphere. 

The  Benton  group  of  the  cretaceous  period  lies  over  the  Dakota  and 
is  distinguishable  by  the  character  of  the  fossils  found  in  the  strata,  being 
of  the  fresh-water  rather  than  the  marine  variety.  The  greatest  de- 
velopment of  the  beds  is  in  the  vicinity  of  Fort  Benton ;  hence  the  name, 
given  by  Meek  and  Hayden,  U.  S.  geologists.  From  that  place  to  the 
Great  Falls  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  furnish  splendid  specimens  of 


96  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

sections  of  the  beds.  They  are  also  found  on  Highwood  and  Belt  Moun- 
tain creeks  and  Arrow,  Teton  and  Maria's  rivers.  The  thickness  of  the 
Dakota  and  Benton  groups  may  be  roughly  estimated  at  1,200  feet. 

The  Pierre  group,  so  called  from  the  beds  found  at  old  Fort  Pierre, 
Dakota,  are  the  first  of  the  later  Cretaceous  beds.  Outcrops  of  these 
beds  are  found  in  the  hills  south  of  Square  Butte,  the  reservation  of  Fort 
Shaw  on  the  Yellowstone,  in  the  bad  lands  near  Pryor's  Creek  and  on 
Milk  River  near  the  Three  Buttes.  On  the  Yellowstone,  they  are  com- 
posed of  dark  laminated  clays,  and  are  remarkable  for  the  perfect  preser- 
vation of  the  fossils  peculiar  to  the  group.  Proceeding  northward,  it 
gradually  merges  into  the  Jurassic  rocks. 

"The  cretaceous  and  Jurassic  rocks  in  Montana,  by  their  conforma- 
tion and  dip  of  strata,  would  justify  the  assertion  that  during  these 
periods  a  large,  shallow  inland  sea  existed  in  this  part  of  Montana.  From 
the  nature  of  the  marine  fossil  shells  it  might  have  been  from  two  hun- 
dred to  four  hundred  feet  deep,  and  had  connection  with  the  inland  sea, 
which  then  covered  such  a  large  portion  of  the  North  American  con- 
tinent. The  Yellowstone  and  Missouri  rivers  were  not  yet  in  existence, 
as  there  were  not  yet  any  mountains  to  form  the  watershed."  The  rocks 
of  the  tertiary  period  are  found  on  the  flanks  of  the  Rocky,  Belt,  Bear- 
paw  and  Big  Snowy  mountains  and  on  Milk  River  near  the  British  line. 
"It  was  during  this  period  (continuing  to  quote  Mr.  Mortson)  that 
probably  the  two  great  rivers  of  Montana  began  their  mighty  courses. 
This  was  owing  to  the  elevation  at  that  time  of  the  neighboring  ranges 
of  mountains  (except  the  Bearpaw),  though  perhaps  their  height  was 
not  equal  to  that  of  the  present  day.  The  tertiary  deposits  on  their 
summits  would  ascribe  their  elevation  to  be  late  in  the  period. 

THE  POST-TERTIARY  (GLACIAL)  PERIOD 

"To  the  traces  of  this  period  I  have  turned  my  principal  attention. 
Its  (in  my  opinion)  great  influence  on  the  deposition  of  placer  gold,  the 
great  denudations  of  the  surface  area,  and  the  large  deposits  elsewhere, 
render  it  an  exceedingly  interesting  geological  study.  *  *  *  The 
glacial  or  drift  period  takes  its  name  under  the  supposition  that  ice,  in 
the  form  of  icebergs  and  glaciers,  scraped  ravines  and  canons  on  the 
mountain  sides,  denuded  hills  and  plateaus;  in  some  places  making 
valleys  and  in  others  filling  them  up  and  altering  river  beds. 

"In  the  early  part  of  this  epoch,  Montana  must  have  presented  the 
appearance  of  a  series  of  large  fresh-water  lakes,  whose  shores  were 
the  summits  of  the  present  mountain  ranges.  These  mountains  had  their 
flanks  covered  by  huge  glaciers,  whose  descent  by  the  usual  river-like 
flow  o£  glaciers  would  bring  down  large  quantities  of  rocks,  pebbles  and 
mud.  Reaching  the  edge  of  the  lakes,  they  would,  when  advanced  far 
enough  by  the  superincumbent  weight,  break  off;  having  been  pushed 
by  the  pressure  of  the  ice  behind,  it  would  float  off  as  an  iceberg,  and 
would  elsewhere  deposit  its  hundred  of  tons  of  gravel,  mud  and  rocks, 
the  same  manner  as  the  glaciers  of  Greenland  are  at  the  present  day  send- 


MOUNTAINS  IN  THE  HELENA  DISTRICT 


Vol.  1—7 


98  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ing  their  icebergs  down  the  eastern  coast  of  North  America.  What  was 
the  probable  cause  of  this  sub-arctic  climate  enveloping  the  land? 

"Later  back,  we  referred  to  the  upheaval  of  the  ranges  of  mountains 
in  the  tertiary  period.  Now,  another  upheaval  probably  took  place  of 
another  five  thousand  feet  or  therabouts,  and  it  would  bring  this  icy 
change  quickly,  and  transform  the  smiling  semi-tropical  verdure  of  the1 
tertiary  period  into  stern  winter  sterility.  It  was  probably  at  this  time 
that  the  Bearpaw  Mountains  were  thrown  up.  Now,  by  these  terres- 
trial changes,  which  were  not  confined  to  Montana  alone,  the  flow  of  the 
rivers  would  bo  stopped ;  the  lakes  would  rise  silently,  but  sure ;  and  the 
intense  cold  would  speedily  bring  this  arctic  climate  to  which  I  am  re- 
ferring. 

"The  intense  cold  would,  by  its  action,  rend  the  rocks  in  the  moun- 
tains, which  would  then  fall  in  avalanches  upon  the  glaciers,  to  be  by  them 
carried  elsewhere.  The  glaciers,  by  their  slow  but  constant  motion,  and 
their  stupendous  weight,  would,  by  erosion,  plow  for  themselves  a  bed 
through  the  hardest  rock. 

GLACIAL  MARKS  AND  MOVEMENTS 

"At  the  headwaters  of  Maria's  river,  especially  at  the  head  of  Cut 
Bank  Creek,  a  fragment  of  one  of  these  glaciers  still  exists,  covering 
each  side  of  the  range  down  to  a  certain  height.  The  existence  of  this 
glacier  is  known,  and  probably  others  exist  in  the  Rocky  range,  which  will 
be  found  when  the  topography  of  the  country  is  better  known. 

"The  proof  of  the  other  glaciers  having  existed,  lies  in  the  drift 
groovings  or  scratches  which  occur  in  the  bed-rock  of  all  the  mountain 
gulches  that  I  have  seen  in  this  section ;  also  by  the  numerous  moraines 
and  erratic  bowlders  which  are  found  on  the  great  northern  plateau  and 
on  other  several  smaller  ones. 

"In  central  Montana,  there  were  two  great  centers  of  glacial  action — 
one  was  the  Rocky  mountains  and  its  connecting  ranges ;  the  other  was 
the  Belt  ranges. 

"In  the  Great  Belt  range  a  large  glacier  commenced  on  the  western 
side,  near  the  head  of  Trout  and  Cottonwood  creeks,  cutting  the  range 
diagonally,  crossing  Montana  and  Confederate  gulches  and  emerging  into 
the  Missouri  valley  a  little  south  of  the  Confederate  creek.  Its  course 
is  north-northeast  to  south-southwest  and  the  present  altitude  of  its  old 
bed  is  probably  over  five  thousand  feet.  In  the  vicinity  it  is  known  as 
the  Gravelly  range.  This  glacier  must  have  existed  prior  to  those  that 
cut  out  Bowlder,  Confederate,  Montana,  White's  and  other  gulches  in  the 
vicinity,  as  wherever  this  ancient  glacier  has  been  cut  by  later  ravines 
it  has  yielded  large  deposits  of  gold.  Its  ancient  bed  is  now  filled  up 
with  debris,  which  is  easily  accounted  for  by  the  deposits  of  neighboring 
denudations.  In  the  vicinity  it  is  called  an  old  river-bed,  but  its  declina- 
tion is  too  great  for  that,  consistent  with  the  gold  deposits ;  also,  the  debris 
is  identical  with  the  rocks  contained  between  its  two  extremities.  If  it  had 
been  a  river,  its  length  ought  to  have  been  greater;  there  ought  to  have 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  99 

been  a  larger  amount  of  foreign  debris  and  a  large  water-shed,  to  account 
for  its  present  breadth. 

"Now,  assuming  this  to  have  been  a  glacier,  we  should  find  the  ice, 
by  its  motion,  scraping  and  grooving  the  bed-rock  of  its  course,  con- 
tinually widening  its  bed  by  its  constant  pressure  and  friction,  and  thereby 
denuding  the  rocks  and  quartz  lodes  that  it  passed.  Naturally,  gold  would 
be  left  in  the  striae  of  the  bed-rock.  Its  carrying  large  amounts  of  debris 
on  its  surface  in  the  form  of  moraines,  wherever  the  contour  of  its  bed 
compelled  the  glacier  to  change  its  course,  it  would  naturally  deposit 
large  amounts  of  debris,  which  now  form  bars. 

"I  stated  that  this  glacier  existed  prior  to  the  formation  of  the 
neighboring  gulches.  An  intelligent  observation  of  these  gulches  will 
convince  anyone  that  there  must  have  been  similar  causes  to  produce 
these  effects.  Bowlder,  in  the  vicinity  of  Confederate,  has  innumerable 
proofs  of  glacial  drift.  There  are  erratic  bowlders  there,  which  could 
have  only  been  brought  to  their  present  position  by  ice.  Indian,  Beaver 
and  Last  Chance  gulches,  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  Missouri,-  have  simi- 
lar characteristics.  I  have  observed  personally,  in  these  localities,  the 
striae  on  bowlders,  and  the  parallel  moraines  of  ancient  glaciers.  A  per- 
fect chart  of  these  localities  could  be  made,  by  minute  observation,  as  they 
existed  in  the  glacial  period.  The  course  of  the  glacier  would  be  known 
by  the  direction  of  the  striae  on  the  bed-rock  and  bowlders;  the  angle  of 
declination  would  be  known  by  the  inclination  of  the  striae  on  the  bowlders 
on  the  mountain  sides ;  and  the  depth  would  be  the  height  between  the  bed- 
rock arid  the  line  of  bowlders  left  by  the  glaciers  on  the  hill  sides. 

"The  elevated  valleys  in  Upper  Deep  creek,  on  the  east  side  of  the 
Great  Belt  range,  have  over  their  whole  surface  the  marks  of  glacial 
action.  On  the  low  mountains  north  of  Camp  Baker  bowlders  are  on 
the  sides,  with  the  striae  cut  on  them  as  plain  as  if  done  by  a  workman, 
and  their  surfaces  finely  polished,  showing  the  friction  they  have  under- 
gone. Along  the  northern  side  of  the  valley  large  numbers  of  bowlders 
cover  one  side  of  the  hills,  the  bowlders  on  each  hill  being  on  the  same 
side.  This  shows  the  deposition  by  icebergs,  which,  broken  off  by  the 
parent  glacier  and  floating  on  the  inland  sea,  deposited  the  detritus  in  this 
manner.  All  the  mountains  in  the  central  and  northern  part  of  Montana 
that  I  have  seen  show  these  indubitable  signs. 

"The  large  plateau  in  the  north  has  large  erratic  bowlders  scattered 
here  and  there;  they  are  not  very  common,  but  their  size  is  exceedingly 
large.  The  most  interesting  one  I  have  seen  is  in  a  small  ravine  which 
runs  into  the  Dry  fork  of  Maria's  river  due  north  of  Fort  Shaw.  It  is 
about  nine  feet  long,  six  feet  high  and  probably  weighs  about  fifteen  tons. 
It  is  composed  of  red  granite,  with  a  smooth,  polished  surface,  and  has 
evidently  been  brought  a  long  distance,  as  no  rocks  of  that  kind  are,  to  my 
knowledge,  closer  than  about  ninety  miles.  Other  bowlders  exist,  but  this 
one  will  serve  as  an  example  of  the  rest. 

"How  long  this  epoch  lasted,  there  is  no  telling;  but,  by  the  great 
denudation  which  took  place,  it  must  have  been  of  considerable  length. 
It  was  during  this  epoch  that  the  numerous  buttes  lying  east  of  the 


100  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Rocky  mountains  and  north  of  the  Belt  range  were  denuded  to  their 
present  shape.  Very  probably  Square  and  Crown  Buttes  formed  once 
a  continuous  range  of  high  bluffs ;  and  the  same  may  be  said  of  those  east 
of  the  Highwoods.  At  the  close  of  this  period,  a  gradual  subsidence 
of  level  raised  the  temperature  of  the  climate ;  the  inland  lakes  dis- 
appeared; the  glaciers  melted  away  and  we  arrive  at  what  is  called  the 
Champlain  epoch." 

THE  GREAT  MONTANA  MAMMALS 

"At  the  beginning  of  this  epoch,  most  probably  the  rush  of  the  re- 
tiring waters  cut  the  terraces  which  bound  so  many  of  our  Montana 
streams.  The  great  mammals  then  appeared,  and  the  huge  mastodon  cov- 
ered the  plateaus  and  valleys  in  numbers  almost  equaling  the  modern 
buffalo.  The  American  elephant  existed  in  this  locality.  A  portion 
of  a  tusk  pertaining  to  one  was  found  on  Badger  creek  and  is  now  in 
possession  of  Mr.  Drew,  at  Fort  Shaw.  It  is  possible  that  the  great 
pliocene  deposits  of  Wyoming  and  Colorado  extend  northward  into  Mon- 
tana, as  I  have  been  often  told  of  the  great  bone  deposits  which  exist 
in  several  parts  of  these  localities.  Several  deposits  of  so-called  buf- 
falo bones,  in  the  neighborhood  of  Sun  and  Maria's  rivers  and  Badger 
creek,  I  am  inclined  to  ascribe  to  other  animals;  and  it  may  be  that 
as  Colorado  and  Wyoming  have  within  the  two  years  yielded  such  palaeon- 
tological  treasures,  so  Montana,  by  proper  search  and  investigation,  will 
yield  equally  interesting  organic  remains." 

VARIETY  AND  WEALTH  OF  GEOLOGICAL  DEPOSITS 

The  wonderful  diversity  of  Montana's  geological  formations  accounts 
for  the  variety  of  the  precious  deposits  found  within  the  state's  limits. 
The  upheaval  of  the  deep-seated  fire  rocks,  with  molten  formations  of 
ore  and  precious  stones;  the  deposits  and  immeasurable  pressure  of 
great  inland  seas,  and  the  resistless  passage  of  vast  glacial  fields  laden 
with  gold  scourings  and  gigantic  boulders,  all  made  Montana  a  rich  and 
varied  treasury  of  minerals. 

Along  this  line,  a  comparatively  recent  publication  has  this  to  say 
of  Montana  as  a  mining  state :  "Of  the  many  marvels  of  its  mineral 
wealth,  perhaps  the  greatest  is  the  wonderful  extent  of  the  deposits. 
After  this  comes  the  diversity  of  metals,  which  cover  a  large  portion 
of  the  known  catalogue,  and  lastly  comes  the  fabulous  richness  of  the 
deposits  of  quartz  and  placer  diggings.  The  ores  of  Montana  are  easily 
worked.  The  rocks  in  which  auriferous  and  argentiferous  veins  occur  is 
limestone  or  granite — often  granite  capped  with  slate.  The  presence  of 
lead  and  copper  simplifies  the  reduction  of  silver.  In  general  the  char- 
acter of  Montana  galena  ores  does  not  differ  from  those  of  Utah,  Colo- 
rado, Nevada  and  Idaho.  There  are  lead  mines  in  Montana  but  they 
have  not  been  extensively  worked.  The  lead  obtained  from  the  silver  ores 
however,  is  considerable.  Copper  lodes  are  abundant  and  large  and  are 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  101 

found  near  Butte,  at  White  Sulphur  Springs  and  in  the  Musselshell  coun- 
try. Iron  is  found  in  a  great  number  of  places.  Marble,  building  stone 
fire  clay,  zinc  and  all  of  the  minerals  of  which  men  build  the  substan- 
tial monuments  of  civilization  are  grouped  together  in  Montana  in  a  re- 
markable manner. 

"One  of  the  latest  developed  resources  of  the  state  is  coal.  The 
presence  of  this  product  was  known  from  the  early  days,  but  before  the 
country  had  been  pierced  by  railroads  it  could  not  be  profitably  mined 
and  consequently  there  was  no  development  of  the  coal  fields.  Now  coal 
mining  is  one  of  the  permanent  industries  of  the  state.  Along  the  east- 
ern bases  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  coal  is  found  in  almost  inexhaustible 
quantities.  Park,  Cascade,  Choteau,  Beaver  Head  and  Gallatin  counties 
all  have  mines  within  their  boundaries.* 


BEAR  TOOTH  MOUNTAIN  IN  THE  COAL  REGION 

"In  addition  to  the  precious  metals  and  other  products  mentioned 
above,  there  have  been  found  in  Montana  from  time  to  time  a  great  many 
precious  stones  and  gems.  Sapphires  were  discovered  in  a  number  of 
localities  by  the  early  placer  miners.  They  were  collected  in  great  num- 
bers in  the  sluice  boxes  with  the  gold  and  black  sand.  They  were  found 
on  the  bars  of  the  Missouri  in  Lewis  and  Clark  county,  at  Montana  City 
and  Jefferson  City  on  the  Prickly  Pear,  and  in  other  localities.  These 
gems  were  sent  East  and  found  their  way  into  many  cabinets.  A  few 
were  cut  and  worn  by  Montana  miners.  After  many  years  they  attracted 
the  attention  of  English  experts  and  capitalists,  and  a  company  was 
formed  to  work  these  old  placers  for  the  sapphires  they  contained.  Some 
of  these  gems  are  of  the  largest  size  and  purest  water,  and  the  colors  are 
very  brilliant.  The  varieties  most  common  are  the  oriental  emerald,  the 
oriental  topaz,  the  oriental  amethyst  and  the  oriental  ruby.  No  gem  except 
the  diamond  excels  them  in  hardness  and  brilliancy.  Nearly  all  vari- 


*  And  now  more  than  all,  Carbon  county. 


102  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

eties  of  garnets  are  also  found  in  the  placers  and  the  rocks  of  the  moun- 
tains ;  many  very  fine  varieties  have  been  taken  from  the  places  in  various 
parts  of  the  state.  The  precious  garnet,  the  topazolite,  the  melanite, 
pyrenite,  and  others  of  yellow,  brown,,  green  and  red,  have  all  been  found 
in  the  placers  and  rocks.  Small  emeralds  of  medium  quality  have  been 
discovered  in  the  gravel  and  rocks  of  the  mountains.  Tourmalines  have 
also  appeared  in  the  sluice  boxes  of  the  placer  mines,  as  well  as  in  the 
metamorphic  rocks  of  the  Rockies." 


CHAPTER  V 
PATHFINDERS  OF  THE  MINING  CAMPS 

The  kings  of  the  fur  traders  and  the  traders  themselves  opened 
Montana  for  the  influx  of  the  miners.  Lewis  and  Clark,  and  lesser  explor- 
ers, revealed  the  riches  of  the  fur  trade  to  the  practical  Englishmen, 
Scotchmen,  Frenchmen,  Spaniards  and  Americans,  and  at  least  served  as 
advance  agents  in  the  introduction  of  the  business  to  its  original  and  main 
source  of  supply,  the  Indians.  Soon  after  the  red  and  white  trappers  and 
hunters  had  perceptibly  drained  the  land  of  its  beaver,  otter  and  bear,  and 
were  making  awful  inroads  into  the  buffalo  herds,  came  the  day  of  the 
miners,  whose  guides  were  usually  men  who  had  become  familiar  with  the 
land  of  the  mountains  in  the  prosecution  of  their  trapping  and  trading 
enterprises.  Although  they  had  laid  no  such  plans  for  the  future,  destiny 
made  the  trappers  the  pathfinders  of  the  miners,  and  in  this  connection 
their  leaders  who  built  the  posts  and  the  forts  and  sent  them  into  the 
wilds  shall  be  described,  their  main  enterprises  noted. 

COMMENCEMENT  OF  PERMANENT  TRADE 

The  initial  venture  of  that  nature  in  Montana  has  already  been  re- 
corded in  the  account  of  the  expedition  taken  from  St.  Louis  by  Manuel 
Lisa,  formerly  identified  with  the  Spanish  Fur  Company  who  had  cut 
adrift  from  that  organization  as  an  independent  trader.  His  fort,  built 
in  1807,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn,  represented  the  first  trading  post, 
the  first  commercial  venture  and  the  first  building  of  a  permanent  char- 
acter, to  be  planted  within  the  bounds  of  what  is  now  Montana. 

THE  MISSOURI  FUR  COMPANY 

Not  long  after  Lisa's  return  to  St.  Louis,  in  the  summer  of  1808, 
and  after  a  very  successful  season  in  the  fur  trade,  was  formed  the 
Missouri  Fur  Company.  It  was  organized  with  a  capital  of  $40,000, 
headquarters  in  St.  Louis,  and  its  object  was  to  establish  a  string  of 
trading  posts  along  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri.  Among  its  twelve 
members  were  Capt.  William  Clark,  the  agent  and  head  of  the  organiza- 
tion; Manuel  Lisa,  in  some  respects  the  leading  spirit;  Reuben  Lewis, 
only  brother  of  Capt.  Meriwether  Lewis ;  the  Chouteau  brothers,  Andrew 
Henry  and  other  leaders  in  the  fur  trade,  who  were  uncontrolled  'by  the 
Hudson  Bay  and  North  West  companies,  of  Canada. 

Lewis  and  Clark  had  called  attention  to  the  locality  where  the  three 

103 


104  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

forks  of  the  Missouri  converge  as  a  strong  trading  point — the  key  to 
the  Blackfoot  fur  trade ;  and  that  meant  much  in  those  days.  The  Mis- 
souri Fur  Company  were  of  the  same  opinion,  and  in  1809  Lisa,  with 
Henry  and  a  party  of  trappers  and  boatsmen,  ascended  the  Missouri  and 
the  Yellowstone,  and,  through  Bozeman  Pass  emerged  at  the  three  forks. 
There  they  established  a  post  as  the  headquarters  of  their  proposed  opera- 
tions to  develop  a  fur  trade  among  the  Indians  of  that  region.*  At  that 
time  the  Missouri  Fur  Company  had  in  its  employ  250  men — partly  Ameri- 
can hunters,  but  mainly  Creoles  and  Canadian  voyagers,  who  in  various 
flotillas,  conducted  by  some  of  the  partners,  were  put  in  motion,  and  be- 
fore the  close  of  the  year  1809  posts  had  been  established  among  the 
Sioux,  Arickarees  and  Mandans,  and  a  principal  one,  whose  garrison  com- 
prised the  larger  part  of  the  company's  employes,  "at  the  Three  Forks 
of  the  Missouri." 

This  post  was  in  the  heart  of  the  country  then  possessed  by  the 
Piegan  Tribe  of  the  Blackfeet  Indians  whose  hostility  it  was  hoped  might 
be  appeased,  both  for  the  sake  of  their  trade  and  because  the  hundreds 
of  small  streams  which  rise  in  the  adjacent  mountains  and  unite  to  form 
the  Missouri  abounded  with  beaver,  which  the  company's  servants  were 
to  be  employed  in  trapping.  But  the  Blackfeet  were  in  communication 
with  the  posts  of  the  British  traders  upon  the  Saskatchewan,  from  which 
they  obtained  arms,  ammunition,  and  all  the  commodities  of  civilization 
required  in  their  wild  life,  so  that  they  were  wholly  independent  of  this 
fort.  Besides,  in  consequence  of  the  killing  of  one  of  their  number  by 
Captain  Lewis  in  1806,  they  had  conceived  the  most  violent  hatred  of 
the  Americans,  a  feeling  carefully  fostered  by  the  British 'traders  to 
prevent  competition,  and  they  had  fiercely  declared  that  they  would 
rather  hang  the  scalp  of  an  American  to  their  girdle  than  kill  a  buffalo 
to  keep  from  starving.  Animated  by  such  implacable  and  vindictive  re- 
sentment, they  not  only  failed  to  become  the  customers  of  the  fort,  but  set 
themselves  at  work  to  effect  the  destruction  of  its  garrison.  .  They  lurked 
incessantly  in  the  vicinity  of  the  post,  sought  to  ambuscade  the  hunters, 
attacked  every  party  over  whom  they  could  gain  any  advantage,  and 
almost  entirely  frustrated  the  trapping  system  that  had  been  inaugurated. 
It  became  dangerous  to  go  any  distance  from  the  fort  except  in  large 
parties,  and  in  one  case  a  party  of  twenty  men  were  assailed  by  surprise 
and  nine  killed.  Not  less  than  twenty  of  the  garrison  lost  their  lives 
in  the  various  conflicts  that  took  place,  and  it  was  estimated  that  double 
that  number  of  Indians  were  killed. 


It  had  been  expected  that  three  hundred  packs  of  beaver  would  be 
secured  the  first  year,  and  but  for  the  hostility  of  the  Blackfeet  the 
expectation  would  probably  have  been  realized.  As  it  was,  there  were 
scarcely  twenty  packs.  With  this  meagre  return  the  greater  portion  of 
the  party  descended  the  river  the  next  spring  (1809),  while  the  re- 


*  Lieut.  Bradley's  "Journal,"  Contributions  Montana  Historical  Society,  Vol.  II. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  105 

mainder  continued  to  be  cooped  up  in  the  fort  not  daring  to  hunt  and 
suffering  for  want  of  provisions.  At  last,  finding  the  situation  so  irk- 
some and  unprofitable  and  fearing  the  destruction  of  his  little  band,  Mr. 
Henry,*  the  partner  who  had  been  left  in  charge,  determined  in  the 
fall  to  move  over  into  the  country  of  the  more  pacific  Shoshonees  and 
winter  upon  one  of  the  head  branches  of  the  Columbia.  Crossing  the 
mountains  with  great  difficulty  and  suffering — for  winter  overtook  them 
and  game  was  scarce— he  found  a  pleasant  location,  where  timber  was 
plentiful,  upon  the  North  or  Henry's  Fork  of  Snake  River,  where  he 
established  himself  and  built  a  new  fort — the  first  American  establish- 
ment (except  the  wintering  house  of  Lewis  and  Clark)  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains. 

Meanwhile  no  tidings  of  Henry  were  received  at  St.  Louis,  and  the 
company,  ignorant  of  his  movements,  were  apprehensive  that  he  had  been 
massacred.  At  length,  no  longer  able  to  control  their  anxiety,  early 
in  1811  an  expedition  was  set  on  foot  to  go  in  quest  of  him.  It  started 
about  the  beginning  of  February,  under  the  command  of  Mr.  Lisa,  in  a 
swift  barge  propelled  by  twenty  oars  and  armed  with  a  swivel  mounted 
at  the  bow,  the  whole  number  of  persons  on  board  being  twenty-six. 
In  the  meantime  his  isolation  and  the  poverty  of  his  Snake  customers  in- 
duced Mr.  Henry  to  recross  the  mountains  and  return  to  the  East.  Ar- 
riving at  the  Missouri  he  built  boats,  upon  which  his  party  embarked; 
and  thus  it  happened  that  Lisa,  sweeping  in  his  light  barge  easily  and 
pleasantly  up  stream,  and  Henry  with  his  little  fleet  dropping  down  with 
the  current,  met  each  other  at  the  Arickaree  Village,  in  the  neighborhood 
of  the  present  City  of  Bismarck,  about  the  middle  of  June. 

Mr.  Henry's  stay  beyond  the  mountains  had  not  been  unprofitable, 
and  he  took  down  with  him  forty  packs  of  beaver — a  far  better  return 
than  could  reasonably  have  been  anticipated.  "To  render  this  account  of 
the  operations  of  the  company  complete  I  will  add,"  says  Lieutenant 
Bradley,  "that  the  hostility  of  the  Blackfeet  and  the  consequent  ruin 
of  their  prospects  in  this  quarter  were  not  the  only  misfortune  that  had 
been  sustained  by  the  company.  The  establishments  among  the  Mandans 
and  Arickarees  had  proved  unprofitable,  and  besides  the  Sioux  factory 
was  accidentally  burned,  occasioning  an  estimated  loss  of  fifteen  thou- 
sand dollars — almost  half  the  original  capital  of  the  company. 

BLACKFEET  COUNTRY  ABANDONED 

"The  term  of  the  association  expired  in  1811,  but  notwithstanding  the 
unforeseen  difficulties  and  disasters  that  had  beset  its  first  efforts,  it 
was  found  on  balancing  accounts  that  the  company  had  its  capital  of  forty 
thousand  dollars  yet  intact,  and,  in  addition,  the  three  establishments 
below  the  Yellowstone.  A  reorganization  was  effected,  and  though  no 
further  attempt  was  made  to  trade  in  the  Blackfeet  country  the  busi- 
ness of  the  company  elsewhere  was  extensive  and  the  profits  large. 
It  enjoyed  a  deserved  prosperity  until  the  business  prostration  occasioned 

*  Henry's  Lake  and  Henry's  Fork  of  Snake  River  named  after  him. 


106 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


by  the  War  of  1812,  when  it  was  forced  to  suspend  operations  and  finally 
dissolved. 

"The  fort  built  by  this  company  at  the  Three  Forks  of  the  Missouri 
is  the  establishment  whose  traces  still  remain  near  Gallatin  City*  and 
which  is  popularly  ascribed  to  Lewis  and  Clark.  In  1870,  the  outlines  of 
the  fort  were  still  intact,  from  which  it  appears  that  it  was  a  double  stock- 
ade of  logs  set  three  feet  deep,  enclosing  an  area  of  about  300  feet 
square,  situated  upon  the  tongue  of  land  (at  that  point  half  a  mile  wide) 
between  the  Jefferson  and  Madison  Rivers,  about  two  miles  above  their 


.. 


. 


l^'^r 


SPANISH  CREEK,  GALLATIN   COUNTY 

confluence,  upon  the  south  bank  of  a  channel  of  the  former  stream  now 
called  Jefferson  slough.  Since  then  the  stream  has  made  such  inroads 
upon  the  land  that  only  a  small  portion  of  the  fort — the  south-west  angle 
— remains.  It  is  probable  that  every  vestige  of  this  old  relic  will  soon  dis- 
appear, except  the  few  stumps  of  stockade  logs  that  have  been  removed 
by  two  or  three  gentlemen  of  antiquarian  tastes.  When  Henry  abandoned 
the  fort  a  blacksmith's  anvil  was  left  behind,  which  remained  there  for 
thirty  or  forty  years  undisturbed,  gazed  upon  only  by  the  Indians  who  re- 
garded it  with  superstition  and  awe.  At  last  it  disappeared  and  it  is  said 
to  have  been  found  and  removed  by  a  party  of  white  men." 


*  Written  in   1876. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  107 

RACE  OF  RIVAL  FUR  AGENTS 

Not  long  after  the  Missouri  Fur  Company  had  been  formed  through 
the  energy  and  influence  of  Manuel  Lisa,  John  Jacob  Astor,  who,  for  a 
decade  was  to  be  his  great  rival  in  the  fur  trade,  formed  the  Pacific  Fur 
Company.  It  was  an  offshoot  of  the  North  West  Company  and  was  for- 
mally organized  in  June,  1810,  all  of  Mr.  Astor's  partners,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  Wilson  Price  Hunt,  of  New  Jersey,  being  ex-members  of  that 
organization.  The  great  organizer  of  the  Pacific  Fur  Company  sent  two 
expeditions  West— one  by  sea  and  one  by  land.  The  overland  expedition, 
under  Hunt,  is  the  only  one  which  concerns  this  history,  and  that  only  in- 
cidentally. Before  the  articles  of  agreement  forming  the  Pacific  Fur 
Company  were  signed,  the  expedition  by  land  was  well  on  its  way  toward 
the  western  sea.  Lisa  had  started  out  from  St.  Louis  to  seek  Henry  and, 
having  met  him  safe  and  sound,  hurried  up  the  Missouri  to  overtake  the 
Hunt  party,  tidings  of  whose  destination — the  headwaters  of  that  river 
and  the  coveted  fur  country  of  the  Blackfeet — had  reached  him.  Hunt's 
party  comprised,  among  others,  Donald  McKenzie,  Pierre  Dorion,  a  half- 
breed  interpreter  indebted  to  Lisa,  and  the  scientists,  Nuttall  and  Brad- 
bury. Lisa  did  not  propose  that  Hunt  should  occupy  "his"  fur  coun- 
try without  a  fight,  and  Hunt  was  afraid  that  the  able  and  wily  Spaniard 
would  set  the  Sioux  against  him,  the  agent  of  the  rival  company,  in  case 
he  (Lisa)  reached  the  land  of  the  dreaded  Indians  first.  The  race  for 
Sioux-land  was  therefore  exciting,  and  Lisa's  river  party  overtook  Hunt's 
land  expedition  in  what  is  now  southern  or  central  South  Dakota.  From 
this  meeting  until  the  Arikaree  villages  near  the  junction  of  the  Grand  and 
Missouri  rivers  were  reached  (near  the  boundary  line  of  the  Dakotas) 
the  two  rival  parties  traveled  together,  each  eyeing  the  other  suspiciously. 
In  one  particular,  Lisa  outmanoeuvered  Hunt.  It  had  been  the  intention 
of  the  leader  of  the  Astor  company  to  follow  the  route  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  to  the  sources  of  the  Missouri,  and  thence  over  the  divide  to  the 
Columbia;  but  Lisa  managed  that  most  deterrent  rumors  of  Blackfeet 
ferocities  and  attacks  should  be  carried  to  the  interlopers.  Result :  The 
Hunt  party  swerved  toward  the  Southwest,  crossed  the  southeastern  cor- 
ner of  Montana  into  Wyoming,  traveled  south  to  the  Wind  River,  across 
country  to  the  Snake  and  Columbia  and  down  the  great  western  river  to 
where  Astor's  sea  party  had  founded  Astoria.  This  trip  of  Hunt's  blazed 
the  famous  Oregon  Trail. 

THE  LAST  YEARS  OF  LISA 

The  failure  and  destruction  of  the  posts  which  the  Missouri  Fur 
Company  attempted  to  establish  from  the  headwaters  of  the  river  to  the 
Mandan  villages  in  Dakota,  with  the  disturbances  caused  by  the  War  of 
1812,  caused  the  final  dissolution  of  the  company.  Lisa  then  operated 
the  Missouri  fur  trade  under  the  name  of  Manuel  Lisa  &  Company  for 
about  six  years,  and  during  that  period  was  a  real  monopolist.  In  1819  he 
reorganized  the  Missouri  Fur  Company,  with  an  entirely  new  personnel 


108  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

except  he  himself.  He  died  in  St.  Louis,  which  had  been  his  home  since 
youth,  in  his  forty-eighth  year.  Lisa  was  born  in  New  Orleans  of  Span- 
ish parents,  and  his  commanding  intrepidity  in  all  his  ventures  gave  him 
the  name  of  the  Cortez  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Of  his  moral  character, 
the  least  said  the  better  for  his  memory. 

GENERAL  ASHLEY  AND  THE  ROCKY  MOUNTAIN  FUR  COMPANY 

It  was  fully  a  decade  after  the  War  of  1812  before  the  fur  trade 
showed  decided  signs  of  improvement,  and,  as  in  the  old  times,  the  fur 
companies  doing  business  in  Montana  again  turned  their  attention  to  the 
opening  up  of  the  trade  among  the  enterprising  but  fierce  Blackfeet,  who 
still  controlled  the  fur  country  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri.  Not 
only  was  the  Missouri  Fur  Company  revived,  but  Gen.  William  Ashley, 
an  able,  forceful  Virginian  who  had  long  resided  in  St.  Louis,  as  a  mer- 
chant and  prominent  citizen,  organized  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Com- 
pany. Associated  with  him  were  Maj.  Andrew  Henry,  William  and  Mil- 
ton Sublette,  Jedediah  S.  Smith,  David  E.  Jackson,  Robert  Campbell, 
Etienne  Provost,  James  Bridger  and  others,  nearly  all  of  whom  will 
later  appear  as  leading  characters  in  the  progress  of  this  history. 

The  first  expedition  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company  had  sev- 
eral experiences  not  unlike  those  of  the  initial  venture  of  the  Lisa's  Mis- 
souri Fur  Company.  In  both  cases  the  brunt  of  the  disasters  fell  upon 
Maj.  Andrew  Henry.  The  first  expedition  of  Ashley's  company  started 
from  St.  Louis  on  April  15,  1822,  for  that  portentous  locality,  the  Three 
Forks  of  the  Missouri.  On  the  way  up  the  river  one  of  the  keel- 
boats  sank  with  $10,000  worth  of  goods,  and  above  the  Mandan  vil- 
lages a  band  of  Assiniboines  stole  the  horses  of  the  party.  These  heavy 
losses  forced  the  expedition  to  establish  the  Ashley-Henry  Fort  near  the 
confluence  of  the  Yellowstone  and  Missouri,  where  winter  quarters  were 
fixed.  General  Ashley  then  returned  to  St.  Louis,  leaving  Henry  in 
charge  of  the  post.  In  the  spring  of  1823,  the  latter  continued  his 
journey  up  the  Missouri,  but  near  the  Great  Falls  the  Blackfeet  attacked 
his  party,  killed  four  of  them  and  drove  them  away  as  a  whole.  So  Henry 
was  again  obliged  to  return,  short  of  his  goal. 

In  1823,  Ashley  fitted  out  a  second  expedition  and  leading  it  him- 
self started  up  the  Missouri.  He  intended  to  purchase  horses  of  the 
Aricarees  and  dispatch  some  of  his  force  by  land  to  the  Yellowstone. 
These  Indians,  distinguished  for  their  fickleness,  at  first  seemed  friendly, 
but  before  dawn  on  June  2nd,  attacked  Ashley's  force.  They  killed 
twelve  of  his  men  and  wounded  fourteen,  the  survivors  escaping  to  some 
sheltering  timber.  In  this  desperate  strait,  Ashley  accepted  the  services 
of  Jedediah  Smith,  a  mere  youth,  to  carry  news  of  his  predicament  to 
Henry  and  requesting  immediate  re-enforcements.  After  numerous  es- 
capes from  capture  and  death,  the  boy  reached  Henry,  and  Ashley  and 
his  men  were  saved.  The  combined  parties  moved  to  the  mouth  of  White 
River,  where  they  built  a  fort  and  awaited  the  coming  of  troops  to  pro- 
tect them  on  their  journey.  They  also  established  a  trading  post  at  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  109 

mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  and  Yellowstone,  near  the  site  of  old  Fort 
Manuel,  and  Etienne  Provost,  with  a  few  men,  was  ordered  from  that 
point  southward  to  trap.  On  this  journey,  in  1823,  he  discovered  the 
South  Pass. 

ASHLEY-HENRY  DISCOVERIES  OF  1823. 

As  remarked  by  a  writer  of  these  times,  commenting  on  the  remark- 
able outcome  of  this  unimportant  expedition,  measured  by  direct  results : 
"The  members  of  the  Ashley-Henry  party  proved  to  be  explorers  as  well 
as  trappers,  for  not  only  did  Provost  discover  the  South  Pass  and  thus 
open  up  the  trapping  districts  of  the  Green  river  country,  but  Jim  Bridger, 
in  his  quest  of  furs,  came  upon  the  Great  Salt  Lake.  This  is  the  first 
recorded  instance  of  a  white  man  having  beheld  that  body  of  water, 
though  it  had  been  visited  by  the  Piegans  and  many  other  tribes  years 
before.  Young  Jedediah  Smith,  possessed  of  the  spirit  of  adventure, 
pushed  on  to  the  Pacific,  and  was  the  first  white  man  to  cross  the  Sierra 
Nevada  mountains." 


As  the  Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company  seemed  at  last  to  have  obtained 
momentum  and  overcome  the  obstacles  of  its  young  life,  so  the  reorgan- 
ized Missouri  Fur  Company,  bereft  of  the  strong  sustaining  hands  of  Lisa, 
was  overtaken  with  dire  disaster,  could  not  rally  and  suffered  a  steady 
decline  until  its  death  in  1830.  Its  hardest  blow  which  brought  about 
its  eventual  demise  was  the  wiping  out  of  the  expedition  sent  out  by  the 
company  in  the  spring  of  1823  to  establish  "friendly  relations"  with  the 
Blackfeet  and  secure  their  trade  which  centered  at  the  Three  Forks. 
Under  Messrs.  Jones  and  Immell,  it  duly  arrived  at  the  site  of  Henry's 
post  and  remained  there  until  the  middle  of  May.  Meeting  with  no  In- 
dians friendly,  commercially-inclined,  or  otherwise,  they  decided  to  re- 
turn to  the  Yellowstone. 

On  the  i/th  of  May,  while  following  Jefferson  Fork,  the  Jones- 
Immell  party  fell  in  with  a  band  of  Blackfeet.  One  of  the  Indians 
showed  the  leaders  a  note  headed  "Mountain  Park,  1823,"  and  at  the  bot- 
tom it  bore  "1820."  The  paper  introduced  the  holder  as  a  friendly  head 
chief  of  the  tribe  and  the  owner  of  many  furs.  As  it  also  showed  the 
inscription,  "God  save  the  King!"  it  was  evidently  of  British  manufac- 
ture. Although  the  Blackfeet  seemed  .kindly  disposed  and  favorable  to 
the  establishment  of  a  post  at  Great  Falls,  Jones  and  Immell  feared  the 
outcome  of  such  friendly  manifestations,  and  on  the  following  day 
gathered  their  men  and  started  rapidly  for  the  Yellowstone.  Meanwhile 
the  Blackfeet,  re-enforced  to  about  four  hundred,  followed  closely  be- 
hind. 

On  the  last  of  May,  1823,  the  doomed  party  of  twenty-nine,  pass- 
ing into  a  steep  and  narrow  defile,  were  ambushed  by  the  Indians  and 
furiously  attacked.  Seven  of  the  party  were  killed,  including  the  leaders. 

The  best  account  of  the  sad  and  unfortunate  affair  is  from  Ben- 


ilO  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

jamin  O'Fallon,  a  widely  known  Indian  agent  and  army  officer  and  a 
nephew  of  Gen.  William  Clark.  To  the  latter,  as  superintendent  of  Indian 
affairs  at  St.  Louis,  Major  O'Fallon  made  the  report  under  date  of  Fort 
Atkinson,  July  3,  1823.  The  part  relating  to  the  slaughter  of  the  Jones- 
Immell  party  and  the  capture  of  the  equipment  is  as  follows :  "The 
defeat  of  General  Ashley  by  the  A'Ricarees  and  departure  of  the  troops 
to  his  relief  had  scarcely  gone  to  you  when  an  express  arrived  announcing 
the  defeat  by  the  Blackfeet  Indians  near  the  Yellowstone  river,  of  the 
Missouri  Fur  Company's  Yellowstone  or  mountain  expedition,  com- 
manded by  Messrs.  Jones  and  Immell,  both  of  whom,  with  five  of  the  men, 
are  among  the  slain.  All  of  their  property,  to  the  amount  of  $15,000, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  *  *  *  The  express  goes  on  to  state 
'that  many  circumstances  (of  which  I  will  be  apprised  in  a  few  days) 
have  transpired  to  induce  the  belief  that  the  British  traders  (Hudson's 
Bay  Company)  are  exciting  the  Indians  against  us,  either  to  drive  us  from 
that  quarter,  or  reap,  with  the  Indians,  the  fruits  of  our  labor.'  They 
furnish  them  with  the  instruments  of  hell  and  a  passport  to  heaven — 
the  instruments  of  death  and  a  passport  to  our  bosoms. 

"Immell  had  great  experience  of  the  Indian  character,  but,  poor 
fellow,  with  a  British  passport,  at  last  they  deceived  him,  and  he  fell  a 
victim  to  his  own  credulity,  and  his  scalp,  with  those  of  his  murdered 
comrades,  is  now  bleeding  on  its  way  to  some  of  the  Hudson  establish- 
ments. *  *  * 

"I  am  at  this  moment  interrupted  by  the  arrival  of  an  express  from 
the  military  expedition,  with  a  letter  from  Doctor  Pilcher,  whom  you 
know  is  at  the  head  of  the  Missouri  Fur  Company  on  this  river,  in  which 
he  says:  'I  have  but  a  moment  to  write.  I  met  an  express  from  the 
Mandans  bringing  me  the  very  unpleasant  news — the  flower  of  my  busi- 
ness is  gone.  My  mountaineers  have  been  defeated,  and  the  chiefs  of  the 
party  both  slain ;  the  party  were  attacked  by  three  or  four  hundred  Black- 
feet  Indians  in  a  position  on  the  Yellowstone  river  where  nothing  but  de- 
feat could  be  expected.  Jones  and  Immell  and  five  men  were  killed.  The 
former,  it  is  said,  fought  most  desperately.  Jones  killed  two  Indians,  and 
in  drawing  a  pistol  to  kill  a  third  he  received  two  spears  in  his  breast. 
Immell  was  in  front ;  he  killed  one  Indian  and  was  cut  to  pieces.  I  think 
we  lose  at  least  $15,000.  I  will  write  you  more  fully  between  this  and  the 
Sioux.' 

"Jones  was  a  gentleman  of  cleverness.  He  was  for  several  years  a 
resident  of  St.  Louis,  where  he  has  numerous  friends  to  deplore  his  loss. 
Immell  has  been  a  long  time  on  this  river,  first  an  officer  in  the  United 
States  army,  since  an  Indian  trader  of  some  distinction;  in  some  respects 
he  was  an  extraordinary  man;  he  was  brave,  uncommonly  large,  and  of 
great  muscular  strength ;  when  timely  apprised  of  his  danger,  a  host 
within  himself." 

AMERICAN  FUR  COMPANY  ESTABLISHES  WESTERN  DEPARTMENT 

The  brilliant  operations  of  General  Ashley  and  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Fur  Company,  both  in  the  fur  trade  and  the  field  of  western  explora- 
tions, encouraged  its  great  rival,  the  American  Fur  Company,  now  ab- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  m 

sorbed,  with  several  independent  firms,  by  the  personality  of  John  Jacob 
Astor,  of  New  York,  to  establish  a  western  department  in  St.  Louis.  The 
strongest  of  the  independent  concerns  thus  absorbed  was  the  Columbia 
Fur  Company,  with  which  Kenneth  McKenzie  was  associated  as  president 
and  vitalizing  power.  With  the  consolidation,  or  absorption,  Mr.  Mc- 
Kenzie was  placed  in  charge  of  the  active  affairs  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  in  the  field.  As  Ashley  withdrew  from  the  trade  with  a  fortune, 
McKenzie  entered  the  field  as  its  dominant  figure. 

The  new  manager  assumed  charge  of  the  interests  of  the  American 
Fur  Company  at  the  height  of  Ashley's  great  success  as  the  head  of  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Fur  Company,  as  within  the  four  years  previous  to 
1827  or  1828  he  had  brought  into  St.  Louis  over  $250,000  worth  of 
beaver  skins.  The  most  phenomenal  year  in  the  history  of  the  company 
was  after  General  Ashley  had  sold  his  interest  in  it  to  Jedediah  Smith, 
David  E.  Jackson  and  William  L.  Sublette. 

KENNETH  MCKENZIE  RISES 

The  new  manager  assumed  charge  of  the  interests  of  the  American 
Fur  Company  at  the  height  of  the  trade  amassed  by  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Company,  as  within  the  four  years  previous  to  1828  it  had  sent  into  St. 
Louis  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  million  dollars'  worth  of  beaver  skins. 
In  1826  General  Ashley  had  sold  his  interest  in  the  Rocky  Mountain 
concern  to  Jedediah  Smith,  David  E.  Jackson  and  William  L.  Sublette, 
and  that  year  and  the  following,  were  phenomenal  for  catches.  The  pros- 
pects were  so  alluring  that  McKenzie  would  have  made  the  same  mis- 
take which  had  previously  been  disastrous  to  the  fur  traders — rush  to  the 
headwaters  of  the  Missouri  after  the  cream  of  the  trade  without  a  sub- 
stantial base  of  supplies  and  chain  of  communications  behind.  Pierre 
Chouteau  induced  him  to  be  more  cautious,  his  long  experience  as  a  fur 
trader  and  member  of  the  firm  of  Bernard  Pratte  &  Company,  which 
had  been  likewise  absorbed  by  Mr.  Astor's  corporation,  having  taught 
him  the  fine  lesson  of  "safety  first." 

FORT  FLOYD,  OR  FORT  UNION  FOUNDED 

In  the  summer  of  1828,  McKenzie  and  his  first  constructive  party 
started  up  the  Missouri,  and  in  September  of  that  year  built  Fort  Floyd 
above  the  Mandan  villages  in  the  North  Dakota  of  today,  as  permanent 
headquarters  of  the  American  Fur  Company.  Exactly  when  Fort  Floyd 
received  the  name  of  Fort  Union  (the  first)  is  not  known.  At  all  events, 
not  long  after  the  headquarters  of  the  company  were  fixed  at  that  local- 
ity, McKenzie  effected  his  first  friendly  union  with  Blackfeet  trappers, 
hunters  and  warriors,  and  made  a  real  advance  in  pushing  the  interests  of 
his  company.  How  this  was  brought  about  is  a  story  in  itself. 

MCKENZIE  WOOES  THE  BLACKFEET 

Soon  after  the  establishment  of  Fort  Floyd,  or  Union  (two  hundred 
miles  farther  up  the  river),  a  man  named  Burger,  who  spoke  Piegan, 
the  language  of  the  Blackfeet,  came  to  headquarters  and  McKenzie  in- 


112  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

duced  him  to  lead  a  party  up  the  Missouri  River,  in  quest  of  the  elusive 
Indians  and  the  trade  which  they  so  nearly  controlled.  They  set  out  from 
the  fort  in  dog  sleds,  reached  the  mouth  of  Maria's  River,  which  they 
followed  to  its  western  head  in  the  mountains,  Badger  Creek.  Up  to  that 
time  and  locality  no  trace  of  Blackfeet,  or  any  other  Indian,  had  been  dis- 
covered, and  one  night  the  discouraged  men  encamped  at  the  source  of 
that  creek  and  threw  the  Stars  and  Stripes  to  the  Rocky  Mountain 
breezes.  As  the  next  day  dawned,  a  party  of  Piegan  warriors  rode 
toward  them,  with  the  design  (as  was  afterward  learned)  of  attacking 
the  camp  at  once.  The  sight  of  the  streaming  flag  induced  one  of  the 
old  chiefs  to  plead  with  the  hot-headed  warriors  to  adopt  friendly  rela- 
tions with  the  whites,  and  the  result  was  that,  through  the  spokesmanship 
of  Burger,  a  former  employe  of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company,  the  Mc- 
Kenzie  men  were  taken  to  the  Piegans'  village  and  afterward  to  the 
Indians'  winter  encampment  on  Sun  River.  There  the  white  party 
remained  until  spring,  when  Burger  returned  to  old  Fort  Union  with 
100  leading  Piegans.  The  ensuing  council  ended  in  a  friendly  under- 
standing between  McKenzie  and  his  Indian  visitors,  and  in  the  summer  of 
1831  McKenzie  made  a  formal  treaty  of  peace  with  the  Blackfeet  and  the 
Assiniboines,  "a  document,"  says  a  commentator,  "more  remarkable  for 
its  rhetoric  than  its  pacific  results." 

Old  Fort  Union  was  burned  sometime  in  1831  and  its  name  applied  to 
the  post  built  not  long  afterward  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone.  Dur- 
ing that  autumn,  McKenzie  sent  James  Kipp,  with  twenty-five  men  and 
a  boat  loaded  with  stores  and  Indian  trading  goods,  up  the  Missouri  to 
take  advantage  of  the  friendly  relations  established  with  the  Piegans. 
Kipp  then  built  Fort  Piegan  on  a  site  between  Maria's  and  Missouri 
rivers,  and  it  is  said  that  within  ten  days  from  its  completion  he  had 
received  the  unprecedented  stock  of  2,400  beaver  skins  from  the  Piegan 
trappers.  The  Bloods,  attached  to  the  British  interests,  soon  after- 
ward attacked  Fort  Piegan,  and  although  Kipp  and  his  men  drove  off 
the  besiegers,  the  post  was  abandoned,  in  the  spring  of  1832,  and  the 
stock  of  furs  taken  to  Fort  Union  at  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone.  Al- 
though Fort  Piegan  was  abandoned  in  March,  1832,  the  leader  of  the 
party  left  three  of  his  men  behind,  with  tobacco  and  ammunition,  that 
the  friendly  Indians  might  not  feel  that  they  had  been  deserted  by  the 
Americans. 

FORT  MCKENZIE  BUTT.T 

During  that  year,  McKenzie  sent  David  D.  Mitchell  to  the  Fort 
Piegan  country  to  attempt -a  re-establishment  of  trade  relations  with  the 
Piegans,  acknowledged  to  be  the  best  trappers  of  the  Blackfeet  nation. 
But  the  keel  boat  of  the  expedition  with  its  costly  cargo  of  supplies 
and  goods  was  wrecked,  two  men  drowned,  and  all  the  articles  destined 
for  the  Indian  trade  were  lost.  Upon  receipt  of  the  news  of  the  disaster, 
McKenzie  sent  a  second  boat  laden  as  the  first,  and  Mitchell  continued 
his  voyage  to  the  site  of  Fort  Piegan,  only  to  find  it  charred  ruins  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  113 

ashes.  But  Mitchell  was  a  brave,  determined  man  after  McKenzie's  own 
heart,  and  at  once  built  another  post  and  fort  a  few  miles  above  the 
mouth  of  Maria's  and  below  the  narrow  ridge  separating  the  Teton  and 
the  Missouri  Rivers.  The  structure,  appropriately  named  Fort  McKenzie, 
was  built  of  logs,  two  hundred  feet  square,  and  faced  Maria's  River. 
The  American  Fur  Company  was  now  firmly  established  in  the  upper 
Missouri  country,  with  three  principal  bases  of  operation — Fort  Union, 
near  the  junction  of  the  Yellowstone  and  the  Missouri;  Fort  McKenzie, 
near  the  mouth  of  Maria's  River,  and  Fort  Cass,  at  the  confluence  of  the 
Big  Horn  and  the  Yellowstone. 

MCKENZIE  INAUGURATES  STEAMBOAT  NAVIGATION  TO  THE  YELLOWSTONE 

If  Astor  represented  the  financial  power  of  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany, McKenzie  now  stood  for  its  practical  development  in  the  most  pro- 
ductive beaver  and  fur  regions  of  America.  With  the  swelling  of  that 
trade  to  mammoth  proportions,  the  slow  and  cumbersome  transportation 
of  the  thousands  of  bales  of  furs  from  the  trapping  regions  of  the  Upper 
Missouri,  along  the  vast  stretches  of  the  river  system  to  the  ultimate 
market,  St.  Louis,  was  a  problem  which  McKenzie  first  attempted  to 
solve  through  steamboat  navigation.  After  .laboring  with  his  superiors 
who  controlled  the  finances  of  the  company,  he  persuaded  them  to  try  the 
doubtful  experiment.  Accordingly  a  boat  was  constructed  for  the  pur- 
pose in  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and,  as  the  "Yellowstone,"  made  two  trips 
up  the  Missouri  in  1831-32.  Its  last  voyage  was  the  momentous  one,  as 
from  March  to  June,  1832,  it  continued  to  breast  the  Missouri  until  it 
reached  Fort  Union,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone.  That  trip,  which 
demonstrated  the  utility  of  the  river  steamboat  in  the  prosecution  of  the 
spreading  fur  trade,  caused  comment  on  both  sides  of  the  Atlantic. 
Pierre  Chouteau,  who  was  aboard  the  "Yellowstone"  upon  both  occa- 
sions to  personally  test  the  possibilities  of  steamboat  navigation  received 
the  following  from  John  Jacob  Astor,  then  in  France:  "Your  voy- 
age in  the  'Yellowstone'  attracted  much  attention  in  Europe,  and  has  been 
noted  in  all  the  papers  here."  A  personal  incident  of  this  memorable 
second  trip  of  the  "Yellowstone"  was  that  one  of  its  passengers  was 
George  Catlin,  the  celebrated  artist,  author  and  student  of  Indian  habits  as 
relates  to  North  America. 

CAPTAIN  BONNEVILLE  AND  His  EXPLORATIONS 

While  McKenzie  was  opening  steamboat  navigation  on  the  Missouri, 
such  men  as  Capt.  B.  L.  E.  Bonneville  and  James  Bridger  were  penetrat- 
ing the  masses  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  ranging  over  large  stretches 
of  virgin  country  to  the  coast.  They  trapped,  scouted,  hunted  and  ex- 
plored, and  their  journeys  and  expeditions  were  too  extensive  in  their 
range  to  classify  the  principals  as  Montana  characters,  albeit  they  touch 
the  territory  and  the  state  at  many  points  The  captain's  greatest  travels 
as  an  explorer  of  the  West  beyond  the  mountains  were  pursued  in  the 


114  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

early  '305  and  are  thus  laid  down  by  the  principal  himself  to  the  Mon- 
tana Historical  Society,  writing  as  an  old  man,  long  retired  from  the 
strenuous  activities  of  life :  "One  of  my  parties,"  he  says,  "was  sent 
through  the  Crow  country  and  came  round  by  the  north  and  wintered 
with  me  on  Salmon  river;  another  party  was  sent  south  and  wintered 
on  the  shores  of  Salt  Lake;  another  journeyed  into  the  Utes  country, 
farther  south,  until  it  met  the  traders  and  trappers  from  New  Mexico; 
another  went  down  Salmon  river  to  Walla  Walla,  on  the  Columbia; 
another  to  coast  around  the  Salt  Lake ;  being  out  of  provisions,  it  turned 
north  upon  Maria's  (Humboldt)  river,  followed  this  river  down  west 
to  the  eastern  base  of  the  California  mountains,  where  it  empties  itself 
into  large  flat  lakes,  thence  westward,  clambering  for  twenty-three  days 
among  the  difficult  passes  of  this  elevated  range,  before  it  reached  its 
western  Pacific  slope ;  thence  to  Monterey  on  the  coast,  where  it  wintered. 
In  the  spring,  the  party  going  south  turned  the  southern  point  of  these 
mountains  on  its  way  to  the  Upper  Rocky  Mountains ;  another  party 
going  west  down  the  waters  of  Snake  river  to  the  base  of  the  California 
range,  turned  southeast  and  on  the  way  home  kept  the  divide,  as  near 
as  practicable,  between  Maria's  River  and  Snake ;  another  party  going 
north,  round  the  Wind  River  mountains,  followed  the  Po-po-az-ze-ah, 
the  Big  Horn,  and  the  Yellowstone  down  the  Missouri. 

"The  large  clear  stream  in  the  valley  immediately  west  of  the  South 
Pass  was. called  by  the  Indians  and  early  trappers  the  Sis-ke-de-az-ze-ah, 
afterward  Green  river.  I  was  the  first  to  take  wagons  through  the 
South  Pass  and  first  to  recognize  Green  river  as  the  Colorado  of  the 
West".  *  *  * 

FAMOUS  EXPEDITION  THROUGH  SOUTH  PASS 

During  these  eventful  years  in  the  life  of  Captain  Bonneville,  1832-34, 
he  spent  some  time  among  the  Nez  Perces  Indians  of  the  Far  West, 
and  all  but  dropped  out  of  the  United  States  Army  and  civilization. 
When  he  took  his  expedition  through  South  Pass,  in  1832,  perhaps  the 
first  to  accomplish  this  since  the  days  of  the  Ashley-Henry  explorations 
of  the  '205,  James  Bridger  was  his  scout,  and  thirty  years  afterward  he 
served  in  the  same  capacity  for  a  government  expedition  which  was  con- 
ducting two  Supreme  Court  judges  to  their  newly  appointed  posts  in  Utah. 
The  remarkable  fact,  also,  that  Jim  Bridger,  in  1862,  led  his  party  over 
the  same  route  pursued  by  him  in  1832  is  forcibly  stated  by  William 
S.  Brackett,  a  member  of  the  government  party,  who  afterward  became  a 
resident  of  Park  County,  Montana.*  His  words :  "Looking  back  nearly 
thirty-five  years  ago,  I  can  recall  the  beauty  and  romance  of  eventful 
days  when  I  camped  with  James  Bridger  on  the  Sweetwater  and  with 
him  marched  across  the  continent.  I  can  see  once  more  the  muddy  Platte, 
the  dark  fantastic  erosion  of  Scott's  Bluffs,  and  I  ride  again  with  the 
old  scout  through  the  broad  expanse  of  the  South  Pass  of  the  Rockies. 

"It  was  to  me  a  most  interesting  circumstance  on  our  march  to  Utah 
that  we  traveled  along  the  trail  where  Captain  Bonneville  marched  his 


115 

famous  expedition  to  the  Rocky  mountains  in  1832.  Our  camp  fires  were 
>ften  ht  in  the  same  places  where  his  own  once  burned.  Certain  it  is 
that  at  Chimney  Rock  we  camped  on  the  very  ground  where  the  old  hero 
had  camped.  This  information  was  given  by  the  scout,  James  Bridger 
who  was  with  us.  He  had  been  with  Bonneville  in  1832-33." 

An  account  more  in  detail  of  this  famous  expedition  is  given  by  Brack- 
ett,  who  borrows  largely  from  outside  sources.  Bonneville  secured  the 
aid  in  New  York  of  men  of  wealth  interested  in  the  fur  trade  in  the  West, 
and  was  thus  able  to  fit  out  his  expedition,  which  started  for  the  Rocky 
Mountains  from  the  frontier  post  of  Fort  Osage,  on  the  Missouri  River 


JIM  BRIDGER,  FAMOUS  EXPLORER  AND  GUIDE 

May  i,  1832.  He  had  with  him  one  hundred  and  ten  men,  most  of  whom 
had  been  in  the  Indian  country,  and  some  of  whom  were  experienced 
hunters  and  trappers.  Up  to  that  time  all  western  expeditions  had  used 
mules  and  pack  horses  for  transportation.  Bonneville  was  the  first  man 
who  substituted  wagons  for  the  old  method,  and  is  said  to  be  the  first  man 
who  ever  crossed  the  backbone,  or  Great  Divide,  of  the  American  con- 
tinent with  wagons.  His  train  consisted  of  twenty  wagons,  some  drawn 
by  oxen,  and  some  by  mules  and  horses.  His  usual  formation  for  the 
march  was  to  dispose  his  wagons  in  two  columns,  with  a  strong  advance 
and  rear  guard  of  mounted  men  to  protect  them  in  case  of  attack  by  In- 
dians. If  subsequent  travelers  and  emigrants  had  crossed  the  plains  in 
this  formation  there  would  have  been  fewer  Indian  massacres  to  record. 
Bonneville's  customary  method  of  forming  camp  is  interesting.  His 


116  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

twenty  wagons  were  disposed  in  a  square  at  the  distance  of  thirty-three 
feet  from  each  other.  In  every  interval  a  mess  outfit  was  stationed; 
and  each  mess  had  its  own  fire  where  the  men  cooked,  ate,  gossiped  and 
slept.  The  horses  were  placed  at  night  in  the  center  of  the  square  and 
were  always  under  vigilant  guard. 

Washington  Irving,  in  speaking  of  the  start  of  Bonneville's  expedi- 
tion, beautifully  says:  "It  is  not  easy  to  do  justice  to  the  exulting  feel- 
ings of  the  worthy  captain  at  finding  himself  at  the  head  of  a  stout  band 
of  hunters,  trappers  and  woodmen,  fairly  launched  on  the  broad  prairies 
with  his  face  to  the  boundless  West.  The  tamest  inhabitant  of  cities, 
the  veriest  spoiled  child  of  civilization,  feels  his  heart  dilate  and  his 
pulse  beat  high  on  finding  himself  on  horseback  in  the  glorious  wilderness. 
What,  then,  must  be  the  excitement  of  one  whose  imagination  had  been 
stimulated  by  a  long  residence  on  the  frontier,  and  to  whom  the  wilder- 
ness was  a  region  of  romance-!  *  *  *  Their  very  appearance  and 
equipment  exhibited  a  piebald  mixture,  half  civilized  and  half  savage. 
Many  of  them  looked  more  like  Indians  than  white  men  in  their  garbs  and 
accouterments,  and  their,  very  horses  were  caparisoned  in  barbaric  style 
with  fantastic  trappings.  Their  march  was  animated  and  joyous.  The 
welkin  rang  with  th'eir  shouts  and  yelps  as  they  started  from  Fort  Osage, 
quite  after  the  manner  of  savages;  and  with  boisterous  jokes  and  light- 
hearted  laughter.  As  they  passed  the  straggling  hamlets  and  solitary 
cabins  that  fringed  the  skirts  of  the  frontier,  they  would  startle  their 
inmates  by  Indian  yells  and  war  whoops,  or  regale  them  with  grotesque 
feats  of  horsemanship  well  suited  to  their  half-savage  appearance." 

But  all  this  hilarity  disappeared  as  Bonneville's  men  entered  upon  the 
real  difficulties  of  their  journey  beyond  the  pale  of  civilization,  and  the 
wagons  were  placed  in  double  column  with  advance  and  rear  guards, 
as  already  mentioned. 

The  first  objective  point  of  Bonneville's  expedition  was  Pierre's  Hole, 
which  lies  just  west  of  the  Three  Tetons,  in  the  heart  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains, and  southwest  of  the  Yellowstone  National  Park.  It  was  in  this 
beautiful  valley  called  Pierre's  Hole  that  Bonne ville  proposed  to  pass 
some  weeks,  for  it  was  there  the  old  trappers  and  hunters  had  been  used 
to  assemble  for  many  years,  to  pas's  the  winter  months.  The  expedition 
reached  Pierre's  Hole  and  rested  there  for  some  time,  and  the  life  of  his 
men  in  that  sheltered  valley  is  well  described  in  Bonneville's  journal. 
Pierre's  Hole  lies  just  west  of  Jackson's  Hole.  This  old-time  rendezvous 
of  the  Rocky  Mountain  trappers  is  so  near  to  the  great  geysers  of  Yel- 
lowstone Park  that  it  seems  almost  certain  that  Bonneville  or  some  of  his 
men  must  have  visited  those  wonders  when  they  were  resting  there. 

General  Bonneville  himself  sets  this  question  at  rest  in  his  most  in- 
teresting letter  published  in  Volume  I  of  the  Contributions  to  the  His- 
torical Society  of  Montana.  He  says  in  that  letter,  written  from  Fort 
Smith,  Arkansas :  "You  ask  me  if  I  knew  of  the  thermal  springs  and 
geysers.  Not  personally,  but  my  men  knew  about  them  and  called  their 
location  "The  Fire  Hole."  I  recollect  the  name  of  Alvarez  as  a  trader. 


THE  GIANT  GEYSER 


CASTLE  GEYSER 


118  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

I  think  he  came  to  the  mountains  as  I  was  leaving  them.    Half  a  century 
is  a  long  time  to  look  back,  and  I  do  so  doubting  myself." 

In  an  old  Mormon  newspaper  "The  Wasp,"  published  at  Nauvoo, 
Illinois,  in  1842,  an  unknown  writer  gives  an  accurate  account  of  the 
geysers  of  Yellowstone  Park,  which  he  visited  with  one  Alvarez  in  1833. 
This  makes  the  testimony  of  Bonneville  of  great  value  as  tending  to  prove 
that  the  geysers  of  Firehole  River  (or  Upper  Geyser  Basin)  in  Yellow- 
stone Park  were  visited  by  white  men  as  early  as  the  year  1833. 

ALMOST  ABSORBED  BY  THE  NEZ  PERCES 

Commenting  on  Captain  Bonneville's  narrow  escape  from  absorption 
by  the  Nez  Perces,  Mr.  Brackett  writes :  "It  must  have  been  some  great 
fascination  for  life  in  those  wild  mountains  that  induced  Captain  Bonne- 
ville to  overstay  his  leave  of  absence  and  fail  to  return  to  civilization  until 
the  autumn  of  1835.  His  leave  of  absence  expired  in  October,  1833. 
His  name  was  stricken  from  the  rolls  of  the  army  as  dead  or  lost,  in 
1834,  and  his  return  was  not  until  the  following  year,  when  after  a  good 
deal  of  trouble  he  was  reinstated  in  the  army  with  his  former  rank. 

"I  cannot  but  think  he  became  so  enamored  of  the  joyous  and  free 
life  he  and  his  men  were  leading  among  the  friendly  Nez  Perces  and 
Flatheads,  west  of  the  mountains  and  on  Salmon  River,  that  he  forgot 
civilization  with  its  fretful  cares  and  silly  conventionalities,  and  lived 
only  in  the  enjoyment  of  the  present,  hurrying  back  to  the  crowded 
eastern  world  only  when  he  awoke  as  if  from  a  beautiful  dream.  He  was 
one  of  those  rare  men  who  thoroughly  understood  savage  races  and  could 
control  them.  All  who  know  anything  of  the  Nez  Perces  know  that  they 
are  a  noble  and  generous  race  of  Indians,  and  Bonneville  thoroughly  ap- 
preciated them  as  such.  *  *  *" 

There  should  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  captain's  sentiments  on  that  point, 
for  he  has  described  them  in  his  own  journal,  thus:  "Though  the  pros- 
pect of  once  more  tasting  the  blessings  of  peaceful  society  and  passing 
days  and  nights  under  the  calm  guardianship  of  the  laws  was  not  without 
its  attraction ;  yet  to  those  of  us  whose  whole  lives  had  been  spent  in  the 
stirring  excitement  and  perpetual  watchfulness  of  adventures  in  the 
wilderness,  the  change  was  far  from  promising  an  increase  of  that  con- 
tentment and  inward  satisfaction  most  conducive  to  happiness.  He  who, 
like  myself,  has  roved  almost  from  boyhood  among  the  children  of  the 
forest,  and  over  the  unfurrowed  plains  and  rugged  heights  of  the  western 
wastes,  will  not  be  startled  to  learn  that  notwithstanding  all  the  fascina- 
tions of  the  world  on  this  civilized  side  of  the  mountains,  I  would  fain 
make  my  bow  to  the  splendors  and  gayeties  of  the  metropolis  and  plunge 
again  amid  the  hardships  and  perils  of  the  wilderness." 

"It  is  not  to  be  inferred  for  an  instant,"  continues  Brackett,  "from 
what  is  here  narrated  of  Bonneville's  delightful  sojourn  among  the  Nez 
Perces  that  he  lived  a  life  of  inglorious  ease  in  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
On  the  contrary  later  he  passed  through  great  hardships  and  incurred 
great  dangers  in  exploring  regions  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  about 
which  he  brought  back  to  civilization  the  first  definite  accounts. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  119 

"For  example,  he  visited  and  explored  the  Great  Salt  Lake  and  gave 
to  the  world  the  first  definite  account  of  that  inland  sea.  Scientists  at 
this  day  have  given  the  lake  and  its  ancient  water  lines  the  name  of  Lake 
Bonneville,  and  by  his  name  it  ought  to  be  known  and  called.  His 
various  parties  sent  out  in  different  directions  to  trap  and  trade  with  the 
Indians  opened  up  vast  fields  of  enterprise  to  various  American  fur  com- 
panies ;  and  he  did  more  than  any  other  man  to  retrieve  for  his  country 
some  of  the  lost  fur  trade  which  centered  at  Astoria  and  up  to  that  time 
had  been  controlled  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 

IRVING  DESCRIBES  THE  CAPTAIN 

"It  was  at  the  house  of  John  Jacob  Astor,  in  New  York,  that  Wash- 
ington Irving  met  Captain  Bonneville  after  the  return  of  the  latter  from 
the  wilderness,  and  the  two  remarkable  men  became  fast  friends.  Bonne- 
ville gave  his  journals  to  Irving  to  be  revised  and  published.  Irving  gives 
us  an  .interesting  picture  of  the  great  explorer  as  he  then  appeared: 
'There  was  something  in  the  whole  appearance  of  the  captain,'  says  he, 
'that  prepossessed  me  in  his  favor.  He  was  of  the  middle  size,  well  made 
and  well  set ;  and  a  military  frock  of  foreign  cut,  that  had  seen  service, 
gave  him  a  look  of  compactness.  His  countenance  was  frank,  open  and 
engaging,  well  browned  by  the  sun,  and  had  something  of  a  French  ex- 
pression. He  had  a  pleasant  black  eye,  a  high  forehead,  and  while  he 
kept  his  hat  on,  the  look  of  a  man  in  the  jocund  prime  of  his  days ;  but  the 
moment  his  head  was  uncovered  a  bald  crown  gained  him  credit  for  a 
few  more  years  than  he  was  really  entitled  to.  His  manner  was  a  ming- 
ling of  modesty  and  frankness.  It  was  difficult  to  conceive  the  mild,  quiet- 
looking  personage  before  us  was  the  actual  hero  of  the  stirring  scenes 
he  had  passed  through.  He  was  a  man  of  great  bonhommie,  with  kind- 
liness of  spirit  and  susceptibility  for  the  grand  and  beautiful'." 

CAPTAIN,  COLONEL  AND  GENERAL  BONNEVILLE 

The  after  career  of  the  good  captain  and  general  includes  more  than 
a  quarter  of  a  century's  continuous  service  in  the  United  States  army.  He 
was  reinstated  in  1835  and,  by  successive  promotions,  became  colonel  of 
the  Third  United  States  Infantry  twenty  years  thereafter.  For  a  time, 
he  was  stationed  at  Santa  Fe,  New  Mexico,  in  command  of  the  district 
which  centered  there,  and  during  the  early  years  of  the  Civil  war  was 
stationed  at  Jefferson  Barracks,  Missouri.  Colonel  Bonneville  had  been 
retired  from  active  service  in  1861  and  in  1865  was  brevetted  brigadier- 
general,  United  States  army,  for  long  and  meritorious  services.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  in  1878,  while  engaged  in  farming  at  Fort  Smith,  Ar- 
kansas, he  was  eighty-three  years  old. 

A  good  portrait  of  him  was  presented  to  Mr.  Brackett  by  Hon. 
N.  P.  Langford,  of  St.  Paul,  for  whom  Captain  Bonneville  once  acted 
as  guide,  and  represents  him  when  he  was  seventy-eight  years  old,  in  the 
fatigue  uniform  of  a  brigadier-general  of  the  regular  army. 


120  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

JAMES  BRIDGER,  FAMOUS,  QUAINT  SCOUT 

James  Bridger,  Captain  Bonneville's  scout  of  1832,  all-around  western 
pioneer,  has  a  long  and  close  identification  with  Montana.  He  passed 
through  all  the  experiences  of  beaver  hunter,  pioneer  guide,  buffalo 
hunter,  Indian  trader,  emigrant  trader,  founder  of  the  first  post  and 
refuge  on  the  long  Oregon  trail  (Fort  Bridger),  blaze  of  great  trails  into 
Montana,  leader  of  government  expeditions  against  hostile  Indians  and, 
with  J.  M.  Bozeman,  a  kindred  spirit,  the  stamper  of  his  name  upon  the 
history  and  geography  of  Montana.  His  friend  and  associate,  William  S. 
Brackett,  from  whose  sketch  of  his  character  extracts  have  already  been 
taken,  has  written  this  paragraph:  "The  testimony  of  scores  of  prom- 
inent military  commanders  and  civilians  can  be  produced  showing  that 
James  Bridger  was  always  to  be  trusted  and  believed  in  as  a  guide,  scout, 
trader  arid  all-around  pioneer.  His  idle  tales  were  told  only  to  idle 
people  in  idle  hours.  At  heart,  he  was  as  truthful  as  he  was  skillful  and 
brave.  He  never  betrayed  any  man  and  was  never  untrue  to  any  trust, 
public  or  private.  I  am  always  glad  to  look  at  his  everlasting  monument 
in  Montana;  that  grand  mountain  peak  (Bridger  range)  near  the  city 
of  Bozeman,  overlooking  the  beautiful  Gallatin  valley  and  named  in  honor 
of  him." 

EXPLOITING  THE  INDIANS  THROUGH  WHISKEY 

In  1832-33  occurred  the  disgraceful  exploitation  of  the  Indians  by 
rival  fur  companies  in  their  struggles  for  trade,  through  the  medium  of 
whiskey.  Narcisse  Leclerc,  formerly  with  the  American  Fur  Company; 
Pierre  Chouteau,  still  a  leading  member  of  the  company ;  Milton  Sub- 
lette  and  Robert  Campbell,  supported  by  General  Ashley  and  Nathaniel 
J.  Wyeth,  a  newly  arrived  Yankee,  were  all,  more  or  less,  implicated  in 
the  degredation  of  the  Indians  for  the  purpose  of  securing  their  trade. 
Even  Gen.  William  Clark,  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  became  in- 
volved, as  he  had  granted  to  several  agents  of  the  fur  companies  per- 
mission to  export  whiskey  from  St.  Louis  into  the  Indian  country  before 
he  had  been  officially  notified  of  the  passage  of  the  congressional  act 
(July  9,  1832)  forbidding  the  use  of  alcohol  as  a  medium  of  trade  with 
the  Indians. 

FORT  WILLIAM  vs.  FORT  UNION 

In  1833,  McKenzie  and  the  American  Fur  Company  were  called  upon 
to  meet  what  promised  to  become  a  serious  opposition  in  the  combination 
of  Messrs.  Sublette,  Campbell  and  Wyeth,  who  established  a  post  near 
Fort  Union  which  they  called  Fort  William  for  William  Sublette.  Their 
venture  early  met  will  ill  fortune  and  as  their  capital  was  limited  they 
were  not  able  to  compete  with  McKenzie,  with  ample  means  behind  the 
American  Fur  Company,  who  paid  exhorbitant  prices  for  his  furs  in  order 
to  stamp  out  the  trade  of  his  rival.  Whiskey,  also,  flowed  more  freely 
from  Fort  Union  than  from  Fort  William,  notwithstanding  attempted 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  121 

government  prohibition.  A  combined  policy  of  "freeze-out"  in  the  field 
and  absorption  by  the  management  at  St.  Louis  finally  crushed  the  oppo- 
sition. 

MCKENZIE'S  UNDOING 

Then  McKenzie  set  out  upon  a  policy  which  proved  his  undoing.  He 
claimed  he  could  no  longer  do  business  with  the  Indians  without  the  aid 
of  alcoholic  spirit,  and  brought  over  to  his  way  of  thinking  every  member 
of  the  American  Fur  Company  save  one.  He  went  east  in  his  endeavor 
to  obtain  from  the  government  authorities  concessions  by  which  he  could 
secure  the  "necessary"  stock  of  liquors.  As  his  errand  proved  futile, 
he  determined  to  make  them  on  the  ground.  McKenzie  purchased  a  still, 
took  it  up  the  Missouri  on  the  steamers  Yellowstone  and  Assiniboine, 
bought  a  quantity  of  corn  and  was  soon  turning  out  an  effective  brand 
of  "juice."  In  August,  1833,  Wyeth  and  a  friend  arrived  at  Fort  Union 
and  were  nicely  entertained  by  McKenzie,  before  he  was  aware  that  they 
came  as  his  commercial  opponents.  They  were  so  pleased  with  his  spirits 
that,  in  an  impulse  of  unwise  confidence,  he  showed  them  the  still  of 
which  even  his  superiors  in  the  company  were  ignorant.  Contrariwise, 
he  bled  his  guests  for  some  supplies  which  they  were  forced  to  buy,  and 
they  straightway  reported  his  secret  still  to  the  government  authorities  at 
Leavenworth.  The  latter  ordered  him  to  dispose  of  his  still  at  once  and 
the  management  of  the  American  Fur  Company  so  severely  censured 
him  that  he  left  Fort  Union  in  1834  and  soon  after  went  abroad. 

During  his  active  operations  as  the  manager  of  the  American  Fur 
Company,  Kenneth  McKenzie  was  a  power,  and  his  popular  title,  the 
King  of  the  Missouri,  he  impressively  upheld  in  his  bearing  and  manner- 
isms. His  style  of  dress,  his  aloofness,  was  quite  royal.  He  was  married 
to  an  Indian  woman  and  had  by  that  union  a  son,  Owen.  After  he  left 
the  fur  trade,  he  went  into  the  wholesale  liquor  business  in  St.  Louis, 
where  he  died  (having  again  married)  on  April  26,  1861. 

ARRIVAL  OF  MAJOR  ALEXANDER  CULBERTSON 

While  Mr.  McKenzie  was  bearing  his  ill-fated  still  to  Fort  Union,  in 
1833,  he  had  as  fellow  passengers  aboard  the  Assiniboine,  Prince  Maxi- 
milian and  Alexander  Culbertson— the  former  a  traveling  scientist  of 
wealth  and  eccentric  character,  and  the  latter  a  strong  man  who  was  to 
be  a  leader  in  the  activities  of  the  Upper  Missouri  country  for  thirty 
years.  Major  Culbertson  was  then  an  employe  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  who  had  been  assigned  to  duty  at  Fort  McKenzie,  whither  he 
repaired  with  David  D.  Mitchell,  a  clerk  of  the  company,  about  August 
10,  1833. 

EXPEDITION  OF  PRINCE  MAXIMILIAN 

• 

From  Lieutenant  Bradley's  Journal,  covering  the  year  1833,  is  the 
following  account  of  the  enterprising  and  scientific  Prince:     "In  this 


122 

year  an  interesting  character  in  the  person  of  Prince  Maximilian,  from 
Coblentz  on  the  Rhine,  made  his  first  appearance  in  the  upper  Missouri. 
The  Prince  was  at  that  time  nearly  seventy  years  of  age,  but  well  pre- 
served and  able  to  endure  considerable  fatigue.  He  was  a  man  of  medium 
height,  rather  slender,  sans  teeth,  passionately  fond  of  his  pipe,  unos- 
tentatious and  speaking  very  broken  English.  His  favorite  dress  was 
a  white  slouch  hat,  a  black  velvet  coat  rather  rusty  from  long  service, 
and  probably  the  greasiest  pair  of  trousers  that  ever  encased  princely 
legs.  The  Prince  was  a  bachelor  and  a  man  of  science,  and  it  was  in 
this  latter  capacity  that  he  had  roamed  so  far  from  his  ancestral  home 
on  the  Rhine.  He  was  accompanied  by  an  artist  named  Boardman  and 
a  servant  whose  name  was,  as  nearly  as  the  author  has  been  able  to 
ascertain  its  spelling  Tritripel,  both  of  whom  seemed  gifted  to  a  high 
degree  with  the  faculty  of  putting  their  princely  employer  into  a  frequent 
passion,  till  there  is  hardly  a  bluff  or  a  valley  on  the  whole  upper  Mis- 
souri that  has  not  repeated  in  an  angry  tone,  and  with  a  strong  Teutonic 
accent,  the  names  of  Boardman  and  Tritripel. 

"The  Prince  had  ascended  the  Missouri  from  St.  Louis  to  Fort  Union 
in  the  steamer  Assiniboine,  ranging  the  shore  at  every  opportunity  in 
quest  of  new  objects  to  add  to  his  collections  of  small  quadrupeds,  birds, 
botanical  specimens  and  fossils;  keeping  his  artist  as  busy  as  his  easy 
nature  allowed  in  making  sketches  of  the  scenery  on  the  route.  Arrived 
at  Fort  Union,  he  requested  permission  to  accompany  Mitchell's  keel- 
boat  to  Fort  McKenzie  (a  few  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Maria's  River) 
and  was  allowed  to  do  so.  During  the  voyage  he  improved  the  oppor- 
tunities it  afforded  and  made  constant  additions  to  his  collections.  He 
remained  at  Fort  McKenzie  about  a  month,  when  he  was  furnished  with 
a  small  mackinac  boat,  in  which,  with  his  party  he  descended  to  the 
Mandan  village,  leaving  a  hearty  invitation  to  Mitchell  and  Culbertson  to 
visit  him  in  Europe  and  the  promise  to  send  the  former  the  present  of 
a  double  barreled  rifle  and  the  latter  a  fine  meerschaum.  He  remained  at 
the  Mandan  village  the  following  winter,  when  he  had  a  severe  attack 
of  the  scurvy,  but  aided  by  the  restorative  qualities  of  wild  onions  was 
enabled  to  recover  and  return  home  to  write  an  account  of  his  travels, 
which  was  published  in  German,  with  illustrations,  and  afterwards  trans- 
lated into  English. 

"McKenzie  subsequently  visited  him  in  his  palace  at  Coblentz,  where 
he  lived  in  a  style  befitting  a  prince,  and  was  received  with  great  cor- 
diality and  entertained  with  lavish  hospitality.  He  inquired  whether  the 
double  barreled  gun  and  the  meerschaum  had  reached  their  destination, 
as  he  had  remembered  his  promise  and  forwarded  them  soon  after  his 
return  to  Europe.  They  had  not,  and  never  were  received,  for  it  sub- 
sequently appeared  that  the  vessel  in  which  they  were  shipped  was  lost, 
so  that  they  are  probably  now  among  the  ill-gotten  hoards  of  the  Atlantic." 

While  Prince  Maximilian  was  scouring  the  Upper  Missouri  for 
botanic  specimens,  both  white  and  red  trappers  were  haunting  its  streams 
and  slowly  draining  them  of  the  beaver  kind  which  formerly  swarmed 
through  its  waters  and  over  its  dams.  The  white  men,  for  gain ;  the  red 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  123 

trappers  to  satisfy  the  thirst  for  whiskey  which  had  been  designedly 
planted  in  their  natures.  The  busy  little  fur-bearers  were  no  longer 
exempt  from  these  incessant  and  fierce  forays  even  during  the  breeding 
season;  so  that  millions  of  their  offspring  were  exterminated  before 
birth. 

DAVID  D.  MITCHELL 

The  fur  trade  was  doomed  and  John  Jacob  Astor,  in  1834,  shrewdly 
retired  from  the  American  Fur  Company.  Its  western  branch  thereupon 
passed  to  Pratte,  Chouteau  &  Company,  and  among  their  most  trusted 
employes  and  trappers  were  Messrs.  Mitchell  and  Culbertson.  The 
former  left  for  the  States  in  1834,  but,  being  offered  a  partnership  in 
the  company  returned  to  Fort  McKenzie  in  1836.  He  remained  at  that 
post  until  spring,  and  then  was  sent  to  Fort  Union,  where  he  directed 
the  company's  affairs  until  1839.  Returning  to  St.  Louis,  he  distinguished 
himself  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  President  Taylor  afterward  appointed 
him  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  "the  whole  region  drained  by 
the  Missouri  and  its  tributaries."  Mitchell  was  a  Virginian  and  died 
at  St.  Louis  in  his  fifty-sixth  year.  He  was  married  to  an  Indian  woman, 
by  whom  he  had  several  children. 

MAJOR  ALEXANDER  CULBERTSON 

When  Mitchell  departed  from  Fort  McKenzie,  in  April,  1834,  Maj. 
Alexander  Culbertson,  then  only  twenty-five  years  of  age,  was  left  in 
control  of  the  little  stronghold  with  its  force  of  twenty  men.  In  June, 
it  was  besieged  by  a  strong  force  of  Crows,  who,  after  ten  days,  had 
reduced  the  garrison  to  almost  starvation  rations,  but  were  decisively 
scattered  by  one  discharge  of  a  little  three-pound  cannon.  At  this  time, 
Fort  McKenzie  was  the  storm  center  of  inter-tribal  warfare.  Around 
it,  the  Crows  were  fighting  the  Gros  Ventres;  the  Gros  Ventres,  the 
Crees  and  the  Northern  Assiniboines ;  and  the  Crows  were  also  warring 
against  the  Piegans. 

MALCOM  CLARKE  ARRIVES 

In  the  spring  of  1839  Major  Culbertson  visited  St.  Louis  and  his 
services  had  been  such  that  the  company  received  him  as  a  partner.  In 
the  autumn  of  that  year,  he  returned  accompanied  by  Malcom  Clarke, 
a  Hoosier  twenty-two  years  of  age,  who  was  to  intermarry  with  the  royal 
stock  of  the  Piegans,  attain  a  remarkable  influence  among  them  and  with 
men  and  women  of  his  own  race,  and  finally  be  treacherously  murdered 
by  those  of  the  adopted  race. 

One  of  the  few  instances  of  bloodshed  in  the  history  of  the  American 
Fur  Company,  connected  with  any  of  its  agents  occurred  in  May,  1840. 
A  quarrel  between  Alexander  Harvey,  a  lawless  character,  and  Sandoval, 
an  employe  of  good  reputation,  resulted  in  the  shooting  and  killing  of 
the  latter.  Respected  descendants  of  the  unfortunate  man  afterwards 


124  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

resided  on  the   Blackfeet  reservation,  although   the   family   spelling  of 
the  name  was  changed  to  Sanderville. 

BUFFALO  ROBES  REPLACING  BEAVER  SKINS 

By  the  later  '305,  the  beaver  fur  trade  had  reached  a  low  ebb,  but  the 
trade  in  buffalo  skins  was  well  under  way.  In  1841,  Major  Culbertson 
took  to  Fort  Union  2,200  packs  of  buffalo  robes  and  only  four  packs  of 
beaver.  He  had  become  so  commanding  a  factor  in  the  affairs  of  the 
company  that,  under  protest,  he  was  transferred  to  Fort  Laramie,  which 
required  a  man  of  his  energy  and  ability  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  trade 
which  was  naturally  tributary  to  it. 

AUDUBON  CALLS  ON  CULBERTSON 

Ifi  1841,  not  long  before  he  left  Fort  McKenzie  for  Fort  Laramie,  the 
intelligent,  accommodating  and  forceful  major  was  sought  by  the  cel- 
ebrated naturalist,  John  J.  Audubon.  With  four  assistants,  the  noted 
scholar  was  engaged  in  making  a  collection  of  quadrupeds  and  gathering 
various  scientific  data  in  the  interesting  Missouri  country.  Because  of 
his  intimate  knowledge  of  the  region,  Culbertson's  cooperation  was  of 
great  service  to  Audubon.  When  the  latter  was  ready  to  return  in  the 
fall,  he  was  provided  with  a  mackinaw,  in  which  Major  Culbertson  ac- 
companied him  as  far  as  Fort  Pierre.  Major  Culbertson  subsequently 
spoke  of  Mr.  Audubon  as  a  man  devoted  to  scientific  studies,  "but  fond 
of  occasional  indulgence  in  the  stimulating  compound  of  the  cup.* 
Notwithstanding  his  age — then  about  sixty-one — he  could  range  the  wood 
and  prairies  all  day  in  the  pursuit  of  objects  for  his  collection,  and 
Major  Culbertson,  although  a  young  and  vigorous  man,  found  it  dif- 
ficult to  tire  him." 

AN  INDIAN  MASSACRE  BY  WHITES 

Major  Culbertson's  place  at  Fort  McKenzie  was  taken  by  a  dis- 
reputable named  F.  A.  Chardon,  in  turn  under  control  of  the  murderer, 
Harvey.  The  result  of  this  unfortunate  appointment  is  thus  described 
in  Lieutenant  Bradley's  journal:  "In  January,  1842,  a  war  party  of 
twenty-odd  Blackfeet  passing  by  the  fort  requested  admittance,  but  the 
gates  were  closed  against  them.  Incensed  at  the  treatment,  as  they 
moved  off  they  killed  a  pig  belonging  to  the  fort.  Harvey  counseled 
retaliation  for  the  act,  and  Chardon  himself  with  half  a  dozen  men  set  out 
in  pursuit  of  the  Indians,  who,  discovering  that  they  were  followed, 
awaited  in  ambush  in  the  Teton  Valley.  As  the  party  approached,  Reese, 
a  negro,  who  was  in  advance,  crept  to  the  brow  of  the  bluffs  to  recon- 
noiter,  and  received  a  shot  in  the  forehead  which  was  instantly  fatal. 
The  remainder  of  the  party,  intimidated  by  this  event  from  further 


*  Bradley's  "Affairs  at  Fort  Benton,"  Contributions  of  the  Montana  Historical 
Society,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  234. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  125 

pursuit,  returned  with  the  body  of  Reese  to  the  fort,  Chardon  and  Harvey 
vowing  a  bloody  revenge. 

"Major  Culbertson's  policy  of  good-will  toward  the  Indians  had  taken 
root  so  deeply  in  the  popular  sentiment  at  the  fort  that  Chardon  and 
Harvey  feared  to  make  their  murderous  designs  generally  known,  and 
therefore  admitted  only  some  half  dozen  to  a  participation  in  their  plans. 
The  cannon  commanding  the  approach  of  the  main  gate  was  secretly 
loaded,  being  charged  with  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  half-ounce  lead 
bullets,  while,  in  lieu  of  the  match  ordinarily  employed  and  which  might 
at  the  decisive  moment  attract  attention  and  overthrow  their  plans, 
Harvey's  pistol  was  to  be  charged  with  powder  and  fired  into  the  vent. 
Circumstances  were  to  determine  the  remaining  dispositions;  and  thus 
prepared,  Chardon  and  Harvey  awaited  the  arrival  of  some  unsuspecting 
trading  party  of  Blackfeet.  Such  arrivals  were  too  frequent,  thanks  to 
the  thriving  trade  to  permit  of  long  waiting  on  the  part  of  the  con- 
spirators. 

"A  numerous  band  of  Blackfeet  and  squaws  soon  arrived  at  the  fort 
with  a  quantity  of  robes  to  trade.  The  three  chiefs  were  admitted 
without  hesitation,  while  the  rest  were  directed  to  gather  at  the  gate, 
which  they  were  told  would  be  opened  as  soon  as  they  were  all  assembled. 
Without  a  suspicion  of  the  black  treachery  meditated  against  them,  a 
laughing  crowd  of  warriors  and  squaws  with  their  bundles  and  peltries 
were  soon  gathered  at  the  gate  awaiting  admittance.  Harvey,  from  his 
station  in  the  bastion  by  the  side  of  the  cannon,  pistol  in  hand,  watched 
through  the  port-hole  the  dense  crowd  assembled  below;  until,  satisfied 
with  the  number  of  his  contemplated  victims,  he  discharged  his  pistol 
in  the  vent.  A  sudden  roar  and  the  storm  of  bullets  is  hurled  into  the 
unsuspecting  throng.  With  a  wail  of  terror,  mingled  with  some  notes  of 
agony  from  the  wounded,  the  crowd  disperses  in  flight.  Twenty-one 
corpses  strew  the  ground,  while  some  dozen  or  more  are  staggering 
away  with  severe  wounds. 

"In  an  instant  the  gates  are  flung  open  and  several  of  the  garrison 
rush  forth  in  pursuit.  Several  of  the  wounded  are  overtaken  and  dis- 
patched, but  fleeing  with  the  wings  that  terror  gives  the  remainder  make 
good  their  escape.  Three  of  the  conspirators  had  been  selected  to 
dispatch  the  three  chiefs  at  the  discharge  of  the  cannon,  but  when  its 
thunder  startled  them,  followed  by  the  cries  outside,  they  comprehended 
the  villainy  that  was  being  perpetrated,  scaled  the  walls  and  leaped  the 
pickets  with  such  celerity  that  the  would-be  assassins  had  no  time  to 
perform  the  task  allotted  to  them.  Once  outside  they  mounted  their 
horses  and  escaped. 

FORT  MCKENZIE  BURNED — F.  A.  C.  BUILT 

"All  the  peltries  and  many  of  the  horses  of  the  Blackfeet  were  seized 
by  the  victors ;  but  the  most  damnable  part  of  the  whole  affair  remains 
yet  to  be  told.  Removing  the  scalps  of  their  thirty  victims,  they  made 
the  night  hideous  with  the  cries  and  howls  of  the  scalp  dances!  Can 


126  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

any  white  man  read  such  a  story  without  feeling  the  hot  blush  of  shame 
— that  there  can  be  assembled  a  score  of  his  race,  calling  themselves 
civilized  and  yet  capable  of  such  atrocity? 

"War  having  been  thus  opened,  Chardon  prepared  to  abandon  the 
post,  a  post  that  for  ten  years  had  been  one  of  the  most  profitable  main- 
tained by  the  American  Fur  Company.  A  detachment  was  sent  secretly 
to  the  mouth  of  the  Judith,  where  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Missouri  a 
stockade  was  hurriedly  constructed,  the  utmost  care  being  taken  to  avoid 
discovery  by  the  Indians.  In  six  weeks  it  was  completed  and  named 
after  Chardon,  Fort  F..  A.  C.  As  soon  as  the  river  broke  up,  which  was 
early  after  the  completion  of  the  new  fort,  Chardon  and  Harvey  loaded 
all  the  effects  of  their  establishment  into  their  boats  and  dropped  down 
the  river,  leaving  Fort  McKenzie  wrapped  in  flames.  The  voyageurs 
were  afterward  accustomed  to  speak  of  the  place  as  Fort  Brule,  or 
Burnt  Fort,  and  it  is  by  this  term  still  generally  designated." 

MAJOR  CULBERTSON  RECALLED 

In  order  to  save  the  trade  of  the  Blackfoot  country  from  utter  ruin 
which  these  dastardly  acts  threatened,  the  American  Fur  Company  in- 
duced Major  Culbertson  to  return  from  Fort  Laramie  and  rebuild  its 
interests  if  they  were  not  crushed  beyond  repair.  Malcom  Clarke  ac- 
companied the  major,  and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  he  was  restrained 
from  inflicting  physical  punishment  upon  Harvey  who  had  come  from 
Fort  F.  A.  C.  to  meet  the  new  manager  at  the  site  of  the  burned  and 
disgraced  post.  The  vindictive,  cold-blooded  and  fierce  murderer  fled 
overnight,  only  to  reappear  as  the  enemy  of  the  company  which  had  em- 
ployed him  and  which  he  had  already  foully  betrayed. 

FIRST  FORT  LEWIS  CENTER  OF  PEACE 

Major  Culbertson  at  once  abandoned  Fort  F.  A.  C.  and  commenced 
the  secret  construction  of  Fort  Lewis,  at  the  head  of  the  first  rapids 
above  the  present  Fort  Benton  and  about  five  miles  below  Pablo's  Island. 
Soon  after  it  was  completed  and  occupied,  during  the  first  days  of  the 
year  1843,  ne  sen^  an  invitation  to  the  chiefs  and  warriors  of  the  Black- 
foot  village  on  Belly  River  to  confer  with  him  in  council  at  the  fort.  His 
proffer  was  unhesitatingly  accepted.  Culbertson  deplored  the  cruel  and 
unauthorized  act  of  Harvey  and  Chardon,  explaining  that  the  criminal 
had  been  sent  out  of  the  country  in  disgrace,  while  the  Blackfeet,  through 
their  leaders,  that  "the  ground  had  been  made  good  again  by  Major 
Culbertson's  return  and  the  Blackfeet  must  not  be  the  first  to  stain  it 
with  blood."  Presents  were  exchanged  and  the  pipe  of  peace  went 
'round.  Trade  was  at  once  resumed ;  so  much  so  that  within  the  coming 
four  months  1,100  packs  of  buffalo  robes,  with  quantities  of  beaver,  fox 
and  wolf  pelts,  were  received  from  the  reconciled  Indians. 

CULBERTSON  BURNS  FORT  F.  A.  C. 

Major  Culbertson  took  this  fine  treasure  with  him  to  Fort  Union, 
in  May,  1843,  and  on  his  way  burned  Fort  F.  A.  C.  and  thus  blotted  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  127 

evil  name  of  Chardon  from  the  geography  of  Montana.  His  handling 
of  the  difficult  situation  had  been  so  wise  and  masterly  that  the  company 
appointed  him  agent  of  the  Upper  Missouri,  at  what  was  then  considered 
the  munificent  salary  of  $5,000  a  year.  The  disgraced  Chardon  died 
of  scurvy  in  February,  1845,  and  Major  Culbertson  buried  him  at  Fort 
Pierre,  now  South  Dakota,  on  his  way  to  St.  Louis.  Harvey,  his  fellow 
criminal,  after  vainly  endeavoring  to  involve  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany—Pratte,  Chotiteau  &  Company— in  the  illegal  sale  of  whiskey  to 
the  Indians,  and  fearing  to  trade  among  the  outraged  Blackfeet,  died  in 
1853,  an  outcast  of  both  the  white  men  and  the  red. 

POSTS  AND  FORTS  ALONG  THE  YELLOWSTONE 

The   backbone   of   the    fur-trade   in   Montana  had   developed   along 
Maria's  River,  instead  of  at  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri,  as  the 
Piegans  and  Blackfeet  of  the  north  had  proven  more  placable  than  the 
southern  tribes  of  the  nation.     The  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  had  not 
proven  especially  productive,  and  the  American  Fur  Company  had  not 
considered  it  necessary  to  have  more  than  one  post  at  a  time  along  that 
river.     In  line  with  that  policy,  Fort  Cass,  on  the  Big  Horn,  was  built 
1832   and   abandoned   a   few  years   thereafter.     Fort  Van   Buren   was 
erected  on  the  Rosebud,  in  1838.     It  was  also  called  Fort  Tullock,  after 
A.  J.  Tullock.    Charles  Larpenteur  afterward  established  Fort  Alexander, 
named  after  Major  (Alexander)  Culbertson,  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Yellowstone  below  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn.     It  was  abandoned  in 
1850  and  Fort  Sarpy — its  name  given  in  honor  of  one  of  the  company's 
prominent  partners — replaced  it,  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Yellowstone 
below  the  mouth  of  the  Rosebud.     Fort  Sarpy  was  closed  in  1855,  and 
was  the  last  post  of  the  American  Fur  Company  on  the  Yellowstone. 
The  purpose  of  maintaining  a  post  on  the  Yellowstone  was  to  facil- 
itate trade  with  the  Crows,  but,  from  the  first,  the  Indians  preferred  to 
bring  their  peltry  to  Fort  Union,  where  they  could  obtain  better  sup- 
plies, more  abundant  ammunition  and  more  desirable  presents.     So  that 
the  final  abandonment  of  the  Yellowstone  posts  had  little  bearing  on  the 
development  of  the  fur  trade. 

GREATEST  FUR  TRADE  IN  NORTHWEST  MONTANA 

It  was  the  country  northwest  of  the  Missouri  River  which  had  become 
vital  to  the  trade,  and  it  was  a  foregone  conclusion  by  the  late  '405  that 
the  main  central  entrepot  must  be  founded  not  far  from  the  region  of  the 
mouth  of  Maria's  River.  The  site  of  the  Fort  Lewis  built  by  Major 
Culbertson  in  1843  did  not  meet  the  requirements  of  the  trade.  The  drift 
ice  in  the  Missouri  River  during  the  spring  and  fall  made  it  difficult  for 
the  Indians  to  cross  with  their  furs,  and  they  requested  that  the  post 
be  moved  to  a  spot  nearer  the  Teton  where  there  was  plenty  of  timber. 
Accordingly,  after  careful  consideration,  Major  Culbertson  selected  a 
site  for  the  new  Fort  Lewis  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Missouri,  seven 
miles  below  the  present  town  of  Fort  Benton.  The  selection  was  made 
in  the  spring  of  1846  and  the  first  log  fort  was  completed  by  fall. 


128  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  following  season  was  one  of  much  prosperity  in  the  fur  trade. 
Lieutenant  Bradley  states :  "Not  only  was  the  stock  of  goods  completely 
exhausted,  but  even  bedding,  wearing  apparel,  everything  that  could  be 
spared  from  the  fort,  was  bartered  for  the  incessant  flow  of  peltries." 
The  season  of  1847  realized  more  than  twenty  thousand  buffalo  robes, 
besides  many  other  furs.  In  the  following  year  three  outposts  on  Maria's 
and  Milk  rivers  were  established  to  facilitate  their  collection,  Malcom 
Clarke  being  in  charge  of  one  of  them  on  the  former  stream.  About  this 
time,  the  company  increased  both  the  duties  and  the  territory  of  Major 
Culbertson  and  gave  him  the  privilege  of  selecting  his  headquarters  at 
any  post  desired.  He  evidently  selected  Fort  Lewis,  or  as  it  afterward 
became  known,  Fort  Benton,  and  he  was  ambitious  that  the  company 
headquarters  should  do  credit  to  the  powerful  corporation  of  which  he 
was  the  active  head  in  such  a  grand  territory. 

FORT  LEWIS  BECOMES  FORT  BENTON 

Up  to  this  time,  all  the  posts  of  the  American  Fur  Company  upon  the 
Missouri  and  its  tributaries  had  been  built  entirely  of  timber,  rough  or 
hewn,  according  to  the  care  taken  in  their  construction.*  But  following 
the  style  of  architecture  prevalent  in  the  southern  territories,  after  Fort 
Laramie  had  passed  into  the  hands  of  the  American  Fur  Company 
the  buildings  of  that  post  were  reconstructed  of  adobe  at  an  expense  of 
some  $10,000.  The  result  was  the  finest  and  best  built  post  of  the  com- 
pany. During  his  stay  at  Fort  Laramie,  Major  Culbertson  had  become 
impressed  with  the  superiority  of  adobe  buildings  over  those  of  logs, 
and  upon  his  return  to  the  Missouri  resolved  ultimately  to  rebuild  his 
central  post  on  the  Laramie  plan.  The  first  adobe  building  of  Fort  Lewis 
was  completed  and  dedicated  on  Christmas  night  of  1850,  and  then  and 
there  rechristened  as  Fort  Benton,  in  honor  of  Thomas  A.  Benton,  the 
distinguished  Missouri  senator,  who,  for  years,  had  been  the  legal  ad- 
viser, steadfast  friend  and,  at  times,  savior  of  the  American  Fur  Company.' 

The  immediate  events  in  the  career  of  Major  Culbertson  leading  to 
the  founding  of  Fort  Benton  are  well  arrayed  in  Lieutenant  Bradley's 
journal  comprising  "Affairs  at  Fort  Benton,"  as  follows:  "In  March, 
1850,  Major  Culbertson,  with  thirty  horses,  proceeded  by  steamer  from 
St.  Louis  to  St.  Joseph,  then  the  highest  village  on  the  river,  and  thence 
by  land,  accompanied  by  his  brother  and  three  men,  to  Fort  Pierre.  Here 
he  awaited  the  arrival  of  the  company's  steamboat,  El  Paso,  by  which  he 
continued  to  Fort  Union.  Remaining  there  until  the  boats  were  gone  and 
the  summer's  business  dispatched,  he  ascended  the  Yellowstone  with  a 
mackinaw  laden  with  goods  and  eighteen  men,  including  Meldrum,  to 
establish  a  new  post  on  the  river  in  lieu  of  Fort  Alexander,  that  year 
abandoned.  He  left  Fort  Union  about  the  first  of  July  and  about  the 
fifteenth  of  the  same  month  arrived  at  his  destination,  a  point  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Yellowstone  about  five  miles  below  the  mouth  of  the 
Rosebud  River.  Here  the  new  post  was  built  and  called  Fort  Sarpy.  It 

*  Bradley's  Journal,  Montana  Historical  Society's  Collections,  Vol.  Ill,  p.  256. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA   '  129 

was  constructed  of  logs,  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet  square,  with 
two  bastions  and  the  interior  buildings  in  the  stockade  facing  a  square  as 
usual,  standing  some  fifty  yards  from  the  river  bank.  Fort  Alexander 
had  been  abandoned  and  the  new  post  built  mainly  to  save  a  part  of  the 
difficult  river  transportation.  It  continued  in  existence  until  1855,  when 
it  was  abandoned  and  was  the  last  post  of  the  American  Fur  Company 
on  the  Yellowstone.  The  Blackfeet  were  engaged  in  constant  warlike 
incursions  into  the  Crow  territory  and,  holding  as  enemies  all  whom  they 
encountered  there,  a  number  of  the  white  employes  of  the  Yellowstone 
post  had  fallen  at  their  hands.  It  became  difficult  finally  to  induce  men 
to  go  to  such  a  dangerous  locality,  and  this  was  one  of  the  principal 
causes  of  the  withdrawal  from  the  country.  *  *  * 

"The  American  Fur  Company  did  not  lose  the  trade  of  the  Crows  by 
discontinuing  posts  in  this  country,  for,  having  no  other  market  for  their 
peltries,  they  then  brought  them  to  Fort  Union.  In  those  days  the  Crows 
made  about  five  hundred  packs  of  robes  for  trade  yearly,  never  equalling 
the  Blackfeet,  however.  They  were  prudent  purchasers,  generally  re- 
ceiving nothing  in  return  that  did  not  serve  them  a  useful  purpose,  as 
arms,  ammunition,  blankets  and  beads.  They  would  not  drink  whiskey 
and  it  was  therefore  not  carried  among  them. 

"The  Crow  nation,  probably  owing  to  the  extreme  fascination  of  their 
women,  was  the  favorite  resort  of  white  renegades,  and  in  early  times 
they  were  always  to  be  found  among  the  Crows,  when  there  was  not  one 
in  the  surrounding  tribes.  The  Crows  seemed  pleased  with  the  presence 
of  the  white  men  among  them  and,  if  they  were  at  all  deserving,  treated 
them  with  consideration.  The  white  employes  of  the  Yellowstone  post 
always  took  naturally  to  the  customs  of  the  Crows  and  after  a  short 
residence  among  them  were  scarcely  to  be  distinguished  in  their  long 
hair,  breech  clouts  and  other  articles  of  Indian  attire,  from  the  savages 
themselves.  It  is  perhaps  to  this  fact  that  the  frequent  deaths  at  the 
hands  of  the  Blackfeet  are  partly  attributable — the  inability  to  distinguish 
between  a  Crow  warrior  and  a  white  man. 

"Remaining  on  the  Yellowstone  only  long  enough  to  see  the  pickets 
up  and  one  warehouse  completed,  Major  Culbertson  left  Meldrum  with 
his  party  to  complete  the  fort,  returning  with  one  man,  both  mounted  on 
good  horses,  to  Fort  Union,  arriving  about  the  middle  of  August  and 
thence,  after  a  brief  delay  to  Fort  Lewis.  The  fall  was  an  unusually  open 
one,  warm  weather  continuing  until  late  in  December,  and  Major  Cul- 
bertson resolved  to  improve  it  by  the  inauguration  of  his  long  contem- 
plated plan  of  rebuilding  his  post  in  adobe.  The  soil  of  the  bottom  was 
found  excellently  adapted  to  the  manufacture  of  the  brick,  and  the  work 
was  pushed  with  vigor ;  and  day  by  day  the  walls  of  his  two-story  dwelling 
rose  higher  and  higher,  on  the  site  of  a  former  log  building  taken  down 
to  make  room  for  it.  Toward  the  last,  the  nights  began  to  be  cold  and 
the  adobes  froze;  but  as  the  best  that  could  be  done  they  were  laid  in 
the  walls  yet  unhardened,  where  fortunately  they  dried  without  any 
cracking  or  weakening  of  the  walls;  and  just  before  Christmas  the 
building  was  completed.  On  Christmas  night  it  was  dedicated  by  a  big 


Vol.  1-9 


130  '  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ball ;  and  until  a  late  hour  the  light-headed  voyageurs  and  their  squaw 
wives,  sweethearts  and  friends,  danced  and  whirled  to  the  music  of  several 
fiddles.  In  the  midst  of  the  festivities,  Major  Culbertson  proposed  that 
in  consideration  of  the  warm  friendship  of  Thomas  H.  Benton  for  the 
partners  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  his  services  in  saving  the 
company  from  ruin  in  1844  by  effecting  a  compromise  of  the  suit  brought 
against  it,  that  the  post  should  be  renamed  in  his  honor. 

"The  proposition  was  received  with  acclamation  by  the  joyous  as- 
sembly, and  thus  upon  Christmas  night,  1850,  the  post  was  first  called  by 
the  name  it  still  bears  and  that  will  probably  ever  distinguish  the  locality 
—Fort  Benton." 

ROBERT  MELDRUM 

Robert  Meldrum,  noted  as  the  companion  of  Major  Culbertson  on  the 
mission  to  establish  Fort  Sarpy,  near  the  junction  of  the  Yellowstone 


RUINS  OF  OLD  FORT  BENTON 

and  the  Rosebud  rivers,  had  been  in  command  of  its  predecessor,  Fort 
Alexander.  As  he  was  one  of  the  most  remarkable  men  in  the  employ 
of  the  American  Fur  Company,  his  biography  has  been  several  times 
written,  but  his  personal  characteristics  have  been  vividly  sketched  by 
Lieutenant  Bradley,  his  friend  and  the  historian  of  Fort  Benton.  "He 
was  born  in  Scotland  about  the  year  1802,"  says  Bradley,  "but  moved 
with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  at  an  early  age.  There  he  learned  black- 
smithing,  but  found  his  way  into  Bonneville's  service  and  accompanied 
him  into  the  wilderness  in  his  fur  trading  expedition  in  1832.  Upon 
quitting  his  service,  enamored  of  the  savage  life  he  had  tasted  for  three 
years,  he  remained  upon  the  plains,  making  his  home  among  the  Crow 
Indians.  Adopting  their  dress,  glueing  long  hair  to  his  own  to  make  it 
conform  to  the  savage  fashion,  having  his  squaw  and  lodge  and  living  in 
all  respects  the  life  of  an  Indian,  he  was  quickly  enabled  by  his  superior 
intelligence  and  courage  to  acquire  great  influence  with  his  savage  asso- 
ciates and  soon  became  regarded  as  a  chief.  He  was  a  man  of  many 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  131 

adventures  and  was  accustomed  to  complain  bitterly  that  Beckwourth,  in 
the  autobiography  published  by  Harper  Brothers,  had  arrogated  to  him- 
self many  of  his  own  experiences.  A  representative  of  this  firm  en- 
deavored subsequently  to  win  from  Meldrum  a  narrative  of  his  life, 
promising  ample  reparation  for  any  misappropriation  of  his  experiences 
in  Beckwourth's  autobiography,  but  he  proudly  rejected  all  overtures,  and 
a  fascinating  record  of  strange  experiences  and  hair-breadth  adventures 
is  lost  to  the  world.  In  person  he  was  of  medium  height,  strongly  built, 
weighed  usually  about  one  hundred  and  eighty  pounds,  had  dark  sandy 
hair  and  keen  grey  eyes,  and  altogether  an  attractive  countenance.  He 
possessed  a  mild  disposition,  shunned  quarrels  and  contentions,  but  no 
one  ever  ventured  to  call  his  courage  into  question.  He  subsequently 
entered  the  service  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  in  which  he  continued 
till  his  death  at  Fort  Union  in  1865. 

"Upon  entering  the  service  of  the  company,  he  left  off  the  customs 
and  habits  of  Indian  life  and  in  his  civilized  dress  was  a  man  to  attract 
attention,  from  his  evident  superiority  to  the  class  of  men  generally  en- 
countered amid  such  surroundings.  And  upon  engaging  him  in  conver- 
sation, the  favorable  impression  was  only  deepened.  He  had  never  fallen 
into  the  use  of  the  slang  and  profanity  of  the  border,  but  employed  good 
language  and  riveted  the  attention  of  his  listener  by  the  intelligent  play 
of  his  features  and  the  fascination  of  his  diction.  In  his  later  years  he 
was  troubled  with  an  affection  of  the  kidneys,  and  was  also  subject  to 
goitre  or  swelled  neck,  a  disease  very  prevalent  upon  the  Yellowstone, 
not  only  among  the  white  men  and  Indians,  but  even  among  the  dogs. 
But  up  to  the  time  of  his  death,  he  continued  an  active  man,  ready  for 
any  exposure  or  hardship.  He  left  no  children,  but  has  a  married  sister 
living  in  Illinois,  for  whose  benefit  he  was  accustomed  to  devote  a  large 
portion  of  the  proceeds  of  his  toil." 

Major  Culbertson  was  succeeded  in  command  of  Fort  Benton  by  Maj. 
Andrew  Dawson,  also  a  Scotchman,  in  1854.  He  had  been  a  resident  of 
the  United  States  for  about  ten  years  and  had  spent  most  of  that  period 
at  Fort  Clark,  in  the  Mandan  country  of  Dakota.  He  completed  Cul- 
bertson's  plans  of  replacing  the  log  buildings  of  Fort  Benton  with  adobe 
structures,  the  entire  reformation  being  finished  in  1860.  In  1864,  when 
the  fort  was  sold  to  Carroll  and  Steele,  he  returned  to  Scotland. 

MAJOR  CULBERTSON  RETIRES,  A  WEALTHY  MAN 

In  the  meantime  Major  Culbertson  had  continued  to  operate  as  a 
partner  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  to  such  advantage  that  in 
1861  he  resigned  and  retired  from  business,  a  wealthy  man  for  those 
days,  having  amassed  a  fortune  of  $300,000.  Culbertson  was  of  Scotch- 
Irish  parentage  and  a  Pennsylvanian,  and  had  entered  the  service  of  the 
company  in  1829,  when  he  was  twenty  years  of  age.  He  was  able,  genial, 
popular,  of  large,  handsome  physique,  and,  after  the  retirement  of 
Kenneth  McKenzie,  was  preeminent  in  the  affairs  of  the  American  Fur 
Company  on  the  Upper  Missouri  for  more  than  a  quarter  of  a  century. 


132  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Major  Culbertson  married  an  Indian  woman  of  the  Blackfoot  nation, 
by  whom  he  had  several  children.  He  remained  true  to  her  and  pro- 
vided lavishly  for  her  and  their  family.  His  death  occurred  August  27, 
1879,  at  Orleans,  Missouri. 

THE  ANGUS  MCDONALD  POST 

While  Forts  Lewis  and  Benton  were  developing  in  the  late  '403  and 
the  early  '505,  there  were  two  fortified  posts  west  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains which  had  survived  the  competition  of  the  American  Fur  Company. 
One  had  been  established  by  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  in  1847,  Just  west 
of  the  southern  extremity  of  Mission  Range  near  St.  Ignatius  Mission 
of  the  present,  and  was  in  charge  of  Angus  McDonald,  a  leading  em- 
ploye of  the  company.  He  afterward  became  a  noted  character  of  the 
country  and  his  descendants  have  done  him  credit. 

FORT  OWEN  AND  MAJOR  JOHN  OWEN 

Fort  Owen,  in  the  center  of  the  rich  and  beautiful  Bitter  Roof 
Valley,  was  founded  in  1850,  upon  the  improvements  of  old  St.  Mary's 
Mission.  In  that  year,  Maj.  John  Owen,  a  sutler  in  the  United  States 
Army,  while  en  route  with  the  "Mounted  Rifles"  for  Oregon,  decided  to 
remain  in  the  northwest.  In  the  summer  of  that  year  he  traded  with  the 
wagon  trains  on  their  way  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  and  in  the  autumn  ar- 
rived in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  which  he  selected  as  his  future  home. 
Finding  an  opportunity  to  establish  a  trading  post  at  the  deserted  mission 
of  St.  Mary's,  he  purchased  the  property,  with  buildings,  and  trans- 
formed it  into  Fort  Owen.  ''After  Major  Owen  purchased  the  property 
since  known  as  Fort  Owen,"  says  Frank  H.  Woody,  the  Montana  pioneer, 
in  his  contribution  to  the  Montana  Historical  Society  on  "The  Early 
History  of  Western  Montana,"  "he  made  many  improvements.  He  en- 
closed the  land  and  commenced  farming — rebuilt  the  grist  and  saw  mills, 
and  in  after  years  tore  down  the  old  stockade  of  logs,  and  built  a  large 
and  substantial  fort  of  adobes,  or  sun-dried  bricks.  He  opened  and  kept 
a  regular  trading  establishment,  supplying  the  wants  of  both  whites  and 
Indians.  The  stock  of  goods  and  supplies  was  kept  up  by  making  a  trip 
each  summer  to  The  Dalles  in  Oregon  with  pack  horses,  usually  going 
down  in  the  spring  to  Clark's  Fork  and  the  Perfd  d'Oreille  lake,  and 
returning  the  latter  part  of  the  summer  by  an  Indian  trail  over  the 
Coeur  d'Alene  Mountains. 

"Fort  Owen  was  the  nucleus  around  which  the  early  settlers  gathered, 
obtained  supplies  and  sought  protection  in  the  hour  of  danger.  It  was 
known  far  and  wide  for  the  hospitality  that  its  generous  proprietor  ex- 
tended to  the  early  settlers  and  adventurers  in  this  distant — and  at  that 
time — almost  unknown  wilderness." 

The  Selish  (Flatheads)  who  inhabited  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  were 
always  friendly  to  the  whites,  but  the  Blackfeet  made  war  upon  both 
Flatheads  and  whites.  Fort  Owen  was  threatened  more  than  once,  and 


o 

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134  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

these  raids  into  the  valley  did  not  cease  until  1855.  So  that  Fort  Owen 
was  not  only  a  trading  and  social  center,  but  a  place  of  refuge,  and  in 
the  '503  and  '6os  its  able  and  genial  proprietor  was  one  of  the  popular 
and  widely  known  characters  in  Montana. 

Messrs.  McDonald  and  Owen  had  an  especially  close  connection  be- 
tween the  later  days  of  the  fur  and  emigrant  trade  and  the  opening 
period  of  the  mining  era,  which  is  not  yet  closed;  for  Finley,  the  itin- 
erant trader,  brought  the  first  gold  dust  known  to  have  been  mined  in 
Montana  to  McDonald,  in  1852,  and  tidings  of  these  pioneer  "finds"  were 
also  brought  to  Owen.  Such  discoveries,  however,  led  to  nothing  prac- 
tical, as  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  discouraged  mining,  as  threatening  to 
detract  from  the  interests  of  fur  gathering  and  trading,  and  Major  Owen 
did  not  believe  in  the  genuineness  of  the  "colors"  purported  to  have  been 
discovered.  A  decade  was  to  pass  before  gold  was  to  be  mined  from  the 
soil  of  Montana  in  commercial  quantities." 

"Major  Owen  on  his  annual  visits  to  Oregon,  and  from  other  sources," 
continues  Mr.  Woody,  "had  accumulated  an  excellent  library  of  sev- 
eral hundred  volumes,  which  he  kept  open  for  the  use  of  his  friends, 
and  being  one  of  the  most  genial  and  companionable  of  men,  it  is  not 
surprising  that  Fort  Owen  was  a  favorite  resort  for  the  early  settlers 
and  hardy  mountaineers,  or  that  the  Major  is  oft  and  kindly  remem- 
bered by  those  who  have  reason  to  remember  his  kindness.  Times 
have  wonderfully  changed  since  the  days  of  which  we  write.  Maj. 
John  Owen  has  left  Montana  to  spend  his  remaining  days  amidst  the 
scenes  of  his  boyhood  and  Fort  Owen,  that  contains  a  history  within 
itself,  has  passed  into  the  hands  of  strangers  and  is  fast  falling  into  decay 
and  in  a  few  more  years  will  be  numbered  among  the  things  of  the  past." 


CHAPTER  VI 
THE  FUR  TRADE  ERA 

Twenty-five  or  thirty  years  of  incessant  trapping  about  eradicated 
the  beavers  from  the  fur  trade  of  Montana— at  least,  made  such  terrible 
inroads  into  the  living  supply  that  Astor  could  see  no  object  in  con- 
tinuing with  the  American  Fur  Company.  Then  the  beaver  gave  way 
to  the  buffalo,  and  his  reign  as  a  fur-supplier  extended  almost  to  the  time 
of  the  railroads,  the  coming  of  which  spelled  its  extinction  also. 

James  Stuart,  one  of  the  great  pioneers  of  the  trade  and  the  western 
country,  prepared  an  article  in  the  early  '705  which  is  a  pithy  represen- 
tation of  the  fur  trade  era.  Having  then  been  a  western  scout,  trader 
and  miner  for  twenty  years,  half  of  that  period  as  a  leading  citizen  of 
Montana,  Stuart,  then  in  the  very  prime  of  life,  had  a  wide  acquaintance 
with  guides,  interpreters,  traders  and  Indians  themselves,  and  ample  op- 
portunity to  collect  the  facts  bearing  on  the  subject  so  near  to  him,  and 
thoroughly  verifying  them.  The  facts,  as  he  states  them,  and  which  are 
also  verified  by  other  sources  of  information,  are  given  below. 

FORT  UNION  TYPICAL  MISSOURI  RIVER  POST 

Fort  Union  was  the  first  fort  built  on  the  Missouri  River,  above  the 
mouth  of  the  Yellowstone.  In  the  summer  of  1829,  Kenneth  McKenzie, 
a  trader  from  the  Upper  Mississippi,  near  where  St.  Paul,  Minnesota,  is 
now  located,  with  a  party  of  fifty  men,  came  across  to  the  Upper  Missouri 
River  looking  for  a  good  place  to  establish  a  trading-post  for  the  Amer- 
ican Fur  Company,  (McKenzie  was  a  member  of  said  company.)  They 
selected  a  site  a  short  distance  above  the  mouth  of  the  Yellowstone  River, 
on  the  north  bank  of  the  Missouri,  and  built  a  stockade,  two  hundred 
feet  square,  of  logs  about  twelve  inches  in  diameter  and  twelve  feet 
long,  set  perpendicularly,  putting  the  lower  end  two  feet  in  the  "ground, 
with  two  block-house  bastions  on  diagonal  corners  of  the  stockade, 
twelve 'feet  square  and  twenty  high,  pierced  with  loop-holes.  The  dwell- 
ing-houses, warehouses,  and  store  were  built  inside,  but  not  joining  the 
stockade,  leaving  a  space  of  about  four  feet  between  the  walls  of  the 
buildings  and  the  stockade.  All  the  buildings  were  covered  with  earth, 
as  a  protection  against  fire  by  incendiary  Indians.  There  was  only  one 
entrance  to  the  stockade — a  large  double-leaved  gate,  about  twelve  feet 
from  post  to  post ;  with  a  small  gate^-  three  and  a  half  by  five  feet,  in  one 
of  the  leaves  of  the  main  gate,  which  was  the  one  mostly  used,  the  large 
gate  being  only  opened  occasionally  when  there  were  no  Indians  in  the 

135 


136 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


vicinity  of  the  fort.  The  houses,  warehouses,  and  store  were  all  built 
about  the  same  height  as  the  stockade.  The  above  description,  with  the 
exception  of  the  area  inclosed  by  the  stockade,  will  describe  nearly  all  the 
forts  built  by  traders  on  the  Missouri  River  from  St.  Louis  to  the  head- 
waters. They  are  easily  built,  convenient,  and  good  for  defense. 

The  fort  was  built  to  trade  with  the  Assiniboines,  who  were  a  large 
tribe  of  Indians  ranging  from  White  Earth  River,  on  the  north  side  of  the 
Missouri  to  the  mouth  of  the  Milk  River,  and  north  into  the  British 


JAMES  STUART 


possessions.  They  were  a  peaceable,  inoffensive  people,  armed  with  bows 
and  arrows,  living  in  lodges  made  of  buffalo  skins,  and  roving  from  place 
to  place,  according  to  the  seasons  of  the  year,  occupying  certain  portions 
of  their  country  in  the  summer,  and  during  the  winter  remaining  where 
they  could  be  protected  from  the  cold  with  plenty  of  wood.  For  fear 
of  trouble  with  them  the  traders  did  not  sell  them  guns;  but  when  an 
Indian  proved  to  be  a  good  hunter  and  a  good  friend  to  the  traders  by  his 
actions  and  talk,  he  could  occasionally  borrow  a  gun  and  a  few  loads  of 
ammunition  to  make  a  hunt. 

The   principal   articles   of    trade    were   alcohol,   blankets,   blue   and 
scarlet  cloth,  sheeting   (domestics),  ticking,  tobacco,  knives,  fire-steels, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  137 

arrow-points,  files,  brass  wire  (different  sizes),  beads,  brass  tacks,  leather 
belts  (from  four  to  ten  inches  wide),  silver  ornaments  for  hair,  shells, 
axes,  hatchets,  etc.— alcohol  being  the  principal  article  of  trade,  until 
after  the  passing  of  an  act  of  Congress  (June  30,  1834)  prohibiting  it 
under  severe  penalties.  Prior  to  that  time,  there  were  no  restrictions  on 
the  traffic.  But,  notwithstanding  the  traders  were  often  made  to  suffer 
the  penalty  of  the  law,  they  continued  to  smuggle  large  quantities  of 
spirits  into  the  Indian  country,  until  within  the  last  few  years  (i.e.,  1873). 

RIVER  TRANSPORTATION  BY  MACKINAW  BOAT 

St.  Louis  was  the  point  from  which  the  traders  brought  their  goods. 
They  would  start  from  there  with  Mackinaw  boats,  fifty  feet  long,  ten 
feet  wide  on  the  bottom  and  twelve  feet  on  top,  and  four  feet  high,  loaded 
with  about  fourteen  tons  of  merchandise  to  each  boat,  and  a  crew  of  about 
twelve  men,  as  soon  as  the  ice  went  out  of  the  river,  usually  about  the 
first  of  March,  and  would  be  six  months  in  getting  to  Fort  Union,  the 
boat  having  to  be  towed  the  greater  part  of  the  way  by  putting  a  line 
ashore,  and  the  men  walking  along  the  bank  pulling  the  boat.  Every 
spring,  as  soon  as  the  ice  went  out  of  the  river,  boats  would  start  from 
the  fort  for  St.  Louis,  each  boat  loaded  with  three  thousand  robes,  or 
its  equivalent  in  other  peltries,  with  a  crew  of  five  men  to  each  boat, 
arriving  at  St.  Louis  in  about  thirty  days.  All  the  employes  in  the 
Indian  country  lived  entirely  on  meat — the  outfit  of  provisions  for  from 
fifty  to  seventy-five  men  being  two  barrels  flour,  one  sack  coffee,  one 
barrel  sugar,  one  barrel  salt,  and  a  little  soda  and  pepper.  After  the  fort 
was  established,  and  proved  to  be  a  permanent  trading  point,  large  quan- 
tities of  potatoes,  beets,  onions,  turnips,  squashes,  corn,  etc.,  were  raised, 
sufficient  for  each  year's  consumption. 

The  wages  for  common  laborers  were  two  hundred  and  twenty  dollars 
for  the  round  trip  from  St.  Louis  to  Ft.  Union,  and  back  again  to  St. 
Louis,  taking  from  fifteen  to  sixteen  months'  time  to  make  it.  Carpen- 
ters and  blacksmiths  were  paid  three  hundred  dollars  per  annum.  The 
traders  (being  their  own  interpreters)  were  paid  five  hundred  dollars 
per  annum. 

METHODS  OF  TRADING 

The  store  and  warehouse,  or  two  stores,  were  built  on  each  side  of 
the  gate,  and  on  the  side  next  to  the  interior  of  the  fort  the  two  buildings 
were  connected  by  a  gate  similar  to  the  main  gate,  the  space  between 
the  buildings  and  stockade  filled  in  with  pickets,  making  a  large,  strong 
room,  without  any  roof,  or  covering  overhead.  In  each  store,  or  stores, 
about  five  feet  from  the  ground,  was  a  hole  eighteen  inches  square,  with 
a  strong  shutter-fastening  inside  of  the  store,  opening  into  the  space  or 
room  between  the  gates.  When  the  Indians  wanted  to  trade,  the  inner 
gate  was  closed ;  a  man  would  stand  at  the  outer  gate  until  all  the  Indians 
that  wanted  to  trade,  or  as  many  as  the  space  between  the  gate  would 
contain,  had  passed  in;  then  he  would  lock  the  outer  gate,  and  go 


138  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

through  the  trading  hole  into  the  store.  The  Indians  would  then  pass 
whatever  articles  each  one  had  to  trade  through  the  hole  for  whatever 
the  Indian  wanted,  to  the  value  in  trade  of  the  article  received.  When 
the  party  were  done  trading,  they  were  turned  out  and  another  party 
admitted.  In  that  way  of  trading,  the  Indians  were  entirely  at  the  mercy 
of  the  traders,  for  they  were  penned  up  in  a  room,  and  could  all  be 
killed  through  loop-holes  in  the  store  without  any  danger  to  the  traders. 
The  articles  brought  by  the  Indians  for  trade  were  buffalo-robes,  elk, 
deer,  antelope,  bear,  wolf,  beaver,  otter,  fox,  mink,  martin,  wild-cat, 
skunk,  and  badger  skins. 

A  BUFFALO  SURROUND 

The  country  was  literally  covered  with  buffalo,  and  the  Indians 
killed  them  by  making  "surrounds."  The  Indians  moved  and  camped 
with  from  one  to  four  hundred  lodges  together — averaging  about  seven 
souls  to  the  lodge;  and  when  they  needed  meat,  the  chief  gave  orders  to 
make  a  "surround,"  when  the  whole  camp,  men,  women,  and  the  largest  of 
the  children,  on  foot  and  on  horseback,  would  go  under  the  direction  of 
the  soldiers,  and  form  a  circle  around  as  many  buffalo  as  they  wanted  to 
kill — from  300  to  1,000  buffalo.  They  would  then  all  start  slowly  for 
a  common  point,  and  as  soon  as  the  circle  commenced  to  grow  smaller, 
the  slaughter  would'begin,  and  in  a  short  time  all  inside  of  the  circle  would 
be  killed.  The  buffalo  do  not,  as  a  general  rule,  undertake  to  break 
through  unless  the  circle  is  very  small,  but  run  round  and  round  the  cir- 
cumference next  to  the  Indians  until  they  are  all  killed. 

SECOND  FORT  UNION 

Fort  Union  burned  down  in  1831,  and  was  rebuilt  by  McKenzie  in  the 
same  year.  The  new  fort  was  250  feet  square,  with  stone  foundation, 
with  similar  buildings,  but  put  up  in  a  more  workmanlike  manner,  inside 
of  the  stockade.  The  fort  stood  until  1868,  when  it  was  pulled  down 
by  order  of  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort  Buford  (five  miles  below 
Union). 

Robert  Campbell  and  Sublette  built  a  trading-post  where  Fort  Buford 
now  stands,  in  1833.  They  also,  the  same  year,  built  a  trading-post  at 
Frenchman's  Point,  sixty  miles  above  Union,  the  next  year  (1834). 
They  sold  out  to  the  American  Fur  Company,  who  destroyed  both  posts 
the  same  year.  Campbell  went  to  St.  Louis  and  entered  business  on 
Main  Street.  Sublette  went  to  the  Green  River  country  in  command 
of  a  party  of  trappers. 

In  1832,  the  first  steamboat,  named  the  Yellowstone,  arrived  at  Fort 
Union.  From  that  time,  every  spring,  the  goods  were  brought  up  by 
steamboats,  but  the  robes,  peltries,  etc.,  were  shipped  from  the  fort  every 
spring  by  mackinaws  to  St.  Louis. 

POST  AT  THE  MOUTH  OF  MARIA'S  RIVER 

In  the  winter  of  1830,  McKenzie,  desirous  of  establishing  a  trade 
with  the  Blackfeet  and  Ventres,  sent  a  party  of  four  men — Berger,  Daco- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  139 

teau,  Morceau,  and  one  other  man— in  search  of  the  Indians,  and  to  see 
if  there  was  sufficient  inducement  to  establish  a  trading-post.  The  party 
started  up  the  Missouri  River  with  dog-sleds,  to  haul  a  few  presents  for 
the  Indians— bedding,  ammunition,  moccasins,  etc.  They  followed  the 
Missouri  to  the  mouth  of  Maria's  River,  thence  up  the  Maria's  to  the 
mouth  of  Badger  Creek,  without  seeing  an  Indian;  finding  plenty  of 
game  of  all  kinds,  and  plenty  of  beaver  in  all  the  streams  running  into 
the  Missouri.  Every  night  when  they  camped  they  hoisted  the  American 
flag,  so  that  if  they  were  seen  by  any  Indians  during  the  night  they  would 
know  it  was  a  white  man's  camp;  and  it  was  very  fortunate  for  them 
that  they  had  a  flag  to  use  in  that  manner,  for  the  night  they  camped 
at  the  mouth  of  Badger  Creek  they  were  discovered  by  a  war-party  of 
Blackfeet,  who  surrounded  them  during  the  night,  and  as  they  were  about 
firing  on  the  camp,  they  saw  the  flag  and  did  not  fire,  but  took  the 
party  prisoners. 

A  part  of  the  Indians  wanted  to  kill  the  whites  and  take  what  they 
had,  but  through  the  exertions  and  influence  of  a  chief  named  "Good- 
woman,"  they  were  not  molested  in  person  or  property,  but  went  in  safety 
to  the  Blackfoot  camp  on  Belly  River,  and  stayed  with  the  camp  until 
spring.  During  the  winter  they  explained  their  business,  and  prevailed 
upon  about  100  Blackfeet  to  go  with  them  to  Union  to  see  McKenzie. 
They  arrived  at  Union  about  the  ist  of  April,  1831,  and  McKenzie  got 
their  consent  to  build  a  trading-post  at  the  mouth  of  Maria's.  The 
Indians  stayed  about  one  month,  then  started  home  to  tell  the  news  to 
their  people. 

McKenzie  then  started  Kipp,  with  seventy-five  men  and  an  outfit  of 
Indian  goods,  to  build  a  fort  at  the  mouth  of  Maria's  River,  and  he  had 
the  fort  completed  before  the  winter  of  1831.  It  was  only  a  temporary 
arrangement  to  winter  in,  in  order  to  find  out  whether  it  would  pay  to 
establish  a  permanent  post.  Next  spring  Colonel  Mitchell  (afterward 
colonel  in  Doniphan's  expedition  to  Mexico)  built  some  cabins  on  Brule 
bottom,  to  live  in  until  a  good  fort  could  be  built.  The  houses  at  the 
mouth  of  Maria's  were  burned  after  the  company  moved  to  Brule  bottom. 
Alexander  Culbertson  was  sent  by  McKenzie  to  relieve  Mitchell,  and  to 
build  a  picket-stockade  fort  200  feet  square  on  the  north  bank  of  the 
Missouri  River,  which  he  completed  during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1832. 

FORTS  LEWIS  AND  BENTO'N 

This  fort  was  occupied  (for  eleven  years,  until  Fort  Lewis  was  built 
by  Culbertson  on  the  south  side  of  the  Missouri  River,  near  Pablois' 
Island,  in  the  summer  of  1844.  Fort  Brule  was  then  abandoned  and 
burned. 

In  1846,  Fort  Lewis  was  abandoned,  and  Fort  Benton  was  built  by 
Culbertson,  about  seven  miles  below  Fort  Lewis,  and  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  Missouri  River.  It  was  250  feet  square,  built  of  adobes  laid  upon  the 
ground  without  any  foundation  of  stone,  and  is  now  standing  (1875), 
and  occupied  as  a  military  post.  The  dwellings,  warehouses,  stores,  etc., 
were  all  built  of  adobes. 


140  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

TROUBLE  WITH  THE  BLACKFEET 

The  Piegans,  Blackfeet,  and  Blood  Indians,  all  talking  the  same 
language,  claimed  and  occupied  the  country  from  the  Missouri  River 
to  the  Saskatchewan  River.  Prior  to  the  building  of  the  winter-quarters 
at  the  mouth  of  Maria's,  they  had  always  traded  with  the  Hudson  Bay 
Company  at  the  Prairie  Fort  or  Somerset  House,  both  on  the  Saskatch- 
ewan. There  was  a  bitter  rivalry  between  the  Hudson  Bay  Company 
and  the  American  Fur  Company.  The  Hudson  Bay  Company  often 
sent  men  to  induce  the  confederated  Blackfeet  to  go  north  and  trade,  and 
the  Indians  said  they  were  offered  large  rewards  to  kill  all  the  traders 
on  the  Missouri  River,  and  destroy  the  trading-posts.  McKenzie  wrote 
to  Governor  Bird,  the  head  man  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  in  the 
north,  in  regard  to  the  matter,  and  Bird  wrote  back  to  McKenzie,  saying: 
"When  you  know  the  Blackfeet  as  well  as  I  do,  you  will  know  that  they 
do  not  need  any  inducements  to  commit  depredations." 

At  the  time  the  Blackfeet  commenced  to  trade  on  the  Missouri,  they 
did  not  have  any  robes  to  trade;  they  only  saved  what  they  wanted  for 
their  own  use.  The  Hudson  Bay  Company  only  wanted  furs  of  different 
kinds.  The  first  season  the  Americans  did  not  get  any  robes,  but  traded 
for  a  large  quantity  of  beaver,  otter,  martin,  etc.  They  told  the  Indians 
they  wanted  robes,  and  from  that  time  the  Indians  made  them  their  prin- 
cipal articles  of  trade.  The  company  did  not  trade  provisions  of  any 
kind  to  the  Indians,  but  when  an  Indian  made  a  good  trade,  he  would  get 
a  spoonful  of  sugar,  which  he  would  put  in  his  medicine-bag  to  use  in 
sickness,  when  all  other  remedies  failed. 

In  1842,  F.  A.  Chardon,  who  was  in  charge  of  Ft.  Brule,  massacred 
about  thirty  Blackfeet  Indians.  The  Indians  had  stolen  a  few  horses 
and  some  little  things  out  of  the  fort  from  time  to  time,  and  Chardon 
concluded  to  punish  them  for  it.  He  waited  until  a  trading  party  came 
in,  and  when  they  were  assembled  in  front  of  the  gate,  he  opened  the 
gate  and  fired  upon  them  with  a  small  cannon  loaded  with  trade  balls. 
After  firing  the  cannon,  the  men  went  out  and  killed  all  the  wounded  with 
knives.  The  Blackfeet  stopped  trading,  and  moved  into  the  British  pos- 
sessions, and  made  war  on  the  post,  and  were  so  troublesome  that 
Chardon  abandoned  Brule  in  the  spring,  went  to  the  mouth  of  the  Judith 
and  built  Fort  F.  A.  Chardon  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Missouri  River, 
a  short  distance  above  the  mouth  of  Judith  River,  which  was  burnt  up 
when  Culbertson  built  Fort  Lewis  and  made  peace  with  the  Blackfeet. 

FORTS  IN  THE  CROW  COUNTRY 

In  1832,  McKenzie  sent  Tullock,  with  forty  men,  to  build  a  fort  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  River.  Tullock  built  the  fort  named  Van 
Buren,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Yellowstone,  about  three  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  River.  It  was  150  feet  square,  picket  stockade, 
with  two  bastions  on  diagonal  corners.  In  1863,  I  saw  the  location.  The 
pickets  showed  plainly ;  they  had  been  burned  to  the  ground,  and  several 
of  the  chimneys  were  not  entirely  fallen  down.  The  fort  was  built  to 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  141 

trade  with  the  Mountain  Crows,  an  insolent,  treacherous  tribe  of  Indians. 
They  wanted  the  location  of  their  trading-post  changed  nearly  every 
year,  consequently  they  had  four  trading-posts  built  from  1832  to  1850, 
viz :  Fort  Cass,  built  by  Tullock,  on  the  Yellowstone,  below  Van  Buren, 
in  1836;  Fort  Alexander,  built  by  Lawender,  still  lower  down  on  the 
Yellowstone  River,  in  1848,  and  Fort  Sarpy,  built  by  Alexander  Cul- 
bertson,  in  1850,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rose  Bud.  Fort  Sarpy  was  aban- 
doned in  1853,  and  there  has  not  been  any  trading  forts  built  on  the 
Yellowstone  since,  up  to  the  present  time  (1875). 

KENNETH  MCKENZIE 

Kenneth  McKenzie,  after  Lewis  and  Clark,  was  the  pioneer  of  the 
Upper  Missouri.  He  was  a  native  of  the  highlands  of  Scotland.  When 
young  he  came,  in  the  service  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  to  Hudson's 
Bay.  In  1820,  he  quit  the  Hudson  Bay  Company,  and  started  to  explore 
the  country  from  Hudson's  Bay  to  Red  River  and  Lake  Winnipeg;  thence 
to  the  Lake  Superior  country;  finally  concluded  to  locate  on  the  Upper 
Mississippi.  In  1822,  he  went  to  New  York,  and  got  an  outfit  of  Indian 
trade  goods  on  credit,  and  established  a  trading-post  on  the  Upper 
Mississippi,  and  remained  in  that  part  of  the  country  until  1829,  when 
he  came  to  the  Missouri  and  established  Fort  Union.  He  was  in  charge 
of  all  the  northwestern  fur  trade  until  1839,  when  he  resigned — Alex- 
ander Culbertson  taking  his  place — and  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  went 
into  the  wholesale  liquor  trade,  and  lived  there  until  he  died,  in  1856 
or  1857.  He  was  a  man  of  great  courage,  energy,  good  judgment,  and 
much  executive  ability. 


CHAPTER  VII 
STEPS  LEADING  TO  SETTLED  CONDITIONS 

From  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  of  Western  Montana  have  issued  not  a 
few  influences  which  have  tended  to  establish  permanent  or  settled  con- 
ditions in  the  territory  and  state.  Fortunately  this  sheltered  garden- 
valley  was  the  old-time  home  of  the  friendly  and  intelligent  Salish  tribe 
of  Indians,  who  have  always  protested  against  the  imposition  of  the 
name  "Flatheads"  upon  them.  Why  they  should  be  thus  designated, 
neither  ethnologists  nor  historians  have  ever  been  able  to  discover,  for 
their  heads  are  as  rounded  and  shapely  as  those  of  any  red  men ;  and 
there  is  no  tradition  that  they  have  ever  resorted  to  the  barbarous  custom 
of  flattening  their  heads,  which  is  common  to  several  of  the  tribes  of  the 
Pacific  Coast. 

THE  "PLACE  OF  THE  BITTER  ROOT" 

The  ancient  home  of  the  Salish,  which  they  still  occupied  when  Lewis 
and  Clark  passed  through  their  country,  was  along  the  western  slopes 
of  the  main  Rocky  Mountain  range,  to  the  east  of  the  Bitter  Root  Moun- 
tains. The  opposite  slope  of  the  Bitter  Root  range  was  held  by  the 
Nez  Perces,  an  equally  superior  tribe,  with  whom  the  Salish  are  often 
confounded.  The  latter  call  their  country  Spe'tlemen,  which  means  the 
Place  of  the  Bitter  Root.  The  Indians  lived  principally  on  game,  fish, 
wild  roots  and  berries — all  very  plentiful  in  their  streams  and  land. 
The  principal  roots  were  the  bitter  variety,  which  was  like  chicory  in 
shape,  color  and  taste,  and  the  camas,  which  resembles  a  small  onion  and 
tastes  like  a  smoked  chestnut.* 

The  scourge  of  the  Salish,  as  well  as  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  and  other 
sections  of  the  Land  of  the  Mountains,  were  the  Blackfeet,  whose  fierce 
and  continuous  warfare  against  them  is  largely  responsible  for  their  de- 
crease in  numbers,  almost  to  the  point  of  extermination. 

CHASTE,  HARDY  AND  INTELLIGENT 

Although  the  Lewis  and  Clark  expedition  came  into  contact  with  the 
Flathead  in  passing  through  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  it  is  strange  that  the 
record  of  the  expedition  speaks  of  them  as  Hootlashoots,  and  ignores 


*  Flathead  number  of  the  Indian  Sentinel,  October,   1919. 

142 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  143 

the  tribal  name  Salish.  It  is  important  to  mention  it,  because  it  has  a 
bearing  on  the  first  expedition  senl  by  the  Flathead  to  St.  Louis  Lil3i 
for  the  Blackgowns,  or  Jesuit  missionaries.  Patrick  Gass,  of  the  Lewis 
and  Clark  expedition,  particularly  notes  the  chastity  among  the  Flathead 
and  the  absence  of  polygamy  in  their  marital  relations.  Travelers  and 
>rs  of  a  later  period  give  them  the  same  credit.  They  were  also  noted 


BITTER  ROOT  VALLEY 


as  being  a  remarkably  hardy  tribe,  with  a  power  of  endurance  that  could 
scarcely  be  credited  at  the  present  day.  In  fact,  it  was  remarked  in  the 
journal  published  from  the  pens  of  Lewis  and  Clark  that  childbirth 
hardly  entailed  on  Salish  mothers  an  hour's  delay.  Often  at  the  ex- 
piration of  that  time,  an  Indian  squaw  who  had  disappeared  on  a  journey 
to  become  a  mother  would  remount  her  pony  with  her  new  offspring  and 
resume  travel  with  the  rest  of  the  company. 


144  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

CHRISTIAN  Sioux  MISSIONARIES  TO  THE  SALISH 

f 

It  was  in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  of  this  hardy,  cleanly  and  intel- 
ligent tribe  that  the  Catholic  missions  had  their  birth,  and  introduced 
not. only  religion  but  the  white  man's  industry  and  settled  life  in  the 
wilds  of  this  Rocky  Mountain  region.  Sometime  in  the  early  portion 
of  the  nineteenth  century  a  band  of  twenty-four  Iroquois  left  a  Catholic 
mission  near  Sault  St.  Louis,  on  the  St.  Lawrence,  Canada,  crossed  the 
Mississippi  Valley,  and  wandered  into  the  friendly  protection  of  the 
Bitter  Root  Valley  where  they  decided  to  settle  and  spread  their  newly- 
acquired  gospel  of  peace.  The  leader  of  the  Iroquois  band  was  Ignace 
La  Mousse;  Big  Ignace,  to  distinguish  his  large  stature,  or  Old  Ignace, 
to  distinguish  him  from  Young  Ignace,  a  son  who  was  also  prominent  in 
the  struggles  and  misfortunes  of  a  decade  to  obtain  a  Catholic  mission 
in  the  Flathead  country. 

INDIAN  "BRAVES"  JOURNEY  TO  ST.  Louis  FOR  PRIESTS 

Ignace,  the  Big  and  Old,  long  labored  among  the  peaceable  and  re- 
ceptive Salish  before  they  were  converted  to  the  necessity  of  having  the 
Blackrobes  among  them.  Four  of  the  converted  Indian  braves — two 
adopted  Nez  Perces  and  two  native  Flathead — finally  agreed  to  go  to  St. 
Louis  and  bring  back  the  missionaries;  to  brave  unknown  mountains, 
plains,  deserts  and  fierce  enemies  of  the  human  kind,  such  as  the  deadly 
Blackfeet  and  savage  Sioux.  Starting  from  the  mountains,  in  the  spring 
of  1831,  they  overcame  all  difficulties  and  after  a  fearful  journey  of  six 
months  reached  St.  Louis  in  the  early  part  of  October.  Soon  after 
meeting  Gen.  William  Clark,  the  Indian  agent,  and  explaining  to  him,  in 
some  undetermined  way,  the  object  of  their  arduous  trip,  the  four 
messengers,  truly  "braves,"  were  taken  ill.  Two  of  them,  Narciss  and 
Paul,  died  after  being  baptized,  and  were  solemnly  interred  in  the  Catholic 
cemetery  in  St.  Louis.  General  Clark  was  much  pleased  to  explain  the 
object  of  their  long  journey  to  Bishop  Rosati,  as  the  famous  expedition 
of  which  he  was  one  of  the  leaders,  a  quarter  of  a  century  previous,  had 
been  materially  aided  by  the  Nez  Perces  and  Salish  tribes. 

The  two  survivors  of  the  journey  from  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  left 
St.  Louis  for  their  home  in  the  spring  of  1832.  General  Clark  secured 
passage  for  them  on  the  steamer  "Yellowstone,"  which  was  about  to 
make  her  historic  trip  up  the  Missouri  to  Fort  Union.  As  has  been 
noted,  George  Catlin,  the  author  and  artist  of  Indian  life,  was  aboard, 
and  induced  the  two  Indians  to  sit  for  their  portraits,  which  still  hang 
on  the  walls  of  the  Smithsonian  Institution.  In  a  report  made  to  the 
institution  more  than  half  a  century  afterward,  Catlin  writes  of  having 
met  the  two  Indians  and  traveling  2,000  miles  with  them.  He 
adds  that  he  "became  much  pleased  with  their  manners  and  dispositions," 
and  that  when  he  first  heard  the  report  of  the  object  of  their  mission  he 
could  scarcely  believe  it.  but  upon  conversing  with  General  Clark  on  a 
future  occasion  was  fully  convinced  of  the  fact. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  145 

It  is  not  known  that  either  of  the  two  Indians  who  started  on  their 
return  to  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  reached  their  destination,  but  it  is 
certain  that  no  Catholic  missionary  was  sent  as  a  result  of  the  sacrifices 
of  the  brave  four.  Their  visit  to  St.  Louis  had  its  ultimate  effect,  how- 
ever, as  all  disinterested  sacrifices  do.  The  Methodist  and  Presbyterian 
missionaries  became  interested  in  the  Western  Indians,  and  the  Massachu- 
setts Lees  traveled  into  Oregon  and  laid  the  foundation  of  Willamette  and 
The  Dallas  missions  and  Indian  school,  while  Dr.  Samuel  Parker  and 
Marcus  Whitman,  of  New  York,  brought  Protestantism  to  the  Indians 
of  Washington  and  Idaho,  as  we  know  them  now. 

OLD  IGNACE  AND  SONS  Go  TO  ST.  Louis 

But  it  was  Catholicism  which  most  appealed  to  the  Salish  of  the 
Bitter  Root  Valley,  and  in  the  summer  of  1835  Old  Ignace,  with  his  two 
young  sons,  started  again  on  the  perilous  journey  to  St.  Louis,  in 
quest  of  the  priests  and  missionaries  of  their  faith.  After  terrible 
sufferings  from  cold  and  hunger,  they  reached  St.  Louis  and  returned  with 
promises  of  spiritual  assistance.  For  eighteen  months  the  patient  and 
faithful  Indians  awaited  their  priests  in  vain,  and  in  the  summer  of  1837 
Ignace,  the  elder,  once  more  led  the  quest  toward  St.  Louis,  his  com- 
panions being  three  Salish  and  one  Nez  Perce.  Near  Fort  Laramie  they 
joined  a  little  party  of  whites,  among  whom  was  W.  H.  Gray  who  had 
come  West  with  Dr.  Marcus  Whitman.  Thence  they  took  up  the  march 
together,  but  while  passing  through  the  country  of  the  hostile  Sioux,  at 
Ash  Hollow  on  the  South  Platte,  they  encountered  a  large  body  of 
enemy  warriors. 

HEROIC  DEATH  OF  OLD  IGNACE 

The  Sioux,  who  wished  only  the  scalps  of  the  Indians,  ordered  the 
whites  to  stand  aside  before  the  attack  commenced,  and  Old  Ignace,  who 
was  clad  in  white  man's  garments,  was  told  to  join  them.  He  bravely 
and  loyally  refused  and  in  the  desperate  fight  which  ensued — four  against 
three  hundred — the  five  emissaries  from  the  Salish,  including  their  heroic 
leader,  were  left  dead  upon  the  field.  A  Catholic  writer  justly  observes : 
"Thus  perished  he  who  justly  could  be  called  the  apostle  of  the  Flat- 
head  and  neighboring  tribes." 

In  1839,  the  fourth  and  successful  pilgrimage  to  St.  Louis  was  ac- 
complished by  Young  Ignace  and  Peter  Gaucher,  both  Christian  Iroquois, 
who  joined  a  party  of  the  Hudson  Bay  Company  and  made  the  trip  in 
canoes.  They  made  the  journey  in  three  months,  and  Bishop  Rosati  "gave 
them  the  hope  to  soon  have  a  priest."  "One  of  them,"  he  continues, 
"wifl  carry  the  good  news  promptly  to  the  Flathead,  the  other  will  spend 
the  winter  at  the  mouth  of  the  Bear  River  and,  in  the  spring,  continue 
the  journey  with  the  missionary  whom  we  will  send  them."  It  was  de- 
cided that  Pierre  (Peter)  Gaucher  was  to  bring  the  news  to  the  Indians, 
and  Young  Ignace  was  to  accompany  the  missionary. 

Vol.  I— 10 


146  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

THE  COMING  OF  FATHER  DE  SMET 

That  missionary  was  the  renouned  Father  Peter  J.  De  Smet,  S.  J., 
who,  on  March  27,  1840,  set  out  from  St.  Louis  under  the  guidance  of 
Young  Ignace.  Going  by  boat  to  Westport  (now  Kansas  City),  they  joined 
the  annual  expedition  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  and  started  with  a 
party  of  some  thirty  people  for  Green  River,  which  was  then  the  rendez- 
vous for  all  western  travel.  The  romantic  series  of  events  which  led  to 
the  establishment  of  St.  Mary's  mission,  in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  have 
been  mostly  gleaned  from  the  "Letters  and  Sketches,"  fortunately  written 
by  Father  De  Smet  and  largely  preserved  through  the  industry  and  fore- 
thought of  the  late  Dr.  Reuben  G.  Thwaites,  secretary  of  the  Wisconsin 
Historical  Society. 

FINAL  MEETING  OF  INDIAN  AND  MISSIONARY 

About  the  time  that  Father  De  Smet  and  Young  Ignace  left  St.  Louis, 
Gaucher,  who  had  bravely  plunged  through  the  wilds  of  the  western 
wilderness  during  the  awful  months  of  winter,  arrived,  all  but  dead  with 
cold,  starvation  and  sheer  exhaustion,  at  the  Flathead  camp  on  Eight  Mile 
Creek,  in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley.  At  the  joyful  reception  of  his  news, 
the  chief  detailed  ten  of  his  warriors  to  Green  River  to  meet  the  mis- 
sionary, in  advance  of  the  main  body  of  the  tribe.  The  meeting  occurred 
on  June  30,  1840,  the  Flathead  reception  committee  having  reached 
the  rendezvous  before  the  missionary.  "The  following  Sunday,  July  5th, 
Father  De  Smet  celebrated  Mass  before  a  motley  but  respectful  crowd 
of  Indians,  white  fur  traders,  trappers  and  hunters.  The  altar  was 
erected  on  a  little  elevation  and  decorated  with  boughs  and  garlands  of 
wild  flowers.  The  vault  of  the  temple  was  God's  azure  sky  and  the  floor, 
the  boundless  expanse  of  the  wilderness.  The  spot  became  known  to  In- 
dian and  white  as  The  Prairie  of  the  Mass." 

Bidding  farewell  to  his  traveling  companions  the  missionary  and  his 
Indian  escort  proceeded  toward  the  headwaters  of  the  Snake  River,  and 
some  eight  days  journey  through  mountain  defiles  brought  them  to  the 
main  body  of  the  Flathead.  The  latter  were  encamped  in  Pierre  Hole 
Valley,  on  the  line  that  divides  Idaho  from  Wyoming,  south  of  Pleasant 
Valley,  and  had  made  the  journey  of  about  eight  hundred  miles  from  their 
home  to  meet  the  Blackrobe.  They  had  been  joined  by  detached  bands 
of  Nez  Perces,  Pend  d'Oreilles,  and  Kalispel,  and  numbered  in  all  about 
i, 600  souls.  In  their  encampment  a  good  lodge  or  tepee  had  been  erected 
for  the  missionary.  A  lively  demonstration  of  joy,  in  which  all,  men, 
women  and  children  took  part,  made  Father  De  Smet  most  heartily 
welcome. 

With  marvelous  eagerness  the  whole  tribe  set  about  learning  their 
religious  duties.  "The  great  chief,"  writes  the  missionary,  "was  the  first 
up  at  dawn  of  day,  and  mounted  on  his  horse,  he  rode  through  the 
camp  to  arouse  his  people  crying  out  to  them:  'Courage,  my  children; 
open  your  eyes.  Address  your  first  thoughts  and  words  to  the  Great 
Spirit.  Tell  him  that  you  love  him  and  ask  him  to  have  pity  on  you. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  147 

Courage,  for  the  sun  is  about  to  appear.  It  is  time  that  you  go  to  the  river 
to  wash  yourselves.  Be  prompt  at  your  Father's  lodge  at  the  first  sound 
of  the  little  bell.  Be  quiet  when  you  are  there.  Open  your  ears  to  hear 
and  your  hearts  to  hold  fast  all  the.  words  that  he  says  to  you.' "  A 
few  days  afterward  the  whole  camp  moved  up  Henry's  Fork  on  the  Snake 
River  to  Henry's  Lake  whence  the  river  starts.  Father  De  Smet  ascended 
one  of  the  peaks  rising  from  the  summit  of  the  main  range,  and,  with  a 
pocket  knife,  engraved  on  the  soft  stone  the  following  inscription: 
Santus  Ignatius  Patronus  Montium,  die  23  Julii,  1840. 

EAGERNESS  OF  THE  FLATHEAD  TO  BE  INSTRUCTED 

Father  De  Smet's  missionary  labor  began  with  his  arrival  and  con- 
tinued till  he  parted  from  these  good  Indians  to  return  to  St.  Louis. 
"The  few  weeks  I  had  the  happiness  to  pass  among  them,"  he  wrote 
to  Very  Rev.  F.  N.  Blanchet,  "have  been  the  happiest  of  my  life  and  give 
me  firm  hope  with  the  grace  of  God  to  see  soon,  in  this  country  so  long 
forsaken,  the  fervor  of  the  first  Christians.  Since  I  am  among  them  I 
have  given  three,  four  and  five  instructions  daily.  They  are  anxious  to 
lose  none  of  my  words  relating  to  these  instructions,  and  if  I  had  the 
strength  to  speak  to  them,  they  would  listen  to  me  whole  days  and  nights. 
I  have  baptized  about  200  of  their  children,  and  I  expect  in  a  short  time  to 
baptize  150  adults." 

"At  the  rendezvous  at  Green  River,  Father  De  Smet  had  picked 
up  a  good  Fleming,  John  Baptist  de  Velder,  an  old  grenadier  of  Napoleon, 
who  had  left  his  native  country  at  the  age  of  thirty  and  had  passed  as  a 
beaver  hunter  the  last  fourteen  years  in  the  wilds  of  the  Rockies.  He  had 
almost  forgotten  the  Flemish  tongue,  declares  Father  De  Smet,  except 
his  prayers  and  a  song  that  he  had  learnt  on  his  mother's  knee  and  re- 
peated every  day.  This  good  man  followed  the  missionary  to  the  Flat- 
head  and  accompanied  him  to  St.  Louis,  where  they  arrived  the  last 
day  of  the  year,  1840. 

"On  leaving  the  tribe  the  missionary  told  the  Indians  that  he  would 
return  to  them  the  following  spring  with  other  Blackrobes  and  establish 
a  permanent  mission  among  them.  His  first  visit  had  convinced  him  that 
the  Flathead  presented  a  field  of  great  promise.  But, 'on  his  arrival  at  St. 
Louis,  Father  De  Smet  ascertained  to  his  great  sorrow  that  financial 
straits  rendered  it  impossible  to  provide  the  funds  for  a  second  and 
larger  expedition.  The  thought  that  the  undertaking  would  have  to  be 
given  up,  that  I  would  not  be  able  to  redeem  my  promise  to  the  good 
Indians,  pierced  my  very  heart  and  filled  me  with  the  deepest  sorrow,' 
wrote  Father  De  Smet,  May  I,  1841.'  However,  Providence  came  to 
his  help,  and  he  was  able  to  set  out  for  the  Rocky  mountains  accompanied 
by  two  priests,  Father  Gregory  Mengarini,  a  Roman,  and  Father  Nicholas 
Point,  a  Vendean,  with  three  lay-Brothers,  Joseph  Specht,  an  Alsatian, 
William  Classens  and  Charles  Hue"t,  Belgians,  all  of  whom  were  members 
of  the  Society  of  Jesus.  An  Irishman,  Fitzgerald  by  name,  and  two 
Canadians,  were  in  the  party  as  drivers.  John  Gray,  a  noted  moun- 
taineer, accompanied  them  in  the  capacity  of  guide  and  hunter.  Besides 


148  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  horses  and  pack  animals,  their  traveling  outfit  consisted  of  three  carts 
and  one  wagon  harnessed  to  a  yoke  of  oxen.  These  were  the  first  oxen 
and  the  first  means  of  locomotion  on  wheels  brought  into  Montana. 

"The  Flathead  had  promised  Father  De  Smet  that  some  of  their 
people  would  meet  him  at  a  given  spot  near  the  foot  of  the  Wind  River 
mountains  by  the  first  of  the  following  July.  Faithful  to  their  promise 
ten  Flathead  lodges  were  on  the  spot  at  the  stated  time.  But  the  mis- 
sionaries could  not  reach  the  place  till  the  middle  of  the  month.  The 
Indians  waited  some  twelve  days,  as  long  as  they  had  anything  to  eat. 
But,  having  fallen  short  of  provisions,  they  had  to  go  to  the  mountains 
some  distance  off  to  hunt  for  their  subsistence.  This  news  reached  the 


INDIAN  CAMPING  GROUND 

missionaries  near  Fort  Bridger,  and  they  sent  John  Gray  to  notify  the 
hunters,  who  were  not  slow  to  answer  the  call. 

"In  this  vanguard  were  the  following:  Gabriel  Prudhome,  a  half- 
breed  member  of  the  tribe,  and  the  interpreter  of  Father  De  Smet  the 
year  before ;  the  two  sons  of  Old  Ignace,  Charles  and  Francis,  baptized  in 
St.  Louis  in  1835 ;  and  young  Ignace,  the  guide  and  companion  of  Father 
De  Smet  in  the  first  trip.  Brave  Pilchimo,  whose  brother  was  one  of 
the  five  slain  by  the  Sioux  at  Ash  Hollow,  and  old  Simon,  baptized  the 
previous  year,  and  the  oldest  man  of  the  tribe,  were  also  of  the  number. 
All  these  ran  ahead  of  the  rest  to  forestall  everybody  else  In  greeting  the 
missionaries.  Old  Simon  ran  and  raced  as  fast  as  any,  looking,  speaking 
and  acting  as  if  the  vivacity  of  youth  had  come  back  to  him ;  whilst  young 
Ignace  traveled  four  whole  days  and  nights  without  a  bite  to  eat,  that  he 
might  be  among  the  first  to  welcome  the  missionary  band. 

FOUNDING  OF  ST.  MARY'S  MISSION 

"After  greeting  the  missionaries  with  exuberant  joy  they  conducted 
them  in  safety  to  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  where  the  mission  was  to  be 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  149 

located,  and  where  the  Indians  were  to  gather,  according  to  their  promise, 
before  the  coming  winter.  The  site  selected  was  near  the  middle  of  the 
valley,  and  the  spot  was  reached  by  the  missionary  band  September  24, 
the  Feast  of  Our  Lady  of  Mercy,  a  most  auspicious  coincidence  in  the 
mind  of  the  Fathers.  The  Brothers  felled  some  trees  and  constructed  a 
large  cross  which  was  erected  on  the  spot  to  the  chant  of  the  Vexilla 
Regis. 

"Father  De  Smet  named  the  mission  St.  Mary's,  after  Our  Lady. 
The  beautiful  and  crystal-like  stream  flowing  close  by,  the  imposing  moun- 
tain just  opposite  and  towering  to  the  sky  and  the  whole  valley  partici- 
pated in  the  appellation  and  became  St.  Mary's  River,  St.  Mary's  Peak, 
St.  Mary's  Valley,  and  have  maintained  these  sweet  names  to  the  pres- 
ent day.  The  formal  inauguration  of  the  mission  took  place  on  the  first 
Sunday  of  October/ the  feast  of  the  Holy  Rosary." 

The  news  that  the  Blackrobe  had  come  to  the  land  of  the  Flathead 
soon  spread  among  the  neighboring  tribes,  and  one  day  in  October,  as 
noted  by  Father  De  Smet,  came  representatives  of  twenty-four  different 
nations  to  the  missionaries  at  St.  Mary's.  In  November,  at  their  return 
from  their  hunting  expedition,  fully  one-third  of  the  Flathead  were  bap- 
tized. Others  were  baptized  on  Christmas  day,  among  whom  were  115 
Flathead,  thirty  Nez  Perces  with  their  chief,  and  one  Blackfoot  chief 
with  his  entire  family.  "That  first  Christmas,"  says  Father  De  Smet, 
"was  celebrated  with  all  the  solemnity  that  was  possible  in  the  wilder- 
ness." 

INDIANS  WONDER  AT  SPROUTING  GRAIN 

The  mission  completed,  Father  De  Smet  traveled  to  Fort  Colville  in 
Washington,  a  distance  of  more  than  three  hundred  miles,  to  procure 
seeds  and  roots,  and  on  his  way  he  stopped  among  the  Kalispehlms  (Kalis- 
pels)  the  Pend  d'Oreilles  and  the  Couer  d'Alenes.  He  took  back  to  his 
Salish  charges  at  St.  Mary's  "  a  few  bushels  of  oats,  wheat  and  potatoes," 
which  he  and  his  brethren  sowed.  "The  Indians,  like  children,  watched 
with  wonder,  the  planting,  sprouting,  ripening  and  reaping  of  the  crop, 
a  thing  hitherto  unknown  to  them,  though  husbandry  on  a  small  scale 
had  been  practiced  at  an  earlier  date  by  some  of  the  eastern  tribes." 

The  missionaries  did  not  restrict  their  activity  to  religious  instruction, 
but  zealously  endeavored  to  inculcate  the  necessity  and  advantages  of 
work,  a  pursuit  that  was  utterly  foreign  to  the  customs  and  traditions 
of  their  converts.  After  the  first  lessons  in  manual  labor,  brought  home 
to  the  neophytes  by  building  a  chapel  and  the  necessary  winter  quarters 
for  the  community,  they  were  taught  to  cut  and  split  rails,  to  fence  in  a 
plot  of  ground  for  cultivation  in  the  coming  spring.  However,  this  kind 
of  missionary  labor  was  a  great  surprise  to  the  Indians,  who  did  not 
have  the  faintest  notion  of  agriculture.  They  neither  understood  nor 
would  they  believe  Brother  Claessens,  who  told  them  that  the  soil  had 
to  be  tilled  and  seeded  to  produce  a  rich  harvest  of  grain.  The  good 
Brother  used  to  chuckle  with  pleasure  when  he  saw  the  Indians  perched 


150  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

for  hours  on  the  fence  day  after  day  to  see  whether  the  grain  would 
come  up  or  not.  Their  incredulity  began  to  weaken  and  finally  gave  way 
when  they  saw  the  green  blades  and  tender  stalks  crop  out  of  the  soil. 
They  took  great  pleasure  in  the  growing  wheat,  and  their  expectancy  grew 
even  feverish  when  it  began  to  ripen.  Happilly  the  yield  was  even  larger 
than  the  Brother  had  expected,  and  many  of  the  Indians  were  privileged 
to  share  in  its  abundance.  This  was  the  first  farming  and  gardening  done 
in  Montana. 

Immediately  after  their  arrival,  the  missionaries  set  about  con- 
structing the  buildings  of  St.  Mary's.  Unfortunately,  a  description  of  the 
mission  as  first  constructed  is  not  available,  but  in  1846  it  consisted 
of  twelve  houses  built  of  logs,  a  church,  a  saw-mill,  a  grist-mill  and 
buildings  for  farm  use.  Abundant  crops  of  wheat,  potatoes  and  various 
vegetables  were  produced ;  several  head  of  cattle  were  raised  and  the 
establishment  had  all  the  horses  necessary  for  its  use.  These  represented 
the  first  agricultural  operations  in  Montana.  The  burrs  for  the  mill 
were  brought  from  Belgium,  Father  De  Smet's  home-land,  to  the  Oregon 
settlements,  and  thence  to  St.  Mary's. 

In  1843  the  Jesuit  College  sent  out  it  wo  priests  to  assist  Fathers 
Point  and  Mengarini,  while  De  Smet  was  dispatched  on  a  mission  to 
Europe.  These  priests  were  Peter  De  Voss  and  Adrian  Hoeken,  and  they 
arrjped  in  September  at  St.  Mary's  with  three  lay  brethren. 

ATTEMPTS  TO  CONVERT  THE  BLACKFEET 

Father  De  Smet's  attempts  to  convert  the  Blackfeet  were  continuous 
and  persistent,  but,  on  the  whole,  unsuccessful  as  compared  with  the 
work  of  himself  and  his  fellow  missionaries  among  the  Salish.  The 
Blackfoot  chief  who  had  been  baptized  on  Christmas  day  of  1841  added 
his  endeavors  to  those  of  the  Blackrobes,  to  bring  his  warlike  people  over 
to  the  Gospel  of  Peace,  but  in  the  midst  of  his  difficult  labors  met  an 
accidental  death  by  falling  from  his  horse.  Father  De  Smet  met  with 
some  success  in  bringing  the  Flathead  and  Blackfeet  into  more  friendly 
relations ;  that  is,  certain  members  of  the  tribes,  with  representatives  of 
the  Nez  Perces,  Piegans,  Bloods  and  Gros  Ventres,  joined  the  Catholic 
Church  and  worshipped  in  common.  Upon  one  occasion,  in  1846,  the 
good  Father  made  note  of  "a  solemn  mass,  sung  in  the  open  plain  under 
the  canopy  of  green  boughs,  to  beg  for  the  blessings  of  God  upon  this 
wilderness  and  its  wandering  tribes  and  unite  them  in  the  bond  of  peace," 
at  which  participated  about  2,000  members  of  the  tribes  mentioned. 
"It  is  a  thing  unheard  of,"  concludes  the  missionary,  "that  among  so.  many 
different  savage  nations,  hitherto  so  inimical  to  one  another,  unanimity 
and  joy,  such  as  we  now  witness,  should  exist — it  appears  as  if  their 
ancient  deadly  feuds  had  been  long  since  buried  in  oblivion,  and  this  is 
all  the  more  remarkable  in  an  Indian  who,  it  is  well  known,  cherishes 
feelings  of  revenge  for  many  years.  How  long  will  this  last?" 

Father  De  Smet  plainly  saw  that  the  greatest  obstacles  to  the  prog- 
ress of  the  Catholic  missions  were  personified  in  the  Blackfeet,  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  151 

most  savage  tribes  of  the  region  and  the  traditionary  enemies  of  the 
Salish  tribe.  For  several  years,  therefore,  before  St.  Mary's  mission 
was  abandoned  he  bent  his  energies  toward  the  establishment  of  a  per- 
manent mission  among  the  Blackfeet. 

MISSIONARY  WORK  AT  FORT  LEWIS 

The  old  mission  of  St.  Ignatius  had  been  founded  by  Father  Point, 
on  the  banks  of  the  Pend  d'Oreille  River  among  the  Kalispehlms,  in  1844. 
It  was  placed  in  charge  of  Father  Point,  who  acquitted  himself  so  well 
in  this  and  other  western  missions  that  he  was  delegated  by  Father  De 
Smet  to  especially  labor  among  the  Blackfeet.  He  lived  at  Fort  Lewis, 
where,  it  would  seem,  there  was  work  to  be  done  among  the  whites  as  well 
as  the  reds.  Lieut.  James  H.  Bradley,  in  his  journal  covering  the  year 
1845  at  tne  f°rt>  has  the  following  regarding  the  influence  and  discipline 
of  Fathers  De  Smet  and  Point  upon  the  morals  of  the  whites  and  In- 
dians : 

"Father  Point,  whom  we  have  seen  was  left  by  Father  De  Smet  at  the 
Fort,  was  furnished  quarters  and  a  room  for  a  chapel  and  school.     He 
was  a  man  of  great  austerity  and  severe  in  the  practice  of  his  religion. 
He  had  daily  service  in  his  chapel,  and  the  mass  upon  Sundays,  attended 
by  all  the  squaws  and  most  of  the  white  employes  of  the  fort,  Major  Cul- 
bertson    himself    setting   them   the   example.      The    Father   was    filled 
with  zeal  for  their  conversion  to  the  holy  faith,  sternly  reproved  every 
exhibition  of  profanity  and  rebuked  every  immorality,  and  gradually 
made  himself  feared  but  respected  by  every  inmate  of  the  fort;  over 
the  squaws  in  particular  gaining  a  complete  ascendency.     Even  Major 
Culbertson  was  not  exempt  from  his  denunciation  when  occasion  arose. 
"At  one  time  when  some  packs  of  robes  were  lying  on  the  landing 
under  cover,  a  storm  and  rain  came  up  on  Sunday,  and  the  cover  being 
blown  from  the  pile,  Major  Culbertson  set  to  work  with  some  of  his  men 
to  protect  them  from  the  shower.    Learning  what  was  going  on,  Father 
De  Smet  ran  out  to  expostulate.     'Major  Culberston,'*  said  he,  'I  am 
amazed.    I  thought  you  were  a  Christian,  a  reverencer  of  religion  and  an 
observer  of  the  holy  Sabbath;  but  now  I  find  you,  not  only  violating 
God's  holy  day,  but  exacting  it  of  your  men.     How  can  my  teachings 
bear  fruit,  when  you  trample  them  thus  ruthlessly  in  the  dust?'    Never- 
theless, Major  Culbertson  continued  his  labor  and  the  priest  continued 
his  expostulations, -till  the  former  losing  patience,  and  believing  it  to  be  a 
Christian  duty  to  protect  his  property  from  destruction  told  the  priest 
abruptly  to  go  to  his  room  and  read  his  bible,  when  he  wouldn't  see  what 
was  going  on. 

"At  another  time,  when  Major  Culbertson's  child  was  sick  with 
croup,  and  all  efforts  to  afford  it  relief  had  failed,  its  Indian  mother 
requested  to  have  an  old  Blood  squaw,  famous  in  the  tribe  for  her  success- 
ful treatment  of  the  diseases  of  children,  summoned  to  try  her  art  upon 


*  See  Father  Point's  letter,  page  253,  DeSmet's  "Western  Missions  and  Mis- 
sionaries." 


152  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  child.  Knowing  it  to  be  the  last  hope  and  willing  to  satisfy  his  wife. 
Major  Culbertson  consented  and  the  squaw  doctress  came.  Heating 
stones  and  throwing  water  upon  them  she  began  to  give  the  child  a 
steam  bath,  accompanying  this  treatment  with  the  monotonous  song 
always  employed  on  such  occasions.  Father  Point  was  just  sitting  down 
to  breakfast  with  Major  Culbertson  in  the  room  below,  when  the  sounds 
of  the  old  woman's  incantations  reached  his  ears.  Inquiring  the  cause 
and  being  informed,  without  ceremony  he  rushed  up  to  the  room,  seized 
the  old  woman  by  the  neck,  pushed  her  precipitately  down  the  stairs, 
and  then  returning  to  the  breakfast  table  reproached  Major  Culbertson 
in  strong  language  for  thus  lending  his  influence  to  perpetuate  super- 
stitions which  he,  the  priest,  was  struggling  with  all  the  power  of  religion 
to  eradicate. 

IMPROVEMENT  IN  SEXUAL  RELATIONS 

"Father  Point  remained  at  Fort  Lewis  until  the  following  May  (1846), 
when  he  returned  to  St.  Louis.  His  influence  a"t  the  fort  had  been  de- 
cidedly for  good ;  among  the  reforms  that  he  accomplished  was  a  change 
of  relations  between  the  white  employes  of  the  fort  and  the  squaws  living 
there.  When  the  former  were  willing  to  become  the  lawful  husbands  of 
their  squaws,  he  solemnized  marriage  between  them;  and  when  they 
would  not  consent  to  do  this,  he  induced  the  squaws  to  leave  them  and  re- 
turn to  their  respective  tribes. 

"Major  Culbertson  states,  in  connection  with  this  subject  of  Indian 
wives,  that  even  when  marriage  in  the  usual  form  had  not  taken  place, 
the  head  of  the  family  felt  himself  bound  to  perform  faithfully  all  the 
duties  of  a  husband  and  a  father.  He  does  not  believe  that  there  oc- 
curred an  instance  of  an  employe  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  who 
taking  an  Indian  wife,  failed  in  the  parental  obligations.  Separated  some- 
times for  life  from  civilized  society.,  deprived  of  the  opportunity  to  get 
wives  of  their  own  color,  it  was  natural  that  they  should  seek  them 
from  the  women  of  the  people  among  whom  they  dwelt.  When  mar- 
riage after  the  custom  of  their  own  race  was  practicable,  they  employed 
its  rites,  but  when  this  was  impossible  it  satisfied  them  to  observe  the 
Indian  custom  of  purchase  and  public  acknowledgement  of  their  intended 
relations.  Some  of  the  resident  partners  of  the  company  and  many  of  the 
clerks,  educated  and  intelligent  men,  took  Indian  wives,  and  carried 
their  families  with  them  when  removing  from  the  country. 

"McKenzie  took  his  Cree  wife  and  four  children  to  Red  river  and 
educated  the  latter  in  the  missionary  schools.  Culbertson  removed  with 
his  Blood  wife  and  six  children  to  Illinois,  educating  his  children,  three 
of  his  daughters  being  now  well  married  and  residing  in  the  East.  Denig 
took  his  family  of  an  Assiniboine  squaw  and  three  children  to  Red  river 
where  he  still  resides.  Morgan,  with  an  Assiniboine  wife  and  two  chil- 
dren removed  to  the  same  place.  Mitchell  sent  his  three  children  by  his 
Cree  wife  to  the  schools  of  Red  River.  .Dawson  took  his  only  child 
by  a  Cree  Ventre  wife  to  Scotland,  his  wife  being  dead.  And  Harvey 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  153 

provided  for  his  two  children  by  a  Piegan  woman,  somewhere  in  the 
hese  were  all  prominent  men  of  the  fur  trade  and  similar  exam- 
ples could  be  greatly  multiplied.     The  poorer  class  of  the  employes   the 


ANDREW  DAWSON 

artisans  and  laborers,  following  their  example,  did  the  best  the  circum- 
stances permitted.  In  some  instances  the  father  died,  or  was  killed,  leav- 
ing infant  children  whose  lot  in  early  life  was  a  hard  one  and  whose 
subsequent  career  was  not  admirable  consequent  upon  this  early  orphange, 
just  as  is  the  case  with  thousands  of  white  children  who  grow  up  in  the 


154  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

heart  of  civilized  communities  in  the  shadow  of  schools  and  churches. 
But  where  children  were  left  thus  uncared  for,  the  rough  frontiersman 
was  often  ready  to  assume  the  position  of  protector  and  provider." 

FATHER  ANTHONY  RAVALLI  ARRIVES 

Father  De  Smet  had  so  pushed  and  expanded  the  activities  of  St. 
Mary's  Mission  that  he  had  sent  Father  Point  and  others  to  establish  the 
Sacred  Heart  Mission  among  the  Coeur  d'Alenes  and  St.  Ignatius  among 
Kalispehlms,  but  was  obliged  to  journey  to  Europe  in  order  to  secure 
other  recruits  to  assist  him  in  his  religious  work.  His  trip  was  most 
successful  and  he  returned  with  a  strong  band  of  priests  and  sisters  to 
develop  the  missions  in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  and  elsewhere.  The  most 
noted  and  helpful  and  who  came  to  share  with  Father  De  Smet  himself 
the  crown  of  unselfish  Christian  labors  was  Father  Anthony  Ravalli,  also 
a  member  of  the  Society  of  Jesus.  He  was  the  direct  successor  at  St. 
Mary's  of  Father  Peter  Zebinatti,  who  died  suddenly  in  September,  1844. 

Father  Ravalli  was  an  Italian,  and  not  only  learned  in  literature, 
philosophy,  the  natural  sciences  and  theology,  but  thoroughly  versed  in 
medicine  and  in  mechanics.  In  the  forty  years  of  his  service  as  a  mis- 
sionary, he  therefore  was  not  only  beloved  as  a  religious  teacher,  but  as  a 
physical  healer  and  as  a  real  helper  in  the  practical  affairs  of  pioneer 
life.  It  was  he  who  devised  the  first  crude  mill,  by  which  the  people, 
white  and  red  alike,  obtained  nourishing  flour  and  bread.  By  many  other 
ingenious  devices  did  Father  Ravalli  lighten  the  toil  of  those  around 
and  add  to  their  comforts.  Although  he  traveled  from  the  valley  of  the 
Missouri  to  the  Pacific  Coast  as  a  welcome  visitor  to  the  various  Catholic 
missions,  he  was  most  sacredly  enshrined  in  the  hearts  of  the  western 
people  of  his  times  as  the  Apostle  of  the  Salish. 

ST.  MARY'S  MISSION  ABANDONED 

Father  Ravalli  was  in  charge  of  St.  Mary's  Mission  for  about  five 
years  previous  to  its  abandonment  in  1850.  Little  progress  was  made  in 
placating  the  Blackfeet.  Numerous  war  parties  of  the  nation  continued  to 
visit  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  in  their  marauding  expeditions  against  the 
Flathead  and  whites,  and  seldom  failed  to  make  a  demonstration  against 
the  mission.  In  1849,  upon  an  occasion  when  Father  Ravalli  had  with  him 
only  one  lay  brother  and  a  few  Christian  Indians,  the  mission  was  attacked 
by  a  war  party  of  about  fifty  Blackfeet.  During  the  assault,  two  bands 
of  horses  belonging  to  the  mission  and  Flathead  Indians  made  their  ap- 
pearance, and  the  Blackfoot  warriors  preferring  horses  to  scalps,  with- 
drew from  the  attack,  drove  off  the  horses  and  left  the  occupants  of  the 
mission  to  meditate  on  their  narrow  escape.  For  the  time  being,  the 
Blackfeet  made  St.  Mary's  untenable,  and  in  the  fall  of  1850  it  was  de- 
cided to  withdraw  from  St.  Mary's,  after  the  mission  had  been  in  opera- 
tion for  about  a  decade.  Father  Gregory  Mengarini,  who  during  all  this 
period  had  been  a  co-worker  with  Father  De  Smet,  was  in  charge  at  the 


en 
H 


156  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

time  of  its  temporary  closing.  Father  Mengarini  was  the  author  of  a 
Salish  grammar,  published  in  1861,  and  was  the  most  thorough  linguist 
of  the  Flathead  tongue  among  the  missionaries.  He  subsequently  went  to 
Santa  Clara,  California,  where  he  died  in  the  late  '8os. 

St.  Mary's  Mission  was  closed  in  October,  1850,  and  Major  Owen 
bought  its  improvements  and  established  the  fort  which  bore  his  name  in 
the  following  month.  The  mission  had  long  been  not  only  the  center  of 
proselytism  for  the  Catholic  Church,  but  a  refuge  for  travelers  of  what- 
ever faith,  or  none  at  all.  That  fact,  with  the  conviction  of  its  insecurity 
from  Blackfeet  attacks,  seems  to  have  been  the  t  eventual  cause  of  its 
undoing  in  the  fall  of  1850.  This  phase  of  the  situation  is  thus  de- 
scribed by  a  writer  of  the  period :  "In  those  early  days  the  missions  being 
the  only  habitations  within  many  hundred  miles  became  the  refuge  and 
abiding  place  during  bitter  weather  of  French-Canadians  and  mixed- 
breed  trappers,  who  in  milder  seasons  ranged  over  the  mountains  and 
plains  in  pursuit  of  furs.  These  half-savage  men  were  undoubtedly  a 
picturesque  part  of  the  old  woodland  life  and  their  uncouth  figures 
lent  animation  and  color  to  the  quiet  monotone  of  the  religious  com- 
munities. In  the  first  quarter  of  the  last  century  we  find  mention  of 
French-Canadians  employed  by  the  Missouri  Fur  Company  appearing  on 
New  Year's  Eve  clad  in  bison  robes,  painted  like  Indians,  dancing  La 
Gignolee  to  the  music  of  tinkling  bells  fastened  to  their  dress,  for  gifts 
of  meat  and  drink.  The  trappers  were,  in  the  days  of  St.  Mary's  Mission, 
a  licentious,  roistering  band  with  easy  morals,  consciences  long  since 
gone  to  sleep,  who  did  not  hesitate  to  debauch  the  Indians,  and  who 
feared  neither  man  nor  devil.  They  went  to  St.  Mary's,  as  to  other 
shrines,  and  under  the  pretext  of  practicing  their  religion,  lived  on  the 
missionaries'  scanty  stores  and  filled  the  idle  hours  with  illicit  pastimes. 
It  is  said  that  they  became  revengeful  because  of  the  coolness  of  their 
reception  by  the  priests,  and  malevolently  set  about  to  poison  the  Salish 
against  the  beloved  robes  noires." 

Another  account  gives  a  more  specific  instance  of  the  way  that  un- 
principled whites  undermined  the  good  work  of  St.  Mary's.  It  is  to  the 
effect  that  in  the  winter  of  1849-50  eight  white  emigrants  on  their  way 
to  Oregon  stopped  among  the  Flathead  "and  sought  like  drones  to  live  off 
the  scanty  subsistence  of  the  Indians.  Their  ways  were  neither  com- 
mendable nor  edifying.  They  were  men  of  no  religion,  and  resented  the  re- 
monstrances of  the  Fathers  for  the  scandal  given  to  the  Indians  by  their 
licentiousness.  They  deemed  themselves  insulted  by  admonition  and  coun- 
sel, and  intepreted  the  refusal  of  the  missionaries  to  grant  their  exorbitant 
demands  as  an  interference  with  their  rights  and  freedom.  Their  grum- 
bling soon  developed  into  active  hostility,  especially  against  Father  Man- 
garini,  who  was  in  charge  of  the  mission,  and  they  made  use  of  some 
half-breeds  whose  conduct  was  little  better  than  their  own  to  destroy  the 
confidence  and  alienate  the  hearts  of  the  Indians." 

Whatever  the  cause,  or  causes,  the  Flathead  became  luke-warm  in 
their  devotions,  many  of  them  refusing  to  sacrifice  the  buffalo  hunt  for 
priestly  offices,  and  the  Blackfeet  became  more  and  more  dangerous.  So 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  157 

Mary's  Mission  was  dismantled  and  leased  to  Major  Owen,  the  trader, 
and  the  missionaries  went  forth  to  other  fields  of  religious  labor.  At 
Hell  Gate,  the  inferno  of  the  Blackfeet,  they  parted,  Father  Ravalli 
starting  for  the  Sacred  Heart  Mission  among  the  Coeur  d'Alenes,  and  the 
others  headed  for  the  Mission  of  St.  Ignatius,  on  the  banks  of  the  Pend 
d'Oreille  River. 

THE  GOOD  SALISH  CHIEFS,  PAUL  AND  VICTOR 

The  missionaries  from  St.  Mary's  abandoned  mission  were  escorted 
to  St.  Ignatius  by  Victor,  the  good  and  able  chief  of  the  Salish  Tribe. 
He  was  also  called  Mitt'to',  the  Lodge  Pole,  and  was  the  successor  of 
Chief  Paul,  or  Long  Face,  who,  as  the  first  of  the  Flathead  to  be  bap- 
tized by  Father  De  Smet,  was  then  eighty  years  of  age.  The  missionary 
named  him  Paul,  after  the  great  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles.  Victor,  who 
was  the  chief  and  great  man  of  his  people,  and  the  unwavering  support 
of  the  whites  for  nearly  fifty  years,  led  the  missionaries  to  the  old  St. 
Ignatius  Mission  in  the  autumn  of  1850.  There,  for  four  or  five  years 
it  endured,  when,  location  not  being  considered  desirable,  preparations 
were  made  to  move  it  to  a  site  selected  by  Alexander,  chief  of  the  Kali- 
spehlms,  in  the  fruitful,  flowery  valley  of  Sin-Yal-min.  From  the  great 
range  by  that  name  which  formed  its  eastern  boundary  "burst  a  water- 
fall plunging  from  mighty  altitudes  into  the  emerald  bowl  of  the  valley, 
and  there  was  the  favorite  gathering  place  of  the  Kalispehlms,  Upper 
Kootenais,  Pend  d'Oreilles  and  Salish.  Many  of  these  Indians  had 
already  commenced  to  till  little  tracts  of  land,  and  evinced  a  desire  for  a 
settled  and  domestic  life. 

THE  NEW  ST.  IGNATIUS  MISSION 

The  new  St.  Ignatius  Mission  seemed  favored  from  its  birth.  During 
the  year  following  its  establishment  in  the  valley  of  Sin-Yal-Min,  or 
Mission  Valley,  the  Hell  Gate's  treaty  was  signed  by  which  Victor,  in 
behalf  of  the  Salish,  the  Pend  d'Oreilles  and  other  allied  tribes  of  his 
nation,  was  to  retain  possession  of  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  above  the 
Lolo  Fork,  unless  after  a  fair  survey  by  the  United  States  the  president 
should  deem  it  best  to  move  the  tribe  to  Jocko,  farther  north  and  beyond 
the  valley.  In  either  case,  with  St.  Mary's  abandoned,  the  new  mission 
of  St.  Ignatius  was  favored.  Entire  families  of  Salish  soon  commenced 
to  abandon  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  in  order  to  be  near  the  Blackrobes  of 
St.  Ignatius.  The  establishment  of  schools  for  both  Indian  boys  and 
girls  added  to  the  northern  attraction.  The  girls'  school,  the  pioneer  of 
its  kind  among  the  Indians  of  the  territory,  was  first  established  by  four 
Sisters  from  Montreal.  In  the  boys'  school,  which  followed,  were  taught 
not  only  French  and  English  and  the  primary  studies  but  such  handicrafts 
as  leather  work,  especially  saddle-making.  "Thus,  largely  through  its 
practical  industry,  St.  Ignatius  grew  into  a  powerful  institution.  Build- 
ing after  building  was  added  to  the  group  until  a  beautiful  village  sprang 


158  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

up,  half  hidden  among  clumps  of  trees  and  generous  vines.  On  the  out- 
skirts of  this  community  rows  of  tiny,  low,  thatch-roofed  log  cabins  were 
built  by  the  Indians  to  shelter  them  when  they  assembled  to  celebrate 
such  feasts  as  Christmas,  Good  Friday  and  that  of  St.  Ignatius,  their 
patron  saint." 

While  St.  Mary's  was  inactive  and  St.  Ignatius  was  new,  a  spasmodic 
effort  was  made  by  the  Presbyterians,  in  1857,  to  found  a  mission  among 
the  Indians,  with  headquarters  at  Fort  Benton.  It  is  said  that  the  In- 
dians did  not  take  kindly  to  the  new  Protestant  pastor,  because  he  had 
a  wife  unlike  the  Blackrobes  who  were  the  only  religious  teachers  with 
whom  they  had  come  in  contact. 

While  the  Catholic  missionaries  were  doing  pioneer  work  in  the 
introduction  of  Christianity  and  settled  conditions  among  the  Indians  of 
Montana,  the  government  was  also  endeavoring,  with  various  degrees  of 
success,  to  arrange  with  the  fiercer  and  more  warlike  tribes,  such  as 
the  Blackfeet  and  Crows,  for  the  peaceful  sessions  of  their  lands  and 
permission  to  allow  the  railroad  surveys  to  proceed  unmolested.  The 
Oregon  and  the  Salt  Lake  trails  had  been  traced  through  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains and  over  the  plains,  enabling  the  pioneer  missionaries  and  emigrants 
to  enter  and,  of  times,  to  locate  in  the  the  Montana  country. 

FIRST  CROW  INDIAN  RESERVATION 

In  September,  1851,  a  part  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley  was  set  aside 
as  a  reservation  for  the  Crow  Indians.  The  boundary  line  of  this 
reservation  commenced  at  the  mouth  of  the  Powder  River  and  followed 
that  river  to  its  source;  thence  along  the  main  range  of  the  Black  Hill 
and  Wind  River  Mountains  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Yellowstone  River, 
thence  down  the  Yellowstone  River  to  the  .mouth  of  Twenty-five  Yard 
Creek,  or  Shields  River,  and  across  it  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Mussel- 
shell,  thence  down  the  Musselshell,  to  its  mouth,  thence  to  the  headwaters 
of  Dry  Creek  and  down  that  creek  to  its  mouth. 

THE  STEVENS  GOVERNMENT  EXPEDITION 

In  1853-54,  Col.  Isaac  I.  Stevens,  governor  of  the  newly  created 
territory  of  Washington,  proved  to  be  a  strong  and  useful  agent  of  the 
United  States  in  the  assurance  of  more  settled  conditions  within  the 
domain  now  known  as  Montana.  He  had  been  placed  in  charge  of  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  surveys,  an  important  section  of  which  was  to 
pass  through  that  portion  of  old  Louisiana.  In  February,  1853,  Governor 
Stevens  had  reached  St.  Louis  with  the  government  surveying  party  from 
St.  Paul,  and  there  met  Major  Culbertson,  the  commandant  at  Fort  Ben- 
ton.  An  arrangement  was  thereupon  made  by  which  the  latter  was  to 
accompany  the  government  expedition  to  Fort  Benton. 

Upon  Governor  Steven's  arrival  at  Fort  Union,  where  his  party 
was  joined  by  Lieutenant  Mullan  and  others,  the  party  proceeded  to- 
gether toward  Fort  Benton.  At  the  Big  Muddy  (present  Roosevelt 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  159 

County),  a  war  party  of  Blackfeet  came  upon  them  while  in  camp,  whom 
Governor  Stevens  received  kindly,  dismissing  them  with  presents.  The 
Gros  Ventres,  too,  were  encountered  at  the  Milk  River  and  similarly 
treated.  At  that  stream  Lieutenant  Lander  was  detached  to  proceed  by 
a  more  northern  route  and  rejoin  the  main  body  at  Fort  Benton,  where 
Governor  Stevens  soon  arrived  without  incident.  Here  he  was  joined 
by  Lieutenant  Saxton  with  forty  men,  who  had  been  sent  by  sea  to  Fort 
Vancouver,  Oregon,  with  supplies,  which  he  had  conducted  thence  to 
Fort  Owen,  where  he  had  left  them  and  continued  on  to  meet  the  gov- 
ernor. As  this  party  was  to  return  to  the  East,  Governor  Stevens  pur- 
chased a  keel  boat  from  Major  Culbertson  for  their  transportation  and 
employed  them  to  pilot  them  down  the  river  to  Fort  Leaven  worth ;  while 
the  governor  himself  continued  his  journey  to  Puget  Sound,  having  first 
appointed  Major  Culbertson  special  Indian  agent,  and  secured  f»om  him  a 
promise  to  pass  the  ensuing  winter  in  Washington  to  assist  in  obtaining 
an  appropriation  for  making  a  treaty  with  the  Blackfeet  and  Gros  Ventres, 
which  the  governor  had  been  induced,  by  his  encounter  with  these  tribes, 
to  earnestly  recommend.* 

Leaving  Fort  Benton  about  the  ist  of  October,  1853,  with  the  keel- 
boat  bearing  Lieutenant  Saxton's  command,  Major  Culbertson  was  so 
fortunate  as  to  get  through  to  Fort  Leavenworth  (Kansas)  without  ice. 
Proceeding  thence  to  St.  Louis,  where  he  remained  two  weeks,  he  con- 
tinued his  journey  to  Washington  in  accordance  with  his  promise  to 
Governor  Stevens.  There  he  passed  the  entire  winter  lobbying  for  the  pro- 
posed appropriation  for  the  treaty,  which  he  declared  to  have  been  the 
most  distasteful  proceeding  of  his  life.  But  he  was  untiring  in  his  efforts; 
not  discouraged  even  when  the  bill  failed  in  the  House  on  its  first  pres- 
entation ;  and  by  his  industry  and  straight-forward  representations  was 
greatly  instrumental  in  securing  the  final  passage  of  the  bill  which  re- 
sulted in  an  understanding  with  the  Blackfeet  which  temporarily  modi- 
fied their  hostile  attitude  toward  both  the  Salish  and  the  white  settlers. 

CO-OPERATION  OF  TRADERS,  MISSIONARIES,  INDIANS  AND  GOVERNMENT 

In  the  meantime,  John  Owen,  who  had  taken  over  St.  Mary's  improve- 
ments and  established  his  post  and  fort,  was  having  the  usual  experience 
with  the  Blackfeet ;  so  harassing  and  unfortunate  had  it  been  that  he  had 
started  with  his  herds  for  Oregon,  when  he  fell  in  with  a  detachment  of 
Governor  Stevens'  soldiers  under  Lieutenant  Mullan,  who  were  then  win- 
tering in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  and  decided  to  turn  back  and  re-establish 
his  interests  under  the  protection  of  the  soldiers.  The  missionaries  also 
adopted  this  policy  of  co-operation  with  Uncle  Sam's  Army,  as  is  noted 
in  Hubert  Howe  Bancroft's  "History  of  Washington,  Idaho  and  Mon- 
tana," as  follows :  "In  1854,  after  the  Stevens  exploring  expedition  had 
made  the  country  more  habitable  by  treaty  talks  with  the  Blackfeet  and 
other  tribes,  Hoeken,  who  seems  nearly  as  indefatigable  as  De  Smet, 

*  Lieutenant  Bradley's  Journal,  Historical  Society's  Contributions,  Vol.  Ill,  pp. 
269,  270. 


160 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


selected  a  site  for  a  new  mission  'not  far  from  Flathead  lake  and  about 
fifty  miles  from  the  old  Mission  of  St.  Mary's.'  Here  he  erected, 
during  the  summer,  several  frame  buildings,  a  chapel,  shops  and  dwell- 
ings, and  gathered  about  him  a  camp  of  Kootenais,  Flatbows,  Pend 
d'Oreilles,  Flatheads  and  Kalispels.  Rails  and  fencing  were  cut  to  the  num- 
ber of  18,000,  a  large  field  put  under  cultivation  and  the  mission  of  St. 
Ignatius  in  the  Flathead  country  became  the  successor  of  St.  Mary's. 


ON  THE  SHORES  OF  FLATHEAD  LAKE 

In  the  new  'reduction'  the  Fathers  were  assisted  by  the  officers  of  the 
exploring  expedition  and  especially  by  Lieutenant  Mullan,  who  wintered 
in  the  Bitter  Root  valley  in  1854-55.  In  return,  the  Fathers  assisted 
Governor  Stevens  at  the  treaty  grounds  and  endeavored  to  control  the 
Coeur  d'Alenes  and  Spokanes  in  the  troubles  that  immediately  followed 
the  treaties  of  1855. 

"Subsequently  the   mission   in  the   Bitter   Root  valley  was   revived 
(1866),  and  the  Flatheads  were  taught  there  until  the  removal  to  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  161 

reservation  at  Flathead  lake,  which  reserve  included  St.  Ignatius  mission, 
where  a  school  was  first  opened  in  1863,  by  Father  Urbanus  Grassi.  In 
1858  the  missionaries  at  the  Flathead  mission  had  300  more  barrels  of 
flour  than  they  could  consume,  which  they  sold  to  the  posts  of  the  Ameri- 
can Fur  Company  on  the  Missouri,  and  the  Indians  cultivated  fifty  farms 
averaging  five  acres  each.  In  their  neighborhood  were  two  sawmills." 

Thus  the  missionaries,  the  United  States  Government  and  the  fur 
traders  were  co-operating,  without  any  settled  plan,  to  bring  about  more 
settled  conditions  in  the  Land  of  the  Mountains.  Fort  Benton  and  the 
settlements  founded  by  the  missionaries  at  St.  Mary's  and  St.  Ignatius 
were  for  years  the  only  real  evidences  of  permanent  conditions  in  the 
region.  During  the  late  '505,  that  part  of  Montana  lying  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  received  a  few  more  settlers,  and  these  scattered  evi- 
dences of  permanency  are  noted  by  Judge  Frank  H.  Woody,  who  was  one 
of  the  newcomers  himself. 

It  may  be  added  that  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley  had  also  commenced 
to  show  signs  of  occupancy  by  white  settlers  by  the  late  ?5os.  In  1856, 
John  F.  Grant  built  a  home  at  the  confluence  of  the  Little  Blackfoot 
with  the  Deer  Lodge  River,  the  first  building  erected  in  that  part  of 
the  country.  Two  years  later  the  first  houses  were  built  marking  the  site 
of  the  present  town  of  Deer  Lodge,  among  the  early  settlers  of  which 
were  James  and  Granville  Stuart. 

ST.  PETER'S  MISSION  AND  FATHER  RAVALLI 

The  Blackfeet  were  still  the  great  menace  standing  in  the  way  of  the 
settlement  of  the  fertile  valleys  of  Western  Montana,  as  well  as  the 
extension  of  the  Catholic  faith  among  the  Indians  and  the  realization  of 
its  concomitant,  the  establishment  of  peaceful  relations  with  the  whites. 
The  old  aim  of  the  church,  temporarily  abandoned,  to  establish  a  perma- 
nent mission  among  the  Blackfeet,  was  revived  in  1858,  eleven  years  after 
Father  Point  had  been  recalled  to  Canada  and  taken  from  his  labors  along 
that  line  of  work.  In  that  year  Father  Hoecken  was  chosen  for  the  mis- 
sion. He  came  West  in  the  spring  of  1859,  and  spent  that  summer  travel- 
ing over  the  country  with  a  friendly  band  of  the  tribe  in  search  of  a  suit- 
able site  for  the  proposed  mission.  The  first  location  selected  was  on  the 
Teton  River  near  the  modern  town  of  Chouteau.  Various  priests  were 
sent  into  the  Blackfeet  country  to  further  the  work,  but  four  other  at- 
tempts were  made  before  the  site  of  the  present  St.  Peter's  Mission  was 
fixed  upon.  Locations  on  both  the  Sun  and  Maria's  rivers  were  aban- 
doned within  the  following  four  or  five  years. 

In  1864,  Father  Ravalli  joined  the  little  missionary  band  at  St.  Peter's. 
It  was  then  established  just  above  the  mouth  of  Sun  River,  where  Fort 
Shaw  now  stands.  The  winter  of  1865  was  one  of  intense  cold  and  raging 
blizzards,  and  crowds  of  gold  hunters  and  would-be  settlers  were  strug- 
gling toward  the  Sun  River  country  and  other  promising  sections  of  West- 
ern Montana.  Father  Ravalli  arrived  at  a  most  opportune  period,  for 
St.  Peter's  was  thrown  open  to  all  sufferers  who  applied  for  shelter  there 


162  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  the  beloved  apostle  of  the  Salish,  with  his  medical  education  and 
training,  was  able  to  skillfully  care  for  those  suffering  in  body,  as  well 
as  for  those  who  sought  spiritual  consolation. 

The  appalling  winter  was  followed  by  a  summer  of  drought  and  such 
a  withering  of  all  the  crops  usually  cultivated  at  and  near  the  mission 
that  Indians  and  whites  alike  became  discouraged.  By  common  consent 
St.  Peter's  was  then  moved  to  its  present  location  on  the  east  side  and  at 
the  foot  of  the  Bird  Tail  Divide,  in  the  western  part  of  Cascade  County. 
Although  the  mission  was  established,  it  accomplished  little  in  the  way 
of  converting  the  Blackfeet  to  the  ways  of  peace,  and  was  many  times 
in  danger  of  its  very  existence.  It  was  virtually  abandoned  in  1866  and 
became  a  dependency  of  the  newly  established  mission  at  Helena,  Father 
C.  Imoda,  who  had  been  connected  with  the  work  among  the  Blackfeet 
from  the  first,  being  assigned  to  the  duty  of  visiting  St.  Peter's  at  in- 
tervals. 

OTHER  MISSIONS 

In  1874,  St.  Peter's  Mission  was  reopened,  and  afterward  gave  birth 
to  Holy  Family  Mission  near  the  Blackfeet  reservation  of  Northwestern 
Montana  and  St.  Paul's  Mission,  on  People's  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Milk 
River  and  among  the  Little  Creek  or  Little  Rocky  Mountains.  St.  Paul's 
was  a  mission  founded  among  the  Assiniboines  and  the  Gros  Ventres  of 
the  Plains. 

Missions  were  established  among  the  Cheyennes  and  Crows  of  South- 
eastern Montana  in  the  '8os — St.  Labre  on  the  Tongue  River  and  St. 
Xavier,  with  their  schools  for  boys  and  girls.  But  the  story  of  their 
establishment  and  progress  takes  one  through  the  period  covering  the 
final  struggles  of  the  hostile  Indians  to  retain  their  foothold  upon  Mon- 
tana soil  and  the  peaceful  times  of  the  past  thirty  years;  and  there 
are  many  epochs,  episodes  and  developments  to  be  depicted  in  the  mean- 
time. 

The  fur  traders  and  missionaries  were  all  laying  the  groundwork  for 
a  stable  civilization  and  a  progressive  commonwealth,  and,  both  in  co- 
operation with  them  and  as  independent  agents,  the  national  government 
and  private  individuals  explored  Montana  for  convenient  gateways 
through  its  mountain  barriers  and  natural  highways  of  travel  between  the 
Missouri  valleys  and  transmontane  America. 


CHAPTER  VIII 
EXPEDITIONS  OF  A  DECADE 

The  early  period  of  the  decade  prior  to  the  discovery  of  Montana 
gold  in  commercial  quantities  is  dominated  by  the  expeditions  and  explora- 
tions and  Indian  negotiations  conducted  by  Governor  I.  I.  Stevens,  of 
Washington  territory.  He  was  also  to  cut  a  large  figure  in  the  southern 
campaigns  jof  the  Civil  War.  In  the  later  '505,  while  the  border  states  along 
the  Lower  Missouri  were  in  the  throes  of  a  sectional  War  of  the  Rebel- 
lion, Business,  Pleasure  and  Government  were  exploring  and  traveling  the 
regions  of  the  Upper  Missouri,  developing  their  actual  and  potential  riches 
and  endeavoring  to  make  the  land  habitable  for  the  strong  and  pro- 
gressive men  and  women  of  the  white  race. 

SIR  ST.  GEORGE  GORE'S  EXPEDITION 

The  first  of  these  expeditions  which  has  cut  a  swarth  in  the  historic 
field  of  Montana  was  that  conducted  by  the  English  pleasure  hunter, 
Sir  St.  George  Gore.  In  1854,  according  to  Lieutenant  Bradley's  Jour- 
nal, this  wealthy  English  bachelor,  equipped  with  a  passport  from  the 
Indian  Bureau,  ascended  the  Missouri  River  from  St.  Louis  for  a  pro- 
tracted hunt  in  the  wilds  of  the  West.  He  was  accompanied  by  a  party 
of  twenty-three  men,  with  a  long  wagon-train  loaded  with  provisions, 
and  had  secured  the  services  of  the  famous  Jim  Bridger  as  his  guide.  It 
was  probably  the  largest  and  best  equipped  pleasure  outfit  that  ever 
penetrated  the  western  wilderness.  Following  up  the  valleys  of  the  main 
and  North  Platte  rivers,  hunting  as  he  went,  Sir  St.  George  finally 
crossed  the  mouth  of  the  Tongue  River,  where  it  debouches  into  the 
Yellowstone.  There  he  built  a  fort  for  the  protection  of  his  party  and 
remained  for  nine  months,  trading  with  the  Indians  and  pursuing  his 
hunting  projects. 

THE  CROWS  PROTEST  THE  WICKED  ANIMAL  SLAUGHTER 

The  destruction  of  game  by  his  party  was  so  great  as  to  excite  indig- 
nation of  the  Crow  Indians  and  bring  forth  a  remonstrance  on  their  part. 
They  were  willing,  they  said,  that  all  that  was  needed  for  food  should 
be  killed,  but  objected  to  the  wholesale  slaughter  for  mere  sport,  the 
carcasses  being  left  to  rot  upon  the  prairie.  From  a  letter  of  Col.  A.  J. 
Vaughan,  then  Indian  agent  of  the  Upper  Missouri,  to  the  superintendent 
of  Indian  affairs  at  St.  Louis,  dated  July,  1856,  it  appears  that  105  bears 

163 


164  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  some  2,000  buffalo,  elk  and  deer,  had  already  fallen  victims  to  the 
British  nimrod.  At  last  the  Indians,  in  retaliation,  drove  off  a  consider- 
able part  of  his  horses  in  one  swoop,  and  subsequently,  in  the  winter  of 
1856-57,  while  he  was  wintering  between  Forts  Union  and  Berthold,  made 
a  clean  sweep  of  the  remainder.  , 

In  the  summer  of  1856,  the  English  hunter  broke  up  his  big  camp 
about  eight  miles  above  the  mouth  of  Tongue  River,  and  despatching 
his  wagons  to  Fort  Union  by  land,  he  himself,  with  a  portion  of  his  com- 
mand, descended  the  Yellowstone  in  boats  prepared  from  the  hides  he 
had  taken. 

AFRAID  OF  BEING  SWINDLED 

Arriving  *  at  Fort  Union,  the  trading  post  of  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany still  in  charge  of  Major  Culbertson,  Sir  St.  George  agreed  with  the 
company  for  the  construction  of  two  mackinaw  boats,  with  which  to 
descend  the  river,  the  company  agreeing  to  take  his  stock,  wagons,  etc., 
at  some  stipulated  price.  When  the  boats  were  finished,  there  was  a 
misunderstanding  as  to  the  terms  of  the  bargain,  and  he  fancied  that  in 
his  remoteness  from  man  the  company  was  seeking  to  speculate  upon 
his  necessities.  He  seems  to  have  been  mercurial,  wrathful,  effervescent 
and  reckless  and,  heedless  of  the  consequences,  he  refused  the  terms 
offered  by  the  company.  Accordingly,  he  burned  his  wagons  and  all  the 
Indian  goods  and  supplies  not  needed,  in  front  of  the  fort,  guarding 
the  flames  from  the  plunder  of  either  whites  or  Indians.  It  is  ,said,  even 
after  such  drastic  action,  he  was  apprehensive  that  the  members  of  the 
fur  company  might  rescue  from  the  flames  the  hot  irons  of  his  wagons 
and  carts.  So,  having  guarded  them  until  night  came  on,  he  threw  them 
all  into  the  Missouri  River.  His  cattle  and  horses, t  according  to  the 
Heldt  narrative,  he  sold  to  the  "vagabond  hangers-on  of  the  Indians  there, 
or  gave  them  away,  and,  with  two  flat-boats  he  had  built  at  the  mouth  of 
Tongue  River,  proceeded  with  his  party,  now  decimated  by  mutual  con- 
sent, to  Fort  Berthold."  In  the  spring  of  1857,  Sir  St.  George  left  that' 
trading  post  so  near  to  the  western  frontier  of  the  United  States  and 
returned  to  St.  Louis  by  steamboat. 

WILLIAM  T.  HAMILTON,  SCOUT  "SIGN-MAN"  AND  INVESTIGATOR 

William  T.  Hamilton,  a  Scotch-Englishman  from  St.  Louis,  who  had 
long  traded  with  the  western  Indians,  been  a  gold  miner  of  California 
and  afterward  a  Buckskin  Ranger  engaged  in  the  protection  of  the 
miners  against  the  savages  of  the  new  country,  had  later  been  employed 
by  the  Government  as  a  scout  in  such  campaigns  as  the  Modoc  and  the 
Spokane  and  Yakima  wars.  After  the  Indians  had  been  subdued  in  the 
latter  series  of  engagements,  in  September,  1858,  the  Walla  Walla  coun- 


*F.  George  Heldt  in  Contributions  to  the  Historical  Society  of  Montana,  Vol. 
I,  p.  146. 

tLieutenant  Bradley's  Journal  states  that  the  remainder  of  his  horses  were 
stolen  by  the  Indians  in  the  winter  of  1856-57. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  165 

try  was  declared  open  to  settlement,  and  the  region  was  soon  overrun 
with  white  adventurers  from  Oregon  and  Washington.  Then  a  rumor 
was  received  from  the  Indians  who  had  been  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains that  the  tribes  were  inclined  to  be  hostile,  and  as  the  Government 
was  becoming  tired  of  continual  Indian  wars,  it  was  determined  to  in- 
vestigate that  rumor.  Mr.  Hamilton  was  selected  for  the  mission.  More 
than  forty  years  afterward,  after  he  had  fought  under  General  Crook 
in  the  Sioux  war  and  resided  for  many  years  at  Fort  Benton  and  the 
Flathead  country  of  Northwest  Montana,  as  a  fur  trader  and  a  guide — 
this  William  Hamilton,  then  a  grizzly  old  man  of  about  seventy  and 
seven  years,  first  told  the  story  of  his  tour  of  investigation  in  1858,  to 
sound  the  attitude  of  the  Indians  on  the  eastern  side  of  the  Rockies. 

In  1858,  Mr.  Hamilton  was  stationed  at  Walla  Walla,  of  which  mili- 
tary post  Colonel  Wright  was  in  command.  "Upon  the  conclusion  of 
the  Spokane  and  Yakima  war,"  runs  his  narrative,  "an  orderly  informed 
me  that  I  was  wanted  at  the  officers'  rooms.  The  meeting  was  held  at 
Captain  Dent's  quarters.  (He  was  a  relative  of  General  Grant's  wife.) 
I  accordingly  reported  and  found  some  twenty  officers  present.  It  looked 
like  a  council  of  war.  They  directed  me  to  a  chair  in  their  midst,  and 
I  soon  learned  that  they  were  discussing  the  possibility  or  probability  of 
another  Indian  war  east  of  the  Rocky  mountains,  by  reason  of 
the  rumor  received  as  above  stated.  They  asked  my  opinion  of  the  news 
received.  I  had  been  interviewing  many  Indians  who  had  lately  arrived 
from  the  buffalo  country  and  learned  that  they  were  on  friendly  terms 
with  all  the  tribes  through  which  they  sojourned,  except  the  Blood 
Indians,  and  I  had  ascertained  from  them  the  section  of  country  which 
each  tribe  inhabited,  and  the  disposition  of  the  same,  insofar  as  they  were 
able  to  give  me  information  on  this  point.  I  accordingly  imparted  unto 
the  officers  the  information  I  had  thus  received  and  my  opinion  re- 
garding the  same. 

"The  officers  asked  me  if  I  had  ever  been  in  that  country  and  I  replied 
in  the  negative,  but  informed  them  that  I  had  a  great  desire  to  visit  and 
explore  those  sections  as  far  as  the  Missouri  River.  I  was  acquainted 
with  the  country  to  the  south  of  this  river.  Lieutenant  Sheridan  and 
others  thought  it  would  be  a  foolhardy  undertaking  at  the  present  state 
of  affairs.  I  replied,  'Yes  for  any  person  not  acquainted  with  the  Indians 
and  who  could  not  converse  with  them'.  I  was  then  credited  with  being 
the  most  expert  sign  talker  among  the  Indians.  This  knowledge  came 
almost  natural  to  me,  and  therefore.  I  do  not  give  myself  any  particular 
credit  for  proficiency  in  that  art.  The  knowledge  of  the  sign  language 
is  necessary  to  mountaineers  and  scouts.  It  assists  them  in  extricating 
themselves  from  many  difficult  dilemmas.  All  wild  tribes  of  Indians 
have  great  respect  for  a  man  who  meets  them  boldly  and  can  converse 
with  them  by  signs.  It  is  the  reverse  with  them  when  they  meet  a  man 
they  cannot  understand. 

"I  informed  the  officer  I  apprehended  no  great  difficulty  in  making 
the  trip ;  that  the  greatest  danger  was  in  passing  through  the  late  subdued 
tribes,  but  if  these  chiefs  were  held  prisoners  until  I  returned  I  did  not 


166  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

think  there  would  be  any  great  danger;  the  Indians  being  well  aware 
that  I  represented  the  government  should  the  trip  be  finally  determined 
upon.  I  informed  the  officers  that  I  should  visit  the  villages  of  the 
subdued  tribes  and  would  want  an  official  envelope  with  some  reading 
matter,  and  that  I  would  interpret  what  would  be  necessary  in  order  to 
set  them  thinking  of  something  else  besides  taking  my  scalp.  The  officers 
all  laughed  at  this  mode  of  outwitting  the  Indians,  and  before  the  meeting 
broke  up  shook  hands  with  me,  Phil.  Sheridan,  with  others,  expressing 
great  confidence  in  my  ability  to  carry  out  the  undertaking.  They  then 
informed  me  to  hold  myself  in  readiness  for  a  few  days  and  they  would 
take  the  matter  under  advisement. 

STARTS  FOR  BLACKFOOT  NATION  EAST  OF  THE  ROCKIES 

"So  about  the  2oth  of  September,  1858,  I  received  an  order  from 
Colonel  Wright  to  report  at  headquarters  at  2  P.  M.  I  reported  promptly 
on  time,  the  reception  room  being  crowded  with  officers  and  their  wives, 
with  most  of  whom  I  was  acquainted,  and  was  somewhat  taken  back 
by  their  presence  in  the  council.  With  an  array  of  maps  and  writing 
material  spread  out  upon  a  large  table,  I  surmised  that  some  move  was  on 
tap  different  from  what  I  anticipated,  but  in  a  moment  was  undeceived. 
I  then  received  an  appointment  as  secret  Indian  detective  with  pay  as 
scout,  and  was  ordered  to  proceed  through  the  different  tribes  of  Indians 
to  the  Blackfoot  nation  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  report  on  the 
condition  and  disposition  of  the  different  tribes  visited,  at  the  earliest 
moment." 

Hamilton  received  an  ovation  from  both  the  ladies  and  officers  at  his 
departure,  promising  the  former  "many  nice  Indian  trinkets"  and  as- 
suring the  latter  that  he  might  be  expected  to  return  about  the  I5th  of 
November.  His  only  companion,  McKay,  also  a  scout,  carried  his  bows 
and  arrows,  as  he  was  an  expert  in  their  use.  Their  horses  were  said 
to  be  the  fleetest  in  the  country,  "thoroughly  broken  under  fire  and  could 
not  be  stampeded."  They  passed  through  the  countries  of  the  Spokanes 
and  the  Palouse  tribe — late  enemies,  using  the  official  envelope,  with 
"interpretations,"  to  good  advantage,  the  name  of  Colonel  Wright  being 
especially  potent.  Within  a  week,  they  had  reached  St.  Mary's  River, 
where  they  met  some  Pend  d'Oreille  Indians,  who  warned  them  to  beware 
of  the  Blackfeet,  Piegans  and  Snake  Indians. 

MISSOULA'S  NATURAL  ADVANTAGES 

A  paragraph  in  Hamilton's  journal,  at  this  point  in  the  narrative, 
describes  the  primitive  advantages  of  the  country,  at  and  around  the 
modern  city  of  Missoula :  "Next  morning,  by  sun,  we  were  packed  up  and 
asking  the  chief  the  proper  route  to  take,  he  pointed  to  a  canyon  some 
fourteen  miles  distant,  stating  we  should  follow  up  that  stream  three 
sleeps,  then  keep  to  the  right  of  a  certain  butte,  follow  up  a  small  stream 
and  cross  the  mountains.  The  stream  they  mentioned  is  now  called  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  167 

Little  Black  Foot.  We  crossed  a  rolling  prairie,  a  beautiful  country, 
about  ii  A.  M.,  and  arrived  at  a  beautiful  creek,  now  Rattlesnake,  where 
we  camped.  We  saw  no  Indians,  but  signs  in  abundance.  We  laid  over 
one  day  and  I  explored  this  section  for  several  miles,  and  informed 
McKay  I  would  at  some  time  in  the  future  open  a  trading  post  at  this 
place.*  It  was  manifest  by  the  convergence  of  the  trails  that  it  would 
.be  a  splendid  place  for  trade  on  account  of  its  centrality.  All  these  trails 
showed  signs  of  being  constantly  travelled  by  different  bands  of  Indians. 

THE  FLATHEADS  FRIENDS  OF  THE  WHITES 

"We  were  aware  of  being  in  the  Flathead  country  and  thought  we 
could  not  be  over  thirty  or  forty  miles  from  Fort  Owen.f  I  was  ac- 
quainted with  many  of  the  Flatheads.  They  were  always  looked  upon 
by  all  mountaineers  as  being  the  bravest  of  Indians  and  mountain  men's 
friends  in  every  circumstance.  Flatheads  never  missed  an  opportunity 
to  render  assistance  to  the  mountaineer;  hence  the  great  friendship  be- 
tween the  two.  I  had  met  Maj.  John  Owen  at  Walla  Walla.  He  was 
agent  for  the  Flatheads.  He  invited  me  to  pay  him  a  visit  at  some  time 
and  I  promised  to  do  so,  but  on  this  occasion  had  not  time." 

Hamilton  and  McKay  then  followed  the  trail  up  Hell  Gate  River, 
crossed  the  Big  Black  Foot,  guided  and  guarded  by  friendly  Flatheads, 
and  on  the  i6th  and  i/th  of  October  were  encamped  on  the  Dearborn 
River  and  the  south  fork  of  the  Sun,  east  of  the  Continental  divide  and 
north  of  the  Missouri  River.  From  the  latter  camp,  accompanied  by  a 
band  of  Flatheads,  Hamilton  rode  down  the  river  some  twenty-five  miles 
to  visit  the  Piegan  Indian  agent,  Colonel  Vaughn,  whom  he  described  as 
"a  fine  looking  old  man  from  the  State  of  Mississippi."  Upon  applica- 
tion, he  gave  Hamilton  a  statement  as  to  the  disposition  of  the  Piegans 
toward  the  whites;  what  tribes  were  actually  hostile,  or  inclined  to  be 
so.  The  colonel  further  informed  him  where  Little  Dog,  the  head  chief 
of  the  Piegans  was  camped,  advising  Hamilton  to  see  the  chief,  as  he 
might  render  great  assistance;  also  informing  him  that  "the  Piegans 
had  very  many  fine  robes." 

MEETS  LITTLE  DOG  IN  BEST  CLOTHES 

The  white  scouts  then  followed  the  base  of  the  mountains,  crossed  the 
north  fork  of  the  Sun  River  and  some  ten  miles  beyond  that  stream 
found  Little  Dog's  Indians  and  the  proud,  fine  chief  himself.  Colonel 
Vaughn  had  informed  Hamilton  that  Little  Dog  was  considered  one  of 
the  bravest  and  proudest  Indians  on  the  plains,  and  the  two  scouts  there- 
fore "dressed  all  up"  in  expectation  of  meeting  him.  "I  just  got  through 
(supper),"  says  Hamilton,  "and  was  looking  north  expecting  to  see 
Indians  every  moment,  when  sure  enough  about  one  mile  distant,  we  dis- 


*As  he  did,  remaining  there  for  several  years. 

tFounded  eight  years  before  by  Maj.  John  Owen,  former  sutler  in  the  United 
States  army,  upon  certain  improvement^  of  old   St.   Mary's  mission. 


168 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


covered  twenty-five  Indians,  splendidly  mounted,  coming  rapidly.  They 
saw  that  we  had  discovered  them  and  when  within  one-fourth  of  a  mile 
distant  they  pulled  their  guns  and  fired  into  the  air,  which  is  the  sign 
of  friends.  We  returned  the  salute.  At  that  they  came  with  a  whirl- 
wind speed.  It  was  a  beautiful  sight.  When  within  fifty  yards  the  chief 
gave  an  order  and  they  halted  at  a  jump,  as  trappers  say.  Sure  enough, 
it  was  Little  Dog,  and  he  dismounted  with  a  proud  step  and  advanced. 
I  met  him  half  way.  He  scrutinized  me  from  head  to  foot,  then  reached 


A  BY-GONE  CHIEF 

out  his  hand  with  the  customary  remark  'How.'  He  was  a  fine  looking 
specimen  of  an  Indian  chieftain.  Many  an  artist  would  have  been  glad 
to  have  had  the  opportunity  of  taking  his  picture,  just  as  he  stood  before 
me.  He  was  over  six  feet  in  height,  straight  as  an  arrow,  with  his  im- 
plements of  war  on  his  person  and  a  magnificent  war  bonnet  upon  his 
head.  Three  years  afterward  I  became  the  owner  of  this  bonnet." 

FRINGE,  LITTLE  DOG'S  FINE  SON 

Little  Dog  evidently  approved  of  the  completeness  of  the  scouts' 
outfits  and  was  further  impressed  by  the  presentation  of  a  handsome 
blanket  sent  by  Colonel  Vaughn.  Then  came  the  chief's  son,  Fringe, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  169. 

who  was  to  prove  of  such  service.  "Little  Dog  spoke  to  a  splendid  look- 
ing Indian  about  nineteen  years  of  age,"  says  Hamilton,  "to  come  and  sit 
down  beside  him  and  informed  me  that  this  was  his  eldest  son.  Well 
the  chief  might  be  proud  of  this  son,  a  young  man  as  handsome  as  an 
Apollo  and  as  proud  as  Lucifer.  I  made  him  a  present  of  the  blanket, 
which  was  a  counterpart  of  the  one  his  father  had  just  received.  No 
sooner  had  he  received  the  blanket  than  he  jumped  up  and  gave  a  ringing 
war  whoop  which  made  all  the  horses  prick  up  their  ears,  and  then 
stepping  proudly  up  to  me  took  me  by  the  hand  and  made  sign  to  me  'you 
are  my  friend.'  I  observed  his  father's  eyes  sparkle  with  pleasure.  Ever 
after,  father  and  son  were  as  brothers  to  me  and  I  to  them,  until  their 
death  which  occurred  nine  years  after." 

Other  communications  followed,  by  signs,  and  Hamilton  from  the 
time  of  that  conference  was  known  among  the  Piegans  as  Sign-Talking 
White  Man.  The  Indians  were  loaded  with  provisions  and  presented 


SUN  DANCE  BY  THE  PIEGANS 

with  plug  tobacco,  when  Little  Dog  departed  with  most  of  his  warriors, 
leaving  his  son  and  two  other  Indians  to  guard  the  white  men's  camp 
during  the  night.  Although  Hamilton  assured  McKay  that  he  had  every 
confidence  in  the  reliability  of  Fringe,  or  Never  Tire,  each  took  turns  in 
sleeping.  The  former  here  writes :  "Now  fhese  two  Indians,  Little  Dog 
and  his  son  affected  me  as  no  other  Indians  ever  had.  An  attachment 
sprung  up  in  my  breast  for  them  that  I  could  not  understand  and  account 
for,  since  I  was  considered  by  all  of  my  mountain  friends  to  be  very 
bitter  and  anything  but  friendly  with  Indians.  I  had  lost  many  friends 
by  them  at  different  times." 

RECEPTION  AND  TRADING  IN  LITTLE  DOG'S  VILLAGE 

The  next  morning  the  journey  was  resumed  toward  Little  Dog's 
village,  thirteen  or  fourteen  miles  away,  the  later  portion  of  the  trip  being 
taken  with  an  escort  of  Piegan  warriors  whom  the  chief  had  sent  for  that 
purpose.  At  the  village  Little  Dog  himself  met  them  and  the  following 
two  days  were  passed  in  feasting,  exchanging  compliments  and  news, 
and  trading,  for  buffalo  robes,  dried  tongues  and  ponies,  revolvers,  am- 


170  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

munition,  scarlet  cloth,  calico,  buttons,  knives,  etc.,  the  scouts  sometimes 
using  such  articles  in  trade  and  at  other  times  as  presents.  The  robes  of 
the  Piegans  were  of  a  very  superior  quality,  many  of  them  being  gar- 
nished beautifully  and  "would  bring  from  twenty-five  to  fifty  dollars  in 
any  market  in  those  days."  While  the  trading  was  at  its  height  six  Crow 
chiefs  were  received  into  the  lodge,  with  two  of  whom  Hamilton  was 
acquainted.  Afterward  the  scouts  and  traders,  through  the  assistance  of 
the  Piegans,  secured  over  forty  good  robes  from  the  Crows,  who  had 
returned  to  Little  Dog's  village. 

FAMOUS  CROWS-PIEGANS  HORSE  RACE 

Then  the  Crows  and  Piegans,  who  had  been  at  peace  since  the  pre- 
vious spring,  turned  to  pleasure,  one  of  their  favorite  forms  of  sport  being 
horse-racing.  Whereupon  an  event  occurred  in  that  line,  which  was 
remembered  and  discussed  long  after  it  occurred ;  and  McKay's  thorough- 
bred was  the  hero  of  the  occasion.  As  told  by  Hamilton,  the  story  was : 
"After  feasting  and  smoking  (for  about  two  hours  after  the  trading),  it 
was  about  2  P.  M.  when  the  crier  harangued  the  village  to  the  effect 
that  the  Crows  wanted  to  run  races  with  the  Piegans.  In  a  short  time 
there  were  fully  five  hundred  assembled  on  the  race  grounds  not  over 
half  a  mile  from  the  village.  I  took  Little  Dog  to  one  side,  and  told  him  to 
let  the  Crows  win  the  first  two  races;  that  the  Crows  had  one  American 
horse  they  wanted  to  run  about  half  a  mile,  and  not  to  race  any  of  their 
horses  against  this  American  horse,  but  for  Piegans  to  bet  all  they  could 
get  on  McKay's  horse,  which  could  almost  fly  for  almost  half  a  mile. 

"Little  Dog  secretly  notified  the  Piegans  of  this  programme,  and  the 
Indians  were  quick  to  catch  on.  After  three  races  had  been  run,  all  of 
which  the  Crows  got  away  with,  they  became  wild,  having  won  several 
ponies  and  many  robes.  Fringe  then  led  up  McKay's  horse,  which  was 
not  so  tall  as  the  Indian  horse.  Fringe  signed  to  the  Crows  he  would  run 
this  horse  against  their  American  horse,  and  the  Crows  jumped  at  the 
offer,  bringing  all  the  ponies  and  robes  they  had  won  and  twice  as  many 
more  to  bet  on  their  horse,  all  of  which  bets  were  taken.  I  told  Little 
Dog  to  inform  his  people  to  get  all  the  bets  they  could  and  they  certainly 
complied. 

"After  leading  up  fully  twenty-five  more  ponies  and  piling  up  the 
robes  in  abundance,  the  Crows  commenced  to  look  carefully  at  McKay's 
horse,  which  they  believed  belonged  to  the  Piegans,  and  they  could  see 
nothing  extraordinary  about  him,  but  were  somewhat  taken  aback  at  the 
amount  the  Piegans  were  anxious  to  stake  on  the  race;  at  all  events 
they  would  only  take  a  few  more  bets.  Little  Dog's  youngest  son  was 
called  up  by  Fringe  and  told  to  prepare  to  ride  the  race,  McKay  having 
Informed  Fringe  that  any  boy  could  ride  the  horse.  The  boy  promptly 
complied  with  the  order  of  his  older  brothef  by  stripping  naked.  A  Crow 
boy  was  also  stripped,  the  track  cleared  and  the  horses  led  out  to  the 
starting  point.  An  Indian  race  is  started  by  the  signal  Go !  The  first 
out  wins  the  race,  no  difference  what  may  happen  to  either  horse  or 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  171 

rider.  Little  Dog  and  the  Crow  chief  were  judges.  I  had  seen  a  great 
many  races,  but  never  saw  one  in  which  the  Indians  took  such  an  interest 
as  on  this  occasion.  Neither  myself  nor  McKay  could  tell  certainly  what 
would  be  the  result  of  this  race,  but  one  thing  we  were  quite  sure  of: 
The  Indian  horse  had  to  be  a  world-beater  to  beat  McKay's  at  that 
distance. 

"When  the  horses  reached  the  starting  place  I  turned  round.  Every- 
thing was  hushed,  all  the  dogs  being  held  by  the  squaws.  I  was  looking 
at  Fringe  with  a  glass  and  could  see  him  address  his  younger  brother  on 
the  horse  and  then,  both  horses  being  turned,  Fringe  let  go  of  McKay's 
horse,  which  he  was  holding  at  the  head,  and  the  Crow  let  go  of  his  horse 
at  the  same  time.  When  the  race  was  fairly  commenced,  I  could  see 
McKay's  horse  was  being  held,  while  the  Crow  was  whipping.  They  ran 
together  neck  and  neck  to  within  one  hundred  yards  of  the  coming-out 
place,  when  the  boy  on  McKay's  horse  gave  him  the  whip.  The  horse 
fairly  flew  from  the  Crow  horse  and  won  the  race  by  about  sixty  feet. 
An  Indian  yell  went  up  from  five  hundred  throats. 

"The  Crows  were  the  worst  non-plussed  I  ever  beheld.  They  ap- 
peared sullen  and  silent,  having  very  little  to  say.  In  a  short  time  they 
departed  for  their  own  village.  All  the  young  Piegans  had  a  great  time 
dancing  and  singing  that  night  until  a  late  hour.  A  great  many  may  say 
and  think  we  played  the  Crows  a  mean  trick  by  allowing  McKay's  horse 
to  be  used  as  if  he  belonged  to  the  Piegans,  but  not  so.  We  looked  upon 
the  Piegans  as  friends  and  the  reverse  with  the  Crows.  I  firmly  believe 
the  Crows  had  stolen  the  American  horse  from  some  white  man  on  the 
emigrant  road.  I  told  the  Crows  as  much  and  they  did  not  deny  it.  At 
all  events  our  action  made  the  Piegans  our  firm  friends  ever  afterwards. 


Little  Dog's  village,  where  Hamilton  and  McKay  had  been  so  warmly 
received  and  through  the  friendship  of  the  chief  and  his  son  had  done  such 
profitable  trading,  was  on  Maria's  River.  They  remained  three  days  at 
that  place,  and  at  their  departure  for  the  Blackfoot  camp  on  the  north 
fork  of  the  Milk  River,  the  chief  sent  Fringe  and  five  other  Piegans  to 
accompany  them  thither.  Arriving  at  one  of  the  lodges  of  a  Crow  chief, 
Hamilton  produced  both  a  mysteriously  marked  arrow  given  him  by 
Little  Dog  and  the  convenient  official  envelope  representing  the  might  and 
dignity  of  the  United  States  Government.  Although  outwardly  im- 
pressed, they  indicated  by  the  expression  of  their  faces  and  signs  made 
behind  the  backs  of  the  scouts  that  they  had  a  contempt  for  the  United 
States,  as  they  belonged  to  Red  Jacket's  band  of  Canadian  Crows.  The 
white  men  obtained  fifty-five  garnished  robes  and  two  good  packhorses 
and  saddles,  in  exchange  for  their  stock — the  design  of  the  thieving 
Crows  being  (as  Hamilton  learned  by  their  signs)  to  induce  them  to  re- 
main in  their  village  until  the  Piegans  should  depart  and  then  rob  them 
of  their  entire  outfit. 

On  the  following  morning,  when  the  Crows  were  told  of  the  intended 


172  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

departure  of  the  whites  and  their  Piegan  escort,  there  was  nearly  a  rup- 
ture between  the  two  parties,  which  was  only  averted  by  the  boldness 
and  coolness  of  Fringe.  When  they  separated,  the  Crows  refused  to 
shake  hands  with  the  whites  and  many  left  the  lodge  without  smoking 
the  pipe  of  peace.  Fringe  and  his  young  Piegan  warriors  also  agreed 
to  accompany  the  scouts  for  a  safe  distance  from  the  threatening  Crows, 
as  Hamilton  and  his  friend  had  already  gathered  a  valuable  outfit — sev- 
enteen head  of  stock,  besides  two  mules  they  had  received  from  Little 
Dog  and  his  son,  and  fourteen  packs  of  goods. 


The  white-red  party  finally  got  safely  out  of  the  Crow  village  and 
headed  for  a  Kootenai  village  on  St.  Mary's  lake,  and  when  well  out  of 
sight  of  the  enemy  Indians,  Fringe  and  his  Indian  companions  turned 
in  the  direction  of  their  own  village;  not,  however,  before  they  had  re- 
ceived from  Hamilton  three  revolvers,  with  plenty  of  ammunition  and 
other  welcome  presents.  A  few  hours  afterward  the  scouts  and  their 
outfit  were  attacked  by  three  mounted  Blackfeet.  The  men  had  a  narrow 
escape,  but  their  return  attack  was  so  decisive  that  the  Indians  were 
quickly  shot  from  their  horses  and  scalped  by  McKay.  Not  long  after- 
ward they  reached  the  Kootenai  village,  and  the  bloody  Blackfoot  scalps 
caused  a  furor  among  its  warriors.  They  were  tied  to  the  ends  of  poles 
and  paraded  through  the  village,  followed  by  a  procession  of  old  and 
young  singing  their  war  songs,  which  they  kept  up  until  about  midnight. 

THE  KOOTENAIS  ALSO  FRIENDS 

Hamilton  and  McKay  soon  made  friends  with  the  Kootenais,  who  put 
them  down  at  once  as  great  warriors,  thus  coolly  bringing  in  Blackfoot 
scalps  and  carrying  such  a  ponderous  outfit  of  goods  and  livestock.  Like 
the  Flatheads,  they  had  remained  firm  friends  of  the  whites  and  had 
refused  to  be  drawn  into  the  Spokane  war,  in  the  outcome  of  which  they 
showed  much  interest.  The  Kootenais  inquired  if  the  scouts  had  any 
powder  and  lead,  and  when  they  were  presented  with  a  ten-pound  keg 
of  powder,  as  a  gift,  their  joy  was  such  that  "McKay  remarked  he  had 
never  seen  such  pleased  Indians  in  his  life."  That  was  the  first  step  in 
cementing  the  friendship  of  the  Indians,  as  they  "were  not  going  to  part 
company  with  the  Kootenais  this  side  of  Tobacco  Plains*,  provided  we 
ever  go  there,  The  chief,  after  being  informed  that  the  ammunition  was 
a  present,  made  the  sign  'wait  until  we  cross  the  mountains  to  our 
people.' " 

FIVE  ATTACKING  BLACKFEET  "MADE  GOOD  INDIANS" 

The  squaws  built  a  strong  corral  for  the  livestock  and  brought  in  fully 
a  thousand  pounds  of  bunch  hay  before  night,  the  packs  were  brought  in 
and  carefully  secured,  and  at  the  conclusion  of  the  scalp  dance  and  a 


*  Tobacco  plains,  along  Kootenai   River,  in  the  northern   part  of  the  present 
county  of  Lincoln,  far  northwestern  Montana. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  173 

"very  pleasant  evening,"  the  night  guards  took  post.  They  comprised 
Hamilton  and  McKay  and  two  sons  of  the  old  chief,  Black  Bear.  Nothing 
eventful  occurred  during  the  first  guard,  held  by  Hamilton  and  the  oldest 
of  the  chief's  sons.  At  about  four  o'clock  Hamilton  was  awakened  by 
gun  shots  all  around  the  village  and  he  and  young  Black  Bear  ran  to  the 
assistance  of  McKay  and  the  other  Kootenai  guard.  They  reached  them 
just  in  time  to  see  the  other  brother  flash  his  knife  and  scalp  a  Blackfoot 
whom  he  had  thrown  to  the  ground,  and  McKay  also  had  his  foot  on 
a  six-foot  enemy  Indian,  while  he  was  reloading  his  shot-gun.  Only 
a  few  Indian  ponies  had  stampeded  and  the  corral  built  by  the  squaws 
had  kept  the  livestock  secure.  After  the  uproar  in  the  camp  had  sub- 
sided it  was  found  that  five  Blackfeet  had  been  made  "good  Indians,  two 
being  credited  to  McKay."  One  young  Blackfoot  had  been  taken  pris- 
oner, and  brought  into  the  chief's  lodge.  After  breakfast  the  next  day, 
many  of  the  young  Indians  mounted  upon  their  best  ponies  were  scouring 
the  prairies  and  when  they  had  brought  in  the  few  animals  which  had 
escaped,  turned  their  attention'  to  the  prisoner.  They  took  him  outside 
the  village,  stripped  him,  cut  his  hair  and  gave  him  fully  thirty  lashes, 
his  yelling  being  heard  all  over  the  village.  Afterward  he  was  told  to  go, 
which  he  did  at  a  fifteen  mile  gait,  until  he  passed  over  the  ridge  and 
out  of  sight.  A  shot  was  heard  and  soon  after  a  young  Kootenai,  a 
brother  to  the  one  who  had  been  killed  in  the  recent  fight  with  the  Black- 
feet,  made  his  appearance  from  the  direction  the  Blackfoot  had  taken. 
He  passed  by  near  where  Hamilton  and  McKay  were  standing,  and  the 
former  asked  him  by  sign  "Got  Blackfoot?"  He  smiled,  shook  his  head 
and  went  on  to  his  lodge.  Hamilton  afterwards  found  out  that  the 
Kootenai  had  "got"  the  one  that  had  been  captured  and  released,  but  that 
he  reported  his  hair  was  too  short  for  a  scalp. 

The  Kootenais,  with  Hamilton  and  McKay  on  their  mules,  broke  camp 
October  27th,  and,  with  the  squaws  keeping  the  pack  animals  in  order, 
the  mixed  party  moved  forward  toward  the  northern  home-land  of  the 
Indians  beyond  the  mountains.  They  had  not  gone  far  before  a  band  of 
two  hundred  Blackfeet  warriors  was  discovered  concealed  in  a  draw, 
and  the  moving  village  quickly  closed  up  into  a  compact  circle,  Hamilton 
and  McKay  exchanging  their  white  mules  for  their  war-horses. 

A  BATTLE  BETWEEN  REDSKINS 

The  advance  of  the  two  little  armies  of  red  warriors  is  well  de- 
scribed by  Hamilton:  "We  then  mounted  our  horses  and  rejoined  the 
advance  and  found  the  warriors  stripped  to  the  breech  clouts.  Whenever 
you  see  that,  be  assured  they  are  prepared  to  die  in  defense  of  their 
women  and  children.  They  were  a  noble  looking  body  of  brown-skinned 
warriors.  They  had  no  time  for  painting,  for  the  Blackfeet  had  been 
preparing  for  the  attack  by  stripping  themselves  in  the  draw.  Many  of 
them  did  not  have  a  stitch  upon  them,  except  a  belt  and  war  bonnet  and 
implements  of  war.  At  this  time  they  showed  themselves  upon  a  rise 
about  four  hundred  yards  distant.  They  gave  forth  a  thrilling  yell  and 


174  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

then  divided  into  two  wings,  as  if  going  to  surround  the  Kootenai  out- 
fit. It  was  a  very  interesting  sight  to  see  them  coming  at  whirlwind  speed, 
shouting  forth  yell  after  yell,  and  evidently  expecting  their  yelling  would 
stampede  some  of  the  Kootenai  outfit.  In  this  they  were  disappointed, 
as  the  Kootenais  were  up  to  all  such  manoeuvres  and  had  placed  all  the 
squaws  and  young  ones  on  the  outside  of  the  pack  animals.  The  squaws 
were  nervy,  evidently  realizing  that  everything  they  held  dear  was  in 
danger;  at  all  events  they  were  rustlers  on  this  occasion  in  keeping  the 
stock  from  being  stampeded.  When  about  one  hundred  of  the  Blackfeet, 
who  were  charging  on  our  side,  got  within  300  yards  of  us,  they  opened 
fire  with  their  Hudson  Bay  flint  lock,  muzzle-loading  guns,  but  fortu- 
nately they  were  of,  short  range.  There  was  one  Blackfoot  in  advance 
riding  on  a  fine  pinto  horse  and  I  turned  to  McKay  and  said :  'Let  us  try 
and  stop  that  fellow.'  As  I  have  before  stated,  our  ponies  were  thoroughly 
broken  under  fire  and  would  scarcely  breathe  when  we  took  aim.  We 
both  fired  at  the  Indian  at  once  and  both  horse  and  rider  went  to  the 
grass  and  remained  there ;  then  the  Kootenais  sent  forth  their  war  yell  of 
defiance." 

That  seemed  to  give  the  Blackfoot  warriors  pause  and,  being  also 
outnumbered,  they  beat  a  retreat.  Only  a  few  Kootenais  followed  McKay, 
whom  Hamilton  had  been  endeavoring  to  draw  out  of  danger,  as  the 
latter  was  far  in  advance  charging  after  the  fleeing  Blackfeet.  This  was 
not  accomplished,  although  both  man  and  horse  were  bleeding  from 
wounds,  until  the  fiery  Scotchman  had  "lifted  some  hair" — taken  some 
Blackfeet  scalps.  The  two  whites  and  their  small  band  of  Kootenai 
warriors  were  quite  a  distance  from  the  main  body  of  Indian  warriors 
before  their  chief  called  off  his  men. 

The  result  of  the  battle  was  about  thirty-five  enemy  scalps,  as  against 
four  killed  and  twenty  wounded  of  the  Kootenais.  Their  booty  com- 
prised a  lot  of  Blackfoot  blankets  which  had  been  left  in  the  draw  and 
about  fifty  horses,  the  latter  replacing  the  Kootenai  animals  which  had 
been  shot  and  crippled  in  the  fight. 

As  the  Blackfeet  warriors,  in  sign  language  on  their  retreat,  had 
threatened  to  renew  the  fight  when  the  party  were  crossing  the  moun- 
tains, Chief  Black  Bear  sent  ahead  for  reenforcements,  and  then  camped 
to  bury  the  dead  and  care  for  the  wounded.  The  advance  then  con- 
tinued, in  spite  of  Hamilton's  advice  to  the  chief  to  send  scouts  ahead, 
the  moving  village  was  attacked  as  it  emerged  from  a  mountain  pass  and 
a  timbered  stretch.  Shots  followed  rapidly  and  the  Blackfeet  both 
mounted  and  afoot  came  at  the  Kootenais  with  a  yell.  They  also  at- 
tempted to  stampede  the  pack  animals,  and  Hamilton,  even  with  the  aid 
of  his  famous  horse  Hickory,  had  much  difficulty  in  saving  his  white  mule 
which  a  Blackfoot  was  riding  off  into  the  timber.  A  reenforcement  of 
Kootenais  coming  over  the  mountains  threw  the  Blackfeet  into  a  panic. 
But,  to  the  disgust  of  the  scouts,  the  retreating  Blackfeet  were  not  fol- 
lowed. Hamilton  notes  the  bravery  of  the  young  boys  in  the  fight :  "One 
of  the  young  boys  who  was  driving  our  pack  animals  was  killed  and  two 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  175 

others  were  wounded.  Those  little  boys  fought  more  bravely  than  many 
of  the  grown  Indians." 

Many  were  wounded,  but  few  killed  in  this  engagement.  Both  the 
horses  of  Hamilton  and  McKay  were  badly  wounded  by  arrows  and  the 
latter  was  also  painfully  injured  in  the  same  way.  The  former  earned 
as  great  a  name  as  a  "medicine  man"  as  he  did  for  his  warlike  achieve- 
ments, but,  if  anything,  the  plucky  and  fearless  "Me,"  with  his  wonderful 
proficiencies  as  a  bowman  and  his  penchant  for  Indian  scalps,  seemed  to 
have  been  most  admired  as  a  white  warrior.  So  great  was  Hamilton's 
reputation  as  a  healer,  with  the  advance  of  the  party,  that  several 
wounded  squaws  insisted  that  he  attend  them,  in  preference  to  their  own 
medicine  men. 

On  the  2Qth  of  October,  the  summit  of  the  mountains  was  reached, 
a  scouting  party  of  the  newly  arrived  Kootenais  now  in  the  advance,  as 
well  as  on  the  sides  and  at  the  rear.  At  the  base  of  the  mountains,  an 
encampment  was  made,  while  two  young  men  were  dispatched  with  robes 
to  the  Hudson  Bay  trading  post,  on  the  north"  side  of  Tobacco  Plains,  to 
trade  for  powder  and  lead,  the  stock  of  which  had  become  dangerously 
low.  The  Kootenais  expected  another  attack  from  the  Blackfeet,  as  it 
is  in  the  Indian  Code  that  to  suffer  defeat  and  not  retaliate — even  if  the 
aggressor — is  cowardly  and  inexcusable. 

DISPUTE  AS  TO  OWNERSHIP  OF  TOBACCO  PLAINS 

Black  Bear  and  his  people  decided  that  they  would  move  their  village 
to  the  Catholic  mission,  southwest  side  of  Tobacco  Plains,  on  the  banks 
of  the  Kootenai  River.  On  the  ist  of  November,  accompanied  by  Young 
Black 'Bear,  and  provided  with  three  ponies  by  his  Indian  friends,  Ham- 
ilton set  out  for  the  Hudson  Bay  Company's  trading  post  to  get  some 
groceries.  "The  distance  to  the  post,"  he  says,  "was  about  six  miles, 
it  being  situated  about  one-fourth  mile  north  of  the  boundary  line  after- 
wards established,  which  was  disappointing  to  the  Hudson  Bay  Company, 
as  they  thought  the  whole  Tobacco  Plains  was  north  of  the  line.  I  and 
Linklighter,  the  trader,  had  a  dispute  about  where  the  line  would  be,  he 
claiming  the  whole  country  as  Hudson  Bay  territory,  and  I  claiming 
the  whole  of  Tobacco  Plains  for  Uncle  Sam.  Neither  of  us  at  that  time 
knew  what  we  were  talking  about,  for  the  line  as  run  divided  the  Plains 
about  equally.  The  trader,  after  all,  was  a  good  kind  of  a  Scot,  but  had 
been  educated  to  think  Mr.  John  Bull  had  a  lease  upon  all  of  North 
America." 

ANOTHER  BRUSH  WITH  THE  BLACKFEET 

Scotty,  as  the  trader  was  called,  returned  to  the  Kootenai  village  with 
Hamilton  and  Young  Black  Bear,  adding  to  their  outfit,  on  his  own  ac- 
count, provisions  for  a  feast.  He  looked  over  the  wounded  horses  and 
men  and  expressed  his  regret  that  he  could  not  have  been  present  at  such 


176  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

"a  glorious  fight."  Within  the  following  few  days,  signs  of  the  enemy 
became  more  and  more  numerous,  and  on  November  5th,  with  Hamilton 
McKay  (now  recovered  from  his  wounds)  and  Scotty  (riding  a  tough 
little  pony),  the  scouts  decked  in  warlike  attire  and  horses  painted,  were 
advancing  with  a  hundred  Kootenai  warriors,  to  feel  out  the  enemy 
Blackfeet.  About  an  equal  number  of  their  warriors  soon  appeared,  set 
up  a  war  whoop  and  fired  from  a  safe  distance.  They  were  driven  into 
a  grove  from  which  they  had  emerged,  and  the  Kootenais  circled  around 
the  timber  not  knowing  how  many  Blackfeet  were  hidden  there.  McKay 
and  Scotty  were  for  an  immediate  charge,  but  after  a  council  with  the 
main  body  of  the  Kootenais,  Hamilton's  plan  was  adopted  of  "smoking 
out"  the  enemy,  after  which  the  squaws  could  put  out  the  fire  with  wet 
blankets.  That  plan  proved  a  success  and  the  fleeing  Blackfeet  were 
pursued,  McKay,  as  usual  getting  so  far  ahead  of  the  native  advance 
that  both  he  and  his  horse  were  wounded.  Scotty,  also,  had  an  arrow 
stuck  through  his  thigh,  and  seemed  quite  proud  of  his  wound.  The 
Kootenai  lost  three  men  and  many  were  wounded.  Not  a  few  Blackfeet 
were  killed  and  some  of  them  mutilated. 

THE  RETURN  TO  WALLA  WALLA 

This  was  the  last  real  adventure  of  the  trip,  and  the  scouts,  after 
exchanging  a  shotgun  and  ammunition  for  a  mule,  saddle  and  twelve 
-robes  (from  Black  Bear),  said  good-bye  to  their  Kootenai  friends,  and 
started  for  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Pend  d'Oreille,  which  occupied  six 
days.  Thence  they  crossed  Spokane  River  and  plains,  and  to  Walla  Walla 
had  the  escort  of  a  band  of  friendly  Nez  Perces  Indians.  They  arrived 
at  the  post  at  seven  o'clock  P.  M.,  of  November  22,  1858,  about  a  week 
after  the  date  fixed  at  their  departure. 

MAJOR  JOHN  OWEN'S  TRIP  IN  1858 

Another  trip,  which  tended  still  further  to  open  up  Western  Mon- 
tana, was  that  made  in  the  spring  of  1858.  The  government  outfit,  em- 
bracing about  sixty-five  head  of  animals,  was  in  charge  of  Maj.  John 
Owen,  who  had  been  appointed  agent  for  the  Flathead,  Upper  and  Lower 
Pend  d'Oreille,  and  Kootenai  Indians.  Accompanying  the  expedition 
from  the  Dalles  of  the  Columbia  to  Fort  Owen,  Bitter  Root  Valley,  was 
Charles  W.  Frush,  who  describes  himself  as  a  "kind  of  brevet  second 
lieutenant  in  command  of  the  mess  box."  From  his  pen  is  enjoyed  a 
sketch  of  the  journey  in  that  pioneer  day.  Also  members  of  the  party 
were  a  colored  boy  as  cook  and  four  Flathead  Indian  packers. 

The  route  was  along  the  famous  Buffalo  Trail,  through  the  Rocky 
Mountains  and  over  the  divide  until  finally  it  struck  Fort  Colville,  a  post 
of  the  Hudson's  Bay  Company  in  charge  of  Angus  McDonald.  The  de- 
feat of  the  government  troops  under  Colonel  Steptoe,  in  what  was  then 
Washington  territory  (Whitman  County  of  today)  had  emboldened  many 
of  the  Indians  east  of  the  Rockies,  and  when  the  party  had  reached  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  177 

Little  Spokane  River  some  thirty  tniles  south  of  the  foot  of  the  present 
Flathead  Lake,  "a  war  party  of  Spokanes  and  Kalispels  came  to  camp 
and  had  a  long  talk  and  a  smoke  among  themselves  relative  to  the  major; 
whether  or  not  they  should  keep  him  or  kill  him,  but  after  a  lengthy 
pow-wow  they  concluded  "to  let  him  go,  though  they  said  (so  the  women 
of  our  party  interpreted  to  us)  that  Major  Owen  had  big  eyes  and  big 
hands ;  that  he  said  and  wrote  bad  things  about  them  to  the  Great  Father 
at  Washington,  and  it  was  better  that  such  things  should  be  stopped. 
During  the  talk  they  took  the  major's  saddle  animal  and  tied  her  near 
their  camp,  but  afterwards  an  Indian  brought  the  mule  back  and  tied  her 
at  our  camp ;  and  we  all  drew  another  long  breath  and  satisfied  ourselves 
(by  feeling)  that  the  hair  was  still  on  our  heads,  though  the  major  would 
have  lost  a  few  silver  threads  only." 

The  route  then  lay  over  the  divide  to  the  old  Kalispel  mission,  then 
abandoned,  which  was  located  some  forty  miles  below  Lake  Pend  d'Oreille, 
on  the  east  bank  of  the  river  by  that  name,  now  known  as  Clark's  Fork 
of  the  Columbia ;  thence  up  that  stream  to  where  the  Flathead  and  Mis- 
soula  rivers  join,  called  Horse  Plains,  and  thence  to  St.  Ignatius  Mission, 
whose  fathers  heartily  welcomed  Major  Owen  and  his  party.  After  a 
day's  rest,  the  trail  took  a  southerly  course  to  the  beautiful  Valley  of  the 
Jocko,  thence  to  the  bottom  lands  in  the  Hell  Gate  Ronde,  which  like 
Horse  Plains,  offered  wonderful  grazing  and  a  fine  camping  spot.  "Our 
last  day's  march,"  concludes  the  story,  "brought  us  to  the  long-looked  for 
haven,  Fort  Owen ;  and  after  a  lapse  of  twenty  years  I  can  see  those  old 
adobe  walls  and  buildings  as  distinctly  as  if  it  were  but  yesterday.  When  the 
party  reached  the  fort  Mr.  Caleb  E.  Irvine,  who  had  been  left  in  charge, 
and  a  few  attaches  of  the  fort,  ran  out  to  welcome  us,  and  general  hand- 
shaking and  congratulations  ensued. 

"The  names  of  the  pioneers  of  this  section  and  where  they  were  lo- 
cated, I  will  give  as  near  as  I  can  remember.  There  were  camped  in 
the  immediate  vicinity  of  Fort  Owen  the  following :  Fred  Burr,  Thomas 
Adams,  Reece  (Rezin)  Anderson,  Capt.  Richard  Grant  and  family,  David 
Petty  and  John  Powell ;  those  living  at  Fort  Owen  were  Maj.  John  Owen, 
Thomas  Harris  and  wife,  Caleb  E.  Irvine  and  family,  Henry  M.  Chase  and 
family,  John  Silverthorne  and  the  writer.  Old  hunters  who  had  located 
farms  and  settled  in  the  Bitter  Root  valley  were  Mr.  Lumphrey,  Al.  Tal- 
man,  a  Frenchman  called  Johnny  Crappeaux,  and  an  old  Mexican  named 
Emanuel,  and  there  was  one  settler  in  the  Hell  Gate  ronde  named  Brooks. 
In  the  fall  of  1858  a  couple  of  Frenchmen  from  Colville  valley  whose 
names  were  Louis  Brown  and  Crooked-Hand  Shaw  camped  in  the  Jocko 
valley  and  shortly  afterward  moved  to  what  is  now  known  as  Frenchtown, 
in  Missoula  county." 

BUSINESS  EXPEDITION  OF  LABARGE,  HARKNESS  &  COMPANY 

The  firm  of  LaBarge,  Harkness  &  Company  was  formed  in  St.  Louis, 
in  the  spring  of  1862,  for  the  purpose  of  trading  on  the  Upper  Missouri 
River.    The  members  of  the  firm  were  Eugene  Jaccard,  James  Harkness,g 
Captains  Joseph  and  John  LaBarge  and  William  Galpin.    Two  steamboats 


Vol.  I— 1J 


178  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

were  purchased — the  "Shreveport,"  a  small,  light-draft  boat  for  the  upper 
river,  and  the  "Emilie,"  a  fine,  large  boat.  The  LaBarges  attended  to  the 
steamboat  interest,  while  Mr.  Harkness  went  to  Washington  to  obtain  the 
necessary  permits  from  the  Interior  Department.  On  his  return  he  bought 
a  large  stock  of  goods  for  the  Indian  and  mining  trade,  a  saw  and  a 
grist  mill,  and  doors,  windows,  saws,  axes,  nails,  etc.,  for  building  a 
store  for  the  sale  of  the  goods.  On  the  3Oth  of  April,  the  "Shreveport" 
started  for  Fort  Benton  with  seventy-five  passengers  and  all  the  freight 
she  could  carry.  On  the  I4th  of  May,  the  "Emilie"  followed,  loaded  with 
passengers  and  freight.  Many  were  attracted  by  the  novelty  of  the  trip, 
others  by  the  reports  of  gold  in  Dakota  and  Washington  territories,*  and 
others  went  as  employes  of  the  firm.  Mr.  Harkness  preceded  the  "Emilie" 
several  days,  going  by  railroad  as  far  as  St.  Joseph,  from  which  point  he 
kept  a  journal,  which  has  been  published  by  the  Historical  Society  of 
Montana  (Vol.  II),  and  bears  many  graphic,  albeit  homely  details  of 
the  trip  up  the  Missouri  to  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley  of  Far  Western  Mon- 
tana, thus  penetrating  to  the  richest  mineral  district  of  the  present. 

FIRST  STEAMBOAT  RACE  ON  THE  UPPER  MISSOURI 

Under  date  of  May  18,  1862,  Mr.  Harkness  noted,  as  the  steamboat 
left  St.  Joseph,  575  miles  above  St.  Louis,  that  "about  one-third  of  the 
place  has  been  burned  arid  destroyed  by  the  army."  Twelve  days  up  the 
river,  Omaha,  Sioux  City  and  Yankton  had  been  passed  and  Fort  Pierre 
reached.  At  Fort  Berthold,  still  further  up  the  river  in  Dakota,  another 
steamer,  "Spread  Eagle,"  was  met.  It  left  at  10 :3O  A.  M.,  June  5th,  and 
the  "Emilie"  half  an  hour  later.  A  third  boat,  also  going  up  the  Missouri, 
was  overtaken  in  the  afternoon  of  that  day.  It  was  the  "Key  West," 
which  evidently  was  overhauled.  Early  the  next  day,  Mr.  Harkness  en- 
tered the  region  of  the  "bad  lands,"  and  notes:  "The  'Spread  Eagle'  is 
just  alongside  of  us,  and  we  are  having  a  race,  (probably)  the  first  ever 
run  on  the  Upper  Missouri.  She  passed  us  and  then  we  passed  her, 
when  she  ran  into  us,  breaking  our  guards  and  doing  some  other  dam- 
age. There  was  a  good  deal  of  ahgry  talk."  In  the  afternoon  the  steam- 
boat was  opposite  the  mouth  of  White  Earth  River,  in  what  is  now  North 
Dakota  near  the  most  northern  point  in  the  Missouri  and  was  2,235  miles 
above  St.  Louis.  Aside  from  the  steamboat  race,  no  excitement  was  re- 
ported except  the  running  down  of  a  number  of  buffalo  who  were  swim- 
ming across  the  river.  On  the  morning  of  the  8th  of  June,  the  mouth 
of  the  Yellowstone  was  passed  and  Fort  Union  was  reached  in  the  after- 
noon. From  that  point  on,  for  some  time,  Mr.  Harkness's  diary  is  given 
over  to  what  we  now  speak  of  as  Montana. 

TRIP  FROM  FORT  UNION  TO  FORT  BENTON 

"Landed  at  Fort  Union  7  :oo  A.  M.,  and  fired  a  salute  of  four  guns," 
notes  the  diary.  "The  fort  is  on  a  good  site,  but  fast  going  to  decay. 


*Montana,  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  was,  in  1862,  a  portion  of  Washington 
Territory;  that  east  of  it  was  included  within  the  bounds  of  Dakota. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  179 

The  Indians  lost  about  five  hundred  head  of  horses  in  the  winter  from 
the  intense  cold  and  have  very  poor  robes.  They  do  not  go  out  of  the 
fort  without  being  well  armed  through  fear  of  the  Sioux."  Past  Poplar 
and  Porcupine  rivers,  with  herds  of  buffalo  and  antelopes,  and  packs  of 
wolves  continually  in  sight,  the  "Emilie"  steamed,  breaking  her  tiller 
rope,  grounding  and  otherwise  misbehaving,  but  on  the  whole  pro- 
gressing. Mr.  Harkness  was  sick  and  Captain  LaBarge  had  the  rheu- 
matism, as  the  weather  was  cold  and  wet.  On  the  eleventh,  the  boat 
reached  the  mouth  of  the  Milk  River,  and  on  the  following  day  passed 
Round  Butte,  half  way  between  Fort  Union  and  Fort  Benton,  the  latter 
being  the  immediate  objective.  Rain  had  been  falling  much  of  the  time, 
and  the  river  became  so  swollen  and  the  current  so  rapid  that  in  order  to 
get  up  sufficient  steam  for  the  "Emilie"  to  move,  tar  had  to  be  burned.  At 
Dauphan's  Rapids,  above  the  mouth  of  the  Judith  River,  the  companion 
boat,  the  "Shreveport,"  was  passed,  and  about  the  same  time  a  gov- 
ernment boat  was  met  going  down  the  Missouri,  having  aboard  a  num- 
ber of  Lieut.  John  Mullan's  men  who  had  been  engaged  in  building  the 
military  road  from  Walla  Walla  to  Fort  Benton. 

The  "Shreveport,"  the  smaller  and  less  powerful  boat,  was  taken  on 
wood  just  below  the  rapids  (also  called  "Drowned  Men's  Rapids").  Note 
from  the  diary,  under  date  of  Sunday,  June  I5th:  "Passed  Judith  river 
and  overtook  the  'Shreveport'  just  below  '  Drowned  Men's  Rapids,'  where 
she  was  wooding.  Procured  some  dry  wood  and  passed  the  rapids  with- 
out much  delay.  Dropped  a  line  to  the  'Shreveport'  and  helped  her  over. 
The  rain  fell  in  torrents,  but  the  passengers  walked  over  with  cheers ;  quite 
a  number  were  acquainted  with  each  other  on  the  boats.  We  had  a  very 
agreeable  time  and  I  found  my  son  and  daughter  in  good  health.  Laid 
up  for  the  night  at  8:30.  Invited  all  the  passengers  of  the  'Shreveport' 
over  to  listen  to  a  discourse  by  Rev.  J.  F.  Bartlett." 

FORT  LABARGE  ESTABLISHED 

Taking  the  "Shreveport"  in  tow,  the  "Emilie"  continued  the  journey, 
past  Maria's  River  and  in  view  of  the  Little  Rockies  to  the  northwest 
and  the  Judith  Mountains  to  the  southeast,  "wooding"  along  the  route. 
At  Fort  Benton,  two  days  afterward,  both  boats  discharged  their  freight 
"on  a  prairie  devoid  of  timber."  Mr.  Harkness  therefore  found  his  saw- 
mill useless  at  that  point.  He  says  significantly  that  "some  of  the  at- 
taches are  glad  to  see  us."  Little  Dog,  the  chief  of  the  Blackfeet, 
who  was  at  Fort  Benton  at  the  time,  pledged  his  friendship,  "and  sent 
out  runners  for  his  people  to  come  in.  Had  a  business  meeting  of 
all  the  partners,"  he  adds,  "and  decided  to  build  our  post  a  mile  and  a 
half  above  Fort  Benton,  naming  it  Fort  LaBarge."  It  was  laid  out  in  a 
few  days,  300  by  200  feet,  Madam  LaBarge  driving  the  first  stake. 

On  the  i8th,  "began  the  erection  of  a  canvas  store,  and  goods  are 
selling  fast.  Very  warm,  one  hundred  degrees  in  the  shade."  On  the 
following  morning,  the  "Emilie"  left  for  St.  Louis,  and  on  the  day  after, 
the  "Spread  Eagle"  arrived,  also  soon  departing  for  St.  Louis.  The  re- 


180  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

mainder  of  the  trip  up  the  Missouri  was  to  be  made  in  the  "Shreveport." 
At  this  period  of  the  venture,  the  weather  seemed  to  be  "freakish."  One 
day  it  was  "very  warm — one  hundred  and  four  degrees  in  the  store,  but  it 
rained  and  turned  so  cold  that  we  made  a  fire  in  the  cabin  of  the  'Shreve- 
port.' *  *  *  Trade  good  until  stopped  by  one  of  the  most  terrible 
hail  storms  I  ever  saw.  The  ground  was  covered  to  the  depth  of  sev- 
eral inches.  The  roof  of  the  boat  was  cut  so  that  she  leaked  in  many 
places." 

FIRST  WHITE  WOMEN  TO  SEE  THE  GREAT  FALLS 

June  3Oth  was  a  day  of  historic  note,  as  witness  this  enfry :  "  A  party 
was  made  up  to  visit  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Missouri.  It  consisted  of  Eu- 
gene Jaccard,  Father  De  Smet,  Giles  Filley  and  son  Frank,  Madam  La- 
Barge,  Margaret  Harkness  (daughter  of  the  proprietor),  Mrs.  Culbertson 
and  son  Jack,  W.  G.  Harkness,  Tom  LaBarge  and  Cadotte,  the  guide,  the 
last  three  being  on  horseback,  and  the  others  in  an  ambulance  drawn  by 
four  mules.  They  started  at  4  P.  M.  and  in  the  afternoon  met  some 
Blood  Indians,  relatives  of  Mrs.  Culbertson,  who  were  friendly  under  the 
influence  of  Father  De  Smet  and  Mrs.  C.  An  antelope  was  killed  and 
cooked  for  supper  and  the  party  camped  for  the  night.  They  started  at 
4  A.  M.  next  morning,  and  reached  the  falls  about  9  or  10  A.  M.  Madam 
LaBarge  and  Margaret  Harkness,  leaving  the  ambulance,  ran  to  the  point 
from  which  the  first  glimpse  could  be  had,  and  are  the  first  white  women 
to  have  seen  the  Great  Falls  of  the  Missouri.  They  found  the  way  down 
to  the  river  with  difficulty,  and  looking  up  saw  the  falls  in  all  their  beauty 
and  grandeur." 

OVERLAND  TRIP  TO  DEER  LODGE  VALLEY 

Below  the  Great  Falls,  the  "Shreveport"  was  discharged  of  her  freight, 
oxen  and  horses  were  bought,  as  well  as  four  small  mules,  and  the  steam- 
boat returned  to  St.  Louis,  the  balance  of  the  trip  to  Deer  Lodge  Valley 
and  the  mining  country  being  made  overland.  After  crossing  the  Sun 
River,  the  mountain  road  was  taken  toward  the  South.  At  the  Dear- 
born, "lost  best  mule  owing  to  flies  and  wild  disposition,"  and  in  as- 
cending the  Prickly  Pear  found  a  bad  wash-out  in  Mullan's  military 
road,  which  the  men  were  endeavoring  to  repair.  It  is  human  nature  to 
criticise,  and  Harkness  cannot  refrain  from  commenting  on  Mullan's 
work:  If  he  had  made  the  road  on  the  hills  it  might  have  been  per- 
manent. They  had  twenty  yoke  of  oxen  to  one  wagon  and  could  not  take 
it  up.  They  have  cut  logs  all  day  to  place  across  the  gullies,  putting  on 
cross-pieces  to  make  a  road.  It  is  now  evening  and  they  are  going  to1 
try  the  new  road.  I  hope  there  will  be  no  accidents.  A  miss  of  six 
inches  would  have  sent  them  five  hundred  feet  into  the  creek  bottom." 

Harkness  found  the  road  filled  with  trains,  bound,  like  his  own, 
to  the  Montana  mining  country.  He  also  met  disappointed  miners  return- 
ing to  the  States;  also  some,  on  the  way,  who  had  struck  "pay  dirt." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  181 

His  trains  left  the  Government — Mullan's  Road — and  took  a  short-cut  to 
Little  Blackfoot  River,  which  they  crossed  for  the  last  time.  They 
had  now  crossed  the  divide  to  the  western  slopes  of  the  Rockies,  and 
commenced  the  descent  into  Deer  Lodge  Valley.  It  was  now  July  23rd, 
and  the  diary  has  this  to  say:  "After  a  few  miles  we  commenced  the 
descent  to  Deer  Lodge  Valley.  From  the  top  of  the  hill  a  fine  view  of  the 
valley,  surrounded  by  snow-capped  mountains,  is  presented.  The  dif- 
ferent creeks,  with  their  lining  of  willows,  can  be  traced  with  a  field  glass 
almost  to  their  sources  in  the  mountains  and  houses  can  be  seen.  After 
descending  the  hill,  which  was  fully  three  miles  long,  we  crossed  the 
bottom  and  the  Deer  Lodge  River,  a  wide  and  fine  stream  at  this  point. 
Nooned  at  1 1  A.  M.  in  the  most  intense  heat,  and  after  dinner  went  down 
to  John  Grant's  house  at  the  Forks,  where  N.  Wall  and  the  American 
Mining  Company  are  (located).  Quite  a  number  of  our  old  acquaintances 
are  here,  and  I  think  I  will  remain. 

"I  saw  several  hundred  cows  and  calves  belonging  to  Grant,  the 
finest  I  have  ever  seen  in  America.  Red  clover  is  growing  on  the  banks, 
proof  to  me  that  grain  can  be  raised  here.  Trout  are  plentiful  and  the 
miners  catch  and  dry  them,  and  game  birds  are  numerous.  The  hills  roll 
gently  back  towards  the  East,  and  in  the  West  they  rise  abruptly,  nearly 
to  perpetual  snow.  The  Blackfoot  and  Deer  Lodge  rivers  unite  and 
form  the  Hell  Gate  River,  not  far  from  the  houses." 

But  Mr.  Harkness  did  not  remain.  He  prospected  for  gold  on  Flint 
and  Gold  creeks  and  along  Hell  Gate  River,  but  found  the  outlook  either 
for  gold  or  trade  far  from  his  expectations.  The  weather  also  was 
alternately  fiery  hot  and  intensely  cold.  Most  of  the  miners  who  had 
not  given  up  hope,  were  also  preparing  to  go  to  Oregon  for  the  winter. 
He,  therefore,  sold  his  ambulance,  evidently  a  sort  of  an  elephant  on 
his  hands,  to  Mr.  Grant,  and  on  August  8,  1862,  turned  his  face  and  his 
party  toward  the  Missouri,  and  just  a  month  afterward  reached  Fort 
Union  on  the  return  trip.  At  Fort  LaBarge,  Mr.  Harkness  built  a  boat 
forty  feet  long  called  the  "Maggie"  (named  after  his  daughter),  which 
he  launched  on  the  26th,  and  started  down  the  river  accompanied  by  one 
of  Major  Culbertson's  boats.  As  the  Sioux  were  again  on  the  war 
path,  the  two  boats  kept  together  for  mutual  protection.  Two  others 
joined  them,  so  that  the  fleet  put  out  of  Fort  Union  with  confidence. 
At  Fort  Pierre,  Dakota,  the  danger  zone  was  considered  negotiated,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  trip  to  St.  Louis  was  made  without  special  anxiety 
or  incident.  Mr.  Harkness  reached  St.  Louis  (by  railroad  from  Han- 
nibal) October  7,  1862. 

The  immediate  results  of  the  expedition  sent  out  by  LaBarge,  Hark- 
ness &  Company,  or  LaBarge,  Harkness  &  Jallard,  were  not  epoch-mak- 
ing, but  various  unrelated  incidents  of  that  period  indicated  the  creation 
of  new  conditions  in  the  development  of  Montana.  Fort  LaBarge,  as  a 
rival  of  Fort  Benton,  proved  a  failure,  although  the  conditions  seemed 
favorable  to  the  growth  of  any  trading  post  along  the  middle  reaches  of 
the  Missouri,  which  might  serve  as  a  depot  of  supplies  for  the  Eastern 
emigrants  and  others  bound  for  the  newly  opened  gold  diggings  of 


O 

S 
W 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  183 

Southwestern  Montana.  In  the  summer  of  Mr.  Harkness'  venture,  while 
the  "Spread  Eagle"  and  "Key  West,"  owned  by  the  American  Fur  Com- 
pany, and  the  "Emilie"  and  "Shreveport,"  of  his  own  firm,  were  speeding 
up  the  Missouri  with  supplies  for  Fort  Benton,  a  party — one  of  many — 
of  130  men,  women  and  children,  with  52  wagons,  under  the  direc- 
tion of  Capt.  James  L.  Fisk,  was  proceeding  overland  from  Minnesota 
for  Fort  Benton  and  the  gold  fields  of  Bannack  City.  In  September,  1862, 
the  great  emigrant  train  reached  Fort  Benton,  and  continued  west  to 
Gold  Creek,  where  it  arrived  twenty  days  later  and  dispersed  to  the  vari- 
ous diggings  then  known. 

But  although  the  LaBarge  concern  had  proven  its  enterprise  by  bring- 
ing into  Montana  the  first  steam  sawmill  put  in  operation  within  the  pres- 
ent limits  of  the  state,  neither  in  capital  nor  influence  was  it  able  to 
compete  with  the  American  Fur  Company.  Its  stock  of  goods  was  much 
inferior  to  that  of  the  older  and  wealthier  company  and  its  freighting 
capacities  more  limited.  The  great  bulk  of  trade,  therefore,  continued 
to  go  to  Fort  Benton. 

The  years  1863-64  saw  the  decline  and  fall  of  Fort  LaBarge,  then  in 
charge  of  Robert  H.  Lemon.  Lieutenant  Bradley,  in  his  "Affairs  at  Fort 
Benton,"  gives  the  following  explanation  of  the  decisive  disaster: 

"They  had  contracted  this  year  (1863)  to  deliver  at  Fort  Benton  cer- 
tain freight  for  Capt.  Nicholas  Wall,  an  old  and  well  known  steamboat 
captain,  and  an  influential  man  in  charge  at  St.  Louis.  The  low  stage  of 
water  compelled  the  discharge  of  the  freight,  with  the  goods  of  the  com- 
pany as  well,  above  Cow  Island,  and  Lemon  was,  therefore,  compelled 
to  seek  other  transportation  for  his  goods,  and  the  freighting  capacities 
of  the  country  being  very  limited,  King  and  Gillette  received  twenty- 
five  cents  a  pound  for  carrying  them  from  Snake  Point  to  Bannack  City,  a 
distance  of  about miles.  Captain  Wall  at  once  instituted  proceed- 
ings against  the  firm  and  obtained  judgment  against  them.  Fort  LaBarge 
with  all  its  appurtenances,  including  the  sawmill  and  a  considerable  quan- 
tity of  peltries  was  attached  and  sold  at  sheriff's  sale  the  following  sum- 
mer. The  fort  was  purchased  by  the  American  Fur  Company,  while  the 
sawmill  was  knocked  down  to  a  bidder  from  the  mining  regions,  whither 
it  was  carried." 

Lieutenant  Bradley 's  footnotes,  or  comments,  regarding  this  famous 
pioneer  lawsuit,  which  resulted  in  the  discontinuance  of  Fort  Benton's 
rival,  present  some  interesting  facts,  as  follows:  "Picotte  was  in  charge, 
Lemon  came  up  as  agent  of  Labarge.  Lemon  discharged  Picotte  on  ac- 
count of  insufficiency  and  drunkenness,  and  put  their  business  in  the 
hands  of  Dawson.  Picotte  had  been  instructed  to  remove  the  goods  in 
a  flatboat  from  Cow  Island,  but  he  lay  in  the  house  drunk  and  neglected 
the  business.  When  the  business  was  turned  over  to  Dawson,  he,  na- 
turally not  being  bound  to  the  Labarges,  moved  his  own  goods  first, 
but  during  the  winter  hauled  all  the  Labarges  and  Wall's  also.  The  law- 
suit was  on  account  of  this  delay.  *  *  * 

"Labarge  sued  Wall  and  got  damages  for  seizure  of  his  fort  and 
injury  to  his  business.  The  sawmills  and  buildings  were  sold  in  1864, 
but  the  goods  and  peltries,  etc.,  not  until  1866." 


CHAPTER    IX 
FIRST  GOLD  DISCOVERIES  AND  WORKINGS 

The  post  and  the  town  of  Fort  Benton  arose  as  a  mart  of  trade,  its 
early  prosperity  as  a  fur  center  being  subsequently  accelerated  and  sus- 
tained as  a  depot  of  supplies  for  the  mining  country,  and  the  emigrants 
en  route  thereto.  The  other  large  municipalities  and  towns  of  the  pioneer 
period  were  based  directly  on  the  gold  discoveries  and  workings,  the 
story  of  which  is  a  continuous  tale  of  unrest  and  adventure. 

MONTANA'S  FIRST  GOLD  MINER 

The  first  "colors"  of  the  precious  metal  in  Montana  were  found  by 
a  peddler  of  Indian  goods  and  trinkets,  of  mongrel  Scotch  and  Indian 
blood,  whose  route  stretched  from  the  Rocky  Mountains  of  Western 
Montana  to  the  Pacific  Coast.  Francois  Finlay,  or  Benetsee,  after  ex- 
changing his  colored  clothes,  beads,  powder,  lead,  and  what-not  (perhaps 
whiskey)  with  the  red  wanderers  of  the  west,  for  furs  and  buffalo  robes, 
became  so  prosperous  that  he  bought  a  large  drove  of  horses  in  California 
and  brought  them  to  Deer  Lodge  Valley.  How  many  years  passed  in 
such  occupations,  history  recordeth  not;  but  it  is  known  that  Benetsee 
went  to  reside  in  that  pleasant  place  in  Montana  sometime  prior  to  1850. 
The  stream  upon  which  he  located  his  retreat  became  known  as  Benetsee 
Creek. 

The  wandering  habits  of  a  western  peddler,  or  trader,  cannot  be  ob- 
literated, and  the  half-breed  continued  his  trips  to  the  Pacific  Coast,  with 
his  Montana  ranch  as  his  base  of  operations.  After  one  of  his  journeys 
to  California,  in  1852,  he  returned  to  his  quiet  home  in  Deer  Lodge 
Valley,  hot  with  the  gold  fever  of  the  far  west.  Examining,  with  critical 
eye,  the  near  country,  especially  the  sand  bars  along  his  home  creek,  he 
was  impressed  with  its  remarkable  resemblance  to  the  gold-bearing  soil 
of  California.  Finlay  then  obtained  a  pan  and  commenced  to  wash  the 
gravel,  as  he  had  seen  the  California  miners  do,  and  at  length  obtained 
about  a  teaspoonful  of  yellow  grains.  This  sample  he  took  to  Angus 
McDonald,  chief  factor  of  the  post  controlled  by  the  Hudson's  Bay  Com- 
pany, about  twenty  miles  south  of  Flathead  Lake.  Although  not  a  miner, 
the  fur  trader  had  such  faith  in  the  "find"  that  he  purchased  it  and  then 
sent  it  to  be  analyzed  by  an  expert  at"  one  of  the  company's  other  posts. 
His  judgment  was  confirmed  and  he  "grub-staked"  Finlay  to  the  extent 
of  a  month's  provisions  and  necessary  miner's  tools.  After  Finlay  had 
delivered  to  his  backer  about  two  ounces  of  the  gold  dust,  they  both  tired 

'.  184 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  185 

of  the  venture  and  returned  to  the  ways  of  trade,  especially  as  the  Hudson 
Bay  Company  discouraged  mining  as  likely  to  interfere  with  its  legitimate 
business. 

Finlay's  findings  resulted  in  no  further  explorations  for  gold  in 
Montana  fields  until  1856.  In  that  year,  a  party  comprising  Robert  Here- 
ford, late  of  Helena,  John  Saunders  (Long  John),  and  Bill  Madison,  on 
their  way  to  Salt  Lake  from  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  where  they  had  spent 
the  winter  trading  with  the  Indians,  prospected  a  little  while  passing 
Benetsee  Creek  and  found  some  gold  dust.  This  they  gave  to  old  Captain 
Grant,  "who  used  to  show  it  up  to  the  time  of  his  death  in  1862  as  the 
first  piece  of  gold  found  in  the  country." 

SlLVERTHORN   NO  LONGER  A  MYSTERY 

Bradley's  journal  (Vol.  Ill,  Montana  Historical  Society's  contribu- 
tions, p.  277)  has  this  to  say  about  a  gold  find  which,  at  that  time,  seemed 
quite  mysterious:  Major  Culbertson  had  arrived  at  Fort  Benton  from 
a  trip  down  the  Missouri,  in  October,  1856,  and  not  long  afterward  a 
mountaineer  "appeared  at  the  fort  with  a  quantity  of  gold  dust  which  he 
desired  to  exchange  for  goods.  He  had  been  prospecting,  he  said,  in  the 
mountains  to  the  southwest,  but  where  there  was  plenty  of  gold,  but 
seemed  averse  to  describing  the  exact  locality.  He  demanded  $1,000 
worth  of  goods  for  the  dust,  but  as  nothing  was  known  at  the  fort  of 
the  presence  of  gold  in  the  adjoining  country,  Major  Culbertson  had 
doubts  of  the  genuineness,  or  of  its  value  of  gold,  and  hesitated  to  accept 
it.  A  young  man  named  Ray,  a  relative  of  Culbertson's  and  an  employe 
at  the  fort,  was  sanguine  the  metal  was  gold  and  worth  all  that  was  asked 
for  it;  and  by  his  advice  Major  Culbertson  finally  received  it  as  a  private 
venture,  charging  the  goods  to  his  own  account.  The  mountaineer  took  in 
exchange  a  supply  of  horses,  arms,  blankets,  tobacco,  etc.,  and  went  back 
to  the  mountains.  The  next  season  the  dust  was  sent  to  the  mill  and 
realized  to  Major  Culbertson  the  sum  of  $1,525,  it  having  been  proved 
to  be  nearly  pure  gold.  This  was  the  earliest  exchange  of  gold  dust  in 
Montana,  and  no  more  was  brought  to  Fort  Benton  till  after  the  mining 
excitement  began  in  1860.^  It  was  undoubtedly  collected  within  the  limits 
of  the  territory,  and  may  be  safely  set  down  as  the  first  important  yield 
from  the  mines  that  have  since  attained  a  place  among  the  most  im- 
portant gold  fields  of  the  world." 

As  a  footnote  Lieutenant  Bradley  adds  the  following,  after  giving 
Silverthorn  as  the  name  of  the  mountaineer  who  brought  the  gold  dust  to 
Fort  Benton:  "He  remained  in  the  country  for  several  years,  retiring 
•alone  for  long  periods  to  the  mountains,  and  appearing  at  the  forts  or 
settlements  with  plenty  of  gold  to  buy  all  his  necessities.  He  could  never 
be  induced  to  tell  where  he  got  his  gold,  but  said  it  was  a  mine  known  only 
to  himself.  According  to  his  statement,  it  was  not  a  very  rich  one,  paying 
him  only  four  or  five  dollars  a  day,  but  the  amount  of  gold  he  always  had 
seemed  to  belie  his  words." 

Later  historians  of  Montana  than  Lieutenant  Bradley  have  unearthed 
the  personality  of  Silverthorn  and  claim  that  he  never  posed  as  a  gold  dis- 


186  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

coverer.  The  matter  is  thus  clarified  by  W.  F.  Wheeler,  former  librarian 
of  the  Montana  Historical  Society:  "In  1858,  John  Silverthorn,  an  em- 
ploye of  Major  Owen  and  who  had  charge  of  his  pack  trains,  while  on  his 
way  from  Fort  Owen  to  Fort  Benton,  carrying  with  him  fine  furs,  skins 
and  robes,  purchased  from  the  Indians  which  were  to  be  shipped  from 
Fort  Benton  down  the  Missouri  River  to  the  eastern  market,  happened 
to  camp  over  night  at  Benesee's  or  Gold  Creek.  Silverthorn  and  Finlay 
were  old  acquaintances.  Finlay  wanted  tobacco  and  a  few  supplies  which 
he  knew  Silverthorn  always  carried,  and,  as  he  had  no  money,  offered 
in  exchange  for  the  articles  a  quantity  of  yellow  dust  which  he  said  Mr. 
McDonald  had  informed  him  was  gold,  and  which  Silverthorn  hesitat- 
ingly took  in  exchange  for  about  ten  dollars'  worth  of  such  supplies  as 
Finlay  needed.  Arrived  at  Fort  Benton,  Silverthorn  showed  the  dust  to 
Major  Culbertson,  then  the  agent  of  the  American  Fur  Company,  and 
finally  sold  it  to  him  for  twelve  dollars  in  trade.  Major  Culbertson 
shipped  the  yellow  stuff  to  St.  Louis,  describing  what  he  believed  it  to  be, 
whence  it  came  and  the  sum  he  had  paid  for  it.  At  St.  Louis  it  was 
properly  assayed  and  pronounced  to  be  worth  fifteen  dollars." 

STUART  BROTHERS  BRING  REAL  RESULTS 

But  despite  all  subsequent  encouragement  offered  by  Major  Culbert- 
son to  his  fur  employes  to  be  on  the  look-out  for  gold,  there  were  no. 
developments  for  several  years  outside  of  Finlay  and  Benetsee's  Creek. 
The  discovery  of  the  half-breed  and  the  major's  promotion  of  gold  mining 
were  barren  of  results  until  the  two  Stuart  brothers  came  along  and  com- 
menced the  practical  development  of  the  "colors"  found.  Coming  of  a 
good  Virginia  family,  transplanted  to  Illinois  and  Iowa,  the  two  sons, 
James  and  Granville,  accompanied  their  father  to  California  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1852,  and  arrived  in  Sacramento  Valley  in  the  fall.  The  elder 
man  returned;  the  sons  and  brothers  remained.  They  mined,  herded 
stock,  Helped  defend  the  pioneer  miners  against  the  Indians,  prospected 
over  a  wide  range  of  country,  and  in  tHe  summer  of  1857  started  for 
the  States.  There  were  eleven  in  their  party..  On  account  of  the  bad 
weather,  they  suffered  greatly,  and  Granville  was  taken  sick  with  moun- 
tain fever  in  the  valley  of  the  Humboldt  River,  and  the  two  brothers,  with 
Reece  Anderson,  remained  at  the  camp  of  a  trader  for  eight  days,  while 
the  remainder  of  the  party  continued  the  journey.  When  Granville  had 
recovered,  after  about  two  weeks,  the  Mormons  had  closed  all  the  main 
roads  leading  to  the  States,  by  way  of  the  southern  thoroughfare  through 
South  Pass.  As  they  could  not  proceed  along  the  regular  emigrant  road, 
the  three  men  decided  to  accompany  some  mountaineers,  who  traded  each 
summer  with  the  emigrants  along  the  overland  road,  and  who  usually 
moved  north  to  winter  in  the  Beaverhead  and  Deer  Lodge  Valleys. 

The  winter  of  1857-58  was  spent  in  Beaverhead  Valley  and  on  the 
Big  Hole  River.  The  Stuart  brothers  and  Anderson  had  as  neighbors 
at  the  latter  camp  Jacob  Meeks,  Robert  Dempsey  and  family,  Jackson 
Antoine  Leclaire  and  family,  and  Oliver  and  Michael  Leclaire;  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  187 

scattered  around  in  a  radius  of  twenty-five  miles  were  the  following  per- 
sons, who  spent  the  same  winter  there :  Richard  Grant,  Sr.,  and  family, 
John  F.  Grant  and  family,  Thomas  Pambrun  and  family,  L.  R.  Maillet, 
John  M.  Jacobs  and  family,  Robert  Hereford,  John  Morgan,  John  W. 
Powell,  John  Saunders,  — : —  Ross,  Antoine  Pourrier,  Antoine  Courtoi, 
and  a  Delaware  Indian  named  Jim  Simonds,  who  had  a  considerable 
quantity  of  goods  for  the  Indian  trade,  as  did  also  Hereford  and  the 
Grants.*  Most  of  the  others  had  small  lots  of  goods  and  trinkets  with 
which  to  buy  horses,  furs  and  dressed  skins  from  the  Indians.  The  price 
of  a  common  horse  in  those  days  was  two  blankets,  one  shirt,  one  pair 
of  cloth  leggings,  one  small  mirror,  one  knife,  one  paper  of  vermilion  and 
usually  a  few  other  trifles.  A  dressed  deer-skin  brought  from  fifteen 
to  twenty  balls,  with  powder  to  carry  them ;  an  elk,  twenty  to  twenty-five 
balls  and  powder;  an  antelope,  five  to  ten;  a  beaver,  twenty  to  twenty- 
five,  and  a  pair  of  good  moccasins,  ten.  The  Grants  and  the  Hudson 
Bay  men  generally  complained  bitterly  of  the  American  hunters  and  ad- 
venturers, claiming  that  they  had  more  than  doubled  the  price  of  all  those 
articles  among  the  Indians  in  the  last  ten  years ;  "which,"  says  Granville 
Stuart,  "was  doubtless  so." 

"Simonds  and  Hereford  each  had  considerable  whiskey  in  their  outfits, 
but  it  was  only  for  the  whites,  as  they  did  not  trade  it  to  the  Indians, 
who  were  scattered  about,  a  few  families  in  a  place,  engaged  in  hunting 
and  trapping.  They  were  mostly  Snakes  and  Bannocks,  with  a  few  Flat- 
heads.  They  did  not  seem  to  crave  liquor,  as  most  Indians  do,  but  were 
quiet  and  unobtrusive,  and  as  respectable  as  Indians  ever  get  to  be.  But 
the  whites  and  half-breeds  drank  enough  while  it  lasted  (which,  for- 
tunately, was  not  long)  for  themselves  and  all  the  Indians  in  the  country ; 
and  their  extravagant  antics  were  true  copies  of  the  pictures  drawn  by 
Bonneville  of  a  mountaineer  and  trapper  rendezvous.  At  times  it  seemed 
as  though  blood  must  be  shed;  but  that  Providence  that  seems  to  watch 
over  the  lives  of  drunken  men  stood  by  them,  and  the  end  of  the  liquor 
was  reached  before  anybody  was  killed." 

While  hunting  and  trading  in  that  region,  like  other  pioneers  of  that 
period,  the  Stuarts  and  their  companions  were  several  times  obliged  to 
eat  their  horses  to  keep  from  starving,  as  game  was  unusually  scarce. 
They  were  also  under  the  constant  menace  of  having  the  animals  upon 
which  they  must  rely  for  transportation  stolen  by  the  Blackfeet,  whose 
deviltry  was  then  confined  to  stealing  rather  than  murder.  In  April,  1858, 
while  planning  to  go  to  Fort  Bridger,  from  which  there  was  a  crying 
demand  for  beef,  James  Stuart  and  his  companions  returned  to  Deer 
Lodge,  where  game  was  more  abundant,  to  kill  and  dry  enough  meat  to 
take  them  to  the  southern  post.  Before  starting  for  Fort  Bridger,  the 
Stuart  brothers,  and  Anderson  and  Ross,  made  a  little  side  trip  to  in- 
vestigate the  reported  finding  of  gold  by  the  Red  River  half-breed, 
Benetsee,  in  the  lower  end  of  Deer  Lodge,  in  1852,  and  its  subsequent 
discovery,  in  1856,  by  a  party  on  its  way  to  Salt  Lake  from  the  Bitter 


*  See  Granville  Stuart's  "Life  of  James  Stuart." 


188  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Root  Valley.  They  accordingly  left  the  rest  of  the  mountaineers  on  the 
4th  of  April,  1858,  and  moved  over  to  Deer  Lodge  and  found  John  M. 
'Jacobs  camped  at  the  mouth  of  what  is  now  Gold  Creek  (then  known  as 
Benetsee  Creek),  with  a  band  of  cattle  that  he  had  taken  from  John  F. 
Grant  on  shares ;  and  here  they  luxuriated  on  milk  and  wild  game,  after- 
ward joining  camp  with  Thomas  Adams,  who  also  had  a  band  of  cattle, 
and  with  whom  they  prospected  on  Benetsee  Creek  and  found  fair  pros- 
pects near  the  surface.  But  as  they  had  no  tools  and  were  living  on  meat 
alone,  and  were  much  harassed  by  the  Blackfeet,  who  stole  four  of  their 
horses  and  made  nightly  attempts  to  get  the  rest,  they  gave  up  pros- 
pecting and  moved  up  Flint  Creek  to  a  point  three  miles  above  where 
the  town  of  Phillipsburg  now  stands,  where  they  built  a  corral  strong 
enough  to  bid  defiance  to  the  Blackfeet,  into  which  they  put  all  their 
horses  every  night. 

The  Stuarts  reached  Fort  Bridger  June  28,  1858;  a  few  weeks  after- 
ward were  at  Camp  Floyd,  forty  miles  south  of  Salt  Lake  City  where 
Johnston  army  was  stationed  to  keep  the  Mormons  in  order,  and  there 
sold  their  horses;  then  went  to  Green  River  and  began  "buying  and 
trading  in  poor  oxen  with  the  supply  trains,"  and  subsequently  doing  bus- 
iness with  the  emigrants,  bound  for  "Pike's  Peak  or  bust."  The  following 
winter  and  spring  saw  them  on  Henry's  Fork  of  the  Green  River  and  in 
Salt  River  Valley,  on  Lander's  cut-off  of  the  emigrant  road,  engaged  in 
trading  with  the  mountain  men  and  the  emigrants.  In  the  fall  of  1860, 
they  moved  north  to  the  mouth  of  the  Pah-Sammeri,  or  Stinking  Water, 
in  Beaverhead  Valley,  intending  to  winter  there ;  but  the  Indians  be- 
coming insolent  and  semi-hostile  and  beginning  to  kill  their  cattle,  they 
moved  over  to  Deer  Lodge,  and  located  at  the  mouth  of  Gold  Creek,  re- 
solved to  develop  the  gold  mines  in  that  vicinity.  In  the  spring  (1861), 
they  found  good  prospects  in  several  places.  James  went  to  Fort  Benton, 
where  a  steamboat  was  expected,  to  buy  supplies,  leaving  his  brother  alone 
in  charge  of  the  ranch,  Anderson  having  gone  down  the  river  from 
Benton  on  a  visit  to  the  States.  The  steamboat  burned  near  the  mouth 
of  Milk  River  and  consequently  James  failed  to  get  any  supplies,  and, 
as  misfortunes  seldom  come  single,  during  his  absence  four  Bannack 
Indians  stole  a  band  of  horses  from  the  Flatheads  at  Camas  prairie  (just 
below  what  is  now  Bear  Gulch),  who  pursued  and  overtook  them  at 
Moose  Creek,  on  the  Big  Hole  River,  and  killed  two  of  them  and  re- 
captured all  the  horses.  They  spared  the  other  two,  telling  them  to  go 
and  tell  their  people  to  quit  stealing  from  the  Flatheads,  who  wished  to 
be  at  peace  with  them.  The  Flatheads  returned  home  rejoicing;  but 
their  success  was  the  whites'  calamity,  for  the  two  they  spared  followed 
them  back  to  Gold  Creek,  where,  on  the  night  of  June  22,  1861,  they  stole 
all  the  horses  there,  except  three  that  Granville  kept  tied  every  night  at 
the  cabin  door.  They  took  twenty-three  head  of  half  and  three-quarters 
breed  American  mares  and  colts,  none  of  which  were  ever  recovered. 
It  was  evident  that  at  first  these  Indians  did  not  want  to  steal  from 
the  whites,  for  they  had  passed  by  the  same  horses  twice  before  without 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  189 

molesting  them,  but  after  their  misfortune  at  the  hands  of  the  Flatheads, 
they  ceased  to  be  respecters  of  persons.    And  this  is  Indian  ethics  anyhow. 

THE  STUARTS  MINE  IN  THE  SPRING  OF  1862 

There  being  neither  tools  nor  lumber  to  be  had,  upon  James's  return 
they  hired  two  men  to  whipsaw  sluice  lumber  at  ten  cents  per  foot,  and 
sent,  by  Worden  &  Company's  pack  train,  to  Walla  Walla  for  picks  and 
shovels,  that  being  the  nearest  place  at  which  they  could  be  procured, 
but  they  did  not  arrive  in  time  to  commence  mining  that  season.  They 
dug  a  ditch,  however,  and  completed  their  arrangements  for  the  following 
spring.  Late  in  the  fall,  a  few  others  came  in  and  began  to  prospect, 
among  whom  were  Maj.  W.  Graham,  A.  S.  Blake,  and  P.  S.  McAdow, 
who  found  good  prospects  in  a  dry  gulch  just  below  where  the  village  of 
Pioneer  now  stands,  and  determined  to  remain  and  mine  at  that  place 
in  the  spring. 

In  May,  1862,  operations  were  commenced,  but  only  paid  from  one 
to  three  dollars  per  day  by  the  old  pick  and  shovel  process,  except  one 
claim  in  Pioneer  Gulch,  just  above  the  mouth  of  French  Gulch,  which 
paid .  from  six  to.  twenty  dollars  per  day  to  the  hand.  While  working  in 
the  gulch,  which  only  paid  from  $1.50  to  $2  a  day,  the  Stuart  company 
kept  their  horses  picketed  on  a  grassy  slope,  now  known  as  Bratton's  bar, 
which  in  1866,  was  accidentally  discovered  to  be  rich  in  gold,  and  has  paid 
enormously  ever  since;  but  in  '62  nobody  ever  thought  of  looking  on  a 
grassy  hillside  for  gold,  although  subsequent  developments  proved  that 
there  were  many  rich  channels  and  deposits  on  the  hills  in  that  vicinity, 
while  the  creeks  and  gulches  were  usually  too  poor  to  pay  for  working. 
Such  is  mining,  in  which  it  is  better  to  be  lucky  than  to  have  the  wisdom 
of  Solomon. 

On  the  24th  of  June,  sixteen  men  arrived,  being  the  first  of  quite  a 
large  number  who  left  Pike's  Peak  mines  (now  Colorado  Territory)  for 
•the  Salmon  River  mines,  but  most  of  whom  finally  brought  up  in  Deer 
Lodge  and  vicinity.  Among  the  first  party  was  J.  M.  Bozeman,  after 
whom  the  flourishing  county-seat  of  Gallatin  County  was  subsequently 
named,  and  who  was  murdered  by  the  Indians  on  the  Yellowstone  in 
1867.  This  party  discovered  a  rich  claim  in  a  branch  of  Gold  Creek, 
which  has  since  been  known  as  "Pike's  Peak  Gulch." 

A  considerable  number  of  men  also  came  up  the  Missouri  River  on 
steamboats  to  Fort  Benton,  bound  for  the  Salmon  River  mines,  but 
many  of  whom  stopped  at  Gold  Creek  and  remained  permanently.  The 
first  of  these  reached  Gold  Creek  on  the  29th  of  June,  and  among  them 
were  S.  T.  Hauser  and  W.  B.  Dance,  both  of  whom  became  intimate 
friends  of  James  Stuart,  and  were  associated  with  him  most  of  his  sub- 
sequent life. 

MR.  STUART  COMMENCES  TO  STUDY  MEDICINE 

During  this  summer  he  sent  east  and  procured  a  number  of  medical 
works  and  instruments  and  a  small  stock  of  drugs  and  medicines,  and 
applied  himself  assiduously  to  the  study  of  medicine  and  surgery.  He  had 


190  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

read  medicine  under  a  physician  in  his  youth,  and  also  attended  a  course 
or  two  of  medical  lectures.  He  continued  his  studies  in  this  department 
of  science  during  the  rest  of  his  life,  and,  at  the  time  of  his  death,  was 
possessed  of  a  good  medical  library  and  the  latest  improved  medical  and 
surgical  instruments,  and  was  probably  one  of  the  best  read  physicians 
and  surgeons  in  Montana.  He  never  practiced,  however,  except  among 
his  friends  and  associates,  many  of  whom  owe  their  lives  to  his  skill,  for 
he  was  very  successful,  and  rarely  failed  to  cure  any  case.  But  he  would 
never  accept  even  the  slightest  compensation  from  any  one,  seeming  to 
think  the  pleasure  he  derived  from  having  cured  them  reward  enough. 

FIRST  ELECTION  IN  PRESENT  MONTANA 

On  the  I4th  of  July,  1862,  an  election  was.  held  at  Pioneer  Gulch, 
Fort  Owen  and  Hell  Gate  and  James  Stuart  was  elected  sheriff  of 
Missoula  County,  Washington  Territory,  which  embraced  what  is  now 
Missoula  County  and  all  of  Deer  Lodge  west  of  the  range.  This  was 
the  first  election  held  in  the  Rocky  Mountains,  north  of  Colorado. 

BANNACK  CITY  AND  EARLY  DIGGINGS 

About  this  time  (July,  1862)  one  Hurlbut  discovered  the  diggings 
on  Big  Prickly  Bear  Creek,  where  the  town  of  Montana  City  (northern 
part  of  Jefferson  County)  afterward  sprang  up;  and  a  few  days  after, 
John  White,  with  a  party  on  the  way  to  Pioneer,  struck  the  mines  at 
Bannack  City,  which  proved  very  rich;  almost  simultaneously  Slack  and 
party  found  mines  on  the  head  of  Big  Hole  River,  and  within  a  week 
John  W.  Powell  and  party  found  the  Old  Bar  mines  on  North  Boulder 
Creek.  At  this  time  quite  a  village,  known  as  American  Fork,  had  grown 
up  at  Stuart's  ranch,  at  the  mouth  of  Gold  Creek,  but  it  soon  lost  its  im- 
portance because  of  the  superior  richness  of  the  mines  at  Bannack  City. 
The  first  discovery  in  that  locality  had  been  made  in  August,  and  a  little 
city  had  grown  up  in  a  few  months. 

In  the  summer  of  1862  the  streams  of  immigration  were  setting 
strongly  toward  both  the  Gold  Creek  country  of  Montana  and  the  Salmon 
River  fields  of  Idaho — especially  the  Florence  diggings.  The  Idaho  at- 
tractions led  to  the  Bannack  City  discoveries.  William  A.  Clark  tells  how 
in  his  centennial  address:  "During  this  summer  (1862)  a  small  party 
discovered  some  mines  on  Big  Hole  River  of  limited  extent.  A  party 
of  Coloradians,  among  them  Dr.  Levitt,  of  Bannack,  had  attempted  the 
route  to  the  Florence  mines  by  way  of  Lemhi  Valley,  and  were  forced 
to  abandon  it  by  reason  of  precipitous  mountains,  and  were  by  favorable 
reports  led  to  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley  as  a  desirable  wintering  place.  This 
point  they  reached  in  July,  1862.  While  there,  two  horsemen  came  in 
from  Lemhi  and  reported  the  existence  of  favorable  indications  for  gold 
on  Grasshopper  Creek,  near  where  Bannack  now  stands.  They  were 
provided  with  supplies  and  urged  to  return  and  prospect  the  gulch  and 
report.  This  they  proceeded  to  do,  and  returning  with  the  news  met  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


191 


impatient  party  moving  on  toward  the  place.  Augmented  by  other  pros- 
pectors joining  them,  they  proceeded  to  the  discovery  which  had  been 
made  by  John  White  on  the  i6th  of  August,  1862,  and  in  honor  of  the 
discoverer,  named  White's  Bar.  Soon  afterward  other  bars  were  found 
which  were  extremely  rich.  The  gulch  itself  was  then  opened  and  mining 
began  in  earnest.  In  the  autumn  a  train  was  dispatched  to  Salt  Lake 
City  for  provisions,  the  town  of  Bannack  was  laid  out,  and  by  the  first 
of  January,  1863,  a  population  of  500  souls  had  gathered  there,  and 
among  them  some  of  the  wildest  and  most  reckless  adventurers  whose 
names  and  misdeeds  figure  conspicuously  in  the  early  history  of  the 


STREET  IN  THE  BANNACK  OF  TODAY 

Territory.     Thus  began  the  first  important  mining  operations  in  this 
Territory." 

FIRST  EXECUTION  AT  AMERICAN  FORK  (HANGTOWN) 

About  the  middle  of  August,  1862,  three  horse  thieves  and  desperadoes 
arrived  at  American  Fork  from  the  lower  country,  and  were  appre- 
hended by  their  pursuers.  One  of  them,  who  resisted,  was  shot  to 
death  in  a  saloon  where  he  was  gambling;  his  companion  was  captured 
there,  and  the  third  was  taken  in  Worden  &  Company's  store.  One  of 
the  other  two  was  acquitted,  while  the  third  (C.  W.  Spillman)  was  hanged 
at  twenty-seven  minutes  past  two  o'clock,  P.  M.,  August  26,  1862.  His 
only  claim  to  be  noticed  in  this  history  is  that  his  was  the  first  execution 
in  what  is  now  Montana,  and  that  he  was  hanged  in  half  an  hour  from 
the  time  he  was  sentenced.  The  execution  caused  the  town  of  American 
Fork  to  be  recorded  as  Hangtown  on  all  the  western  maps  for  some 
years  after,  although  it  was  never  known  by  that  name  in  the  locality. 

It  was  not  that  undesirable  name  which  induced  the  Stuart  brothers 
to  abandon  American  Fork,  at  about  this  time,  but  as  nearly  everyone 
had  left  Gold  Creek  and  gone  to  booming  Bannack  City,  they  decided  to 


192  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

locate  there  with  the  crowd  and  engage  in  the  butchering  business  and 
anything  else  which  promised  honest  profit.  They  made  the  move,  leaving 
Anderson  in  charge  of  the  ranch  and  stock  at  Gold  Creek.  As  the  spring 
of  1863  drew  near,  James  Stuart  chaffed  under  the  restraint  and  decided 
to  organize  a  company  for  the  purpose  of  exploring  and  prospecting  in 
the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone,  which  had  been  almost  abandoned  since 
the  extermination  of  the  beaver  and  the  trade  founded  on  its  fur. 

STUART'S  YELLOWSTONE  EXPEDITION 

The  men  who  were  to  form  the  famous  Yellowstone  expedition  of 
1863  started  from  Bannack  City  for  the  Fifteen  Mile  Creek,  or  Rattle- 
snake Creek,  on  the  9th  of  April,  1863.  They  went  in  squads  of  two  and 
three  and  in  the  forenoon  of  the  following  day  fourteen  men,  who  were 
to  form  the  party,  organized  a  company  under  the  following  form  of 
agreement :  "Having  determined  to  explore  a  portion  of  the  country 
drained  by  the  Yellowstone  for  the  purpose  of  discovering  gold  mines 
and  securing  town  sites,  and  believing  the  object  could  be  better  accom- 
plished by  forming  ourselves  into  a  regularly  organized  company,  we 
hereby  appoint  James  Stuart  captain,  agreeing  upon  our  word  of  honor 
to  obey  all  orders  given  or  issued  by  him  or  any  subordinate  officer  ap- 
pointed by  him.  In  case  of  any  member  refusing  to  obey  an  order  or 
orders  from  said  captain,  he  shall  be  forcibly  expelled  from  our  camp.  It 
is  further  understood  and  agreed  that  we  all  do  our  equal  portions  of 
work,  the  captain  being  umpire  in  all  cases,  sharing  equally  the  benefits 
of  said  labor  both  as  to  the  discovery  of  gold  and  securing  town  sites. 
Signed:  James  Stuart,  Cyrus  D.  Watkins,  John  Vanderbilt,  James  N. 
York,  Richard  McCafferty,  James  Hauxhurst,  Drewyer  Underwood, 
Samuel  T.  Hauser,  Henry  A.  Bell,  William  Roach,  A.  Sterne  Blake, 
George  H.  Smith,  Henry  T.  Geery,  Ephraim  Bostwick.  The  fifteenth 
man,  George  Ives,  did  not  sign  the  agreement,  notes  Granville  (who 
edited  the  journal  of  the  expedition  prepared  by  James),  because  he  did 
not  overtake  the  party  until  next  day,  when  it  seems  to  have  been  for- 
gotten. Six  men,  who  had  intended  to  join  the  expedition,  were  en- 
deavoring to  collect  their  horses  which  had  been  wintering  in  Deer 
Lodge,  and  failed  to  overtake  the  main  body.  They  were  turned  back 
by  hostile  Crows  and  the  discovery  of  Alder  Gulch  and  the  rise  of  Vir- 
ginia City  resulted.  But  that  is  another  story. 

NEARLY  DISCOVERS  ALDER  GULCH 

On  the  divide  between  the  Madison  and  Stinking  Water,  two  of  the 
members  of  the  Stuart  expedition  (Geery  and  McCafferty)  "got  a 
splendid  prospect  on  a  high  bar,"  and  although  the  news  was  conveyed 
to  the  captain  the  rest  of  the  party  were  not  informed  "for  fear  of 
breaking  up  the  expedition."  As  it  afterward  developed,  "this  prospect 
was  on  a  fork  of  Alder  Gulch,  called  Granite  Creek,"  and  if  the  rich 
"strike"  had  not  been  made  by  one  of  the  men  left  behind,  it  is  certain 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  193 

that  the  honor  would  have  fallen  to  the  Stuart  party.  "As  it  was,  when 
they  got  back,  Alder  Gulch  was  full  of  miners  and  all  the  interest  centered 
there." 

The  Stuart  outfit  crossed  the  divide,  over  the  old  Buffalo  road  and 
through  the  low  gap  in  the  mountains  described  in  the  Lewis-Clark 
journal,  and  at  that  point  the  captain  of  the  expedition  noted:  "We  are 
following  Lewis  and  Clark's  trail.  We  are  about  thirty  miles  from  the 
three  forks  of  the  Missouri."  The  general  direction  of  travel  was  north- 
east to  the  divide  between  the  Yellowstone  and  Missouri  Rivers  and 
thence  to  Shields  River,  a  northern  tributary  of  the  Yellowstone  in  what 
in  now  Park  County.  Here  Stuart's  journal  stops  to  note:  "We  are 
supposed  to  be  on  Shields  River  (as  they  were).  Lewis  and  Clark  have 
played  us  out;  if  we  had  left  the  notes  and  map  of  their  route  at  home 
and  followed  the  Indian  trail,  we  would  have  saved  four  days'  travel  in 
coming  from  Bannack  City  here." 

SAVED  FROM  THE  TREACHEROUS,  CROWS 

The  party  traveled  up  the  north  bank  of  the  Yellowstone,  and  some- 
where in  the  present  county  of  Yellowstone  fell  in  with  a  band  of  Crow 
Indians,  who  attempted  to  frighten  the  whites  and  steal  their  horses  and 
every  other  thing  within  reach.  Stuart's  men  were,  with  difficulty,  pre- 
vented from  attacking  the  red-skins  at  once.  The  party  was  undoubtedly 
saved  through  the  coolness,  strategy  and  bravery  of  the  leader.  At  his 
direction,  when  the  chief  was  caught  apart  from  his  thieving,  insolent 
warriors,  the  leader  of  the  Crows  was  covered  with  Captain  Stuart's  rifle, 
and  the  principal  Indian  warriors  also  looked  into  the  rifles  and  pistols 
of  the  whites,  although  the  Indians  out-numbered  the  whites  two  to 
one.  In  the  meantime,  the  Indians  had  thrown  off  their  blankets  and 
stood  naked  with  their  muskets  leveled  at  the  whites.  It  was  a  contest 
of  eye-to-eye  will  power  and,  as  was  the  rule,  the  whites  won.  Many 
years  afterward  one  of  the  men,  Samuel  T.  Hauser,  thus  described  the 
dramatic  scene :  "The  suspense  and  anxiety  we  endured  for  a  few  min- 
utes, while  we  glared  at  each  other,  was  fearful.  To  realize  it,  one  has 
only  image  himself  surrounded  by  these  savage  fiends,  hundreds  of  miles 
from  relief  or  reinforcements.  They  were  two  to  one  of  us,  equally  as 
well  armed  as  we  were,  and  several  hundred  more  of  them  within  a  few 
miles.  But,  fortunately,  they  all  looked  to  their  chief,  and  saw  that  he 
was  lost  if  a  gun  was  fired. 

"We,  too,  looked  to  our  captain,  and  our  danger  was  almost  forgotten 
in  admiration.  His  whole  features,  face  and  person  had  changed;  he 
seemed  and  was,  taller;  his  usually  calm  face  was  all  on  fire;  his  quiet, 
light  blue  eye  was  now  flashing  like  an  eagle's,  and  seemingly  looking 
directly  through  the  fierce  and,  for  a  time,  undaunted  savage  that  stood  be- 
fore him.  For  several  seconds  it  was  doubtful  whether  the  old  warrior 
chief  would  cower  before  his  white  brother,  or  meet  his  fate  then  and 
there. 

"Our  captain,  with  his  flashing  eyes  riveted  upon  him,  was  fiercely  and 

Vol.1— 13 


194  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

eloquently  reproaching  him  with  his  bad  faith  to  the  pale  faces  and  their 
Great  Father,  winding  up  by  saying,  in  a  voice  of  stern  determination, 
'Signal  your  warriors  off,  or  I'll  send  you  to  your  last  hunting  ground !' 
For  an  instant  the  suspense  was  beyond  description;  a  death-like  silence 
reigned.  The  dark,  fierce,  snake-like  eyes  of  the  fiends  about  us  were 
enough  to  unnerve  the  most  of  men.  To  me  the  delay  was  awful,  and  I 
could  not  decide  from  the  defiant  air  of  their  chief  whether  he  was  going 
to  give  the  desired  signal  or  die ;  but  finally  a  wave  of  his  hand  relieved 
our  doubts,  and  his  braves  all  lowered  their  weapons  of  death  and  sul- 
lenly sought  their  robes  and  ponies." 

Hauser  adds  that  the  second  chief,  a  tall,  fine  looking  young  warrior, 
was  so  enraged  both  at  the  old  chief's  action  and  the  hilarity  of  the 
former,  that  "rushing  up  to  me  in  a  white  heat,  he  placed  his  finger  on 
my  nose  and  then  on  his  own,  and  quickly  touching  his  gun  and  then  mine, 
pointed  to  one  side.  All  of  which  was  a  plain  enough  challenge  to  a  single- 
handed  combat.  And  while  I  didn't  'see  it,'  the  other  fellows  did,  shouting 
with  laughter  and  saying  'Go  in,  Hauser.  You  can  get  away  with  him.' 
But  I  couldn't  'see  it'  in  that  light,  and  the  young  brave  had  to  retire 
without  satisfaction,  which,  I  regret  to  say,  he  got  afterward." 

POMPEY'S  PILLAR  REACHED 

Three  or  four  days  after  this  rather  disturbing  adventure,  the  Stuart 
party  reached  Pompey's  Pillar,  on  the  south  side  of  the  Yellowstone 
about  in  the  middle  of  the  county  by  that  name.  Of  course  there  is  a 
town  there  now.  When  Stuart  was  passing  along  in  1863,  ne  says,  under 
date  of  May  3rd:  "We  camped  three  miles  below  Pompey's  Pillar,  on 
which  we  found  the  names  of  Captain  Clark  and  two  of  his  men  cut  in 
the  rock,  with  the  date  of  July  25,  1806.  Fifty-seven  years  ago!  And  it 
is  probable  that  this  landscape  then  looked  precisely  the  same  as  it  does 
now.  There  are  also  two  more  names  cut  here  which  I  never  heard  of 
before.  But  I  suppose  they  must  have  belonged  to  some  of  the  bands 
of  trappers  that,  under  old  Jim  Bridger,  the  Sublette  and  Bonneville, 
made  this  their  hunting  ground.  The  names  are  Derick  and  Vancourt, 
and  the  accompanying  date  is  May  23,  1834.  The  pillar  is  a  good  land- 
mark, but  it  is  all  stuff  about  the  spring  in  the  top  of  it. 

"Buffalo  to  be  seen  in  every  direction,  and  very  tame.  We  can  ride 
within  300  yards  of  them,  unless  they  smell  us ;  and  if  they  do,  they 
will  run  if  they  are  a  mile  away.  Small  game  is  also  abundant.  No 
wonder  the  Crows  like  their  country ;  it  is  a  perfect  paradise  for  a  hunter." 

FAVORABLE  PROSPECTS  AND  A  TOWN  LOCATED 

Two  days  afterward,  when  the  expedition  reached  the  mouth  of  the 
Big  Horn,  it  had  traveled  401  miles,  but  the  captain  decided  that  he  had 
been  so  misled  by  the  Lewis  and  Clark  notes  and  maps  that  at  least 
seventy-five  miles  had  been  needlessly  traveled;  which  left  326  miles 
actual  distance  between  Bannack  City  to  that  point,  "and  there  can  be  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  195 

good  wagon-road  made  over  the  route  with  but  very  little  labor."  Captain 
Stuart's  journal  says  that  "In  the  evening,  some  of  the  party  washed  a 
few  pans  of  loose  gravel  from  a  bar  on  the  Big  Horn,  and  found  from 
ten  to  fifty  very  fine  colors  of  gold  in  every  pan.  They  also  tried  a  gravel 
bank  about  fifty  feet  above  the  river,  and  got  several  colors  to  the  pan. 
All  the  party  think  we  will  find  good  diggings  up  the  river." 

The  prospects  were  so  favorable  that  under  the  date  of  the  following 
day,  May  6,  1863,  the  record  reads :  "Early  in  the  morning,  five  men  were 
detailed  to  cross  the  Big  Horn  and  survey  a  town-site  and  ranches.  They 
made  a  raft  and  crossed  without  any  difficulty.  Four  men  were  sent  out 
to  prospect,  and  the  rest  had  to  keep  camp  and  guard  the  horses. 

"The  prospectors  returned  first.  They  found  only  a  few  colors  or 
specks  of  gold.  The  party  that  went  across  the  Big  Horn  located  a 
town  site  of  320  acres  and  thirteen  ranches  of  160  acres  each,  while  I 
located  two  ranches  in  the  ^bottom  between  the  two  rivers.  The  sub- 
joined plat  shows  the  shape  of  all  the  locations,  as  well  as  the  general 
topography  of  the  vicinity.  (Historical  contributions,  Vol.  I,  p.  182.) 
I  also  engraved  my  name,  with  the  date,  on  a  sandstone  about  three 
quarters  of  a  mile  above  camp,  on  the  Big  Horn.  It  will  stay  there  for 
ages,  and  if  I  perish  on  this  expedition,  I  have  left  my  mark.  In  the 
evening  four  of  the  party  cut  their  names  on  a  perpendicular  sandstone 
rock  between  the  rivers." 

Now  traveling  up  the  Big  Horn  River,  the  prospectors  found  "plenty 
of  colors  to  the  pan;"  also  a  few  signs  of  Indians.  They  also  met,  as 
they  thought,  three  white  men  going  down  the  river,  who  fled  in  a  panic 
into  some  deep  ravines  leading  to  the  stream,  thinking  the  Stuart  party 
was  a  band  of  Indians.*  The  following  day  (May  12,  1863)  the  men 
found  so  many  horse  tracks  and  other  Indian  signs  near  their  camp  that 
the  captain  concluded  they  "would  have  to  look  out  for  squalls,"  as  there 
was  evidently  a  war  party  in  the  neighborhood.  The  threatening  out- 
look also  reminded  him  of  this :  "It  is  eleven  years  today  since  I  left  the 
home  of  my  boyhood  (in  Iowa,  with  his  father  and  brother,  bound  for 
California).  Who  knows  how  many  more  it  will  be  before  I  see  it  again, 
if  ever?" 

HORRORS  OF  AN  INDIAN  NIGHT  ATTACK 

The  horrors  of  that  very  night  made  him  even  more  doubtful  of 
coming  through  alive.  "Last  night,"  he  says,  in  his  record  of  May  I3th, 
"Smith  and  I  had  the  first  watch,  and  about  eleven  o'clock  the  horses  at 
my  end  were  scared  at  something,  but  it  was  very  dark  and  I  could  not 
see  anything.  I  thought  it  might  be  a  wolf  prowling  around  camp.  A 
few  minutes  before  eleven  o'clock  I  sat  up  and  lit  a  match  to  see  what 
time  it  was,  and  also  to  light  my  pipe,  but  at  once  laid  down  again ;  we 
were  both  lying  flat  on  the  ground  to  see  what  made  the  horses  so  uneasy, 


*It  was  afterward  learned  that  the  three  were  J.  M.  Bozeman  and  John  M. 
Jacobs  and  the  latter's  little  daughter,  and  that  the  men  were  exploring  a  route 
for  a  wagon  road  from  the  Three  Forks  of  the  Missouri  to  the,  North  Platte 
River — afterward  known  as  the  Jacobs  and  Bozeman  Cut-Off. 


196  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  to  this  we  both  owe  our  lives.  Just  then  I  heard  Smith  whisper  that 
there  was  something  around  his  part  of  the  horses,  and  a  few  seconds 
later  the  Crows  fired  a  terrific  volley  into  the  camp. 

"I  was  lying  between  two  of  my  horses,  and  both  were  killed,  and 
very  nearly  fell  on  me.  Four  horses  were  killed  and  five  more  wounded, 
while  in  the  tents  two  men  were  mortally,  two  badly  and  three  more 
slightly  wounded.  Smith  shouted,  'Oh,  you  scoundrels!'  and  fired  both 
barrels  of  his  shot-gun  at  the  flash  of  theirs,  but,  so  far  as  we  could  tell 
next  morning,  without  effect;  he  most  probably  fired  too  high.  I  could 
not  fire,  for  the  horses  were  in  the  way.  I  shouted  for  someone  to  tear 
down  the  tents,  to  prevent  their  affording  a  mark  for  the  murderous 
Indians  a  second  time.  York  rushed  out  and  tore  them  down  in  an 
instant.  I  then  ordered  all  who  were  able  to  take  their  arms  and  crawl 
out  from  the  tents  a  little  way,  and  lie  flat  on  the  ground;  and  thus  we 
lay  until  morning,  expecting  further  attack  each  instant,  and  determined 
to  sell  our  lives  as  dearly  as  possible.  When  at  last  day  dawned,  we  could 
see  a  few  Indians  among  the  rocks  and  pines  on  a  hill  some  five  or  six 
hundred  yards  away,  watching  to  see  the  effects  of  their  bloody  work. 

"An  examination  of  the  wounded  presented  a  dreadful  sight.  C.  D. 
Watkins  was  shot  in  the  right  temple,  and  the  ball  came  out  at  the  left 
cheek-bone;  the  poor  fellow  was  still  breathing  but  still  insensible.  E. 
Bostwick  was  shot  in  five  places — once  in  the  back  part  of  the  shoulder, 
shattering  the  shoulder  blade,  but  the  ball  did  not  come  out  in  front ;  three 
balls  passed  through  the  right  thigh  all  shattering  the  bone,  and  one 
ball  passed  through  the  left  thigh,  which  did  not  break  the  bone;  he 
was  sensible,  but  suffering  dreadful  agony.  H.  A.  Bell  was  shot  twice — 
one  ball  entered  at  the  lowest  rib  on  the  left  side  and  lodged  just  under 
the  skin  on  the  right  side ;  the  other  ball  entered  near  the  kidneys  on  the 
left  side  and  came  out  near  the  thigh  joint.  D.  Underwood  was  shot 
once,  but  the  ball  made  six  holes ;  it  first  passed  through  the  left  arm 
above  the  elbow  just  missing  the  bone,  and  then  passed  through  both 
breasts  which  were  large  and  full  and  just  grazing  the  breast-bone.  H.  T. 
Geery  was  shot  in  the  left  shoulder  blade  with  an  arrow,  but  not  danger- 
ously hurt.  George  Ives  was  shot  in  the  hip  with  a  ball — a  flesh  wound. 
S.  T.  Hauser  in  the  left  breast  with  a  ball,  which  passed  through  memor- 
andum book"  in  his  shirt  pocket  and  stopped  against  a  rib  over  his  heart, 
the  book  saving  his  life.  Several  others  had  one  or  more  ball-holes 
through  their  clothes. 

"We  held  a  council  of  war ;  concluded  that  it  was  impossible  to  return 
through  the  Crow  country  now  that  they  were  openly  hostile;  therefore 
determined  to  strike  for  the  emigrant  road  on  Sweetwater  River,  throw- 
ing away  all  our  outfit  except  enough  provisions  to  do  us  to  the  road. 
Watkins  was  still  breathing,  but  happily  insensible.  Poor  Bostwick  was 
alive  and  sensible,  but  gradually  failing,  and  in  great  agony.  With  noble 
generosity  he  insisted  on  our  leaving  him  to  his  fate,  as  it  was  impossible 
to  move  him,  and  equally  impossible  for  him  to  recover  if  we  remained 
with  him,  and  which,  he  said,  would  only  result  in  all  of  us  falling  vic- 
tims of  the  fiendish  savages.  He  asked  us  to  hand  him  his  trusty  re- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  197 

volver,  saying  he  would  get  even  with  the  red  devils  when  they  came  into 
camp.  We  gave  it  to  him,  and  a  few  moments  later  were  startled  by  the 
report  of  his  pistol,  and  filled  with  horror  when  we  saw  he  had  blown 
out  his  brains." 

Hauser  gives  a  more  detailed  account  of  the  attack  than  Captain 
Stuart,  as  he  insists  that  his  leader  only  "briefly  notices  one  of  the  most 
fearful  tragedies  that  ever  occurred  in  the  mountains,  and  in  which  his 
nobleness  of  soul  and  heroic  courage  shone  more  brilliantly  than  ever 
before."  The  picture  which  he  gives  of  the  sufferings  and  suspense  of 
that  awful  night  following  the  Crows'  attack  is  appalling.  It  seems  that 
the  savages  poured  only  one  volley  into  the  sleeping  camp,  as  they  knew 
that  the  white  men  would  respond  by  the  flashes  of  their  shot-guns. 
Thereafter,  in  the  pitchy  darkness,  they  sent  a  continuous  shower  of  hiss- 
ing arrows  among  their  white  enemies. 

"Instantly  (after  the  attack)  seizing  our  rifles,"  says  Hauser,  "we 
(Drew,  Underwood  and  Hauser)  crawled  out  of  the  tent,  but  before  we 
got  out  the  yelling  and  firing  had  ceased.  It  was  pitch  dark,  dark  as 
Egypt,  and  what  followed  was  even  more  trying  to  our  nerves  than  what 
had  passed.  We  could  distinctly  hear  the  demon-like  whisperings  of  the 
murderous  fiends  in  the  ravine  that  we  knew  was  not  over  ten  paces  from 
us — yet  so  perfectly  dark  that  we  could  not  even  see  the  outlines  of  the 
bushes  that  bordered  the  ravine ;  in  fact,  we  could  not  see  our  hands  be- 
fore us.  Add  to  this,  that  we  did  not  know  how  many  of  our  little  band 
were  left  alive.  Some  we  knew  were  dying,  from  the  moans  we  heard, 
yet  we  could  not  see  them  or  offer  a  word  of  consolation,  for  one  audible 
word  would  have  brought  a  shower  of  arrows.  As  it  was,  they  were 
flying  in  all  directions,  and  it  seemed  impossible  to  escape  being  pierced 
by  them.  We  could  hear  them  whizzing  through  the  air  every  second, 
and  so  near  that  we  often  felt  the  wind ;  and  so  close  were  the  Indians 
that  we  could  hear  the  twang  of  their  bow-strings." 

Before  the  day  dawned,  and  passing  upright  through  this  storm  of 
arrows,  Stuart  calmly  walked  down  to  the  river  to  get  some  water  for 
Bell  and  Bostwick,  who  were  then  believed  to  be  the  most  severely 
wounded.  Almost  miraculously,  he  brought  it  to  them  unscratched. 
"Morning  came  at  last,"  continues  Hauser's  graphic  account,  "and  what 
a  sight  it  revealed !  There  was  poor  Watkins,  shot  through  the  temple  and 
unconscious,  but  crawling  around  on  his  elbows  and  knees;  Bostwick 
shot  all  to  pieces,  but  still  alive,  and  five  others  wounded ;  the  men  scat- 
tered all  about  the  camp-ground,  faces  downward,  with  cocked  rifles  and 
revolvers  in  hand,  eagerly  watching  the  bushes  and  ravine  from  which  the 
fatal  fire  had  come.  Five  horses  were  dead  and  six  or  seven  others  had 
arrows  sticking  into  them.  *  *  *  Within  a  radius  of  thirty  or  forty 
feet  of  where  Underwood  and  I  had  been  lying,  I  picked  up  forty-eight 
arrows,  and  the  tents  were  completely  riddled.  Probably  three  hundred 
balls  and  arrows  passed  through  them." 

Watkins  died  before  the  party,  after  a  conference,  started  to  move 
toward  the  emigrant  road  on  Sweetwater  River.  Bostwick,  who  had  been 
so  terribly  wounded,  shot  himself  while  helping  the  badly  wounded  Bell 


198  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

on  to  one  of  the  few  uninjured  horses.  But  a  third  life  was  to  be  lost 
as  a  result  of  this  unfortunate  venture  into  the  Crow  country.  The 
shattered  expedition  moved  slowly,  generally  toward  the  southwest ;  the 
cowardly  Indians,  outnumbering  them  many-fold  and  having  mounted 
their  ponies,  paralleled  their  route,  hovering  over  the  unfortunate  men 
like  so  many  vultures  patiently  awaiting  their  prey.  On  the  day  after  the 
attack,  while  unpacking  the  outfit  for  supper,  Geery,  who  had  only  suf- 
fered a  slight  shoulder  wound,  accidentally  discharged  his  rifle.  The  ball 
entered  his  breast,  making  a  ghastly  and  mortal  wound.  Like  Bostwick, 
he  realized  the  danger  to  the  survivors  of  the  party  if  they  delayed  to 
care  for  him,  and  knowing  his  wound  to  be  fatal,  despite  the  repeated 
protests  of  his  comrades,  headed  by  Stuart,  he  insisted  upon  shooting 
himself.  He  was  buried  at  his  earnest  request,  in  his  soldier's  overcoat. 

HOMEWARD  MARCH  OF  HEROES 

That  march  of  the  little  party,  by  way  of  Sweetwater  River  (the 
emigrant  road),  South  Pass,  and  Fort  Bridger  to  Bannack  City,  taking 
a  loop  far  into  Wyoming,  up  the  Big  Horn  and  Wind  Rivers,  along  the 
Wind  River  Mountains,  was  the  painful  progress  of  a  body  of  wounded 
and  determined  heroes.  On  May  22nd,  ten  days  travel  from  the  scene  of 
the  massacre,  with  the  Big  Horn  Mountains  in  sight  toward  the  north- 
east and  the  Wind  River  Mountains  to  the  west,  Stuart  remarks:  "Our 
route  since  the  massacre  has  been  through  a  part  of  the  country  too  mean 
for  Indians  to  either  live  or  hunt  in,  and  I  came  through  it  to  keep  out 
of  the  way.  We  are  traveling  for  safety,  not  comfort."  Notwithstanding, 
sprinkled  through  the  record  are  "fresh  Indian  signs,"  with  now  and  then 
discoveries  of  "colors"  along  the  rivers.  Six  or  seven  days  later,  the 
weary  march  had  brought  the  party  to  Sweetwater  River,  at  the  foot  of 
Rocky  Ridge,  then  called  Pacific  City  (Wyoming).  The  sight  of  "tel- 
egraph poles"  and  an  emigrant  train  was  indeed  cheering.  When  the 
latter  was  overtaken  at  "Pacific  City,"  which  consisted  of  a  trading  house 
only,  the  Stuart  outfit  found  the  emigrants  drawn  up  in  a  square  in  front 
of  their  stock  which  they  were,  prepared  to  defend  from  what  they  be- 
lieved to  be  hostile  Indians.  With  the  emigrants  were  four  soldiers  from 
South  Pass  station,  who  gave  Stuart  information  that  they  had  been 
pursuing  some  Indians,  horse  thieves,  who  had  left  some  flour  behind; 
the  latter  fact  proving  that  Stuart  and  his  men  had  been  followed  for  four 
hundred  miles  by  the  vindictive  and  dogged  Crows  who  had  obtained  the 
flour  from  the  ill-fated  camp,  the  members  of  which  had  been  obliged 
to  leave  it  behind  as  they  had  no  means  of  transporting  it. 

After  spending  a  couple  of  days  in  eating  and  sleeping  at  the  post, 
the  expedition  continued  the  northward  journey,  along  the  old  emigrant 
or  overland  road  to  California  and  Oregon.  They  were  now  continually 
meeting  travelers,  and,  at  times,  acquaintances,  on  the  way.  One  of  the 
party,  York,  concluded  to  go  to  Salt  Lake  with  a  train  which  had  been 
met,  and  William  McAdow  was  added  to  the  outfit.  So,  as  Stuart  says, 
"it  is  merely  an  exchange."  He  adds:  "I  let  York  have  Red  Bear,  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  199 

black  horse  the  old  chief  gave  me,  so  that  if  he  did  not  get  a  situation  to 
suit  him  he  would  have  the  horse  to  ride  to  Bannack  or  Deer  Lodge." 
When  this  exchange  was  made,  the  party  went  on  to  Green  River  and 
headed  for  Fort  Bridger,  which  was  reached  in  the  afternoon  of  June 
3,  1863.  Then,  along  Bear  and  Snake  Rivers,  far  Western  Wyoming, 
into  Southwestern  Montana,  and  finally,  on  June  22,  1863,  the  maimed, 
tired  and  all  but  broken-down  men  of  the  Stuart  expedition,  were  on  the 
road  to  Bannack  City,  which  passed  down  through  Red  Rock  Valley  and 
Horse  Prairie. 

The  conclusion  of  the  record,  as  made  by  James  Stuart,  is  this : 
"Started  at  five  o'clock  (June  22nd),  and  traveled  until  half  past  ten 
A.  M.,  when  we  halted  for  dinner  above  the  point  of  rocks  on  Horse 
Prairie  Creek.  Passed  a  lot  of  gamblers  camped  on  Red  Rock  Creek. 
They  are  en  route  for  Denver,  via  Salt  Lake  and  Fort  Bridger.  After 
dinner,  packed  up  and  pushed  on  to  Bannack  City,  which  we  reached  late 
in  the  evening.  Everybody  was  glad  to  see  us,  and  we  were  glad  to  see 
everybody,  although  our  hair  and  beards  had  grown  so,  and  we  were  so 
dilapidated  generally  that  scarcely  anyone  knew  us  at  first ;  and  no  won- 
der, for  we  had  ridden  sixteen  hundred  miles,  and  for  the  last  twelve 
hundred  without  tents  or  even  a  change  of  clothing."  Of  the  original 
fifteen  members  of  the  expedition,  three  had  been  buried  in  the  land  of 
the  Crows  as  a  result  of  the  dreadful  massacre  of  the  preceding  May,  and 
Bell,  who  had  been  brought  on  horseback  and  partially  recovered  from 
his  wounds,  had  remained  on  the  Sweetwater  to  have  a  ball  extracted 
from  his  side.  They  had  been  away  from  Bannack  City  two  months  and 
a  half  and,  despite  their  deaths  and  hardships,  had  accomplished  but 
little,  although  the  expedition  probably  established  the  fact  that  the  pros- 
pects for  gold  along  the  main  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  were  a  minus 
quantity.  "Colors"  had  been  found,  now  and  then,  and  that  was  about  all. 

THE  FAMOUS  MEN  LEFT  BEHIND 

It  was  the  men  who  had  intended  to  accompany  the  Stuart  party,  and 
who  did  not,  that  became  noted  in  the  history  of  gold  mining  in  Montana. 
In  setting  out  for  his  calamitous  trip,  James  Stuart  noted  in  his  journal : 
"Louis  Simmons  and  party  were  to  have  met  us  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Stinking  Water,  but  we  can  find  no  trace  of  them ;  they  have  failed  from 
some  cause  to  us  unknown."  A  footnote  to  this,  Granville  Stuart  ex- 
plains:  "This  party  consisted  of  Louis  Simmons,  William  Fairweather, 
George  Orr,  Thomas  Cover,  Barney  Hughes  and  Henry  Edgar.  They 
were  detained  by  not  being  able  to  find  their  horses,  which  had  wintered 
in  Deer  Lodge.  They  arrived  at  the  appointed  place  of  rendezvous  some 
three  or  four  days  after  the  main  party  had  passed,  and  taking  their  trail 
followed  on,  expecting  to  soon  overtake  them;  but  before  they  did  so 
they  were  met  on  the  upper  Yellowstone  by  a  large  party  of  Crow  In- 
dians, who  at  once  proceeded  to  plunder  them,  taking  nearly  all  they  had, 
and  giving  them  miserable  sore-backed  ponies  in  exchange  for  their 
horses,  ordered  them  to  return  on  pain  of  death.  Situated  as  they  were 


200  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

they  could  only  comply,  and  started  on  their  way  back,  with  many  mis- 
givings as  to  the  fate  of  the  main  party  and  curses  both  loud  and  deep 
against  the  Crows. 

DISCOVERY  OF  ALDER  GULCH 

And  yet  this  vexatious  outrage  was  the  most  fortunate  thing  that 
could  have  occurred  for  their  own  interest  and  that  of  the  territory,  for 
on  their  way  back  to  Bannack  City  they  went  one  day's  travel  up  the 
Madison  River,  above  where  they  had  struck  it  as  they  went  out,  and, 
crossing  through  a  low  gap  to  the  southwest,  "they  camped  at  noon  on  a 
small  creek.  While  his  comrades  were  cooking  a  scanty  meal,  Fair- 
weather,  on  going  out  to  look  after  the  few  broken-down  ponies  the 
Indians  had  given  in  exchange  for  their  good  horses,  observed  a  point  of 
bare  bed  rock  projecting  from  the  side  of  the  gulch  and  determined  to 
try  a  pan  of  dirt.  He  was  astonished  by  obtaining  thirty  cents  in  beautiful 
coarse  gold,  and  in  a  few  more  trials  he  got  one  dollar  and  seventy-five 
cents  to  the  pan.  This  was  at  the  point  afterward  famous  as  'Fair- 
weather's  discovery  claim'  in  Alder  Gulch.  Believing  the  locality  would 
prove  rich,  they  proceeded  to  stake  off  claims,  and  Hughes  was  sent  to 
Bannack  for  provisions  and  friends ;  and  on  his  arrival  there,  in  spite  of 
his  efforts  to  keep  the  matter  a  secret,  it  became  known  that  rich  diggings 
had  been  struck  somewhere.  A  close  watch  was  kept  on  Hughes,  and 
when  he  started  he  was  followed  by  some  200  men.  About  the  present 
site  of  Daley's  ranch,  on  the  Stinking  Water,  Hughes  refused  to  go 
farther  until  morning  and  the  party  encamped ;  but  during  the  night  he 
appointed  a  rendezvous  for  his  particular  friends  whom  he  escorted  into 
the  mines  in  the  night.  In  the  morning,  the  remainder  of  the  party 
followed  his  trail  into  camp,  and  Fairweather  district,  with  Dr.  Steele  as 
president  and  James  Fergus  as  recorder,  was  organized  on  the  6th  of 
Tune,  1863.  Further  prospecting  of  the  gulch  developed  an  alluvial  de- 
posit of  gold  exceeding  in  richness  and  extent  the  most  sanguine  hopes  of 
the  discoverers,  and  perhaps  combining  these  two  qualities  in  a  greater 
degree  than  any  discovery  ever  made." 

DELACY'S  EXPEDITION  UP  SNAKE  RIVER 

Col.  W.  W.  DeLacy,  a  Virginia  West  Pointer,  a  teacher  of  languages 
and  captain  in  the  United  States  Navy,  a  wide  traveler,  a  brave  soldier 
in  the  Mexican  war  and  in  the  Indian  campaigns  of  the  West,  and  the 
engineer  in  surveying  the  famous  Mullan  Road  from  Walla  Walla  to 
Fort  Benton — in  the  August  following  the  return  of  the  Stuart  expedition 
he  led  a  party  of  explorers  from  Virginia  City  to  prospect  up  the  South 
Snake  River.  The  venture  which  was  devoid  of  exciting  or  tragic  events 
resulted  in  the  discovery  of  the  source  of  the  South  Snake  River,  several 
miles  above  Jackson's  Lake,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  present  Yellow- 
stone Park.  For  nearly  ten  years  all  the  maps  of  that  region  gave  the 
name  of  this  head  of  the  river  as  DeLacy's  Lake.  Colonel  DeLacy  wrote 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  201 

an  account  of  the  expedition  of  1863,  and  says:  "In  1872,  Professor 
Hay  den  (the  government  geologist)  visited  this  lake  and  renamed  it 
Shishone  Lake,  stating  that  the  numerous  and  outrageous  errors  in  my 
map  deprived  me  of  any  claim  to  the  perpetuation  of  my  name,  and  in- 
sinuating that  I  claimed  to  have  been,  but  had  not  been  in  the  region." 
From  the  fountain-head  of  the  Snake,  the  colonel  and  his  men  passed 
over  to  the  head  of  the  Madison  and  West  Gallatin  rivers,  discovering 
the  Lower  Geyser  Basin  of  the  Yellowstone  Park.  The  500  miles  of 
travel  indicated  were  made  in  about  fifty-one  days.  Its  leader  claims  that 
the  wrong  done  to  him  by  Professor  Hayden  was  never  rectified,  publicly, 
although  he  sent  to  that  noted  scientist  his  original  note-book  and  map  and 
received  from  him  a  private  explanation  that  the  harsh  and  unjust  crit- 
icism and  erasure  of  his  name  from  the  lake  which  he  discovered  were 
made  by  an  irresponsible  assistant. 

At  the  time  of  his  trip,  Colonel  DeLacy  was  one  of  the  most  widely 
known  soldiers  and  engineers  in  the  West,  and  for  nearly  thirty  years 
afterward  was  one  of  the  leading  figures  in  connection  with  the  public 
land  survey  and  the  surveyor  general's  office  in  Montana. 

EDGAR'S  ACCOUNT  OF  THE  ALDER  GULCH  DISCOVERY 

* 

The  most  detailed  and  graphic  account  of  the  discovery  of  Alder 
Gulch  was  written  by  Henry  Edgar,  one  of  the  party  who  vainly  en- 
deavored to  overtake  Stuart's  expedition  bound  for  the  Yellowstone. 
They  waited  for  Stuart  eight  days  at  the  rendezvous  agreed  upon,  and 
from  March  23rd  to  May  2nd  cut  across  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri 
and  along  the  north  bank  of  the  Yellowstone  to  Shields  River.  Some 
distance  beyond  that  stream  and  when  close  on  the  trail  of  the  main  party, 
the  dastardly  Crows  came  upon  them.  That  was  May  2,  1863,  and 
Edgar's  journal  gives  this  picture  of  their  coming:  "All  went  well  through 
the  night,  but  towards  morning  the  horses  became  restless  and  required 
a  good  deal  of  looking  after.  Just  as  morning  came,  I  took  two  of  them 
where  the  boys  were  sleeping  and  woke  them  up.  I  put  the  saddles  on 
and  was  just  going  out  to  Bill  (Fairweather)  when  the  hills  were  alive 
with  Indians.  They  were  all  around  Bill  and  I  got  on  the  horse  and 
started  for  him,  but  an  Indian  grabbed  him  by  the  head;  I  pulled  my 
revolver,  Simmons  was  alongside  of  me  and  told  me  not  to  shoot.  Well, 
I  got  off  and  gave  the  rope  of  the  other  horse  to  my  Indian.  Here  they 
come  with  other  horses  and  Bill  mounted  behind  another  Indian  with  hat 
in  one  hand  and  rifle  in  the  other,  digging  his  heels  in  the  horse's  flanks 
and  yelling  like  the  very  devil  he  is.  'How  goes  it  boys  ?'  he  asked,  as  he 
got  off.  Simmons  was  talking  to  the  Indians  and  told  us  to  keep  quiet. 
Quiet !  Everything  we  had  they  had  got,  but  our  arms !  A  young  buck 
took  hold  of  Cover's  gun  and  tried  to  take  it  from  him.  Bill  stuck  his 
revolver  in  the  buck's  ear ;  he  looked  in  Bill's  face  and  let  go  of  the  gun. 
We  told  Simmons  to  tell  them  that  they  had  got  everything  but  our 
guns  and  that  they  could  not  get  them  without  killing  us  first.  We  were 
told  to  keep  them.  Everything  we  had  was  packed  and  off  to  the  village. 


202  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Such  a  hubbub  when  we  got  there.  Our  traps  were  put  in  a  pile  and  a 
tent  put  over  them.  Simmons  and  the  chief  held  a  long  powwow.  The 
women  brought  us  some  breakfast;  good  of  the  kind  and  plenty.  Sim- 
mons told  us  we  were  prisoners,  to  keep  still  and  not  to  be  afraid.  I  went 
through  the  village  and  counted  the  lodges;  there  were  180  of  them." 

"We  talked  the  matter  over  and  agreed  to  keep  together  and  if  it 
has  to  come  to  the  worst  to  fight  while  life  lasts.  All  the  young  ones  are 
around  us  and  the  women.  What  fun!  We  get  plenty  to  eat.  Indians 
are  putting  up  a  great  big  lodge — medicine  lodge  at  that.  Night;  what 
will  tomorrow  bring  forth  ?  I  write  this — will  anyone  ever  see  it  ?  Quite 
dark,  and  such  a  noise — dogs  and  drums !" 

The  two  chiefs  and  the  medicine  man  of  the  village  conferred  and 
finally  informed  the  men,  through  Simmons,  that  they  would  be  killed  if 
they  continued  down  the  river;  that  if  they  turned  back,  their  horses 
would  be  returned.  They  decided  to  retrace  their  steps,  but  only  a  few 
of  their  horses  were  returned;  their  good  animals  were  generally  re- 
placed by  blind  and  halt  ponies.  The  Indians  did  return  their  saddles,  a 
hundred  pounds  of  flour,  some  coffee  and  sugar,  one  plug  of  tobacco  and 
gave  them  two  robes  each  for  their  clothes  and  blankets.  The  disap- 
pointed and  disgusted  little  party  of  eight  then  started  to  return  the  way 
they  had  come.  By  the  rrfiddle  of  May,  they  had  reached  Madison  River, 
at  the  foot  of  Tobacco  Root  Mountains,  and  a  few  days  afterward,  camped 
at  Big  Bald  Mountain.  Two  of  the  men  climbed  Old  Baldy,  as  they  called 
the  peak ;  they  had  discovered  good  "color"  for  quartz  gold  and  wanted 
to  find  where  it  came  from.  From  the  top  of  the  mountain  they  could  see 
the  Stinking  Water  and  Beaverhead  rivers.  Having  moved  their  camp 
around  the  foot  of  the  mountain,  they  expected  to  be  on  the  Stinking 
Water  in  two  days. 

THE  GREAT,  THE  EVENTFUL  DAY 

On  the  26th  of  May,  they  find  "fine  grassy  hills  and  lots  of  quartz, 
some  antelope  in  sight;  down  a  long  ridge  to  a  creek  and  camp;  had 
dinner,  and  Rodgers,  Sweeney,  Barney  (Hughes)  and  Cover  go  up  the 
creek  to  prospect.  It  was  Bill's  and  my  turn  to  guard  camp  and  look 
after  the  horses.  We  washed  and  doctored  the  horse's  leg.  Bill  went 
across  to  a  bar  to  see  or  look  for  a  place  to  stake  the  horses.  When  he 
come  back  to  camp  he  said  'There  is  a  piece  of  rimrock  sticking  out  of 
the  bar  over  there.  Get  the  tools  and  we  will  go  and  prospect  it.'  Bill 
got  the  pick  and  shovel  and  I  the  pan  and  went  over.  Bill  dug  the  dirt 
and  filled  the  pan.  'Now  go,'  he  says,  'and  wash  that  pan  and  see  if  we 
can  get  enough  to  buy  some  tobacco  when  we  get  to  town.'  I  had  the  pan 
more  than  half  panned  down  and  had  seen  some  gold  as  I  ran  the  sand 
around,  when  Bill  sang  out  'I  have  found  a  scad.'  I  returned  for 
answer,  'If  you  have  one,  I  have  a  hundred.'  He  then  came  down  to 
where  I  was  with  his  scad.  It  was  a  nice  piece  of  gold.  Well,  I  panned 
the  pan  of  •  dirt  and  it  was  a  good  prospect ;  weighed  it  and  had  two 
dollars  and  forty  cents;  weighed  Bill's  scad  and  it  weighed  the  same. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  203 

Four  dollars  and  eighty  cents !  Pretty  good  for  tobacco  money.  We  went 
and  got  another  pan  and  Bill  panned  that  and  got  more  than  I  had ;  I  got 
the  third  and  panned  that — best  of  the  three;  that  is  good  enough  to 
sleep  on. 

"We  came  to  camp,  dried  and  weighed  our  gold ;  altogether  there  was 
twelve  dollars  and  thirty  cents.  We  saw  the  boys  coming  to  camp  and  no 
tools  with  them.  'Have  you  found  anything?'  'We  have  started  a  hole 
but  didn't  get  to  bedrock.'  They  began  to  growl  about  the  horses  not 
being  taken  care  of  and  to  give  Bill  and  me  fits.  When  I  pulled  the  pan 
around  Sweeney  got  hold  of  it  and. the  next  minute  sang  out  'Salted!'  I 
told  Sweeney  that  if  he  'would  pipe  Bill  and  me  down  and  run  us  through 
a  sluice  box  he  couldn't  bet  a  color,'  and  'the  horses  could  go  to  the  devil 
or  the  Indians.'  Well,  we  talked  over  the  find  and  roasted  venison  till 
late;  and  sought  the  brush,  and  spread  our  robes;  and  a  more  joyous  lot 
of  men  never  went  more  contentedly  to  bed  than  we. 

"May  27th :  Up  before  the  sun ;  horses  all  right ;  soon  the  frying  pan 
was  on  the  fire.  Sweeney  was  off  with  the  pan  and  Barney  telling  him 
'to  take  it  aisy.'  He  panned  his  pan  and  beat  both  Bill  and  me.  He  had 
five  dollars  and  thirty  cents.  'Well,  you  have  got  it  good,  by  jove !'  were 
his  greeting  words.  When  we  got  filled  up  with  elk,  Hughes  and  Cover 
went  up  the  gulch,  Sweeney  and  Rodgers  down,  Bill  and  I  to  the  old 
place.  We  panned  turn  about  ten  pans  at  a  time,  all  day  long,  and  it  was 
good  dirt  too.  'A  grub  stake  is  what  we  are  after'  was  our  watchward  all 
day,  and  it  is  one  hundred  and  fifty  dollars  in  good  dust.  'God  is  good,' 
as  Rodgers  said  when  we  left  the  Indian  camp.  Sweeney  and  Rodgers 
found  a  good  prospect  and  have  eighteen  dollars  of  the  gold  to  show 
for  it.  Barney  and  Tom  brought  in  four  dollars  and  a  half.  As  we  quit, 
Bill  says  'there's  our  supper,'  a  large  band  of  antelope  on  the  hillside. 

"We  had  our  guns  with  us.  He  took  up  one  draw  and  I  the  other ; 
it  was  getting  dark,  but  light  enough  to  shoot ;  got  to  a  good  place  within 
about  seventy-five  yards  and  shot;  the  one  I  shot  at  never  moved;  I 
thought  it  missed ;  I  rolled  over  and  loaded  up  my  gun,  then  the  antelope 
was  gone.  Bill  had  shot  by  this  time ;  I  went  to  where  the  one  I  shot  at 
was  standing,  and  found  some  blood,  and  the  antelope  dead  not  ten  steps 
away ;  Bill  got  one  too ;  ate  our  fill ;  off  to  bed. 

ALDER  GULCH  NAMED 

"May  28th :  Staked  the  ground  this  morning ;  claims  one  hundred 
feet.  Sweeney  wanted  a  water — a  notice  written  for  a  water  right — and 
asked  me  to  write  it  for  him.  I.  wrote  it  for  him ;  then  'What  name  shall 
we  give  the  creek?'  The  boys  said  'You  name  it.'  So  I  wrote  'Alder.' 
There  was  a  large  fringe  of  alder  growing  along  the  creek,  looking  nice 
and  green  and  the  name  was  given.  We  staked  twelve  claims  for  our 
friends  and  named  the  bars  Cover,  Fairweather  and  Rodgers  when  the  dis- 
coveries were  made.  We  agree  to  say  nothing  of  the  discovery  when  we 
get  to  Bannack  and  come  back  and  prospect  the  gulch  thoroughly  and  get 
the  best;  It  was  midday  when  we  left ;  we  came  down  the  creek  past  the 


204  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

forks  and  to  its  mouth,  made  marks  so  we  could  find  the  same  again  and 
on  down  the  valley  (Ram's  Horn  Gulch)  to  a  small  creek;  the  same  we 
camped  on  as  we  went  out  and  made  camp  for  the  night ;  a  more  happy  lot 
of  boys  would  be  hard  to  find,  though  covered  with  seedy  clothes. 

"May  2gth :  All  well.  Breakfast  such  as  we  have,  bread  and  antelope 
and  cold  water  and  good  appetites.  What  better  fare  could  a  prince  wish ! 
It  might  be  worse  and  without  the  good  seasoning  given  by  our  find. 
Down  and  over  the  Stinking  Water  along  a  high  level  bench  twelve 
miles  or  more  to  the  Beaverhead  River,  then  up  about  six  miles  and  camp. 
We  have  come  about  twenty-five  miles. 

"May  3Oth:  All  well.  Ate  up  the  last  of  our  meat  for  breakfast; 
will  have  supper  at  Bannack,  ham  and  eggs.  Away  we  go  and  have  no 
cares.  Crossed  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rattlesnake  and  up  to  the  Bannack 
•trail,  the  last  stage  over  the  hill  and  down  to  the  town,  the  raggedest  lot 
that  was  ever  seen,  but  happy.  Friends  on  every  side.  Dod  Dempsey 
grabbed  our  horses  and  cared  for  them.  Frank  Ruff  got  us  to  his  cabin. 
Salt  Lake  eggs,  ham,  potatoes,  everything.  Such  a  supper!  One  has  to 
be  on  short  commons  and  then  he  will  know.  Too  tired  and  too  glad. 

"May  3 1st:  Such  excitement?  Everyone  with  a  long  story  about 
the  'new  find.'  After  I  got  my  store  clothes  on,  I  was  sitting  in  a  saloon 
talking  with  some  friends ;  there  were  lots  of  men  that  were  strangers  to 
me ;  they  were  telling  that  we  brought  in  a  horse  load  of  gold  and  not  one 
of  the  party  had  told  that  we  had  found  a  color.  Such  is  life  in  the  'Far 
West.'  Well  we  have  been  feasted  and  cared  for  like  princes. 

"June  ist:  Got  what  we  wanted  and  were  all  ready  for  the  return, 
but  it  is  impossible  to  move  without  a  crowd.  Left  the  horses  in  Demp- 
sey's.  corral  for  the  night  and  gave  over  till  morning. 

"June  2nd:  Left  Bannack  this  forenoon  and  came  over  to  Rattle- 
snake. A  crowd  awaits  us ;  crowds  follow  after  us ;  they  carr\p  right 
around  us,  so  we  can't  get  away. 

"June  3rd:  Move  on  down  to  Beaverhead  River  and  the  crowd  gets 
more  and  more  strong,  on  foot  as  well  as  on  horseback. 

"June  4th :  Down  the  river  we  go  over  two  hundred  strong.  Bill 
says  to  me,  'If  we  had  this  crowd  with  us  when  the  medicine  man  made 
his  medicine,  wouldn't  we  have  given  him  Hail  Columbia?' 

"We  see  it  is  no  good  to  try  to  get  away  from  the  crowd,  so  we  will 
camp  where  we  leave  the  river.  Made  a  camp  near  the  Beaverhead  Rock. 
'Miners'  meeting  called  for  this  afternoon.'  I  was  chosen  to  state  to  the 
crowd  what  we  had  found.  I  did  so  and  told  them  that  we  had  panned 
out  one  hundred  and  eighty-nine  dollars  altogether,  showing  them  a  sam- 
ple of  the  gold,  stating  what  the  prospect  was  and  the  extent  of  the 
gulch  so  far  as  we  had  prospected,  what  we  know  it  to  be;  told  what 
we  had  done ;  the  claims  we  had  staked,  and  said  "If  we  are  allowed  to 
have  the  claims  as  we  have  staked  them,  we  will  go  on,  if  not,  we  will 
go  no  farther.'  Some  talk  and  it  was  put  to  a  vote;  the  vote  was  in 
our  favor ;  only  one  vote  against.  At  the  meeting  there  was  a  set  of  laws 
adopted  to  govern  our  claims.  A  provision  of  the  law  passed  was  that 
the  claims  of  our  party  should  never  be  jumped  nor  taken  from  us  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  205 

they  are  exempt  from  one  day's  work  in  seven  required  by  law  to  hold 
claims.  Well  and  good.  They  wanted  to  know  where  the  gulch  was, 
but  as  some  were  on  foot  and  others  on  horseback  with  that  advantage, 
they  were  told  'when  we  get  to  the  creek  you  will  know  and  not  till  then.' 
Everybody  satisfied. 

"June  5th :  Off  and  away  across  the  long  flat  between  the  two  rivers 
and  camp  at  the  same  small  creek  the  third  time.  We  are  fearful  that 
when  the  crowd  gets  in,  they  may  pull  up  our  stakes.  So  some  of  the 
boys  on  the  outside  of  the  ring  were  told  of  the  plan  and  Barney  with 
ten  or  twelve  will  get  out  ahead  to  make  them  secure. 

"June  6th:  This  morning  the  crowd  was  told  that  we  would  be  in 
the  gulch  today  and  to  prepare  for  it.  When  we  came  to  the  creek  and 
were  going  up  I  said  to  them,  'This  is  the  creek.'  Such  a  stampede ! 

"I  never  saw  anything  like  it  before.  I  was  left  alone  with  our 
packs  and  took  my  time,  for  I  know  my  claim  is  safe.  After  I  crossed 
the  small  creek  that  comes  in  from  the  left,  as  we  go  up,  Colonel  Wood 
caught  up  with  me.  He  asked  me  if  I  knew  where  he  could  get  a  claim. 
I  told  him  'Yes,  I'll  show  you  where  two  bits  was  got,  but  only  one  pan 
was  panned.'  I  showed  him  the  place  and  he  stopped  and  located  a 
claim.  Got  back  to  camp  at  Discovery  about  4  o'clock.  The  creek  is  all 
staked. 

"The  foregoing  are  all  the  notes  of  the  trip  from  the  time  the  party 
left  Bannack,  February  4,  1863,  to  the  time  the  crowd  came  back  with 
them  to  their  discovery  of  Alder  gulch. 

"At  a  meeting  held  on  the  Qth  day  of  June,  1863,  Dr.  Steele  was 
elected  judge  and  Henry  Edgar  was  elected  recorder,  who  refused  to 
serve  and  appointed  James  Fergus  deputy  recorder. 

"The  loth  of  June,  Barney  Hughes  took  two  horses  and  went  to 
LaBarge  (Deer  Lodge)  after  George  Orr,  whom  we  left  when  we  started 
on  the  expedition,  who  was  given  a  full  and  equal  share  in  the  Fair- 
weather  and  Cover  bar  discoveries,  and  his  being  given  this  caused 
Sweeney  and  Rodgers  to  separate  from  the  rest  of  the  party. 

"The  discovery  party  were  as  follows : 

"Bill  Fairweather,  native  of  New  Brunswick,  St.  John's  River. 

"Mike  Sweeney,  native  of  Frederickstown,  St.  John's  River. 

"Barney  Hughes,  native  of  Ireland. 

"Harry  Rodgers,  native  of  St.  John's,  New  Foundland. 

"Tom  Cover,  native  of  Ohio. 

"Henry  Edgar,  native  of  Scotland. 

"The  above  is  a  true  narration  of  the  expedition." 

Philipsburg,  Montana,  April  13,  1897. 

HENRY  EDGAR. 

PETER   RONAN'S   ACCOUNT 

Maj.  Peter  Ronan,  an  Iowa  and  a  Montana  newspaper  man  and  long 
Indian  agent  of  the  Flatheads,  arrived  at  Bannack  City  in  April,  1863, 
during  its  first  boom,  and  in  the  following  month  was  one  of  the  mad  rush 


206 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


to  the  Alder  openings,  and  has  written  an  interesting  account  of  the 
coming  of  the  Idaho  miners  to  Montana  and  their  historic  "find."  We 
pass  over  the  steps  leading  to  the  point  where  Barney  Hughes,  Tom 
Cover,  Henry  Rodgers,  Bill  Fairweather,  Henry  Edgar  and  Bill  Sweeney, 
were  turned  back  toward  Bannack  City  by  Indians  hostile  to  the  gold 
prospectors,  who  were  endeavoring  to  overtake  the  Stuart  expedition. 
"On  the  22nd  of  May  the  wornout  prospectors  and  fugitives  from 
Indians  went  into  camp  in  a  flat  on  the  creek,  and  on  that  same  after- 


PETER  RONAN 

noon  the  party  struck  thirty-three  cents  to  the  pan  on  the  bar  which  rose 
above  the  camp,  right  in  the  grass  roots.  This  was  the  first  discovery 
of  gold  on  the  celebrated  Alder  Gulch — the  richest  continuous  streak  of 
gold  ever  struck  on  any  gulch  in  the  world. 

"Of  course  there  was  rejoicing  in  the  camp,  and  although  now  in  pos- 
session of  a  mine  of  glittering  wealth  our  brave  and  persevering  pros- 
pectors could  plainly  see  that  another  effort  must  be  made  or  they  would 
starve  to  death  on  their  heaps  of  gold. 

"After  the  discovery  was  made,  Henry  Edgar,  with  his  trusty  rifle, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  207 

which  he  managed  to  retain  from  the  Crows,  went  above  the  discovery 
on  the  mountain,  and  shot  an  antelope.  There  was  then  rejoicing-  in  the 
camp.  After  sinking  below  the  surface  a  few  feet  at  the  spot  where 
the  first  pan  was  prospected,  five  dollars  and  ten  cents  was  obtained 
from  the  one  pan  of  dirt.  It  was  then  concluded  that  the  party  should 
return  to  Bannack,  procure  provisions  and  tools,  and  bring  in  their  friends 
to  the  new  Eldorado. 

"Upon  arriving  at  Bannack,  the  secret  of  the  new  discovery  was 
divulged  and  quietly  talked  over  by  the  discoverers  and  their  friends,  and 
a  certain  day  fixed  upon  to  start  for  the  discovery.  Meanwhile,  tempting 
offers  were  made  secretly  to  Barney  Hughes,  and  to  others  of  the  party 
of  prospectors,  to  quietly  slip  out  with  two  or  three  opulent  claim  owners 
of  Bannack,  and  guide  them  to  the  discovery  ahead  of  the  stampede. 
But  the  discoverers  were  deaf  to  their  importunities  and  could  not  be 
tempted  with  gold  to  throw  off  their  old  mining  friends,  and  determined 
that  all  should  start  off  together.  The  start  was  made  and  it  was  found 
that  three  or  four  hundred  men  were  following  the  discoverers  on 
horseback  and  with  their  tools  and  provisions  for  at  least  a  short  cam- 
paign. 

"Upon  reaching  the  point  of  rocks  on  the  Beaverhead  river,  Hughes 
and  his  fellow  discoverers,  knowing  the  rapacity  of  the  average  gold 
hunter,  commenced  to  think  that  if  their  rights  were  not  secured  before 
the  party  reached  the  gulch,  very  little  respect  would  be  shown  them  as 
discoverers,  and  the  stampeders  would  take  the  lion's  share  and  leave 
the  poor  and  almost  unknown  prospectors  and  discoverers  out  in  the 
cold.  A  halt  was  called  and  the  prospectors  announced  to  the  stampeders 
that  unless  two  hundred  feet  of  ground  was  guaranteed  to  each  one  of 
them,  extending  across  the  gulch  from  rim  to  rim,  they  would  go  no 
farther,  and  would  not  divulge  the  locality  of  their  discovery. 

"Colonel  Sam  McLean,  who  was  afterwards  elected  the  first  dele- 
gate to  represent  Montana  in  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  now  gone 
to  his  rest  in  his  beloved  and  native  state  of  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mining 
partner,  Wash  Stapleton — the  latter  an  honored  citizen  of  our  Territory 
today — were  among  the  crowd  of  stampeders.  Those  generous  minded 
gentlemen  saw  at  once  the  justice  of  the  demand  of  the  heroic  prospectors, 
and  a  code  of  laws  governing  the  mining  district,  was  then  and  there 
drawn  up  which  secured  to  Hughes  and  his  comrades  the  ground  they 
demanded.  After  all  the  preliminaries  were  arranged,  laws  and  regula- 
tions which  were  to  govern  the  new  mining  district  were  passed  upon 
and  duly  recorded,  before  any  of  the  crowd,  except  the  prospectors,  knew 
even  the' direction-  in  which  the  new  Eldorado  lay.  The  crowd  moved  on, 
led  by  Hughes  and  his  party.  Upon  reaching  the  spot  where  the  house 
of  Pete  Daly  now  stands,  on  the  old  Daly  ranch,  the  party  went  into 
camp  for  the  night.  Hughes  had  several  old  mining  acquaintances 
among  the  vast  crowd  which  followed  his  lead,  whom  he  particularly 
desired  to  locate  on  good  claims,  as  they  had  had  a  continuous  run  of  bad 
luck  in  other  localities  and  were  flat  broke,  as  indeed  were  nearly  all 
of  the  crowd  who  followed.  I  here  recall  the  names  of  some  of  the  men 


208  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

whom  Hughes  secretly  requested  to  meet  him  under  a  certain  tree  near 
the  camp  at  1 1  o'clock  on  the  night  of  that  encampment ;  they  were  Paddy 
Sky,  Jim  McNulty,  Andy  Brown,  Tom  Duffy,  Jim  Patten,  and  Charley 
Keegan.  Hughes  here  imparted  to  these  friends  that  outside  of  the  bar 
prospected  by  him  and  companions,  he  knew  nothing  of  the  prospects,  but 
assured  them  it  was  his  opinion  if  they  got  in  ahead  of  the  crowd  and 
located  near  the  discoverers  they  would  be  likely  to  get  some  good  ground, 
and  volunteered  to  lead  them  into  the  gulch  that  night  on  foot  while  the 
camp  was  asleep. 

"The  proposition  was  gladly  accepted,  and  the  party  stole  out  of  the 
camp  in  the  silence  of  the  night,  and  leaving  their  horses,  food,  and 
camping  outfit  behind  made  a  night  march  for  the  diggings,  led  by 
Hughes.  At  daylight  the  discovery  was  reached  and  the  party  staked 
their  claims. 

"It  is  needless  here  to  dwell  upon  the  rage  of  the  stampeders  and  the 
imprecations  which  they  heaped  upon  Hughes  and  his  companions  when 
the  morning  broke  upon  the  vast  camp,  when  they  found  out  that  the 
party  had  struck  out  in  the  silence  of  the  night.  Nor  is  it  necessary 
to  dwell  upon  the  fact  that  nearly  all  the  camp  secured  good  claims,  as 
did  thousands  of  others  who  followed  for  years  afterwards. 

"Among  the  toil1  worn  followers  of  that  stampede,  who  staked  their 
claims  on  Alder  Gulch,  on  that  early  June  morning  of  1863,  was  the 
writer,  and  I  may  here  add  that  some  three  days  after  his  stake  was 
driven  the  first  wagon  that  arrived  in  Alder  gulch  was  owned  and  driven 
in  by  James  Sheehan.  In  the  wagon  was  Sheehan's  wife  and  family, 
and  one  of  that  family  was  a  little  child  who  is  now  the  wife  of  the 
narrator,  and  the  first  white  girl  who  came  to  Alder  Gulch;  and  now 
that  she  is  raising  a  family,  desired  for  their  sake  the  privilege  of  mem- 
bership in  the  Pioneer  Association. 

"But  the  six  brave  prospectors  who  paved  the  way  to  fortune  for  so 
many  of  Montana  citizens,  where  are  they  ?*  Tom  Cover  is  a  wealthy  citi- 
zen of  San  Bernardino  County,  California,  and  one  of  the  original  own- 
ers of  the  beautiful  town  of  Riverside,  recently  written  up  and  illustrated 
in  Harper's  Magazine. 

"Henry  Edgar  makes  brick  in  Missoula  a  few  months  in  summer 
and  spends  the  remainder  of  the  year  and  his  earnings  in  trying  to  dis- 
cover another  gulch. 

"Bill  Fairweather  sleeps  in  a  lonely  and  unmarked  grave. 

"Barney  Hughes  was  the  guest  of  the  writer  a  few  days  ago,  returning 
weary  and  worn,  footsore  and  disheartened,  from  a  trip  to  Bull  river  up 
north  and  across  the  British  line,  where  he  had  been  prospecting  without 
success.  His  whole  earthly  possessions  were  two  horses,  a  pick,  pan  and 
shovel,  his  camping  utensils,  and  provisions  enough  to  last  him  to  reach 
Missoula,  were  he  is  now  looking  for  work  to  earn  enough  money  to 
outfit  him  for  another  prospecting  trip. 

"Old  timers — you  who  have  been  lifted  from  the  log  cabin  and  the 


*  Written  in  1900. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  209 

long-handled  frying  pan  to  blocks  of  brick  and  granite  which  adorn  our 
Montana  cities,  to  Queen  Anne  cottages,  palatial  dwellings  and  happy 
family  surroundings — give  a  lift  to  these  worthy  prospectors,  and  when 
they  go  into  the  mountains  again,  in  search  of  diggings,  let  them  go  at 
least  comfortably  provided  for. 

"Of  the  other  two  comprising  the  party  of  Alder  Gulch  discoverers 
—Harry  Rodgers  and  Bill  Sweeney — I  have  no  knowledge;  but,  what- 
ever their  lot  in  life,  Montana  and  its  early  settlers  owe  each  and  every 
one  of  that  party  a  deep  debt  of  gratitude." 

STUART'S  SECOND  YELLOWSTONE  EXPEDITION 

*  In  the  spring  of  1864,  James  organized  a  second  expedition  to  the 
Yellowstone,  with  the  double  purpose  of  prospecting  the  country  for 
gold  and  avenging  the  murder  of  his  comrades  the  previous  year.  The 
party  consisted  of  seventy-three  men.  James  was  elected  captain;  W. 
Graham,  first  lieutenant;  John  Vanderbilt,  second  lieutenant;  Charles 
Murphy,  orderly  sergeant;  John  Upton  and  James  Dewey,  sergeants  of 
the  guard ;  and  Mark  Post  and  James  Bailey,  corporals.  They  crossed  the 
divide  between  the  Gallatin  and  Yellowstone  rivers  on  the  28th  and  2Qth 
of  March,  finding  the  snow  bad,  for  it  was  a  very  late,  stormy  spring, 
and  it  snowed  upon  them  nearly  all  the  way  down  the  Yellowstone  and 
over  to  the  Stinking  River  fork  of  the  Big  Horn.  So  severe  was  the 
weather  that  they  found  it  well  nigh  impossible  to  prospect,  because  of  the 
frozen  ground;  and  the  snow  was  so  deep  that  they  could  not  get  back 
among  the  mountains  at  all.  Their  horses  grew  very  poor,  and  many 
became  exhausted  and  were  left  behind;  and  as  the  devil  usually  takes 
care  of  his  own,  it  so  happened  that  the  Crows  were  all  over  on  the 
Musselshell  and  Missouri  rivers,  and  the  party  did  not  find  one  in  the 
Yellowstone  valley,  where  they  had  all  been  the  year  before.  Had  the  ex- 
pedition found  them,  it  was  their  intention  to  have  taken  the  village  by 
strategy,  if  practicable,  and  if  not,  to  have  stormed  it  and  killed  as  many 
as  possible — a  fate  they  well  deserved  then  and  now  deserve  still  more, 
for  since  that  time  they  have  killed  many  small  parties  and  individuals 
of  whites,  and  stolen  thousands  of  dollars  of  stock,  all  of  which  they  lay 
on  the  Sioux  and  Blackfeet. 

James'  business  arrangements  not  admitting  of  his  remaining  out 
longer,  he  and  fourteen  others  left  the  main  body  on  Stinking  River  and 
returned  to  Virginia  about  the  i8th  of  May. 

LAST  CHANCE  GULCH  AND  HELENA 

The  story  of  the  gold  discoveries  and  developments  in  Montana  runs 
parallel  with  that  of  the  California  record — in  fact,  with  the  tale  of 
every  series  of  gold  adventuring  in  the  world;  it  is  ever  some  newer 
and  more  distant  field  which  is  most  alluring.  Gold  Creek,  Bannack  City, 


*  Life  of  James  Stuart,  by  Granville  Stuart,  Vol.  I,  p.  56,  Contributions  Mon- 
tana Historical  Society. 

Vol.  1—14 


210 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Virginia  City  and  Helena  is  the  Montana  order.  John  Cowan,  John  Crab, 
D.  J.  Miller  and  Reginald  Stanley,  camping  in  a  Hell  Gate  River  valley, 
in  the  spring  of  1864,  fell  in  with  a  party  headed  by  James  Coleman,  who 
were  returning  from  the  Kootenai  country  with  reports  of  fabulous  dig- 
gings in  that  region.  But  the  Cowan  party  decided  to  prospect  the  Little 
Blackfoot  Valley  and,  failing  good  prospects,  to  pass  over  to  the  eastern 
slopes  of  the  Rockies.  They  did  so  and  emerged  into  the  Prickly  Pear 
Valley  of  the  Missouri,  ranged  farther  north  up  the  Dearborn  to  the 
sources  of  the  Teton  and  Maria's  rivers.  The  farther  north  they  went, 
the  less  promising  became  the  gold  outlook,  and  finally,  almost  discour- 
aged, they  returned  to  the  Valley  of  the  Prickly  Pear,  and  in  July,  1864, 


PRICKLY  PEAR  VALLEY 

located  Last  Chance  Gulch.  They  sank  two  holes  to  bed-rock  on  opposite 
sides  of  the  stream.  One  of  these  yielded  flat  nuggets  that  weighed  about 
half  a  dollar — proof  of  a  rich  "strike."  By  the  end  of  July  there  were 
many  busy  miners  at  Last  Chance,  some  from  Bannack  City  and  Alder 
Gulch,  and  others,  like  the  birds  of  the  fields,  mysteriously  scenting  a 
feast  and  appearing  on  the  ground. 

How  the  Last  Chance  Gulch  was  given  the  name  Helena  is  thus 
succinctly  told :  "The  mining  camp  at  Last  Chance  Gulch  was  christened 
Helena  by  John  Somerville,  one  of  the  early  miners  in  the  gulch,  and  who 
had  been  chosen  chairman  of  a  meeting  called  for  the  purpose  of  organiz- 
ing that  mining  district  and  establishing  laws  and  regulations  to  govern 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  211 

it.  A  letter  written  by  Thomas  E.  Cooper,  who  was  present  on  the  occa- 
sion, thus  refers  to  it:  'Thomas  Cowan,  from  Georgia,  in  1864,  had  a 
sluice  and  was  mining  in  Last  Chance.  On  September  24,  1864,  the  writer 
and  a  company  of  prospectors  and  Captain  Wood  built  a  cabin  where  the 
heart  of  the  city  now  is.  A  meeting  was  called  to  organize  the  mining 
district,  and  John  Somerville  was  chosen  chairman  and  the  writer 
of  this  letter  secretary.  The  question  of  naming  the  town  came  up  and 
there  being  a  great  diversity  of  opinion  as  to  the  name  the  town  should 
bear,  and  not  being  able  to  agree,  the  chairman,  John  Somerville,  got  up 
and  stated  as  follows :  "I  belong  to  the  best  country  in  the  world ;  I  live 
in  the  best  state  (Minnesota)  in  that  country  and  in  the  best  county 
(Scott)  of  that  state,  and  in  the  best  town  (Helena)  of  that  county— 
and,  by  the  eternal,  this  town  shall  bear  that  name !"  '  This  name  proving 
satisfactory  to  the  majority  of  the  miners  present,  the  name  Helena 
was  accepted." 

Judge  Cornelius  Hedges,  in  his  sketch  of  Lewis  and  Clark  county 
(Montana  Historical  Society's  contributions,  Vol.  II,  p.  109),  gives 
October,  30,  1864,  as  the  date  of  holding  the  meeting,  where,  at  the  sug- 
gestion of  Mr.  Somerville,  Last  Chance  Gulch  was  christened  Helena.  He 
also  presents  other  pertinent  facts,  as  to  this  mining  venture  which  sprung 
from  the  soil  of  desperation  and  prospered  so  abundantly.  "It  was  in 
July,  1864,"  he  writes,  "that  gold  was  first  discovered  in  this  locality 
by  a  party  of  Georgians,  of  which  John  Cowan,  Robert  Stanley  and  Gabe 
Johnson  were  members.  Not  satisfied  with  the  prospect,  they  left  and 
tried  various  localities  as  far  north  as  Sun  river,  but,  finding  nothing 
better,  this  party  returned,  and  in  September  began  regular  mining  opera- 
tions on  a  bar  not  far  from  where  the  Masonic  Temple  now  stands.  The 
lateness  of  the  season  and  the  failure  of  their  undertakings  up  to  that 
time  led  them  to  christen  their  diggings  Last  Chance  gulch,  while  the 
abundance  of  snakes  gave  the  name  to  the  district  of  Rattlesnake. 

"Captain  George  J.  Wood,  who  came  into  the  territory  from  Illi- 
nois by  way  of  Bridger's  cut-off,  reaching  Alder  gulch  in  July,  1864, 
and  not  finding  a  claim  in  that  section  to  suit  him,  started  north 
to  test  for  himself  the  reported  mines  on  the  Prickly  Pear.  He 
induced  Mr.  Mast,  who,  with  his  family,  was  returning  to  Alder  gulch 
from  an  unsuccessful  exploration  of  Wisconsin  gulch,  to  turn  about  and 
accompany  him.  It  so  happened  that  a  hunting  expedition  from  Prickly 
Pear  brought  Messrs.  Wood  and  Mast  into  Last  Chance  about  the  time 
that  the  Georgia  party  made  their  first  successful  clean-up.  The  sight  of 
this  was  enough  to  decide  them  to  remove  at  once  to  this  locality,  and  next 
after  the  two  cabins  erected  by  John  Cowan  and  Robert  Stanley,  were 
those  of  Messrs.  Wood  and  Mast.  Notwithstanding  the  assurance  of  the 
discovery  party  that  there  was  no  gold  in  the  gulch  above  them,  it  was 
found  in  promising  quantities  in  many  localities.  By  the  personal  solici- 
tation of  Mr.  Wood,  a  portion  of  the  Minnesota  train,  just  then  arrived 
and  camped  in  the  valley  of  Ten  Mile,  were  induced  to  stop  and  join  in 
prospecting  the  Last  Chance  mines.  During  the  months  of  October  and 
November  following,  the  extent  and  richness  of  the  mines  became  well 


212 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


established  and  their  fame  began  to  draw  miners  from  other  camps. 
Messrs.  Constans  and  Jurgens,  still  our  fellow  citizens  (1876),  recently 
arrived  from  Minnesota,  and  who  had  first  established  themselves  at 
Montana  City,  were  the  first  to  move  their  stock  and  open  a  store  in 
the  new  mines. 

"It  was  at  a  public  meeting  held  in  Captain  Wood's  cabin  October 
30,  1864,  the  minutes  of  which  meeting  are  still  preserved,  that  the  name 
of  Helena  was  selected,  on  motion  and  suggestion  of  Mr.  John  Somerville, 
for  the  name  of  the  rising  city.  If  their  selection  of  the  name  is  to  be 
respected,  why  should  not  also  the  pronounciation  of  the  name,  He-le'-na, 
as  they  universally  called  it,  and  not  Hel'-e-na?  Three  commissioners, 


WINTER  QUARTERS  OF  WALTER  COOPER,  HELENA,  IN  1865 

Messrs.  Wood,  Bruce  and  Cutler,  were  chosen  and  empowered  to  lay  out 
streets,  fix  the  size  of  town  lots  and  establish  all  necessary  regulations 
for  obtaining  and  holding  the  same.  Captain  Wood  was  chosen  recorder, 
and  virtually  discharged  the  duties  of  all  the  commissioners  in  addition. 
The  size  of  lots,  as  fixed  by  the  commissionrs,  was  30  by  60  feet,  and  a 
foundation  would  hold  a  lot  for  ten  days,  and,  if  recorded  besides,  for 
ten  days  longer.  Disputed  titles  were  to  be  settled  by  the  commissioners, 
or  by  arbitration,  until  civil  law  was  established.  Capt.  Wood's  position 
was  a  difficult  and  thankless  one,  and  considering  the  surrounding  diffi- 
culties successfully  filled." 

Two  MARVELOUSLY  RICH  MINES 

In  December,  1864,  Confederate  Gulch  and  Montana  Bar  were  dis- 
covered, about  six  miles  from  the  Missouri  River  and  some  thirty-five 
miles  from  Helena.  Wonderful  stories  are  told  of  the  yield  of  both 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  213 

mines,  Montana  Bar,  however,  proving  the  richer  of  the  two.  It  is  said 
that  when  bed-rock  on  the  bar  was  reached,  the  enormous  yield  of  $180 
to  the  pan  in  Confederate  Gulch  was  forgotten  in  astonishment  at  the 
marvelous  yield  of  over  $1,000  to  the  pan  taken  from  Montana.  Dia- 
mond City  developed  from  these  two  rich  openings  of  the  Montana 
gold  field. 

NAMING  OF  SILVER  Bow  CREEK 

Emigrant  Gulch,  Gallatin  County,  was  also  discovered  in  1864,  and 
before  the  close  of  1867  had  yielded  about  $180,000  in  gold.  The  mines 
along  Silver  Bow  Creek,  extending  from  the  present  city  of  Butte  to  the 
town  of  Silver  Bow,  were  opened  in  the  fall  of  1864,  the  gulch  reaching 
the  height  of  its  prosperity  in  1866.  Captain  James  S.  Mills,  explains 
the  naming  of  the  creek :  "Never  prettier  name  was  coined,  and  it  came 
about  thus:  On  the  evening  of  a  cloudy  day  in  January,  1864,  Bud 
Barker,  P.  Allison,  Joe  and  Jim  Ester,  on  a  prospecting  trip  reached  the 
vicinity  of  the  creek  near  Butte  and  a  discussion  arose  as  to  its  name.  As 
the  argument  went  on,  the  clouds  rolled  from  the  sun,  its  bright  glance 
fell  on  the  waters  sweeping  in  a  graceful  curve  around  the  base  of  the 
mountains,  burnishing  them  to  brilliancy  as  they  clasped  the  vale  in  a 
bow  like  silver." 

Deer  Lodge  County  developed  such  gulches  as  German,  in  1864,  and 
Ophir  (very  rich),  Bear  (productive,  rough  and  tough)  and  McClellan's 
(Pacific  City),  all  in  1865.  The  placer  diggings  of  Jefferson  County 
with  some  unimportant  exceptions,  were  not  discovered  until  late  in 
that  year  and  the  early  part  of  1866. 

MONTANA'S  GOLD  BONANZA  PERIOD 

The  years  1862-68  constitute  the  Bonanza  period  of  Montana's  produc- 
tion of  gold,  and  by  counties  the  output  was  as  follows : 

Madison   $40,000,000 

•     Lewis  and  Clark    19,360,000 

Deer  Lodge 13,250,000 

Meagher 6,949,200 

Jefferson 4,500,000 

Beaverhead    2,245,000 

Other  sources  6,000,000 


Total $92,304,200 


Even  the  veteran,  Fort  Benton,  was  no  more  than  a  fortified  trad- 
ing post  until  the  opening  and  expansion  of  the  gold  fields  attracted 
immigrants  from  everywhere,  many  of  whom  survived  the  excitements 
and  uncertainties  of  the  early  mining  days  and  remained  to  become 
identified  with  the  silver  and  the  copper  industries,  and  the  even  more  last- 
ing developments  of  agriculture  and  livestock. 

In  the  spring  and  summer  of  1864,  when  Bannack  and  Virginia 
City  were  well  under  way  and  Helena  was  about  to  be  founded,  a  number 
of  small  buildings  were  sprinkled  outside  the  fort  as  an  irregular  settle- 
ment. The  largest  of  them  was  the  store  built  by  Matthew  Carroll  and 
George  Steele.  It  was  constructed  of  sawed  logs,  prepared  at  the  Fort 
LaBarge  sawmill.  These  gentlemen  were  at  the  time  clerks  in  the  employ 
of  the  American  Fur  Company,  but  soon  after  began  business  for  them- 
selves under  the  firm  name  of  Carroll  &  Steele.  During  the  same  year 
(1864)  they  bought  a  large  stock  of  goods  and  their  venture  proved  per- 
manently successful.  The  settlement  soon  began  to  assume  the  appear- 
ance of  a  town,  although,  as  yet,  the  buildings  were  located  at  the  fancy 
of  the  owners,  without  regard  to  system.  In  the  spring  and  summer  of 
1865,  however,  the  town  was  regularly  laid  out  according  to  the  present 
plan  by  Capt.  W.  W.  DeLacy,  the  widely  known  western  surveyor,  and 
called  Benton  City.  Several  new  buildings  were  at  once  erected,  with 
their  inclosures,  and  for  the  first  time  defined  streets  and  squares  were 
outlined  on  the  prairie  bottom. 

*"The  name  of  Benton  City  took  but  a  slender  hold  on  the  popular 
opinion,  and  deservedly  so,  for  every  attempt  to  pervert  a  good  name 
already  in  current  use  should  be  met  with  severe  reprobation.  The  name 
of  the  local  postofHce  is  Fort  Benton,  the  business  men  use  the  same  name 
in  their  letter  and  bill  heads,  freight  from  the  lower  towns  is  consigned 
to  Fort  Benton,  and  by  that  name  the  place  is  almost  universally  called 
by  its  inhabitants  and  others.  While  the  adobe  walls  of  old  Fort  Benton 
continue  to  stand,  the  new  name  offers  some  little  advantage  in  distin- 
guishing the  town  from  the  fort,  but  the  walls  must  soon  crumble  and 
the  fort  disappear,  as  has  Campbell  and  LaBarge  already,  and  then  the 
name  of  Benton  City  will  have  no  advantage  whatever,  while  it  will  have 
the  disadvantage  of  veiling  to  its  coming  inhabitants  the  glamor  of  con- 
tiguity attaching  to  the  old  sonorous  name  of  Fort  Benton." 

At  the  conclusion  of   "Affairs  at  Fort   Benton,"  Vol.   Ill,  p.   287, 


*  Bradley's  "Affairs  at  Fort  Benton." 

215 


216  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Arthur  J.  Craven,  a  member  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Historical 
Society,  in  1900,  inserts  this  note:  "Here  this  section  of  the  journal 
purchased  by  the  Board  from  Mrs.  Bradley  in  1881,  abruptly  terminates, 
an  incomplete,  succeeding  paragraph  indicating  the  intention  of  the 
lamented  author  to  fully  conclude  the  period  of  time  designated  by  him  in 
the  title  (1831-69).  Upon  what  portion  of  his  numerous  chronicles  he 
was  engaged  when  he  was  summoned  with  his  command  to  his  last  cam- 
paign, the  one  against  the  Nez  Perces  in  1877,  is  unknown.  Possibly  the 
rich  romance  clustering  around  this  old  fort,  which,  as  shown  by  a  re- 
view of  his  manuscripts,  was  evidently  a  favorite  theme,  was  the  last 
which  engaged  his  literary  effort,  before  passing  from  the  quiet  con- 
templation of  the  annals  of  the  frontier  to  the  heroic  martyrdom  of  the 
soldier  on  the  field  of  battle. 

"Contemporaries  and  associates  of  Major  Culbertson  have  fortunately 
transcribed  to  print  memoirs  of  their  experience  in  the  fur  trade  of  the 
Missouri  and  its  tributaries.  These  serve  only  to  increase  the  historic 
value  of  the  foregoing  contribution,  one  which  shows  throughout  the  in- 
valuable assistance  of  Major  Culbertson,  than  whom  no  better  authority 
could  be  found  on  the  events  of  the  Upper  Missouri,  during  the  greater 
portion  of  the  period  treated  by  the  author. 

"It  may  be  of  interest  to  add  that  the  old  fort  is  now  owned  (1900) 
by  the  Hon.  T.  E.  Collins,  present  state  treasurer,  and  that  the  surround- 
ing town,  thronged  with  these  historic  associations,  happily  retains  'the 
old  sonorous  name'  of  Fort  Benton,  in  accordance  with  the  preference 
expressed  by  the  author  in  his  concluding  paragraph." 

FOUNDING  OF  VIRGINIA  CITY 

But  it  was  the  mining  camp  which  sprung  up  in  Alder  Gulch,  which 
became  the  magic  city  of  the  Montana  gold  fields.  The  stampede  from 
Bannack  City,  in  June,  1863,  brought  several  hundred  to  the  new  findings 
and  before  the  close  of  the  following  year  the  population  of  the  place, 
which  was  housed  in  every  conceivable  shelter  and  camped  under  the  sky 
in  bearable  weather,  had  reached  ten  or  twelve  thousand  people;  a  bed- 
lam of  a  city  with  representatives  of  every  description  and  clime,  all 
madly  rushing  for  gold.  The  most  complete  description  of  the  first  two 
years  of  lusty  infancy  in  the  life  of  Virginia  City  has  been  penned  by 
Judge  Henry  N.  Blake,  one  of  the  ablest  members  of  the  Montana  bench 
and  bar,  and  a  public  character  of  broad  ability  and  worth. 

Judge  Blake,  who  settled  in  Virginia  City,  during  1866,  says  that 
the  first  crowd  of  stampeders  from  Bannack  comprised  over  three  hun- 
dred men.  A  public  meeting  of  the  original  prospectors  and  discoverers 
was  held  June  7th  in  a  cottonwood  grove  upon  the  banks  of  the  Beaver- 
head  River  and  about  ten  miles  south  of  the  Beaverhead  Rock.  Resolu- 
tions were  passed  confirming  the  right  of  each  discoverer  to  two  claims  in 
Alder  Gulch,  with  water  privileges.  The  main  body  of  the  swarm  arrived 
in  Alder  Gulch  on  the  9th  and  Hughes,  who  had  stealthily  left  them, 
piloted  his  friends  during  the  preceding  night  to  the  promised  land. 


217 

Some,  who  wished  to  steal  a  march  on  the  others  but  were  not  familiar 
with  the  country,  wandered  up  the  Stinkwater,  Granite  and  other 
streams  and  were  distanced.  On  the  I2th,  the  miners  adopted  the  laws 
of  the  Fairweather  district. 

"At  this  date,"  says  Judge  Blake,  "there  was  not  a  dwelling  house 
within  the  boundaries  of  Madison  county.  This  was  not  a  municipal 
body  and  was  included  with  the  largest  fraction  of  Montana  in  Idaho 
territory,  which  had  been  organized  by  an  Act  of  Congress,  approved 
March  3,  1863. 

"The  throng  was  increased  daily  during  the  month  of  June  by  the 
arrival  of  citizens,  who  represented  every  part  of  the  Union  and  the  na- 
tions of  both  hemispheres.  On  the  i6th  the  Verona  Town  Company 
recorded  its  claim  to  320  acres  of  land  on  which  Virginia  City  stands. 
The  name  of  Verona  was  used  in  a  number  of  legal  papers  which  were 
executed  at  this  time,  but  this  was  soon  exchanged  for  Virginia  City, 
which  first  appears  upon  the  county  records  on  the  i/th." 

The  first  name  given  to  the  present  capital  of  Montana  was  in 
honor  of  Jeff.  Davis'  wife,  but,  as  stated,  it  was  soon  changed  to  Vir- 
ginia. Dr.  (Judge)  G.  G.  Bissel  was  the  first  man  that  wrote  it  Virginia. 
Being  asked  to  head  a  legal  document  Verona,  he  bluntly  said  he  would 

see  them  d d  first,  for  that  was  the  name  of  Jeff.  Davis'  wife;  and, 

accordingly,  as  he  wrote  it,  so  it  remained.  From  this  little  circumstance, 
it  will  be  seen  that  politics  was  anything  but  forgotten  on  the  banks 
of  Alder  creek;  but  miners  are  sensible  men,  in  the  main,  and  out  in  the 
mountains  a  good  man  makes  good  friends,  even  where  political  opinions 
are  widely  different. 

"Almost*  immediately  after  the  first  freat  rush  from  Bannack — in 
addition  to  the  tents,  brush  wakiups  and  extempore  fixings  for  shelter 
— small  log  cabins  were  erected.  The  first  of  these  was  the  Mechan- 
ical bakery,  now  (1866)  standing  near  the  lower  end  of  Wallace  street. 
Morier's  saloon  went  up  at  about  the  same  time  and  the  first  dwelling 
house  was  built  by  John  Lyons.  After  this  beginning  houses  rose  as  if 
by  magic.  Dick  Hamilton,  Root  &  Davis,  J.  E.  McClurg,  Hall  &  Simpson, 
N.  Story  and  O.  C.  Mathews,  were  among  the  first  merchants.  Dr. 
Steele  was  first  president  of  the  Fairweather  district.  Dr.  G.  G.  Bissel 
was  the  first  judge  of  the  Miners'  Court.  The  duty  of  the  recorder's 
office  was,  we  believe,  performed  by  James  Fergus." 

Continuing  Judge  Blake's  account :  "The  extent  of  the  pay  streak  be- 
ing unknown,  the  object  of  every  person  was  to  secure  mining  ground  in 
the  neighborhood  of  that  which  had  been  prospected  by  the  pioneers.  It 
was  generally  believed  that  the  bars  were  the  golden  safes  of  nature 
and  many  parties  neglected  and  walked  over  as  worthless  the  richest 
deposits  in  the  creek  in  their  eager  search  for  what  they  considered  the 
valuable  claims.  Before  the  bedrock  of  the  creek  had  been  disturbed 
by  the  pick,  the  camp  was  deserted  by  a  number  of  intelligent  miners 
who  informed  their  friends  with  confidence  that  there  were  no  paying 


*  Professor  Dimsdale's  "Vigilantes  in  Montana." 


218  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

diggings  in  the  gulch.  But  within  thirty  days  tests  were  applied  by 
hundreds  of  industrious  hands  to  every  place  which  was  accessible,  and 
revealed  to  the  world  the  auriferous  bed  of  an  ancient  river,  which  sur- 
passed in  magnitude  and  the  uniform  distribution  of  its  golden  treasures, 
any  placer  which  has  been  recorded  upon  this  planet.  New  districts  were 
formed,  embracing  the  creek,  bar  and  hill  claims,  and  designated  High- 
land, Pine  Grove  and  Summit,  which  were  above  the  Fairweather,  and 
Nevada  and  Junction,  which  were  below  it.  A  thousand  claims  were 
located  in  the  gulch. 

"During  the  period  when  every  doubt  respecting  the  immense  wealth 
of  Alder  vanished,  the  people  were  living  in  houses  not  made  with  hands. 
Some  constructed  temporary  shelters  of  wakiups  of  alders  and  pine 
boughs,  or  rocks  and  blankets,  others  excavated  caves  or  "dug-outs,"  and 
the  palaces  were  tents  and  wagons.  The  mill  on  which  they  were  de- 
pendent for  sawed  lumber,  was  situated  on  the  stream  above  Bannack 
and  about  seventy  miles  from  Virginia  City.  The  axe  was  the  most  useful 
tool  and  log  cabins  occupied  every  convenient  space  upon  the  banks 
of  the  creek.  If  a  stranger  entered  the  gulch  in  the  prosperous  days  of 
1863  and  1864,  and  traveled  from  Junction  to  Summit,  the  brilliant  lights, 
illuminating  the  road  and  trail,  would  dazzle  his  eyes,  and  cause  him  to 
imagine  he  was  in  a  vast  city." 

/ 
MINERS'  COURTS  ESTABLISHED 

The  Legislative  Assembly  of  Idaho  did  not  convene  until  December, 
1863,  this  county  was  not  governed  during  the  interim  by  the  statutes  of 
any  state,  and  a  mining  district  was  an  independent  republic.  A  judge 
and  sheriff  were  elected  by  the  residents  of  the  district,  and  although  the 
miners'  courts  were  neither  in  law  nor  fact  tribunals  of  record,  their  deci- 
sions were  final  and  the  officers  executed  the  judgment  without  opposition. 
In  Fairweather  District  Dr.  G.  G.  Bissel  was  the  first  judge  of  the 
Miner's  Court,  Richard  Todd  was  the  first  sheriff  and  Henry  Edgar  was 
the  first  recorder.  They  were  elected  on  June  9th,  the  day  on  which  the 
mining  claims  were  staked.  J.  B.  Caven  was  chosen  sheriff  September 
3,  1863,  and  resigned  within  a  few  weeks  and  Henry  Plummer,  then 
sheriff  of  the  Grasshopper  District  and  chief  of  the  road  agents,  was 
elected. 

FIRST  BUILDINGS  ERECTED 

As  stated,  T.  L.  Luce  erected  the  first  building  in  Virginia  City, 
the  "Mechanical  Bakery,"  on  the  lot  above  the  present  store  of  J.  F.  Stoer, 
Wallace  Street,  Frederick  Root  and  Nathaniel  J.  Davis  the  first  store, 
John  Lyons,  the  first  dwelling  house,  Henry  Morier,  the  first  saloon,  and 
R.  S.  Hamilton  received  the  first  load  of  merchandise.  Col.  Samuel  Mc- 
Lean, the  first  delegate  to  Congress,  drove  the  first  wagon  to  Alder 
Gulch.  The  physicians  who  arrived  during  the  first  week  of  the  inva- 
sion were  Drs.  I.  C.  Smith  and  J.  S.  Click,  and  the  lawyers  were  repre- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  219 

sented  by  H.  P.  A.  Smith,  G.  W.  Stapleton  and  Samuel  McLean.  After 
making  diligent  inquiries,  I  am  satisfied  that  no  clergyman  preached  within 
the  county  in'  1863.  The  first  cobble-stone  store  was  put  up  for  Taylor, 
Thompson  and  Company,  whose  sign  can  be  read  today.  The  first  lumber 
from  Bannack  was  sold  readily  for  $250,  gold,  per  thousand  feet,  more 
than  twelve  times  the  present  price.  The  first  sawmill  in  the  county  was 
set  in  motion  by  Thomas  W.  Cover  and  Perry  W.  McAdow  in  February, 
1864,  on  Granite  Creek,  about  four  miles  above  Junction.  About  the 
same  time  the  sawmill  of  George  N.  Stager  &  Company  was  running  on 
Alder  Gulch,  about  one-fourth  of  a  mile  below  Granite  Creek,  from  which 
the  water  was  conveyed  by  a  ditch.  Other  mills  were  built  afterwards 
by  Holter  Bros.,  on  Ramshorn  Gulch,  House  and  Bivins  of  Meadow 
Creek  and  James  Gemmell  on  Mill  Creek.  The  quarry  within  this  town- 
site,  which  has  furnished  porphytic  stone  for  the  largest  buildings,  was 
opened  by  Joseph  Griffith  and  William  Thompson  in  July,  1864.  The 
first  warehouse,  constructed  of  this  material,  is  now  occupied  by  Ray- 
mond Bros.  The  first  sluice  boxes  were  set  up  about  June  25th,  1863, 
by  the  discoverers  on  Fairweather  Bar,  S.  R.  Blake  in  the  Fairweather 
District,  and  J.  M.  Wood  in  the  Nevada  District.  The  construction  of 
ditches  to  work  the  claims  consumed  time  and  money,  and  eight  months 
passed  away  before  some  of  the  drains  were  completed. 

MONTANA'S  FIRST  POSTOFFICE 

A  line  of  coaches  to  Salt  Lake  and  Bannack  was  started,  immediately 
after  the  settlement  of  Alder,  by  A.  J.  Oliver  ,&  Co.  No  mail  route  was 
established  by  the  general  government  until  late  in  1864,  and  letters 
and  newspapers  were  forwarded  by  the  express  to  the  recipients,  who  paid 
with  a  grateful  heart  the  charges,  usually  $i,  gold,  for  each  document. 
The  first  postoffice  was  located  at  Virginia  City,  and  George  B.  Parker 
was  the  first  postmaster.  For  a  number  of  years  Virginia  City  was  the 
distributing  postoffice  for  the  territory. 

FIRST  ELECTION 

The  first  election  was  held  under  the  proclamation  of  the  Governor  in 
Idaho,  1863,  for  the  choice  of  members  of  the  Legislative  Assembly. 
The  county  was  represented  by  Jack  Edwards  in  the  council,  and  James 
Tufts,  who  became  the  speaker,  in  the  house.  Mark  A.  Moore,  who  re- 
ceived the  highest  number  of  votes,  was  not  eligible,  and  Doctor  Smith, 
who  stood  next  upon  the  tally  list,  was  not  allowed  to  take  the  vacant 
chair.  The  first  officers  of  the  county  were  commissioned  by  the  gov- 
ernor of  Montana. 

OUTPUT  OF  ALDER  GULCH 

The  weather  during  the  first  two  years  was  favorable  to  the  busy 
gold  diggers,  who  pursued  with  slight  interruptions  their  tasks  upon  the 


220  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

surface  and  underground.  The  miner,  in  opening  the  vaults  of  Alder 
Gulch,  realized  the  extravagant  fancies  of  a  miner's  dream,  and  the  pick 
and  shovel  in  his  hands  were  as  potent  as  the  lamp  and  ring  in  the  grasp 
of  Aladdin.  Every  effort  was  rewarded  with  gold.  In  1864,  miles  of 
drain  ditches  penetrated  the  mineral  claims  from  Old  Baldy  to  Granite, 
and  the  product  exceeded  $30,000,000.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  the  prec- 
ious metal  which  has  been  wrested  from  Alder  Gulch  is  an  unknown 
quantity,  which  cannot  be  determined.  "After  an  examination  of  all  the 
facts,  I  am  satisfied  that  Alder  Gulch  has  increased  the  gold  coin  of  the 
world  $60,000,000,"  says  Judge  Blake.  Candor  requires  me  to  state 
that  this  estimate  is  deemed  too  moderate  by  many  pioneers  of  the 
county,  whose  judgment  merits  grave  consideration.  More  nuggets  were 
saved  in  the  Summit  than  in  all  the  other  districts,  and  the  largest  was 
found  by  Hedge  &  Company,  in  1864,  upon  their  claim  near  the  hill  on 
which  the  Lucas  lode  had  been  staked.  It  was  worth  $715  in  coin  and 
over  $1,700  in  currency.  « 

"The  population  was  multiplied  until  there  were,  in  1864,  at  least 
10,000  and  probably  15,000  persons  who  were  nourished  by  the  golden 
current.  Kate  Virginia  Caven,  the  daughter  of  J.  B.  Caven,  the  first 
child  of  white  parents  within  the  county,  was  born  in  this  city,  February 
20,  1864.  At  the  first  election,  held  October  24,  1864,  after  the  territory 
of  Montana  had  been  formed,  Madison  county  cast  5,286  votes,  Virginia 
City  having  2,310  and  Nevada  1,806  of  this  number." 

Virginia  City  was  incorporated  by  the  Legislature  of  Idaho  Janu- 
ary 30,  1864,  and  on  December  30,  1864,  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  of 
Montana.  Under  the  last  act,  officers  were  -elected  in  the  spring  of  1865, 
and  this  is  the  only  place  in  Montana  which  has  enjoyed  the  blessings  of 
a  municipal  government  and  possessed  mayors  and  aldermen  (written  in 
1896).  During  the  two  years  succeeding  the  important  discovery  on  May 
27,  1863,  Alder  Gulch  was  in  reality  the  territory  of  Montana.  The  capi- 
tal was  removed  from  Bannack  to  Virginia  City  by  the  law  approved 
February  7,  1865,  and  remained  until  January,  1875.  The  conventions  of 
the  republican  and  democratic  parties  assembled  here  in  1864  and  1865, 
and  nominated  candidates  for  Congress  and  other  offices. 

"From  these  districts  went  forth  the  prospectors  to  every  gulch,  seek- 
ing for  another  Alder,  and  many  of  the  founders  of  villages  in  every  part 
of  Montana.  During  the  last  ten  years,  the  decline  in  the  product  of  gold 
has  caused  the  loss  of  the  people, 'and  there  are  now  in  Alder  gulch  hun- 
dreds in  lieu  of  the  thousands  of  1863  and  1864.  The  manifold  resources 
of  Madison  county  are  a  permanent  foundation,  and  I  am  assured  that 
the  wave  of  population  will  recede  no  further,  and  in  the  future  must 
advance." 

PIONEER  GULCH  AND  CITY 

Pioneer  City  was  such  only  in  name,  standing,  as  it  did,  for  Pioneer 
Gulch,  or  Pioneer  Creek — the  Benetsee,  or  Gold  Creek,  of  an  earlier  day, 
and  the  American  Fork,  the  settlement  fathered  by  the  Stuarts.  Although 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  221 

James  and  Granville  Stuart  are  acknowledged  to  have  been  the  first 
really  successful  miners  in  Montana,  they  were  always  ready  to  give  credit 
to  others,  and  the  former  mentions  as  a  pioneer  preceding  them  one 
Henry  Thomas  who  sank  a  shaft  thirty  feet  deep,  a  mile  west  of  where 
"Pioneer  City"  afterward  stood,  in  the  summer  of  1860.  He  worked 
alone  with  his- little  windlass  and  four  sluice  boxes,  hewed  out  with  an 
axe,  earning  only  about  $1.50  per  day — and  soon  dropped  out  of  sight. 

*"In  the  fall  of  1860  and  spring  of  1861  Anderson  and  the  Stuarts 
prospected  in  the  dry  gulches  putting  into  Benetsee  creek  and  found  what 
they  considered  good  paying  mines,  but  did  little  toward  working  them 
that  season  for  two  reasons:  First,  they  had  very  few  and  imper- 
fect tools  and  no  lumber  until  they  could  get  it  whipsawed ;  and  second, 
all  the  party,  except  the  writer,  went  to  Fort  Benton  for  the  purpose 
of  purchasing  supplies  from  the  steamboats  expected  up  the  river  that 
year.  The  one  boat  (the  Chippeway)  that  started  up  was  burned  near 
the  mouth  of  Milk  River,  and  the  summer  was  lost  in  waiting  for  her.  On 
this  boat  were  the  Hons.  William  Graham,  of  Phillipsburg,  and  Frank  L. 
Worden,  of  Missoula.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1862,  the  Stuarts,  Adams, 
Burr  and  Powell  began  to  mine,  having  had  lumber  sawed  by  hand  at  10 
cents  a  foot,  and  picks  and  shovels  packed  up  from  Walla  Walla,  425 
miles  distant,  by  Worden  and  Higgin's  train  of  'cayuse'  pack-horses  that 
brought  their  goods  to  Hell  Gate,  and  on  the  8th  day  of  May  they  set  the 
first  string  of  sluices  ever  used  in  Montana  and  began  to  mine  by  the  old 
pick  and  shovel  process. 

"In  '61  the  Stuarts  had  written  to  their  brother  Thomas,  who  was  in 
Colorado  territory,  to  come  out  here,  as  they  thought  this  a  better  and 
richer  country  than  that,  which  opinion,  by  the  way,  they  have  seen  no 
reason  to  change  and  still  adhere  to.  Thomas  showed  the  letters  to 
many  friends  of  his  and  the  result  was  that  quite  a  number  left  there  in 
the  spring  of  '62  for  Deer  Lodge.  The  first  of  these,  a  party  of  twelve, 
arrived  at  Pioneer  about  the  2Oth  of  June,  and  among  them  was  J.  M. 
Bozeman.  The  party  found  good  prospects  in  a  branch  of  Benetsee  or 
Gold  creek  as  it  now  began  to  be  called,  which  branch  took  the  name 
of  Pike's  Peak  gulch  from  the  fact  of  the  discoverers  being  from  Pike's 
Peak,  as  Colorado  was  then  generally  called.  Other  parties  also  began  to 
straggle  in  from  Pike's  Peak  and  Utah,  and  about  the  29th  of  June  Sam'l 
T.  Hauser,  Frank  Louthan  and  Alt  arrived,  being  the  advance  guard  of  a 
number  who  came  up  on  the  steamer  from  St.  Louis,  and  who  were  on 
their  way  to  Florence,  in  the  Salmon  River  mines,  not  having  heard  of 
the  discoveries  at  Gold  creek,  where,  however,  many  of  them  stopped  and 
are  oldest  and  most  respected  citizens." 

UNSUBSTANTIAL  SETTLEMENTS 

Although  James  and  Granville  Stuart  and  Rezin  Anderson,  their  part- 
ner, prospected  some  in  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley,  in  1857,  it  was  not  until 
1862  that  the  new-found  gold  fields  attracted  much  attention.  A  town 


*  Granville  Stuart's  biography  of  James  Stuart. 


222  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

sprang  up  in  the  vicinity  of  the  mines  first  called  LaBarge  City,  but  two- 
years  later  named  Deer  Lodge,  followed  soon  by  the  rise  of  Bannack 
City.  Deer  Lodge  was  sometimes  called  Cottonwood  and  sometimes 
Spanish  Fork.  The  Stuarts  and  Anderson  founded  a  settlement  at  the 
mouth  of  Gold  Creek  which  they  called  American  Fork;  Robert  Grant 
started  Grantville,  at  the  mouth  of  Little  Blackfoot  Creek,  and  Robert 
Dempsey  "established"  Dublin  six  miles  below  Gold  Creek.  The  deser- 
tion of  these  incipient  towns  is  thus  stated  by  Granville  Stuart :  "In  the 
summer  of  1863,  Grant  moved  up  to  Cottonwood  and  Grantville  became 
deserted ;  and  after  the  discovery  of  Alder  gulch  the  Stuarts  and  most 
of  the  residents  of  American  Fork  moved  to  Virginia  City;  and  that 
village,  too,  lost  prestige  and  finally  became  extinct.  Dempsey  and  re- 
tainers also  raised  camp  and  went  to  the  Pah-sam-er-ri,  or  Water  of 
the  Cottonwood  Groves,  as  the  Snake  Indians  called  the  Stinkwater 
river,  and  Dublin,  too,  was  left  unto  itself  desolate." 

FOUNDING  OF  OLD  BUTTE 

The  discoveries  which  led  to  the  founding  of  Old  Butte.  in  the  fall 
of  1864,  are  told  by  Col.  Charles  S.  Warren,  the  young  Illinois  man 
who  arrived  upon  the  scene  two  years  after  and  was  long  afterward  a 
leading  figure  in  the  mining  enterprises  and  public  affairs  of  the  state. 
In  his  centennial  address,  published  in  Vol.  Ill,  of  the  Montana 
Historical  Society's  contributions,  he  says:  "In  May.  1^64,  G.  O.  Humph- 
reys and  William  Allison  came  to  Butte  and  camped  above  where  Butte 
City  now  stands,  on  what  is  now  known  as  Baboon  Gulch,  and  pros- 
pected for  a  month  in  the  vicinity,  when  they  returned  to  Virginia  City 
for  provisions.  Early  in  June  they  returned  to  Butte  to  permanently 
reside,  and  located  what  is  now  known  as  the  "Missoula  lode."  During 
the  months  of  June  and  July  they  ran  a  tunnel  upon  the  same,  and 
organized  what  was  known  as  the  "Missoula  company."  consisting  of 
Frank  and  Ed  Madison,  Dent,  G.  Tutt,  Col.  R.  W.  Donnell,  Swope, 
Hawley,  Allison  and  Humphreys.  Soon  after,  Dennis  Leary  and  H.  H. 
Porter,  who  were  fishing  on  the  Big  Hole  River,  followed  the  wagon 
tracks  of  Humphreys  and  Allison  into  the  camp,  having  been  favorably 
impressed  by  the  appearance  of  the  ore  from  the  Missoula  lode.  Probably 
the  first  lead  staked  in  what  is  now  known  as  Summit  Valley  District 
was  the  "Black  Chief,"  formerly  the  old  "Deer  Lodge"  lode,  which  was 
discovered  and  staked  early  in  1864,  by  Charles  Murphy,  Maj.  William 
Graham  and  Frank  Madison. 

"At  the  time  Humphreys  and  Allison  first  came  into  the  valley,  there 
were  no  stakes  struck,  nor  any  signs  of  work  having  been  done  in  the 
camp,  except  upon  what  is  now  known  as  the  Original  lode,  where  there 
was  an  old  hole  sunk  to  the  depth  of  four  or  five  feet.  Near  the  hole 
were  some  elk  horns  used  for  gads,  and  handspikes.  From  all  appear- 
ances the  work  had  been  performed  years  before ;  by  whom  this  work 
was  done,  there  is  no  telling,  nor  will  it  probably  ever  be  known.  In  the 
fall  of  1864  rich  placer  discoveries  were  made  in  the  vicinity  of  Butte,. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  223 

and  in  August  of  the  same  year  the  first  mining  district  was  formed,  with 
William  Allison  as  president,  and  G.  O.  Humphreys  as  recorder.  In 
the  fall  of  1864,  the  old  town  of  Butte  was  located,  on  what  is  known 
as  Town  Gulch,  adjoining  the  present  town  site  of  Butte. 

MINING  ALONG  SILVER  Bow  CREEK 

"During  the  month  of  October,  1864,  rich  placer  discoveries  were 
made  on  Silver  Bow  Creek,  below  where  the  town  of  Silver  Bow  now 
stands,  by  Frank  Ruff,  Bud.  Baker,  Peter  Slater  and  others,  and  people 
began  to  gather  from  all  parts  of  the  territory.  A  new  district  was 
formed  jn  the  lower  end  of  the  gulch,  known  as  Summit  Mountain  Mining 
District,  with  W.  R.  Coggswell  as  recorder,  and  soon  sprang  up  the 
town  of  Silver  Bow  City,  which  was  then  made  the  county  seat  of  Deer 
Lodge  County.  During  the  winter  of  1864-65  there  were  probably  150 
men  in  Silver  Bow  and  vicinity,  and  many  lodes  were  recorded  in  the 
two  districts.  In  the  spring  of  1865,  Summit  Mountain  district  was 
divided,  and  claims  No.  75  to  310,  above  discovery  on  Silver  Bow  Creek, 
were  organized  into  what  is  known  as  Independence  Mining  District.  In 
the  fall  of  1864,  German  Gulch  was  discovered  by  Ed.  Alfield  and  others. 
In  the  spring  of  1865,  a  big  stampede  took  place  for  this  new  discovery, 
and  on  the  ist  of  April,  1865,  there  were  nearly  1,000  men  in  German 
Gulch  and  immediate  vicinity.  During  the  winter  of  1864-65,  Collins 
&  Company  established  a  store  at  Silver  Bow,  and  shortly  after  another 
store  was  started  by  O.  G.  Dorwin." 

HELL'S  GATE  AND  MISSOULA 

In  June,  1860,  Frank  L.  Worden  and  C.  P.  Higgins,  under  the  firm 
name  of  Worden  &  Company,  started  for  Walla  Walla  with  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise  for  the  purpose  of  trading  at  the  Indian  agency,  but, 
upon  their  arrival  at  Hell's  Gate,  they  determined  to  locate  at  that  point, 
and  accordingly  built  a  small  log  house  and  opened  business.  This  was 
the  first  building  erected  at  that  place,  and  formed  the  nucleus  of  a  small 
village  that  was  known  far  and  wide  as  Hell's  Gate,  and  which  in  later 
years  had  the  reputation  of  being  one  of  the  roughest  places  in  Montana. 
During  this  year  400  United  States  troops  under  the  command  of  Major 
Blake  passed  over  the  Mullan  road  from  Fort  Benton  to  Walla  Walla 
and  Colville. 

The  historic  Bitter  Root  Valley  was  the  scene  of  much  activity  in 
the  late  '505,  and,  as  far  as  town-building  is  concerned,  Missoula  was  the 
result.  In  1855,  the  Confederated  Flathead  nation  concluded  the  treaty 
with  the  Government  in  the  large  pine  grove  on  the  river,  about  eight 
miles  below  the  present  town  of  Missoula,  and  the  circumstance  gave 
that  locality  the  name  of  Council  Grove.  In  the  following  year,  a  note- 
worthy influx  of  settlers  commenced  to  come  into  the  so-called  Hell's 
Gate  Ronde,  in  the  upper  part  of  Bitter  Root  Valley.  Among  them  was 
Frank  H.  Woody  (Judge),  who  is  therefore  well  qualified  to  explain 


224 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


the  circumstances  attending  the  birth  of  the  town  of  Missoula.  He  says 
in  his  "Early  History  of  Western  Montana,"  (Vol.  II,  p.  94)  :  "The 
large  round  valley  lying  below  and  adjacent  to  the  present  town  of 
Missoula  was  called  by  the  early  Canadian  trappers  who  visited  this 
country,  Hell's  Gate  Ronde  and  the  river,  Hell's  Gate  River.  The  name 


FRANK  L.  WORDEN 


Hell's  Gate  originated  in  this  wise :  In  an  early  day,  when  the  warlike 
Blackfeet  overran  the  whole  of  Montana,  the  romantic  and  picturesque 
pass  or  canyon  where  the  Hell's  'Gate  River  cuts  through  the  mountain 
above  the  town  of  Missoula,  was  a  regular  rendezvous  for  their  war 
parties,  and  so  constantly  did  they  infest  this  place  that  it  was  almost 
certain  death  for  an  individual,  or  even  small  parties,  to  enter  this  pass, 
and  so  great  was  the  dread  and  fear  entertained  by  the  Indians  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  225 

western  tribes  and  the  Canadian  voyageurs  that  it  became  a  saying  with 
them  that  it  was  as  safe  to  enter  within  the  gates  of  hell,  as  to  enter  into 
that  pass;  and  it  was  called  by  the  voyageurs,  in  their  language,  Port 
d'enfer,  Gate  of  Hell,  or  Hell's  Gate,  and  from  which  the  river  and  sub- 
sequently a  village  took  their  names." 

In  the  fall  of  1856  quite  a  number  of  settlers  located  in  the  upper 
part  of  Bitter  Root  Valley,  and  in  December,  Neil  McArthur,  one  of  the 
most  substantial  of  the  new  comers  erected  a  trading  post  in  Hell's  Gate 
Ronde.  A  number  moved  their  stock  to  that  locality  and  a  number  of 
pieces  of  ground  were  broken  for  grain  and  garden  produce.  In  the  fall 
of  1857,  the  "first  houses  were  built  in  the  ronde,  or  valley.  Other  settlers 
came  in,  within  a  few  years,  including  the  widely  known  trader,  Capt. 
Richard  Grant,  so  prominently  identified  with  the  Hudson  Bay  Company. 

"In  December  of  that  year  (1860),  the  Territorial  Assembly  created 
the  county  of  Missoula,  the  polls,  at  which  seventy-four  votes  were  cast, 
being  opened  at  Fort  Owen,  Jocko  Agency  and  Hell's  Gate.  In  1863-64, 
Hell's  Gate  upheld  its  name  as  a  favorite  resort  of  the  road  agents  and 
horse  thieves  who  infested  Montana. 

"The  Kootenai  mines  having  been  discovered  early  in  the  spring  of 
1864,  hundreds  of  men  flocked  to  them,  passing  through  the  village  of 
Hell's  Gate  and  buying  generously  of  its  goods  and  supplies,  at  'war 
prices.'  "  In  this  connection,  Judge  Woody,  who  had  been  in  the  Hell's 
Gate  country  for  a  number  of  years,  remarks :  "Seed  wheat  sold  as  high 
as  $10.00,  and  potatoes  at.  $6.00  per  bushel ;  yeast  powders  were  cheap 
at  $1.50  per  box,  and  coffee  at  $1.00  per  pound,  and  flour  of  the 
poorest  quality  sold  readily  at  $30.00  per  hundred  pounds,  and  every- 
thing else  in  proportion.  In  the  fall  of  1864,  the  ruling  price  for  wheat 
was  from  $4.00  to  $5.00  per  bushel.  Potatoes  from  the  field  sold  readily 
at  $3.00  per  bushel.  The  currency  at  this  time  was  principally  gold  dust. 
These  high  prices  were  caused  by  the  immense  number  of  people  who 
flocked  to  the  mines  of  Alder  and  other  gulches  on  the  East  Side,  and  by 
the  demand  made  by  the  settlers  in  the  Gallatin,  Jefferson  and  Madison 
Valleys  for  seed  grain  and  potatoes.  *  *  * 

"During  the  winter  of  1864-65,  Worden  &  Company  erected  a  saw- 
mill at  the  place  where  Missoula  now  stands,  and  in  the  spring  of  1865 
commenced  the  erection  of  a  grist  mill  and  business  house,  and  in  the 
fall  of  that  year  moved  their  store  from  Hell's  Gate  to  their  new  build- 
ing. Other  buildings  were  put  up  by  other  parties,  and  thus  was  the 
town  of  Missoula  established,  and  was  at  first  called  Missoula  Mills,  but 
eventually  the  last  part  of  the  name  was  dropped  by  common  consent. 

"The  town  of  Frenchtown  was  established  in  1864,  Stevensville  the 
same  year  and  Corvallis  about  1868.  *  *  *  In  February,  1866,  the 
Board  of  County  Commissioners,  upon  their  own  responsibility,  moved 
the  county  seat  from  Hell's  Gate  to  Missoula,  where  it  was  subsequently 
established  by  the  Legislature.  In  that  year  the  first  assessment  of 
property  was  made  and  the  first  taxes  collected." 


Vol.  1—15 


CHAPTER  XI 
MINERAL  GEOLOGY  AND  EARLY  INDUSTRIES 

By  the  year  1865,  the  gold  fields  of  Montana  were  in  full  bearing. 
Not  a  few  of  the  old  guides,  trappers  and  prospectors  had  then  become 
prosperous  and  stable  citizens,  and  leaders  in  the  social  fabric  which  was 
taking  shape.  Such  were  the  Stuart  brothers — James,  perhaps  more  an 
energetic  man  of  action  that  his  brother,  and  Granville,  more  a  careful 
observer  and  recorder  of  events.  They  both  knew  Montana,  physically, 
as  few  of  its  residents,  and  as  their  personal  acquaintance  was  also  very 
wide,  they  spoke  and  wrote  with  authority  regarding  any  of  its  features 
or  affairs.  The  history  of  Montana  by  Granville  Stuart,  completed  in 
1865,  presents  an  interesting  and  instructive  general  picture  of  the  distinct 
natural  basins  into  which  its  territory  is  divided,  with  the  rivers  which 
outline  the  valleys  and  the  known  gold  fields  and  centers  of  population 
gathered  therein.  Neither  does  he  fail  to  note  the  agricultural  features 
of  the  basins  and  river  valleys  of  what  had  but  lately  been  created,  the 
territory  of  Montana;  and  that  fact  was  probably  the  excuse,  if  any  were 
needed,  for  the  publication  of  the  history. 

MONTANA  AND  ITS  BASINS 

The  portions  of  Granville  Stuart's  history  of  what  was  then  the  ter- 
ritory of  Montana  which  cover  the  topic  mentioned  follow: 

"The  name  'Montana'  properly  belongs  to  a  certain  part  of  Spain,  and 
means  'mountainour,'  a  name  that  is  applicable  to  the  country,  for  a 
wonder.  Still,  I  think  that  the  Snake  Indian  name  of  'Toyabe-Shockup/ 
or  'The  Country  of  the  Mountains,'  would  have  been  more  appropriate, 
for  some  parts  of  Montana  have  been  the  home  of  these  Indians  from  a 
time  far  anterior  to  the  discovery  of  America. 

"Montana  consists  of  a  series  of  basins,  five  in  number,  of  which 
four  lie  on  the  east  side  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  and  one  on  the  west. 
These  basins  are  generally  subdivided  into  a  number  of  valleys  by  spurs 
of  mountains  jutting  down  from  the  main  chain  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. These  spurs  are  often  of  great  height,  frequently  exceeding  that 
of  the  main  chain,  but  there  are  many  low  passes  among  them,  thus  con- 
necting the  valleys  with  each  other  by  low  gaps  that  are  passable  at  all 
times  of  the  year. 

THE  WESTERN  BASIN 

"The  basin  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  in  the  northwestern  corner 
of  the  territory,  is  drained  by  the  Missoula  and  Flathead  Rivers  and  their 

226' 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  227 

branches,  the  last  named  being  the  outlet  of  the  Flathead  Lake,  a  beautiful 
sheet  of  water  about  forty  miles  long  by  twenty  wide,  which  lies  at  the 
foot  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  near  the  northern  end  of  the  basin,  and 
not  far  from  the  line  of  British  Columbia. 

"This  lake  is  surrounded  by  some  beautiful  country,  a  portion  of 
which  is  valuable  in  an  agricultural  point  of  view.  From  the  lake  there 
extends  south  along  the  foot  of  the  Rock  Mountains  to  the  Pend  d'Oreille 
Mission,  a  distance  of  over  fifty  miles,  a  well-wooded,  gently-rolling 
country,  clothed  with  a  good  growth  of  grass,  a  large  proportion  of  it 
being  excellent  farming  land.  Then  leaving  the  mission  and  crossing 
a  range  of  hills  to  the  south  you  enter  the  valley  of  the  Jocko,  which  is 
small,  but  in  beauty  and  fertility  it  is  unsurpassed.  Here  is  located  the 
reserve  of  the  Pend  d'Oreille  Indians.  Then  crossing  by  an  easy  pass, 
over  the  lofty  spur  of  mountains  running  down  from  the  main  chain 
between  the  Jocko  and  Hellgate  Rivers,  you  enter  the  lovely  valley 
of  the  Hellgate,  which  is  about  twenty-five  miles  long,  with  an  ayerage 
breadth  of  about  six  miles.  It  is  almost  all  good  farming  land,  with  a 
good  growth  of  bunch  grass,  and  it  is  enough  to  make  a  man  from  the 
prairies  of  Iowa  or  Illinois  cry  to  see  the  good  pine  timber  that  is  going 
to  waste  here. 

"Here  comes  in  from  the  south  the  river  and  valley  of  the  'Bitter- 
Root,'  a  lovely  and  fertile  region  extending  south  about  sixty  miles,  with 
an  average  breadth  of  seven  or  eight  miles.  In  this  valley  is  situated 
Fort  Owen,  surrounded  by  a  thriving  settlement.  This  fort  is  not,  nor 
ever  was,  a  government  fort.  It  was  established  in  1851  or  1852  by  the 
untiring  energy  and  perseverance  of  Mr.  John  Owen,  for  the  purpose 
of  trading  with  the  Indians,  and  it  is  at  present  the  best  building  in 
Montana. 

"The  valleys  of  the  Bitter  Root  and  Hell  Gate  contain  many  settlers, 
whose  number  is  rapidly  increasing.  The  Missoula  River  is  formed  by 
the  junction  of  the  Hell  Gate  and  Bitter  Root. 

"These  valleys  are  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Bitter  Root  Moun- 
tains, which  are  very  lofty,  snow  lying  on  many  of  the  peaks  during  the 
entire  year.  These  mountains  cover  an  extent  of  country  about  seventy- 
five  miles  wide,  reaching  to  the  valley  of  Snake  River  in  Idaho,  and 
about  200  miles  in  length,  forming  a  howling  wilderness  of  yawning 
canons  and  huge  mountains,  covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  pine  and 
fir  timber,  and  affording  a  home  to  a  few  elks  and  a  large  number  of 
grouse,  but  of  no  earthly  use  for  anything  but  the  mineral  wealth  they 
contain,  which  is  very  great,  as  is  proven  by  Florence  City,  Elk  City,  Oro 
Fino,  and  many  other  places  of  less  note. 

"Leaving  the  Hellgate  valley,  and  going  up  the  Hellgate  River — 
which  comes  from  the  southeast,  we  enter  Hellgate  Canyon — which  I 
have  described  elsewhere — and  in  a  short  distance  we  reach  the  mouth  of 
'Big  Blackfoot  River.'  Coming  in  from  the  east,  it  runs  through  a  canyon 
for  some  fifteen  miles  above  its  mouth,  above  which  it  opens  out  into  a 
large  and  beautiful  valley,  well  timbered  and  watered,  forming  a  good 
grazing  region,  and,  most  probably,  farming  also ;  but  it  has  been  tried. 


228  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Then,  going  up  Hellgate  canyon  forty  miles,  we  emerge  into  the  rolling 
grassy  hills  which  reach  twelve  miles  to  the  valley  of  Flint  Creek,  a  beauti- 
ful place,  well  calculated  for  grazing  and  farming.  Thence  up  the  Hellgate 
River,  through  much  good  farming  land,  bordered  by  rolling,  grassy  coun- 
try, twenty  miles  to  the  lower  end  of  Deer  Lodge  Valley,  passing  by  'Gold 
Creek,'  where  are  the  first  gold  mines  ever  found  and  worked  in  what 
is  now  'Montana.' 

PLACER  AND  QUARTZ  MINES  OF  DEER  LODGE  VALLEY 

"But  I  am  digressing  from  my  description  of  the  basins  that  con- 
stitute Montana.  I  have  described  Deer  Lodge  elsewhere,  with  the 
exception  of  the  rich  placer  and  quartz  mines  situated  in  a  kind  of  sec- 
ondary valley,  situated  at  the  head  of  the  main  one,  and  a  slight 
description  of  which  will  be  proper  here.  They  were  discovered  during 
the  summer  of  1864;  the  large  number  of  gold  and  silver-bearing  quartz 
leads  first  attracted  the  attention  of  some  prospectors,  who  began  to 
examine  the  country  and  found  it  to  be  of  unexampled  richness,  there 
having  been  discovered  up  to  this  time  (January,  1865)  over  150  leads 
of  gold  and  silver  bearing  quartz  within  a  space  of  six  by  ten  miles, 
several  of  the  silver  leads  assaying  better  than  the  Comstock  lead  in 
Nevada  Territory,  and  one  in  particular,  the  Original,  producing  seventy 
per  cent,  of  metal  when  melted  down  in  a  common  forge,  the  proportion 
being  $2,800  in  silver  to  the  ton  of  rock,  $200  in  gold  and  copper — enough 
to  pay  all  expenses  of  working.  A  great  many  of  these  leads  project 
above  the  surface  of  the  grounds,  and  can  be  traced  for  hundreds  of 
yards  by  the  eye  while  standing  in  one  spot,  there  is  no  doubt  but  this 
vicinity  will  prove  as  good,  if  not  better,  than  the  renowned  Washoe 
mines.  Wood  and  water  are  plenty  and  easy  of  access,  and  it  is  besides 
an  excellent  grass  country.  There  are  also  several  large  leads  of  ar- 
gentiferous galena,  which  furnish  all  the  lead  that  may  be  wanted,  and 
which  contain  a  sufficient  quantity  of  silver  to  pay  a  handsome  profit 
to  the  workers. 

"In  addition  to  the  quartz  leads,  which  are  known  to  form  a  network 
over  a  large  extent  of  country  bordering  Deer  Lodge  Valley,  there  is  in- 
terspersed among  these  leads  a  large  extent  of  placer  or  surface  diggings, 
some  of  which  were  worked  during  the  past  fall  and  yielded  largely, 
and  which  will  afford  remunerative  employment  to  a  large  number  of 
men  for  years  to  come. 

"This  ends  the  description  of  the  northwestern  basin,  which  con- 
tains eight  principal  valleys,  to  wit:  The  valleys  of  the  Flathead  Lake, 
of  the  Mission,  of  the  Jocko,  of  Hellgate,  of  the  Bitter  Root,  of  Big 
Blackfoot,  of  Flint  Creek  and  of  Deer  Lodge,  besides  many  other  smaller 
ones  of  great  beauty  and  fertility.  This  basin  drains  toward  the  north- 
west, and  is  about  250  miles  long  by  an  average  of  about  seventy-five  miles 
wide.  It  is  by  far  the  best  timbered  part  of  the  territory,  owing  to  the 
moist  warm  winds  of  the  Pacific  Ocean,  which  reach  to  the  Rocky 
Mountains  along  here,  and  cause  a  more  luxuriant  growth  of  vegetation 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  229 

than  farther  south,  where  their  moisture  is  absorbed  and  rather  dried  up 
in  crossing  the  arid  surface  of  the  'Great  Basin,'  which  is  destitute  of 
timber,  except  in  a  few  places. 

"Sickness  is  almost  unknown  in  this  basin,  or  indeed  in  any  of  the 
others,  for  I  can  truly  say  that  no  healthier  country  can  be  found  in 
the  world  than  that  comprised  within  the  limits  of  the  Territory  of 
Montana. 

MONTANA'S  NORTHEASTERN  BASIN 

"Next  is  the  northeastern  basin,  lying  on  the  east  side  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  and  between  them  and  the  low  dividing  ridge  that  separates 
the  waters  of  the  Saskatchewan,  Red  River  of  the  North,  and  the  Miss- 
issippi River,  fr,om  those  of  the  Missouri.  The  basin  extends  in  fact 
from  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  eastern  border  of  the  territory,  along 
its  north  end,  a  distance  of  nearly  600  miles  in  length,  by  about  150  in 
breadth,  a  small  part  of  its  northern  edge  lying  in  British  possessions. 

"The  eastern  portion  of  this  vast  basin  is  composed  of  clay  table  lands, 
or  'mauvaise  terres/  but  there  is  a  large  amount  of  good  land  along  the 
streams.  There  -are'  several  spurs  and  bunches  of  mountains,  as  the 
Bear's  Paw,  Little  Rocky  Mountains,  Three  Buttes,  etc.,  scattered  about 
in  it.  It  drains  to  the  east  by  the  Missouri  River,  Milk  River,  Maria's 
River,  Teton  River,  Sun  River,  and  Dearborn,  the  first  three  putting 
into  the  Missouri  below  Fort  Benton,  and  the  last  two  a  short  distance 
above  the  Great  Falls.  The  western  portion  of  this  basin  is  but  little 
broken  up  by  mountains,  yet  only  about  one-third  of  its  surface  is  avail- 
able for  farming,  consisting  of  a  strip  from  ten  to  twenty  miles  in  width 
and  about  150  long,  running  along  the  east  foot  of  the  Rock  Mountains, 
which  afford  a  good  supply  of  timber.  This  strip  is  clothed  with  bunch- 
grass,  but  as  you  leave  the  mountains  and  go  d"own  into  the  plains,  the 
country  becomes  a  succession  of  clay  terraces  or  table  lands,  more  com- 
monly known  as  'bad  lands,'  which  are  sterile,  with  but  a  scanty  growth  of 
stunted  grass.  The  streams  have  worn  down  through  these  table  lands 
until  they  now  run  in  canyons  several  hundred  feet  below  you,  meandering 
through  the  narrow  bottoms  that  border  it.  These  bottoms,  though 
narrow,  are  generally  fertile  and  well  supplied  with  grass.  Timber,  how- 
ever, is  not  very  plentiful,  what  there  is  being  principally  cottonwood.  It  is 
possible  that  a  large  proportion  of  these  table  lands  may  be  rendered 
productive  by  a  well-directed  system  of  irrigation. 

"The  want  of  timber  may  also  be  supplied  by  coal,  of  which  I  have 
reason  to  believe  there  are  large  deposits  in  this  basin. 

"There  have  not  been  any  discoveries  that  would  pay  of  precious 
minerals  in  this  basin  as  yet,  but  there  has  been  a  small  amount  of 
superficial  prospecting  done.  This  has  established  the  fact  that  gold 
exists  in  unknown  quantities  in  the  canyons  and  streams  that  put  into  this 
basin  from  the  Rocky  Mountains.  I  am,  however,  of  the  opinion  that 
when  this  region  is  thoroughly  prospected  it  will  be  found  equally  as 
rich  as  its  sister  basins. 


230  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

WESTERN  CENTRAL  BASIN 

"Next  comes  the  western  central  basin,  drained  to  the  east  by  the 
Jefferson  fork  of  the  Missouri  and  its  tributaries,  of  which  the  following 
are  the  principal :  Big  Hole  River,  which  comes  in  from  the  northeast, 
and  which,  I  think,  affords  more  than  the  Beaverhead  River,  which  has 
generally  been  considered  the  main  stream,  and  properly  so,  because  it 
runs  through  the  center  of  the  basin,  and  drains  a  much  larger  extent  of 
country  than  the  Big  Hole,  which  has  along  its  course,  and  in  a  huge 
semi-circle  around  its  head,  some  of  the  loftiest  peaks  in  this  part  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  on  which  the  snow  falls  to  a  great  depth,  and 
as  it  melts  in  the  spring  and  summer,  causes  the  Big  Hole,  which  has 
a  much  steeper  grade  than  the  Beaverhead,  to  become  a  rushing  torrent 
of  formidable  dimensions.  The  Big  Hole  and  the  Beaverhead  unite 
near  the  eastern  edge  of  the  basin,  and  form  the  Jefferson  fork  of  the 
Missouri,  which  runs  through  a  canyon  into  the  'eastern  central  basin,' 
where  it  makes  a  junction  at  the  'Three  Forks'  with  the  Madison  and 
Gallatin  Rivers. 

"Rattlesnake  Creek  comes  in  from  the  northwest,  as  does  Williams' 
Creek  a  few  miles  farther  west.  Horse  Prairie  Creek,  which  is  the  head- 
water of  the  Beaverhead,  comes  in  from  the  west.  Red  Rock  Creek  comes 
in  from  the  south;  Black  Tailed  Deer  Creek  from  the  southeast,  and 
Stinking  Water  River  from  the  southeast.  These  streams  drain  this 
basin,  which  lies  much  in  the  shape  of  a  spread  fan,  being  about  150  miles 
wide  by  100  long. 

"There  have  been  no  mines  discovered  on  the  Big  Hole,  except  a  small 
patch  at  its  head,  of  which  I  have  spoken  elsewhere. 

"Rattlesnake  Creek  is  crossed  in  the  canyon  above  its  valley  by  num- 
erous ledges  of  the  richest  quartz  silver  that  has  yet  been  discovered  in 
Montana,  some  of  them  assaying  as  high  as  $5,000  to  the  ton  of  rock. 

"The  round  smooth  boulders  and  gravel  commonly  known  as  the 
'wash,'  that  are  always  found  in  placer  diggings,  have  evidently  been 
caused  by  the  grinding,  pulverizing  action  of  glaciers,  the  country  having 
undergone  great  changes  of  upheaval  and  depression  since  that  time ; 
and  in  gold-bearing  localities  the  action  of  the  elements  during  countless 
ages  had  collected  the  gold  that  was  ground  out  of  the  ledges  and  rocks 
by  the  action  of  the  glaciers  into  the  ravines,  creeks  and  rivers  of  the 
vicinity. 

BANNACK  CITY  AND  VICINITY 

"Bannack  City  stands  at  the  upper  end  of  the  canyon  on  Willard's 
Creek,  where  it  opens  out  into  a  small  valley.  The  mines  extend  down 
the  creek  seven  or  eight  miles,  and  have  paid  big,  but  are  now  declining 
somewhat. 

"In  this  canyon  are  situated  many  leads  of  gold-bearing  quartz  of  ex- 
ceeding richness,  among  which  is  the  famous  'Dacotah'  lead  which  is  now 
being  worked  with  great  success.  There  is  also  the  Waddam  lead,  the 
California  lead,  and  many  others  that  assay  quite  rich.  In  fact,  few 


231 

places  in  the  world  possess  greater  mineral  wealth  than  the  vicinity  of 
Bannack  City  (1865). 

"Passing  by  Horse  Prairie,  Red  Rock,  and  Black  Tailed  Deer  Creeks, 
each  of  which  has  a  valley  of  considerable  extent  which  is  admirably 
adapted  for  grazing  and  probably  for  farming  also,  but  on  which  no 
mines  have  as  yet  been  discovered,  we  come  to  Stinking  Water  River, 
which  has  a  valley  of  considerable  size,  but  only  a  portion  of  which  was 
fertile  and  well  grassed;  but  the  spur  of  mountains  that  run  down  be- 
tween it  and  the  Madison  River,  and  which  are  over  fifty  miles  long, 
running  due  north  and  south,  are  very  rich.  The  first  stream  that  comes 
out  of  these  mountains  into  the  valley  of  the  Stinking  Water  is  the  'Wis- 
consin Gulch,'  so  called  because  it  was  first  worked  by  a  party  from  that 
state.  This  gulch  had  only  been  partially  prospected,  it  being  deep  to  the 
bedrock,  yet  there  has  been  found  a  considerable  extent  of  placer  dig- 
gings in  and  adjacent  to  it.  A  few  miles  farther  up  the  valley  comes  out 
Mill  Creek,  so  called  because  Gammell  &  Company  built  a  mill  on  it  last 
year.  There  has  been  no  placer  mines  discovered  on  this  creek,  but  along 
the  base  of  the  mountains  in  its  vicinity  is  a  large  number  of  rich  gold 
and  silver-bearing  quartz  leads,  among  which  are  the  Rothschilds  lode, 
the  Eclipse  lode,  the  Antelope,  the  Mountain  Queen,  the  Gilbraltar,  and 
many  others  that  assay  rich. 

"This  is  the  only  place  in  this  range  where  silver  leads  are  found. 
Some  of  them  assay  from  one  to  two  thousand  dollars  to  the  ton  of  rock, 
and  they  are  very  easy  of  access.  Here  is  also  a  thriving  village  called 
Brandon,  which  bids  fair  to  rival  Virginia  City. 

"A  few  miles  from  Mill  Creek  comes  out  'Ram's  Horn  Gulch,'  so 
called  from  the  large  number  of  mountain  sheep  horns  lying  along  it, 
it  having  once  been  a  resort  for  them.  This  stream,  like  Mill  Creek, 
possesses  no  placer  diggings,  but  it  has  not  been  thoroughly  prospected. 
It  has,  however,  many  rich  leads  of  gold-bearing  quartz,  among  which  is 
the  famous  'Monitor,'  which  is  very  rich.  A  little  farther  up  the  valley 
comes  out  'Biven's  Gulch' — named  after  the  man  who  first  'struck  it' — 
in  this  creek,  which  has  paid,  and  is  still  paying  remarkably  well,  in  'coarse 
gold,'  pieces  having  been  taken  out  of  this  gulch  weighing  as  high  as  $320. 
A  short  distance  farther  along  the  base  of  the  mountain,  and  we  come  to 
'Harris  Gulch,'  named  after  its  discoverer,  as  usual,  and  which  has  paid 
well  in  places,  in  beautiful  coarse  gold,  but  this  gulch  is  what  is  called 
'spotted,'  in  mining  parlance;  that  is,  the  gold  is  scattered  about  in  ir- 
regular spots.  Only  a  small  portion  of  this  gulch  has  paid  well. 

"There  is  another  ravine,  called  'California  Gulch,'  which  comes  into 
Harris  Gulch  on  the  south,  before  it  enters  the  valley  of  the  Stinking 
Water.  This  gulch  is  similar  to  Harris',  except  that  it  is  still  more 
'spotted,'  and  has  not  paid  so  well. 

THE  VIRGINIA  CITY  REGION 

"A  few  miles  farther  south  comes  out  the  famous  Alder  Creek — the 
derivation  of  which  name  I  have  given  elsewhere — on  the  banks  of 
which,  a  few  miles  above  the  first  canyon,  where  it  opens  out  into  a  kind 


232  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  basin,  are  situated  the  cities  of  Virginia,  Central  and  Nevada,  which 
are  fast  being  merged  into  one,  with  a  population  of  about  10,000,  and 
rapidly  increasing.  Alder  Creek  is  incredibly  rich,  from  its  head  down 
to  near  where  it  enters  the  valley  of  the  Stinking  Water,  a  distance  of 
about  fifteen  miles.  Near  its  head,  pieces  have  been  found  weighing  from 
$50  to  as  high  as  $720,  the  gold  getting  coarser  as  the  head  of  the  stream 
is  approached. 

"In  the  hills  bordering  the  stream,  a  large  number  of  gold-bearing 
quartz  leads  have  been  discovered.  Those  in  Summit  district  being  of 
almost  unexampled  richness,  while  in  the  mountains  at  the  head  of  the 
creek,  is  a  coal  field  of  unknown  extent,  which  is  now  being  developed. 
This  is  the  second  place  in  this  basin  where  coal  has  been  discovered, 


BRIDGER'S  CANYON,  VALLEY  OF  THE  GALLATIN 

and,  in  a  country  so  sparsely  timbered  as  this,  coal  fields  are  of  incal- 
culable value.  In  fact,  nature  has  placed  within  the  limits  of  Montana 
all  the  requisites  to  enable  her  to  become  the  wealthiest  part  of  the 
United  States.  Abounding  in  all  the  minerals,  precious  and  otherwise, 
with  coal  and  water  power  unlimited  to  work  them,  the  future  of  Mon- 
tana will  equal  in  reality  those  gorgeous  fictions  of  the  Arabian  Nights' 
Entertainments. 

"This  basin  contains  eight  valleys  of  considerable  size,  to  wit :  The 
valley  of  the  upper  part  of  the  Jefferson  and  Beaverhead,  of  Big  Hole 
River,  of  Big  Hole  Prairie,  of  Rattlesnake,  of  Horse  Prairie,  of  Red 
Rock,  of  Black  Tailed  Deer,  of  Stinking  Water.  This  ends  the  descrip- 
tion of  the  Western  Central  basin,  which  contains  in  itself  all  the  es- 
sentials necessary  for  the  prosperity  of  a  mighty  nation. 

EASTERN  CENTRAL  BASIN 

"Next  comes  the  Eastern  Central  basin,  which  is  drained  by  the 
Missouri  River,  below  the  Three  Forks,  and  above  them  by  the  Jefferson 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


233 


fork,  into  which  empty  the  North  Boulder  Creek,  South  Boulder  Creek 
and  Willow  Creek,  on  the  first  and  last  of  which  are  some  placer  diggings 
of  limited  extent  and  richness,  and  many  quartz  leads  that  prospect  rich. 
This  basin  is  further  drained  by  the  Madison  and  Gallatin  forks,  which 
form  a  junction  with  the  Jefferson  in  a  fertile  plain  of  considerable 
extent. 

"The  basin  contains  a  large  amount  of  arable  lands,  with  a  climate 
fully  as  good  as  Utah.  It  is  about  150  miles  long  north  and  south,  by 
about  eighty  east  and  west.  It  contains  five  principle  valleys,  to  wit :  The 
valley  of  the  Three  Forks,  of  North  Boulder,  of  the  lower  part  of  the 


IN  THE  ROSEBUD  VALLEY 

Jefferson,  of  the  Madison,  of  the  Gallatin.     It  contains  a  greater  amount 
of  farming  lands  than  the  basin  of  the  Beaverhead  and  tributaries.   ' 

THE  YELLOWSTONE  BASIN 

"Next  and  last  comes  the  basin  of  the  Yellowstone  and  its  branches. 
It  drains  toward  the  east,  and  is  about  400  miles  long,  by  about  150  wide. 
But  little  is  known  about  the  mineral  resources  of  this  great  valley,  the 
hostility  of  the  Crow  Indians  rendering  it  very  dangerous  prospecting 
within  its  limits.  They  have  already  killed  several  men  who  were  ex- 
ploring the  country,  and  robbed  and  set  on  foot  many  others. 

"The  indefatigable  miners  have,  however,  succeeded  in  finding  a 
creek  at  the  western  edge  of  the  ba,sin,  where  it  approaches  nearest  the 
valley  of  the  Gallatin,  which  they  have  called  Emigrant  Gulch,  because 
it  was  mostly  taken  up  by  the  emigrants  who  arrived  by  the  Bridger 
and  Jacobs  road.  There  is  a  small  village  on  this  creek,  which  prospects 
very  well  in  places,  and  will  probably  prove  very  rich,  but  it  is  very  hard 
to  work,  because  of  the  vast  quantity  of  granite  boulders  scattered  along 
its  bed  and  banks. 

"There  is  every  reason  to  believe,  however,  that  the  basin  of  the 
Yellowstone  will  prove  fully  as  rich  in  precious  minerals  as  the  others 


234  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  it  is  known  to  contain  large  fields  of  coal,  which  are  very  accessible 
and  among  which  are  numbers  of  petroleum  or  oil  springs.  In  climate 
and  fertility  this  valley  is  a  medium  between  the  valleys  of  the  mountains 
and  the  prairies  of  the  Western  States.  Corn,  beans,  pumpkins,  etc., 
grow  finely  in  it. 

"This  basin  contains  eight  principal  valleys,  as  follows :  The  main 
valley  of  the  Yellowstone,  of  Shield's  River,  of  the  Rosebud,  of  Clark's 
Fork,  of  Pryor's  Fork,  of  the  Big  Horn  River,  of  Tongue  River,  and 
of  Powder  River,  and,  many  smaller  ones. 

"Thus  ends  this  slight  description  of  'the  country  of  the  mountains,' 
which,  it  will  be  seen,  contains  five  large  basins,  which  inclose  within  their 
limits  thirty  valleys,  each  of  which  is  as  large  as  three  or  four  German 
principalities,  besides  many  smaller  ones  not  much  larger  than  Rhode 
Island  or  Delaware." 

JOAQUIN  MILLER  ON  PLACER  DEPOSITS 

In  general  terms  the  modes  and  results  of  glacial  action  in  the  dep- 
osition of  placer  gold  have  been  described,  but  this  chapter  which  is 
intended  to  convey  more  definite  explanations  for  the  wide  distribution 
of  the  precious  dust,  cannot  do  better  at  this  point  than  to  borrow  from 
the  characteristically  expressed  observations  of  the  late  Joaquin  Miller, 
who  is  said  to  have  mined  as  well  as  he  wrote.  "Placer,"  he  observed, 
"is  a  Spanish  word  meaning  pleasure  and  delight.  When  the  uneasy  pros- 
pector discovered  the  shining  dust  in  Last  Chance,  on  which  the  business 
part  of  Helena  is  built,  they  were  certainly  both  pleased  and  delighted,  and 
very  properly  called  it  a  'placer.'  The  Spaniards  called  these  deposits 
'placers,'  where  native  gold  was  found  in  loose  sand  and  gravel,  above 
or  upon  the  consolidated  strata  called  'bed-rock.'  They  are  most  com- 
monly found  in  mountain  gulches,  in  sands  washed  by  rivers,  and 
sometimes  in  the  gravels  of  the  drift  deposits.  All  gold,  so  far  as  known, 
was  originally  deposited  in  veins  imbedded  in  quartz  or  other  minerals, 
and  that  now  found  in  placers  has  been  worn  out  of  these  veins  by  the 
action  of  the  weather,  water  and  glaciers,  and  deposited  with  the  decom- 
posed rocks  in  its  present  positions  in  gulches  and  river  beds. 

"During  the  countless  ages  since  the  gold  was  deposited  in  the  veins 
of  the  rocks,  and  these  rocks  were  elevated  into  mountains,  the  agents 
above  named  have  worn  away  vast  quantities  of  the  rocks,  and  those 
containing  veins  of  gold,  and  carried  the  materials  and  the  gold  down  into 
the  gulches  and  out  into  the  valleys,  forming  the  deposits  of  clay,  sand, 
gravel  and  gold.  But  the  most  efficient  agents  in  this  work  were  glaciers 
or  streams  of  ice,  such  as  are  now  at  work  in  the  mountains  of  Alaska, 
grinding  out  the  precious  metals. 

"The  evidence  is  absolutely  conclusive  that  there  were  vast  ages 
when  the  temperature  of  the  northern  hemisphere  was  much  colder  than 
now,  and  when  all  the  gulches  and  gorges  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  were 
filled  with  glaciers  or  rivers  of  ice.  There  is  nothing  in  the  nature  of 
art  so  well  calculated  as  glaciers  to  grind  up  the  rocks  and  carry  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  235 

sands,  gravels,  boulders  and  gold  down  into  the  gulches  and  deposit 
them  as  we  find  them  in  our  placers.  These  facts  establish  a  good 
knowledge  of  the  action  of  glaciers  and  the  manner  in  which  they  grind 
up  the  rocks  and  carry  down  deposits  of  sands  and  clays,  and  boulders 
thus  produced  will  help  the  miner  to  understand  where  he  should  look 
for  the  richer  portions  of  the  placers  thus  formed.  The  knowledge  of 
glaciers  would  explain  many  puzzling  problems  about  'bed-rocks,'  'bar/ 
'cross  channels'  and  'ancient  rivers/ 

"On  the  supposition  that  the  gold  was  brought  down  by  streams  of 
water,  it  is  difficult  to  explain  how  so  much  of  it  got  upon  high  bars 
and  why  the  most  of  it  was  left  on  the  north  and  east  sides  of  gulches  ; 
but  these  are  just  the  places  where  glaciers  would  melt  most  and  leave 
most  of  their  freight.  When  we  remember  that  a  glacier  is  a  river  of  ice 
running  very  slowly,  that  speed  is  nothing  when  we  have  time  enough, 
that  these  rivers  of  ice  have  frozen  into  them  the  loose  rocks  along  their 
courses,  that  they  were  at  times  hundreds  and  thousands  of  feet  deep, 
that  as  they  slid  along  they  would  break  off  projecting  rocks  and  grind 
all  beneath  them  to  powder,  that  they  would  carry  along  with  them  every- 
thing ground  and  unground  and  deposit  them  wherever  the  ice  of  the 
glacier  melted,  we  have  important  facts  to  help  in  mining.  Hence  the 
boulders,  gravels,  sands  and  gold  are  found  on  the  bars  and  benches,  and 
in  the  gulches  where  they  opened  out  into  valleys ;  for  there  the  glaciers 
would  melt  and  drop  their  loads.  The  ice  would  melt  most  on  the  north 
and  east  sides  of  the  glaciers,  where  the  sun  strikes  the  warmest  on  the 
mountain  sides  opposite;  and  there  they  would  drop  the  most  gold,  as 
we  find  it  in  Montana.  There  are  exceptions,  easily  accounted  for  by  the 
shape  of  the  gulches. 

"Glaciers  were  the  mills  of  God  which  ground  out  the  gold  of  most 
of  our  placers.  They  ground  slow  but  they  ground  on  and  on  through 
countless  ages,  and  our  placers  are  their  tailings.  We,  however,  have 
some  placers  not  produced  by  glaciers.  The  Nevada  Creek  placer  mines 
are  a  noted  example  of  placers  produced  by  the  ordinary  action  of  weather 
and  water.  They  extend  along  the  base  of  the  mountain  for  miles,  and 
were  formed  by  the  decomposition  of  the  granite  which  forms  the  slopes 
of  the  mountain.  This  granite  is  full  of  gold  veins  and  is  itself  rich  in 
gold,  and  decomposes  rapidly;  and  the  materials  are  washed  down  by 
rains  and  snow.  The  gold  is  found  in  all  parts  of  it  from  grass  roots 
to  bed-rock.  Gold  is  also  found  in  the  sands  of  streams  which  have  been 
washed  away  from  the  places  where  the  glaciers  deposited  it.  There  are 
golden  sands  and  gravels  thousands  of  miles  away  from  all  veins  of  gold. 
Such  deposits,  so  far  away  from  the  sources  of  the  gold,  are  very  limited 
and  never  pay  for  working;  for  the  manner  in  which  they  were  formed 
precluded  the  possibility  of  extensive  deposits.  The  glaciers  of  Alaska  are 
making  just  such  deposits  as  these  in  the  Northern  Pacific  Ocean.  Gla- 
ciers many  miles  wide  and  several  hundred  feet  deep  are  flowing  from  the 
mountains  in  Alaska  and  bearing  to  the  ocean  quantities  of  boulders, 
gravels  and  sands — some  of  them  containing  gold.  When  these  rivers  of 
ice  with  precious  loads  reach  the  sea,  large  masses  break  off  and  float  away 


236  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

as  icebergs;  and  wherever  they  melt  they  drop  their  freight  of  golden 
sands. 

"Similar  deposits  are  sometimes  found  in  our  wide  valleys  far 
away  from  the  mountains.  These  were  formed  by  the  glaciers  flowing 
out  into  the  valley  before  they  were  melted,  or  were  floated  out  as  ice- 
bergs when  these  valleys  were  lakes  or  bays  of  the  ocean.  Some  of  these 
abnormal  deposits  of  gold  in  gravels  so  far  from  their  mountain  sources 
may  have  been  carried  by  the  great  glacier  that  once  covered  nearly  all 
North  America  as  far  south  as  St.  Louis  or  Cincinnati. 

"Such  were  the  modes  in  which  our  placers  were  formed.  Vast  bodies 
of  moving  ice  frozen  full  of  masses  of  rock,  were  the  mills  that  ground 
the  gold  out  of  the  quartz  and  deposited  it  in  the  beds  and  at  the  mouths 
of  these  ancient  channels.  These  channels  were  plowed  out  by  these 
ice-rivers  armed  with  teeth  of  flint.  These  teeth  have  left  their  marks, 
deep  scratches,  on  the  surface  of  the  rocks  in  our  gulches  and  valleys. 

"With  these  facts  in  mind  the  prospector  will  find  much  aid  in  ex- 
amining the  form  of  the  gulch,  to  determine  where  the  glacier  flowing 
through  it  would  pile  up  its  freight  of  golden  sands,  where  the  sun  would 
strike  it  hottest  and  melt  it  most,  and  where  it  left  most  of  the  gravel; 
for  these  places  would  be  the  richest  parts  of  the  placer.  In  gulches  bor- 
dered by  high  mountains,  the  north  and  east  sides  would  have  the  most 
sun ;  there  the  ice-river  would  spread  out  and  melt  and  leave  more  or  less 
of  its  rich  freights  of  golden  sands.  At  the  place  where  the  gulch  opens 
into  the  valley,  is  the  place  where  it  would  finally  melt  and  leave  what  was 
left  of  its  precious  freight." 

CLARK  ON  GOLD,  SILVER  AND  COPPER  DEPOSITS 

In  1863,  while  the  first  mining  operations  of  Bannack  and  Virginia 
cities  were  in  full  swing,  a  young  Pennsylvanian  who  had  been  working 
for  a  time  in  the  Colorado  mines — one  William  A.  Clark — appeared  in  the 
Montana  whirlpool  and  hurly-burly  and  remained  as  one  of  the  great  men 
of  the  country.  No  one  has  been  longer,  or  more  vitally  identified  with 
all  its  mineral  interests,  and  he  has  studied  them  from  bed-rock  up,  in  all 
their  bearings. 

Speaking  in  1876  (his  centennial  address),  Mr.  Clark  says:  "The 
pay  streak  in  gulches  is  usually  confined  to  a  strip  from  ten  to  fifty  feet 
in  width  and  near  the  solid  formation  under  the  alluvium,  which  is  called 
bed-rock,  although  in  some  places  the  gold  is  intimately  diffused  through- 
out the  alluvium  from  the  surface  down.  The  alluvium  varying  from 
500  to  100  feet  is  washed  off  by  hydraulic  power.  The  water  is  brought 
from  its  head,  which  is  frequently  200  or  300  feet  in  height,  through 
canvas  or  rubber  hose  or  iron  pipes  and  forced  through  a  small  aperture 
or  nozzle,  and  is  projected  against  the  bank  with  great  energy.  The 
gravel  is  washed  by  the  water  through  a  line  of  sluice  boxes,  and  the 
gold,  on  account  of  its  great  specific  gravity  sinks  and  lodges  in  riffles 
placed  in  the  sluices.  The  sluices  or  flumes  are  usually  fifteen  to  thirty- 
five  inches  in  width,  and  from  one  hundred  to  several  thousand  feet  in 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  237 

length.  The  length  of  ditches  conveying  water  to  the  various  mines  will 
aggregate  about  600  miles,  and  cost  about  $1,000,000  in  their  con- 
struction. *  *  * 

"The  history  of  the  development  of  the  quartz  mines  of  Montana  is 
almost  contemporary  with  that  of  the  placers.  The  Dacotah  lode,  bearing 
gold  quartz,  was  discovered  near  Bannack  and  located  November  12, 
1862.  The  decomposed  quartz  from  the  surface  of  the  vein  was  packed 
down  from  the  hill  on  which  it  is  situated  to  the  creek  and  the  gold  panned 
out.  This  is  a  process  familiar  to  miners  in  which  the  gold,  by  dexterous 
lateral  movements  in  the  pan  immersed  in  water,  is  caused  to  sink,  while 
the  lighter  earthly  matter  is  gradually  carried  away  by  the  water.  A 
mill  to  crush  the  quartz  from  this  lode  was  begun  by  William  Arnold  in 
the  winter  of  1862  and  finished  by  J.  F.  Allen  the  following  spring. 
The  motive  power  was  water.  The  stamp  stems,  four  in  number,  were 
made  of  wood,  and  the  shoes  and  dies  were  made  of  old  wagon  tires  cut 
and  welded  together.  This  primitive  affair  was  followed,  in  1863,  by 
the  erection  of  other  mills,  which  had  been  transported  from  Colorado 
and  the  east,  and  from  that  time  to  this,  the  gold  quartz  near  Bannack 
has  given  employment  to  several  mills  almost  uninterruptedly.  Gold 
bearing  quartz  was  sought  for  and  found  in  nearly  all  the  placer  dis- 
tricts." 

At  the  time  of  Mr.  Clark's  centennial  address  (1876),  there  had 
already  been  such  a  decrease  in  gold  production — from  $18,000,000,  in 
1865,  to  $4,500,000  in  1876 — that  prospectors  were  already  seeking  to 
develop  other-  mineral  deposits.  William  A.  Clark,  one  of  the  greatest 
figures  produced  by  Montana  in  the  development  of  its  silver  and  copper 
wealth,  remarked  significantly,  that  although  the  product  of  gold  "is  im- 
portant, yet  it  is  evident  that  .the  greater  wealth  of  the  territory  lies  locked 
up  in  silver  ores.  But  little  attention  was  directed  to  these  in  the  early 
years  of  our  history  owing  to  want_of  knowledge  as  to  their  character 
and  the  methods  of  their  reduction.  Most  of  the  various  combinations  of 
silver  are:  argentiferous  galena,  grey  copper,  argentite,  stiphenite,  ruby 
silver,  cerargerite,  stetefeldite,  etc.  Of  the  real  silver  ores,  argentite  and 
antimonial  sulphite  are  the  most  abundant  and  are  usually  found  in  a 
silicious  or  calcareous  gangue  (mineral  crust)  while  in  many  places  the 
ores  are  associated  with  intractable  bases,  which  render  smelting  neces- 
sary for  their  beneficiation. 

"Galena  ores  carrying  silver  were  found  at  Argenta  (Beaverhead 
County,  a  few  miles  northwest  of  Dillon)  in  the  summer  of  1864,  which 
caused  the  first  silver  excitement  in  the  territory.  Since  then  furnaces 
for  smelting  were  built  and  operated  there  at  intervals,  but  never  with 
any  marked  success,  and  they  are,  with  one  exception,  now  idle.  The 
silver  mines  at  Philipsburg,  in  Deer  Lodge  County,  were  discovered  in 
1865,  and  a  ten-stamp  mill  was  built  the  year  after  by  a  St.  Louis  com- 
pany, which  is  now  working  the  ores  used  by  them.  Mr.  Clark  went  on  to 
mention  various  stamp  mills,  which  were  then  more  or  less  successful, 
and  concluded  this  phase  of  his  address  by  referring  with  evident  en- 
thusiasm and  confidence  to  the  great  mineral  district  in  the  Helena  and 


238  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Butte  neighborhoods,  then  only  scratched.  "A  rich  belt  of  argentiferous 
lodes,"  he  says,  "outcrops  west  and  south  of  Helena,  on  Ten  Mile,  Prickly 
Pear  and  Boulder  Creeks.  The  ores  are  galena,  combined  in  some  in- 
stances with  a  small  percentage  of  zinc  blende  and  antimony,  but  they 
readily  yield  to  intelligent  treatment  in  the  blast  furnace.  This  same  belt 
has  another  outcrop  westward,  beyond  the  Rocky  Mountains  at  Butte,  in 
Deer  Lodge  County,  and  again  still  farther  at  Vipond  and  Bryant  dis- 
tricts in  Beaverhead  County.  At  Butte  two  dry  crushing  mills  have  been 
built,  one  of  them  at  a  cost  of  about  $70,000.  The  ores  here  receive  a 
chloridizing  roasting  and  are  treated  successfully  at  a  cost  of  about  $25 
per  ton,  and  saving  about  85  to  90  per  cent,  of  the  assay  value  of  the  raw 
ore  and  producing  bullion  over  900  fine.  Here  is  to  be  found  the  greatest 
network  of  lodes  in  the  west.  They  carry  gold,  silver,  copper  and  lead, 
and  all  of  these  combined  to  some  extent,  although  the  predominant 
valuable  mineral  is  either  silver  or  copper.  These  mines,  all  within  a 
compass  of  a  few  miles,  are  located  on  a  range  of  low  hills  near  the 
head  of  Silver  Bow  Creek  and  are  easily  accessible.  The  country  rock 
is  granite,  the  dip  south,  the  strike  northeast  and  southwest,  and  at  right 
angles  to  the  main  range  of  the  mountains  at  whose  base  they  lie.  The 
copper  ores  are  for  a  depth  of  about  100  feet  oxydized,  and  principally 
carbonates,  carrying  from  ten  to  fifty  per  cent,  metallis  copper.  Ex- 
ploration below  water  level  will,  it  is  expected,  reveal  sulphides.  Several 
hundred  of  these  ores  are  shipped  annually  to  Baltimore  for  treatment. 

"It  is  hoped  that  in  the  near  future  capitalists  will  be  induced  to  erect 
works  for  the  reduction  of  these  ores  on  the  ground.  Limestone  and 
iron,  or  manganese,  for  fluxes  and  refractory  clay,  and  cheap  fuel,  are 
abundant  and  near  at  hand,  and  the  supply  of  ore  apparently  inex- 
haustible." 

These  remarks  and  comments,  extracted  from  Mr.  Clark's  centennial 
address,  are  pertinent  both  as  conveying  practical  information  in  con- 
nection with  the  gold,  silver  and  copper  deposits  of  Montana,  from  a  high 
authority,  and  also  as  giving  a  general  picture  of  the  status  of  mining 
operations  at  the  period  when  gold  had  declined  as  a  territorial  industry 
and  silver  and  copper  were  arising  in  their  might. 

MONTANA  COAL  AND  LIGNITES 

In  1906  Dr.  J.  P.  Rowe,  then  professor  of  physics  and  geology  in  the 
University  of  Montana,  issued  a  booklet  on  "Montana  Coal  and  Lignite* 
Deposits,"  which  is  both  scientific  and  practical  in  the  information  which 
it  conveys.  For  example,  this  illuminating  paragraph :  "The  geology 
of  the  coal  fields  of  the  United  States  corresponds  generally  with  the 
variety  of  coal.  The  anthracite  and  high  grade  bituminous  coals  of  the 
Eastern  United  States  belong  to  the  Carboniferous — a  small  amount  of 
bituminous  coal  in  Virginia  and  North  Carolina  is  found  in  the  Triassic. 
The  bituminous  and  lignitic  bituminous  coals  are  found  mostly  in  the 
Cretaceous  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  while  the  lignite,  lignitic  bituminous, 


*  A  variety  of  imperfect,  woody  coal. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  239 

and  bituminous  coals  are  found  in  the  Territory  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 
and  the  west.  *  *  *  From  the  looth  meridian  west  to  the  H5th 
(which  passes  through  far- Western  Montana),  the  commercial  coals 
and  lignites  belong  to  the  Cretaceous  period  almost  entirely,  and  is  known 
as  the  Rocky  Mountain  fields;  some  new  fields  with  minor  areas  belong 
to  the  Tertiary.  These  Tertiary  fields,  however,  contain  nothing  but  lig- 
nite, and  as  yet  are  almost  totally  undeveloped.  The  Rocky  Mountain 
fields  include  the  states  of  Colorado,  New  Mexico,  Arizona,  Utah,  North 
and  South  Dakota,  Montana  and  Wyoming.  *  *  * 

According  to  the  estimates  given  by  Storrs  in  the  22nd  annual  report 
of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey,  Montana  has  an  area  of  about 
13,000  square  miles  of  anthracite,  bituminous  and  lignite-bituminous 
coals.  The  lignite  areas  including  the  Cretaceous  and  Tertiary  will  prob- 
ably aggregate  more  nearly  50,000  square  miles  than  the  area  heretofore 
given  of  25,000  square  miles.  The  bituminous  area  of  Montana  exceeds 
the  combined  bituminous  areas  of  North  Dakota,  South  Dakota,  Wyo- 
ming, Utah  and  New  Mexico ;  and  is  only  exceeded  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain states  by  Colorado.  Here  lignite  area  is  next  to  that  of  North, 
Dakota,  and  exceeds  the  combined  lignitic  areas  of  all  the  other  states 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 

ABUNDANT,  WIDELY  DISTRIBUTED  NATURAL  FUEL 

"All  but  three  counties,  Silverbow,  Sanders  and  Jefferson,  have  coal 
of  lignite  deposits,  as  soon  as  developed,  of  commercial  value.  Few 
states  can  boast  of  such  a  distribution  of  natural  fuel.  In  the  eastern 
part  of  the  state  the  ranchers,  and  towns-people  as  well,  burn  nothing 
but  lignite.  Anyone  living  on  the  plains  and  desiring  a  load  of  fuel, 
simply  drives  to  his  favorite,  nearby  lignite  seam  and  procures  it.  This 
is  indeed  a  blessing.  No  timber  to  speak  of  within  miles,  and  oftentimes 
remote  from  a  railroad,  the  people  are  permitted  to  live  and  develop  this 
great  country  without  worry,  and  but  little  trouble  in  securing  the  much 
needed  article  in  the  development  of  every  country,  fuel." 

So  that  although  Montana  already  produces  between  3,000,000  and 
4,000,000  tons  of  bituminous  coal,  her  deposits  have  scarcely  been 
touched.  Speaking  more  in  detail,  almost  the  entire  eastern  half  of  the 
state  is  underlain  by  beds  of  good  lignite,  they  being  a  continuation  of  the 
large  lignitic  areas  in  the  Dakotas.  The  beds  vary  from  a  few  inches  to 
more  than  twenty  feet  in  thickness.  Lignite  in  varying  amounts  is  found 
in  the  plains  region  of  Eastern  Montana  from  Wibaux  and  Culbertson  on 
the  east  to  Forsyth  and  Sanford  on  the  west.  From  the  southern  part 
of  Custer  and  Rosebud  to  the  northern  part  of  Valley  County,  hardly  a 
township  in  Custer,  Dawson  and  Valley  counties  that  has  not  more  or 
less  lignite. 

Doctor  Rowe  significantly  adds:  "The  semi-tropical  past  left  a  rich 
heritage  to  the  future,  and  these  rich  stores  will  soon  be  used.  The  coun- 
try is  fast  being  settled.  Large  sheep  and  cattle  ranches  are  giving  way  to 
tillers  of  the  soil.  Formerly  one  man  owned  or  controlled  several  sec- 


240 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


tions,  sometimes  townships— soon  one  section  will  be  owned  by  several 
people.  The  settling  of  this  portion  (eastern)  of  Montana,  when  irri- 
gation schemes  are  oerfected,  will  be  far  easier  than  it  was  in  Nebraska 
and  other  central  states,  where  nothing  but  corn,  cornstalk  weeds  and 
hay  could  be  had  for  fuel." 

The  Bull  Mountain  field  of  coal,  of  about  fifty-five  square  miles  in 
area  and  located  forty-five  miles  northeast  of  Billings  in  Yellowstone 
County,  is  the  most  isolated  coal  area  known  in  the  state.  It  is  little 
developed. 

The  Clark's  Fork  field,  which  extends  through  parts  of  Meagher, 
Sweetgrass,  Yellowstone  and  Carbon  counties  and  is  an  extension  of 


MONTANA  COAL  MINE 

the  Big  Horn  Basin  field  of  Wyoming,  represents  one  of  the  largest 
coal  deposits  in  Montana.  The  chief  developments  have  been  in  Carbon 
County,  and  the  coal  is  designated  as  lignitic-bituminous.  Much  of  the 
output  is  consumed  by  the  Butte  and  Anaconda  smelters. 

In  the  south-central  part  of  Carbon  County  is  also  the  small  but  pro- 
ductive Rocky  Fork  field.  The  coal  is  semi-bituminous.  The  field  ex- 
tends about  six  miles  north  and  south  and  fixe  miles  eastward  from  the 
limiting  limestones  of  the  westward  border. 

In  Gallatin  and  Park  counties  is  a  rather  extensive  field  from  which 
has  been  developed  some  good  coal  for  steam  and  coking  purposes.  The. 
chief  developments  have  been  made  in  the  Livingston-Bozeman  district. 
Considerable  interest  has  centered  in  the  field  because  of  its  proximity  to 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  and  consequent  assurance  of  ample  trans- 
portation facilities  should  its  output  become  commercially  important. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  241 

Directly  south  of  Bozeman  and  in  Park  County,  near  the.  Yellowstone 
National  Park,  as  well  as  in  Madison  County,  northeast  of  Virginia  City, 
are  scattered  fields,  but  the  largest  deposits  in  the  state  outside  the  east- 
ern Plains  portion,  is  the  Great  Falls  field.  Although  it  covers  portions 
of  Teton,  Lewis  and  Clark,  Cascade  and  Fergus  counties,  in  central 
and  west  of  the  Central  Montana,  the  thickest  part  of  the  field  is  in  the 
central  part  of  Cascade  County,  in  and  around  Sand  Coulee,  while  it  be- 
comes thinner  both  to  the  east  and  the  west.  In  that  locality  naturally 
have  occurred  the  most  pronounced  developments,  the  bulk  of  the  output 
going  to  stimulate  the  water  powers  and  industries  of  Great  Falls.  There 
has  been  considerable  activity,  also,  at  Augusta,  Lewis  and  Clark  County. 
Geologically,  the  Belt  or  Great  Falls  field  is  of  special  interest  as  being 
"the  only  considerable  occurrence  in  the  United  States  of  the  Canadian 
coal  fields." 

Minor  fields  of  coal  and  lignite  are  found  in  Chouteau  and  Flathead 
counties,  the  latter  deposits  in  the  western  third  of  the  state,  however, 
being  chiefly  in  the  counties  of  Granite,  Missoula  and  Ravalli.  "Most  of 
the  inter-mountain  valleys  of  Western  Montana,"  reports  Doctor  Rowe, 
who  spent  five  years  in  his  geological  investigations,  "were  formerly 
Neocene  lakes,  and  in  these  lake  beds  are  found  a  fairly  good  quality  of 
lignite.  This  fuel  is  mined  in  many  places  and  the  seams  range  from  a  few 
inches  to  several  feet  in  thickness.  It  is  as  good  as  the  Lafamie  lignites 
of  the  plains  but  has  never  been  found  in  such  large  areas  or  as  thick. 
However,  these  deposits  are  being  sought  after  for  local  domestic  fuel 
and  will  probably  be  in  good  demand  within  less  than  a  decade.  The  beds 
in  Ravalli  County  have  so  far  shown  the  greatest  promise." 


Vol.  1—16 


CHAPTER  XII 
DAYS  OF  OUTLAWS,  VIGILANTES  AND  MINERS'  COURTS 

While  the  Civil  war  was  raging  most  violently  from  the  Mississippi 
Valley  to  the  Atlantic  Coast  and  the  Federal  Government  was  absorbing 
all  its  powers  in  the  stupendous  task  of  "putting  down  the  Rebellion," 
little  could  be  accomplished  in  the  way  of  organizing  the  western  ter- 
ritories of  the  national  domain.  It  therefore  happened  that  at  the  seeth- 
ing period  of  the  early  gold  discoveries  in  Montana,  when  adventurers 
and  desperate  men  and  women  were  gathering  at  Bannack  and  Virginia 
cities  and  gold  centers  of  lesser  fame ;  at  a  time  when  the  strong  arm  of 
the  law  should  have  been  most  felt,  there  was  absolutely  nothing  in  the 
form  of  constituted  authority  to  protect  the  respectable  and  peacefully 
inclined  citizen  in  the  possession  of  his  property  and  the  exercise  of  his 
legitimate  rights.  What  made  the  condition  of  affairs  doubly  worse  and 
more  desperate  for  the  decent  citizen  was  that  the  weak  organization  of 
public  authority  which  was,  for  a  time  evinced,  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
highwaymen  themselves  and  was  only  used  to  protect  criminals  and  hide 
their  crimes. 

ENTER  THE  ARCH  VILLAIN 

Henry  Plummer,  an  oily,  scheming,  cold-blooded  desperado  of  good 
address,  who  had  passed  a  decade  of  murders  and  other  crimes  in  Cal- 
ifornia before  he  insinuated  himself  into  the  wild  life  of  Bannack  and 
Virginia  cities,  induced  the  irresponsible  men  of  these  communities  to 
elect  him  sheriff.  Thus  Plummer  was  actually  sheriff  of  both  places  at 
once.  This  politic  move  threw  the  unfortunate  citizens  into  his  hands 
completely,  and  by  means  of  his  robber  deputies — whose  legal  functions 
cloaked  many  a  crime — he  ruled  with  a  rod  of  iron.  The  marvelous  riches 
of  the  great  Alder  Gulch  attracted  crowds  from  all  the  West,  and  after- 
ward from  the  East  also;  among  whom  were  many  diseased  with  crime 
to  such  an  extent  that  for  their  cure  the  only  available  prescription  was 
a  stout  cord  and  a  good  drop. 

Although  Plummer  had  appointed  as  his  deputies',  Jack  Gallagher, 
Buck  Stinson  and  Ned  Ray,  the  head  deputy  was  a  man  of  another  stripe 
entirely  named  Dillingham,  who  had  accurate  knowledge  of  the  names 
of  the  members  of  the  Road  Agent  Band,  and  was  also  acquainted  with 
many  of  their  plans,  although  he  himself  was  innocent.  For  revealing 
information  which  interfered  with  the  road  agents'  plans,  Dillingham 
was  killed  by  Charley  Forbes  and,  of  course,  acquitted.  After  the  failure 

242 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  243 

of  justice  in  the  case  of  the  murderers  of  Dillingham,  the  state  of  society, 
bad  as  it  was,  rapidly  deteriorated,  until  a  man  could  hardly  venture  to 
entertain  the  belief  that  he  was  safe  for  a  single  day. 

ENTER  STRONG  MEN  OF  LAW  AND  ORDER 

Those  were  days  in  Montana  which  were  as  decisive  of  its  destiny 
as  those  of  the  Civil  War  were  for  the  entire  nation,  and  fortunately  the 
stalwart  men  who  were  already  on  the  ground,  as  well  as  many  who  came 
at  the  height  of  the  gold  excitement,  were  made  of  metal  which  success- 
fully resisted  all  the  fires  of  evil  and  stamped  them  out.  Among  these 
newcomers  were  such  men  as  William  A.  Clark  and  Col.  W.  F.  Sanders. 
The  latter  was  especially  prominent  in  the  days  when  law  and  order, 
the  protection  of  lives  and  property,  rested  in  the  keeping  of  that  stern 
organization  of  individuals  known  as  the  Vigilantes,  which  the  bands  of 
road  agents  soon  learned  to  dread  as  the  sinner  does  the  eternal  hand  of 
Justice. 

J.  X.  Beidler,  a  sturdy,  broad-shouldered,  fearless  Pennsylvanian, 
who  had  failed  in  his  Colorado  ventures,  also  arrived  in  Alder  Gulch  in 
1863,  and  perhaps  accomplished  as  much  as  any  one  man  in  the  physical 
work  of  running  down  the  desperadoes  of  Hell's  Hole,  and  Bannack  and 
Virginia  cities  and  bringing  them  to  the  hangman's  noose.  During  the 
later  days  of  his  intrepid  and  effective  work  he  was  serving  as  deputy 
United  States  marshal  under  George  M.  Pinney. 

Both  Colonel  Sanders,  who  was  the  leading  prosecuting  attorney 
against  the  deviltries  of  the  outlaw  gang,  and  Mr.  Beidler,  its  physical 
Nemesis,  have  left  their  recollections  and  observation  of  the  days  in  which 
they  were  such  stirring  actors,  and  Montana  writers  have  always  gen- 
erously drawn  upon  their  contributions  in  dealing  with  this  epoch.  Na- 
thaniel P.  Langford  and  Prof.  Thomas  Dimsdale  have  also  written 
about  the  Vigilantes  of  Montana — about  their  "days  and  ways" — so  that 
the  material  for  the  expansion  of  the  subject  is  profuse  and  readily  avail- 
able. Mr.  Langford,  as  sheriff,  who  preceded  Henry  Plummer  (the  chief 
of  the  Montana  road  agents)  in  that  office,  ofttimes  reported  the  ex- 
citements of  1863-64  from  direct  observation,  although,  on  the  whole, 
the  publication  of  Professor  Dinsdale  is  considered  the  more  authoritative. 
Reliance  is  chiefly  placed  upon  it  in  the  preparation  of  this  chapter. 

In  1866  Prof.  T.  Dimsdale  published  his  "Vigilantes  of  Montana," 
probably  the  most  reliable  account  of  that  period,  his  intention  being, 
as  he  says  in  the  introduction  to  the  work,  "to  furnish  a  correct  history 
of  an  organization  administering  justice  without  the  sanction  of  consti- 
tutional law ;  and  secondly,  to  prove  not  only  the  necessity  for  their  action, 
but  the  equity  of  their  proceedings."  The  writer  has  evidence  before  him 
that  the  work  is  reliable,  in  a  note  written  on  the  cover  of  the  copy  which 
he  is  now  consulting  by  ex-Governor  W.  R.  Marshall,  of  Minnesota. 
It  reads  thus :  "This  most  wonderful  chapter  in  criminal  history  is 
strictly  true  in  every  particular.  I  have  personally  conversed  with  Lang- 
ford,  Hauser,  W.  F.  Sanders  and  others  who  had  personal  knowledge 
of  the  events." 


244 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 
SOCIETY  IN  THE  VIGILANTES'  DAYS 


In  noting  the  condition  of  Montana  "society"  in  the  days  of  vigilante 
rule,  he  writes :  "The  absence  of  good  female  society,  in  any  due  propor- 
tion to  the  numbers  of  the  opposite  sex,  is  likewise  an  evil  of  great  mag- 


NATHAXIEL  P.  LAXGFORD 

nitude ;  for  men  become  rough,  stern  and  cruel,  to  a  surprising  degree, 
under  such  a  state  of  things. 

"In  every  frequent  street,  public  gambling  houses  with  open  doors 
and  loud  music,  are  resorted  to,  in  broad  daylight,  by  hundreds — it  might 
almost  be  said — of  all  tribes  and  tongues,  furnishing  another  fruitful 
source  of  'difficulties,'  which  are  commonly  decided  on  the  spot,  by  an 
appeal  to  brute  force,  the  stab  of  a  knife,  or  the  discharge  of  a  revolver. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  245 

Women  of  easy  virtue  are  to  be  seen  promenading  through  the  camp, 
habited  in  the  gayest  and  most  costly  apparel,  and  receiving  fabulous 
sums  for  their  purchased  favors.  In  fact,  all  the  temptations  to  vice  are 
present  in  full  display,  with  money  in  abundance  to  secure  the  gratifica- 
tion of  the  desire  for  novelty  and  excitement,  which  is  the  ruling  passion 
of  the  mountaineer. 

THE  HURDY-GURDY  HOUSE 

"One  'institution,'  offering  a  shadowy  and  dangerous  substitute  for 
more  legitimate  female  association,  deserves  a  more  peculiar  notice.  This 
is  the  'Hurdy-Gurdy'  house.  As  soon  as  the  men  have  left  off  work,  these 
places  are  opened,  and  dancing  commences.  Let  the  reader  picture  to 
himself  a  large  room,  furnished  with  a  bar  at  one  end — where  champagne 
at  $12  (in  gold)  per  bottle,  and  'drinks'  at  twenty-five  to  fifty  cents, 
are  wholesaled  (correctly  speaking) — and  divided,  at  the  end  of  this 
bar,  by  a  railing  running  from  side  to  side.  The  outer  enclosure  is  densely 
crowded  (and,  on  particular  occasions,  the  inner  one  also)  with  men  in 
every  variety  of  garb  that  can  be  seen  on  the  continent.  Beyond  the 
barrier,  sit  the  dancing  women,  called  'hurdy-gurdies,'  sometimes  dressed 
in  uniform,  but,  more  generally,  habited  according  to  the  dictates  of  in- 
dividual caprice,  in  the  finest  clothes  that  money  can  buy,  and  which  are 
fashioned  in  the  most  attractive  styles  that  fancy  can  suggest.  On  one 
side  is  a  raised  orchestra.  The  music  suddenly  strikes  up,  and  the  sum- 
mons, 'Take  your  partners  for  the  next  dance/  is  promptly  answered 
by  some  of  the  male  spectators,  who  paying  a  dollar  in  gold  for  a  ticket, 
approach  the  ladies'  bench,  and — in  style  polite,  or  otherwise,  according 
to  antecedants — invite  one  of  the  ladies  to  dance.  The  number  being 
complete,  the  parties  take  their  places,  as  in  any  other  dancing  estab- 
lishment, and  pause  for  the  performance  of  the  introductory  notes  of 
the  air. 

"Let  us  describe  a  first  class  dancer — 'sure  of  a  partner  every  time' — 
and  her  companion.  There  she  stands  at  the  head  of  the  set.  She  is  of 
middle  height,  of  rather  full  and  rounded  form;  her  complexion  as  pure 
as  alabaster,  a  pair  of  dangerous  looking  hazel  eyes,  a  slightly  Roman 
nose,  and  a  small  and  prettily  formed  mouth.  Her  auburn  hair  is  neatly 
banded  and  gathered  in  a  tasteful,  ornament  net,  with  a  roll  and  gold 
tassels  at  the  side.  How  sedate  she  looks  during  the  first  figure,  never 
smiling  till  the  termination  of  "promenade,  eight/'  when  she  shows  her 
little  white  hands  in  fixing  her  handsome  brooch  in  its  place,  and  settling 
her  glistening  ear-rings.  See  how  nicely  her  scarlet  dress,  with  its  broad 
black  band  round  the  skirt,  and  its  black  edging,  set  off  her  dainty  figure. 
No  wonder  that  a  wild  mountaineer  would  be  willing  to  pay— not  one 
dollar,  but  all  that  he  has  in  his  purse,  for  a  dance  and  an  approving 
smile  from  so  beautiful  a  woman. 

"Her  cavalier  stands  six  feet  in  his  boots,  which  come  to  the  knee, 
and  are  garnished  with  a  pair  of  Spanish  spurs,  with  rowels  and  bells  like 
young  water  wheels.  His  buckskin  leggings  are  fringed  at  the  seams, 


246  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  gathered  at  the  waist  with  a  United  States  belt,  from  which  hangs  his 
loaded  revolver  and  his  sheath  knife.  His  neck  is  bare,  muscular  and 
embrowned  by  exposure,  as  is  also  his  bearded  face,  whose  sombre  hue 
is  relieved  by  a  pair  of  piercing  dark  eyes.  His  long,  black  hair  hangs 
down  beneath  his  wide  felt  hat,  and,  in  the  corner  of  his  mouth,  is  a 
cigar,  which  rolls  like  the  lever  of  an  eccentric,  as  he  chews  the  end  in 
his  mouth.  After  an  amazingly  grave  salute,  'all  hands  round'  is  shouted 
by  the  prompter,  and  off  bounds  the  buckskin  hero,  rising  and  falling  to 
the  rhythm  of  the  dance,  with  a  clumsy  agility  and  a  growing  enthusiasm, 
testifying  his  huge  delight.  His  fair  partner,  with  practiced  foot  and 
easy  grace,  keeps  time  to  the  music  like  a  clock,  and  rounds  to  her  place 
as  smoothly  and  gracefully  as  a  swan.  As  the  dance  progresses,  he  of  the 
buckskins  gets  excited,  and  nothing  but  long  practice  prevents  his  partner 
from  being  swept  off  her  feet,  as  the  conclusion  of  the  miner's  delight, 
'set  your  partners,'  or  'gents  to  the  right,'  and  'promenade  to  the  bar,' 
which  last  closes  the  dance.  After  a  treat,  the  barkeeper  mechanically 
raps  his  blower  as  a  hint  to  'weigh  out,'  the  ladies  sit  down,  and  with 
scarcely  an  interval,  a  waltz,  polka,  shottische,  mazurka,  varsovienne,  or 
another  quadrille  commences. 

"All  varieties  of  costume,  physique  and  demeanor  can  be  noticed 
among  the  dancers — from  the  gayest  colors  and  'loudest'  styles  of  dress 
and  manner,  to  the  snugly  fitted  black  silk,  and  plain,  white  collar,  which 
sets  off  the  neat  figure  of  the  blue-eyed,  modest  looking  Anglo-Saxon. 
Yonder,  beside  the  tall  and  tastily  clad  German  brunette,  you  see  the  short 
curls,  rounded  tournure  and  smiling  face  of  an  Irish  girl;  indeed,  repre- 
sentatives of  almost  every  dancing  nation  of  white  folks,  may  be  seen 
on  the  floor  of  the  Hurdy-Gurdy  house.  The  earnings  of  the  dancers 
are  very  different  in  amount.  That  dancer  in  the  low  necked  dress,  with 
the  scarlet  'waist,"*  a  great  favorite  and  a  really  good  dancer,  counted 
fifty  tickets  into  her  lap  before  'the  last  dance,  gentlemen,'  followed  by, 
'Only  this  one  before  the  girls  go  home,'  which  wound  up  the  performance. 
Twenty-six  dollars  is  a  great  deal  of  money  to  earn  in  such  a  fashion ; 
but  fifty  sets  of  quadrilles  and  four  waltzes,  two  of  them  for  the  love 
of  the  thing,  is  very  hard  work. 

"As  a  rule,  however,  the  professional  'hurdles'  are  Teutons,  and, 
though  first  rate  dancers,  they  are,  with  some  few  exceptions,  the  re- 
verse of  good  looking. 

"The  dance  which  is  most  attended,  is  one  in  which  ladies  to  whom 
pleasure  is  dearer  than  fame,  represent  the  female  element,  and,  as  may 
be  supposed,  the  evil  only  commences  at  the  Dance  House.  It  is  not 
uncommon  to  see  one  of  these  sirens  with  an  'outfit'  worth  from  seven 
to  eight  hundred  dollars,  and  many  of  them  invest  with  merchants  and 
bankers  thousands  of  dollars  in  gold,  the  rewards  and  presents  they 
receive,  especially  the  more  highly  favored  ones,  being  more  in  a 
week,  than  a  well  educated  girl  would  earn  in  two  years  in  an  Easteru 
city. 

"In  the  Dance  House  you  can  see  judges,  the  legislative  corps,  and 
every  one  but  the  minister.  He  never  ventures  further  than  to  engage 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  247 

in  conversation  with  a  friend  at  the  door,  and  while  intently  watching  the 
performance,  lectures  on  the  evil  of  such  places  with  considerable  force; 
but  his  attention  is  evidently  more  fixed  upon  the  dancers  than  on  his 
lecture.  Sometimes  may  be  seen  gray  haired  men  dancing,  their  wives 
sitting  at  home  in  blissful  ignorance  of  the  proceeding.  There  never 
was  a  dance  house  running,  for  any  length  of  time,  in  the  first  days  of  a 
mining  town,  in  which  'shooting  scrapes'  do  not  occur ;  equal  proportions 
of  jealousy,  whiskey  and  revenge  being  the  stimulants  thereto.  Billiard 
saloons  are  everywhere  visible,  with  a  bar  attached,  and  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  are  spent  there.  As  might  be  anticipated,  it  is 
impossible  to  prevent  quarrels  in  these  places,  at  all  times,  and,  in  the 
mountains,  whatever  weapon  is  handiest — foot,  fist,  knife,  revolver,  or 
deringer — it  is  instantly  used." 

GATHERING  OF  THE  ROAD  AGENTS'  BAND 

Among  the  emigrants  diverted  from  the  Snake  River  routes  leading  to 
the  new  Salmon  River  gold  diggings  of  Idaho,  in  the  spring  of  1862,  was 
a  gang  from  Salt  Lake  City.  It  was  sidetracked  at  the  Beaver  Head 
diggings  of  Montana,  at  Bannack  City,  and  included  among  its  members 
Henry  Plummer,  afterward  sheriff  and  chief  of  the  road  agents,  Charley 
Reeves,  Moore  and  Skinner,  his  comrades  in  every  evil  thing  of  the 
West.  *These  ruffians  served  as  a  nucleus,  around  which  the  disloyal, 
the  desperate  and  the  dishonest  gathered,  and  quickly  organizing  them- 
selves into  a  band,  with  captain,  lieutenants,  secretary,  road  agents,  and 
outsiders,  became  the  terror  of  the  country.  The  stampede  to  the  Alder 
Gulch,  which  occurred  early  in  June,  1863,  and  the  discovery  of  the 
rich  placer  diggings  there,  attracted  many  more  of  the  dangerous  classes, 
who  scenting  the  prey  from  afar,  flew  like  vultures  to  the  battlefield. 

Between  Bannack  and  Virginia,  a  correspondence  was  constantly  kept 
up,  and  the  roads  throughout  the  territory  were  under  the  surveillance 
of  the  "outsiders"  before  mentioned.  To  such  a  system  were  these  things 
brought,  that  horses,  men  and  coaches  were  marked  in  some  understood 
manner,  to  designate  them  as  fit  objects  for  plunder,  and  thus  the  lyers-in- 
wait  had  an  opportunity  of  communicating  the  intelligence  to  the  mem- 
bers of  the  gang,  in  time  to  prevent  the  escape  of  the  victims. 

The  confession  of  two  of  their  number  one  of  whom,  named  Erastus 
Yager  alias  Red,  was  hung  in  the  Stinking  Water  Valley,  put  the  Vigilance 
Committee  in  possession  of  the  names  of  the  prominent  men  in  the  gang, 
and  eventually  secured  their  death  or  voluntary  banishment.  The  most 
noted  of  the  road  agents,  with  a  few  exceptions  were  hanged  by  the 
Vigilance  Committee,  or  banished.  A  list  of  the  places  and  dates  of  execu- 
tion of  the  principal  members  of  the  band  is  here  presented. 

NAMES,  PLACES  AND  DATES  OF  EXECUTION 

George  Ives,  Nevada  City,  December  21,  1863;  Erastus  Yager  (Red) 
and  G.  W.  Brown,  Stinking  Water  Valley,  January  4,  1864;  Henry 


*  Professor  Dimsdale's  "Vigilantes  of  Montana." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  249< 

Plummer,  Ned  Ray  and  Buck  Stinson,  Bannack  City,  January  10,  1864; 
George  Lane  (Clubfoot  George),  Frank  Parish,  Haze  Lyons,  Jack  Gal- 
lagher and  Boone  Helm,  Virginia  City,  January  14,  1864;  Steven  Mars- 
land,  Big  Hole  Ranche,  January  16,  1864;  William  Bunton,  Deer  Lodge 
Valley,  January  19,  1864;  Cyrus  Skinner,  Alexander  Carter,  and  John 
Cooper,  Hell  Gate,  January  25,  1864;  George  Shears,  Frenchtown,  Janu- 
ary 24,  1864;  Robert  Zachary,  Hell  Gate,  January  25,  1864;  William 
Graves  alias  Whiskey  Bill,  Fort  Owen,  January  26,  1864;  William  Hunter, 
Gallatin  Valley,  February  3,  1864;  John  Wagoner  (Dutch  John)  and 
Joe  Pizanthia,  Bannack  City,  January  II,  1864. 

BANISHMENT  OF  MINOR  CRIMINALS 

Judge  Smith  and  J.  Thurmond,  the  counsel  of  the  road  agents,  were 
banished.  Thurmond  brought  an  action,  at  Salt  Lake,  against  Mr.  Fox, 
charging  him  with  aiding  in  procuring  his  banishment.  After  some  pecu- 
liar developments  of  justice  in  Utah,  he  judiciously  withdrew  all  pro- 
ceedings, and  gave  a  receipt  in  full  for  all  past  and  future  claims  on  the 
Vigilance  Committee,  in  which  instance  he  exhibited  a  wise  discretion. 

The  Bannack  branch  of  the  Vigilantes  also  sent  out  of  the  country, 
H.  G.  Sessions,  convicted  of  circulating  bogus  dust,  and  one  H.  D.  Moyer, 
who  furnished  a  room  at  midnight  for  them  to  work  in,  together  with 
material  for  their  labor.  A  man  named  Kustar  was  also  banished  for 
recklessly  shooting  through  the  windows  of  the  hotel  opposite  his  place 
of  abode. 

Moore  and  Reeves  were  banished,  as  will  afterwards  appear,  by  a 
miners'  jury,  at  Bannack,  in  the  winter  of  1863,  but  came  back  in  the 
spring.  They  fled  the  country  when  the  Vigilantes  commenced  opera- 
tions, and  are  thought  to  have  fled  to  Mexico. 

Charley  Forbes  was  a  member  of  the  gang;  but  being  wounded  in  a 
scuffle,  or  a  robbery,  a  doctor  was  found  and  taken  to  where  he  lay.  Find- 
ing that  he  was  incurable,  it  is  believed  that  Moore  and  Reeves  shot  him, 
to  prevent  his  divulging  what  he  knew  of  the  band;  but  this  is  uncer- 
tain. Some  say  he  was  killed  by  Moore  and  Reeves,  in  Red  Rock 
Canyon. 

GATHERING  PLACES  OF  THE  ROAD  AGENTS 

The  headquarters  of  the  marauders  was  Rattlesnake  Ranch.  Plummer 
often  visited  it,  and  the  robbers  used  to  camp  with  their  comrades,  in 
little  wakiups  above  and  below  it,  watching,  and  ready  for  fight,  flight  or 
plunder.  Two  rods  in  front  of  this  building  was  a  sign  post,  at  which  they 
used  to  practice  with  their  revolvers.  They  were  capital  shots.  Plummer 
was  the  quickest  hand  with  his  revolver  of  any  man  in  the  mountains. 
He  could  draw  the  pistol  and  discharge  the  five  loads  in  three  seconds. 
The  post  was  riddled  with  holes,  and  was  looked  upon  as  quite  a  curiosity, 
until  it  was  cut  down,  in  the  summer  of  1863. 

Another  favorite  resort  of  the  gang  was  Dempsey's  Cottonwoocf 
Ranch.  The  owner  knew  the  character  of  the  robbers,  but  had  no  con- 


250  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

nection  with  them;  and,  in  those  days,  a  man's  life  would  not  have  been 
worth  fifteen  minutes'  purchase,  if  the  possessor  had  been  foolish  enough 
even  to  hint  at  his  knowledge  of  their  doings.  Daley's,  at  Ramshorn 
Gulch,  and  ranches  or  wakiups  on  the  Madison,  the  Jefferson,  Wisconsin 
Creek,  and  Mill  Creek,  were  also  constantly  occupied  by  members  of  the 
band. 

MORE  THAN  ONE  HUNDRED  PEOPLE  KILLED 

By  discoveries  of  the  bodies  of  the  victims,  the  confessions  of  the 
murderers  before  execution,  and  reliable  information  sent  to  the  com- 
mittee, it  was  found  that  102  people  had  been  certainly  killed  by  those 
miscreants  in  various  places,  and  it  was  believed,  on  the  best  informa- 
tion, that  scores  of  unfortunates  had  been  murdered  and  buried,  whose 
remains  were  never  discovered,  nor  their  fate  definitely  ascertained.  All 
that  was  known,  was  that  they  started,  with  greater  or  less  sums  of 
money,  for  various  places,  and  were  never  heard  of  again. 

BANNACK  CITY  AND  ITS  FEARFUL  WICKEDNESS 

This  town  originated  from  the  "Grasshopper  Diggings,"  which  were 
first  discovered  in  the  month  of  July,  by  John  White  and  a  small  party 
of  prospectors,  on  the  Grasshopper  Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Beaverhead. 
The  discoverer,  together  with  Rudolph  Dorsett,  was  murdered  by  Charley 
Kelly,  in  the  month  of  December,  1863,  near  the  Milk  Ranch,  on  the  road 
from  Virginia  City  to  Helena.  Wash  Stapleton  and  his  party  came  in  a 
short  time  after,  and  were  soon  joined  by  others,  among  whom  were 
W.  B.  Dance,  S.  T.  Hauser,  James  Morley,  Drury  Underwood,  F.  M. 
Thomson,  N.  P.  Langford,  James  Fergus,  John  Potter,  Judge  Hoyt  and 
Doctor  Hoyt,  Chas.  St.  Clair,  David  Thompson,  Buz  Caven,  Messrs. 
Burchett,  Morelle,  Harby,  J.  M.  Castner,  Pat  Bray  and  brother,  Sturges, 
Colonel  McLean,  R.  C.  Knox,  and  other  well  known  citizens  of  Mon- 
tana. The  name,  "Bannack,"  was  given  to  the  settlement,  from  the  Ban- 
nack  Indians,  the  lords  of  the  soil.  It  was  the  first  "mining  camp"  of  any 
importance,  discovered  on  the  eastern  slope  of  the  mountains,  and  as 
the  stories  of  its  wonderful  richness  went  abroad,  hundreds  of  scattered 
prospectors  flocked  in,  and  before  the  following  spring,  the  inhabitants 
numbered  upwards  of  a  thousand. 

It  is  probable  that  there  never  was  a  mining  town  of  the  same  size 
that  contained  more  desperadoes  and  lawless  characters,  than  did  Ban- 
nack, during  the  winter  of  1862-63.  While  a  majority  of  the  citizens 
were  of  the  sterling  stock,  which  has  ever  furnished  the  true  American 
pioneers,  there  were  great  numbers  of  the  most  desperate  class  of  roughs 
and  road  agents,  who  had  been  roving  through  the  mountains,  exiles 
from  their  former  haunts  in  the  mining  settlements,  from  which  they 
had  fled  to  avoid  the  penalties  incurred  by  the  commission  of  many 
a  fearful  crime.  These  men  no  sooner  heard  of  the  rich  mines  of 
Bannack,  than  they  at  once  made  for  the  new  settlement,  where,  among 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  251 

strangers,  ignorant  of  therr  crimes,  they  would  be  secure  from  punish- 
ment, at  least  until  their  true  character  should  become  known. 

Sometime  in  March,  1863,— it  is  really  immaterial  exactly  when— 
Henry  Plummer  shot  Jack  Cleveland  to  death  in  Goodrich's  Bannack  City 
saloon.  Cleveland,  who  was  a  desperado  who  had  come  from  farther 
West,  had  struck  town  with  the  avowed  purpose  of  supplanting  Plum- 
mer, in  any  way  within  his  power,  as  head  of  the  Montana  outlaws. 
The  immigrant  was  shot  to  pieces  by  the  outlaw  whom  he  had  intended 
to  kill  or  run  out  of  the  country.  Moore  and  Reeves,  of  Plummer's 
band,  were  both  implicated  in  the  brawl  which  ended  in  murder. 

"In  March,  1863,  Reeves,  a  prominent  clerk  of  St.  Nicholas,  bought 
a  Sheep-eater  squaw;  but  she  refused  to  live  with  him,  alleging  that  she 
was  ill  treated,  and  went  back  to  her  tribe  who  were  encamped  on  the  rise 
of  the  hill  south  of  Yankee  Flat,  about  fifty  yards  to  the  rear  of  the 
street.  Reeves  went  after  her,  and  sought  to  force  her  to  come  back 
with  him,  but  on  his  attempting  to  use  violence  an  old  chief  interfered. 
The  two  grappled.  Reeves  with  a  sudden  effort  broke  from  him,  strik- 
ing him  a  blow  with  his  pistol  and,  in  the  scuffle,  one  barrel  was  harm- 
lessly discharged. 

"The  next  morning,  Moore  and  Reeves,  in  a  state  of  intoxication, 
entered  Goodrich's  saloon,  laying  down  two  double-barrelled  shotguns 
and  four  revolvers,  on  the  counter,  considerably  to  the  discomfiture  of  the 
barkeeper,  who,  we  believe,  would  have  sold  his  position  very  cheap, 
for  cash,  at  that  precise  moment,  and  it  is  just  possible  that  he  might 
have  accepted  a  good  offer  'on  time.'  They  declared,  while  drinking,  that  if 
the  cowardly  white  folks  on  Yankee  Flat,  were  afraid  of  the  Indians,  they 
were  not,  and  that  they  would  soon  'set  the  ball  a  rolling.'  Taking  their 
weapons,  they  went  off  to  the  back  of  the  houses,  opposite  the  camp,  and 
levelling  their  pieces,  they  fired  into  the  tepee,  wounding  one  Indian.  They 
returned  to  the  saloon  and  got  three  drinks  more,  boasting  of  what  they 
had  done,  and  accompanied  by  William  Mitchell,  of  Minnesota,  and  two 
others,  they  went  back,  determined  to  complete  their  murderous  work. 
The  three  above  named  then  deliberately  poured  a  volley  into  the  tepee, 
with  fatal  effect.  Mitchell,  whose  gun  was  loaded  with  an  ounce  ball 
and  a  charge  of  buckshot,  killed  a  Frenchman  named  Brissette,  who  had 
run  up  to  ascertain  the  cause  of  the  first  firing — the  ball  striking  him  in 
the  forehead,  and  the  buckshot  wounding  him  in  ten  different  places. 
The  Indian  chief,  a  lame  Indian  boy,  and  a  pappoose,  were  also  killed; 
but  the  number  of  the  parties  who  were  wounded  has  never  been  ascer- 
tained. John  Burnes  escaped  with  a  broken  thumb,  and  a  man  named 
Woods  was  shot  in  the  groin,  of  which  wound  he  has  not  yet  entirely  re- 
covered. This  unfortunate  pair,  like  Brissette,  had  come  to  see  the  cause 
of  the  shooting,  and  of  the  yells  of  the  savages. 

"The  indignation  of  the  citizens  being  aroused  by  this  atrocious  and 
unprovoked  massacre,  a  mass  meeting  was  held  the  following  morning 
to  take  some  action  in  the  premises.  Charley  Moore  and  Reeves  hear- 
ing of  it,  started  early  in  the  morning,  on  foot,  towards  Rattlesnake, 
Henry  Plummer  preceding  them  on  horseback.  Sentries  were  then 


252  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

posted  all  around  the  town,  to  prevent  egress,  volunteers  were  called  for, 
to  pursue  the  criminals,  and  Messrs.  Lear,  Higgins,  O.  J.  Rockwell  and 
Davenport  at  once  followed  on  their  track,  coming  up  with  them  where 
they  had  hidden,  in  a  thicket  of  brush,  near  the  creek.  The  daylight  was 
beginning  to  fade,  and  the  cold  was  intense  when  a -reinforcement  arrived, 
on  which  the  fugitives  came  out,  delivered  themselves  up,  and  were  con- 
ducted back  to  Bannack. 

"Plummer  was  tried  and  'honorably'  acquitted,  on  account  of  Cleve- 
land's threats.  Mitchell  was  banished,  but  he  hid  around  the  town  for 
awhile,  and  never  went  away. 

Reeves  and  Moore  were  also  acquitted  although  eventually  banished 
from  the  territory.  The  pretext  of  the  prisoners  that  the  Indians  had 
killed  some  whites,  friends  of  theirs,  in  '49,  while  going  to  California, 
was  accepted  by  the  majority  of  the  jurors  as  some  sort  of  justification; 
but  the  truth  is  they  (the  jurors)  were  afraid  of  their  lives — and,  it  must 
be  confessed,  not  without  reason. 

"To  the  delivery  of  this  unfortunate  verdict  may  be  attributed  the 
ascendency  of  the  roughs.  They  thought  the  people  were  afraid  of  them. 
Had  the  question  been  left  to  old  Californians  or  experienced  miners, 
Plummer,  Reeves  and  Moore  would  have  been  hanged,  and  much  blood- 
shed and  suffering  would  have  been  thereby  prevented.  No  organization 
of  the  Road  Agents  would  have  been  possible.  *  *  * 

"(Hank)  Crawford  who  had  been  appointed  sheriff  at  the  trial  of 
Moore  and  Reeves  tendered  his  resignation  on  two  or  three  different  oc- 
casions ;  but  was  induced  to  continue  in  office  by  the  strongest  repre- 
sentation of  his  friends.  They  promised  to  stand  by  him  in  the  execution 
of  his  duty,  and  to  remunerate  him  for  his  loss  of  time  and  money.  The 
arms  taken  from  Plummer,  Reeves  and  Mitchell  were  sold  by  Crawford 
to  defray  expenses." 

PLUMMER  SENDS  OUT  His  BLOOD-HOUNDS 

Plummer  took  as  few  chances  as  possible  to  endanger  his  neck.  As 
an  illustration,  he  and  his  band  held  a  council  in  Alder  Gulch,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1863,  for  the  purpose  of  killing  and  robbing  Lloyd  Magruder,  a 
prosperous  and  popular  merchant  of  Lewiston,  Idaho,  as  well  as  a  can- 
didate for  Congress.  He  had  recently  closed  out  a  large  stock  of  goods 
in  Virginia  for  $14,000  and  was  about  to  return  to  his  home  town  with 
four  companions,  all  of  whom  were  marked  as  victims.  Plummer  selected 
five  of  his  men  to  dispose  of  the  Magruder  party,  but  one  of  the  road 
agents  decided  to  withdraw  from  the  enterprise  on  the  plea  that  he  was 
"on  the  rob,  but  not  on  the  kill."  Besides  Magruder,  the  party  consisted 
of  C.  Allen,  Horace  and  Robert  Chalmers,  and  a  Mr.  Phillips,  from  the 
neighborhood  of  Marysville,  and  the  road  agents  numbered  Jem  Romaine, 
Doc  Howard,  Billy  Page  and  Bill  Lowry. 

Charley  Allen,  it  seems,  had  strong  misgivings  about  the  character 
of  the  ruffians,  and  told  Magruder  that  the  men  would  not  harm  him 
(Allen),  as  they  were  under  obligations  to  him;  but  they  would,  likely 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  253 

enough  try  to  rob  Magruder.  His  caution  was  ineffectual,  and  Mr.  McK 
Dennee,  we  believe,  fixed  up  for  the  trip  the  gold  belonging  to  Ma- 
gruder. 

It  is  a  melancholy  fact  that  information  of  the  intention  of  the  mur- 
derers had  reached  the  ears  of  more  than  one  citizen ;  but  such  was  the 
terror  of  the  road  agents  that  they  dared  not  tell  any  of  the  party. 

Having  reached  the  mountain  beyond  Clearwater  River,  on  their  home- 
ward journey,  the  stock  was  let  out  to  graze  on  the  slope,  and  Magruder, 
in  company  with  Bill  Lowry,  went  up  to  watch  it.  Seizing  his  oppor- 
tunity, the  ruffian  murdered  Magruder,  and  his  confederates  assassinated 
the  four  remaining  in  camp,  while  asleep.  Romaine  said  to  Phillips;  when 
shooting  him  down,  "You  — ,  I  told  you  not  to  come."  The  villains 
having  possessed  themselves  of  the  treasure,  rolled  up  the  bodies,  baggage 
and  arms,  and  threw  them  over  a  precipice.  They  then  went  on  to  Lewis- 
ton,  avoiding  Elk  City  on  their  route,  where  the  first  intimation  of  foul 
play  was  given  by  the  sight  of  Magruder's  mule,  saddle,  leggings,  etc., 
in  the  possession  of  the  robbers.  Hill  Beechey,*  the  deputy  marshal  at 
Lewiston,  and  owner  of  the  Luna  House,  noticed  the  cantinas  filled  with 
gold,  and  suspected  something  wrong,  when  they  left  by  the  coach  for 
San  Francisco.  A  man  named  Goodrich  recognized  Page,  when  he  came 
to  ranch  the  animals  with  him. 

The  murderers  were  closely  muffled  and  tried  to  avoid  notice,  but 
Beechey  followed  them  right  through  to  California,  and  there  arrested 
them  on  the  charge  of  murdering  and  robbing  Magruder  and  his  party. 
He  found  that  they  had  changed  their  names  at  many  places.  Every 
possible  obstacle  was  interposed  that  the  forms  of  law  allowed;  but  the 
gallant  man  fought  through  it  all,  and  brought  them  back,  on  requisition 
of  the  governor  of  Idaho,  to  Lewiston.  Page  turned  state's  evidence, 
and  the  men,  who  were  closely  guarded  by  Beechey  all  the  time,,  in  his  own 
house,  were  convicted  after  a  fair  trial  and  hanged. 

Romaine,  who  had  been  a  barber,  and  afterwards  a  barkeeper,  was  a 
desperate  villain.  At  the  gallows,  he  said  that  there  was  a  note  in  his 
pocket,  which  he  did  not  wish  to  "be  read  until  he  was  dead.  On  opening 
it,  it  was  found  to  contain  a  most  beastly  and  insolent  defiance  of  the 
citizens  of  Lewiston.  Before  he  was  swung  off,  he  bade  them  "Launch 
their  —  —  old  boat,"  for  it  was  "only  a  mud-scow,  anyway." 

A  reconnoisance  of  the  ground,  in  spring,  discovered  a  few  bones, 
some  buttons  from  Magruder's  coat,  some  firearms,  etc.  The  coyotes  had 
been  too  busy  to  leave  much. 

EXECUTION  OF  GEORGE  IVES 

The  execution  of  the  notorious  George  Ives,  who  "lacked  the  calcula- 
tion of  Plummer,  but  wielded  a  great  influence  with  his  kind,  and,  in 
the  midst  of  danger,  was  a  cool  and  dashing  desperado — the  just  taking- 


*  Hill  Beechey  told  N.  P.  Langford,  the  sheriff  and  author,  of  praying  to  the 
Lord  to  help  him  catch  these  murderers.  "If  the  Lord  would  help  him  he  would 
never  ask  another  favor  of  him!" 


254  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

off  of  this  murderer  and  robber  was  the  first  decisive  check  suffered  by 
the  outlaws  of  Montana.  He  came  of  a  highly  respectable  Wisconsin  fam- 
ily, but  when  quite  young  was  swallowed  in  the  maelstrom  of  wild  western 
life,  and  was  about  twenty-seven  years  of  age  when  he  appeared  at  Vir- 
ginia City,  or,  as  it  was  called  for  short,  Virginia.  His  complexion  and 
hair  were  light,  his  eyes  blue,  was  without  whiskers,  height  nearly  six  feet, 
and  he  wore  a  soldier's  overcoat  and  a  light  felt  hat.  The  carriage  of 
this  renowned  desperado  was  sprightly  and  his  coolness  was  imperturb- 
able. Long  practice  in  confronting  danger  had  made  him  absolutely  fear- 
less. He  would  face  death  with  an  indifference  that  had  become  con- 
stitutional, and  the  spirit  of  reckless  bravado  with  which  he  was  animated 
made  him  the  terror  of  the  citizens.  He  would  levy  blackmail  under  the 
guise  of  a  loan  and  as  a  matter  of  sport,  and  to  show  the  training  of  his 
horse,  he  would  back  the  animal,  into  the  windows  of  a  store,  and  then 
ride  off  laughing. 

"In  looking  at  Ives,"  says  Professor  Dimsdale,  "a  man  would,  at  first 
sight,  be  favorably  impressed ;  but  a  closer  examination  by  anyone  skilled 
in  physiognomy,  would  detect  in  the  lines  of  the  mouth  and  in  the  strange, 
fierce  and  sinister  gleam  of  the  eye,  the  quick  spirit  which  made  him  not 
only  the  terror  of  the  community,  but  the  dread  of  the  band  of  ruffians 
with  whom  he  associated.  *  *  *" 

Two  MURDERS  BY  IVES 

"Perhaps  the  most  daring  and  cold-blooded  of  all  his  crimes  was 
the  murder  which  he  committed  near  the  Cold  Spring  Ranch.  A  man  had 
been  whipped  for  larceny  near  Nevada,  and  to  escape  the  sting  of  the  lash 
he  offered  to  give  information  about  the  Road  Agents.  Ives  heard  of  it 
and  meeting  him  purposely  between  Virginia  and  Dempsey's,  he  deliber- 
taely  fired  at  him  with  his  double-barreled  gun.  The  gun  was  so  badly 
loaded  and  the  man's  coat  so  thickly  padded  that  the  buckshot  did  not  take 
effect,  upon  which  he  coolly  drew  his  revolver  and,  talking  to  him  all 
the  time,  shot  him  dead.  This  deed  was  perpetrated  in  broad  daylighr  on 
a  highway — a  very  Bloomington  road  of  the  community — and  yet  there,  in 
plain  view  of  Daley's  and  Cold  Spring  Ranch,  with  two  or  three  other 
teams  in  sight,  he  assassinated  his  victim  in  a  cool  and  businesslike 
manner,  and  when  the  murdered  man  had  fallen  from  his  horse  he  took 
the  animal  by  the  bridle  and  led  it  off  among  the  hills. 

"Ives  then  went  to  George  Hilderman  and  told  him  he  should  like  to 
stay  at  his  wakiup  for  a  few  days,  as  he  had  killed  a  man  near  Cold 
Spring  ranch  and  there  might  be  some  stir  and  excitement  about  it. 
In  about  half  an  hour  after,  some  travelers  arrived  at  the  scene  of 
murder.  The  body  was  still  warm,  but  lifeless,  and  some  of  the  neighbors 
from  the  surrounding  ranches  dug  a  lonely  gravis  in  the  beautiful  valley." 

Cold-blooded  though  that  murder  was,  the  one  for  which  he  was  exe- 
cuted was  that  of  another  man,  an  honest,  inoffensive  German.  Nicholas 
Tbalt  had  sold  a  span  of  mules  to  his  employers,  Butschy  &  Clark,  who 
paid  him  the  money.  Taking  the  gold  with  him,  he  went  to  Dempsey's 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  255 

ranch  to  bring  up  the  animals.  Not  returning  for  some  time,  they  con- 
cluded that  he  had  run  away  with  the  mules,  and  were  greatly  grieved 
that  a  person  they  had  trusted  so  implicitly  should  deceive  them.  They 
were,  however,  mistaken.  Faithful  to  his  trust,  he  had  gone  for  the  mules, 
and  met  his  death  at  the  hands  of  George  Ives,  who  shot  him,  robbed 
him  of  his  money  and  stole  his  mules. 

Nicholas  Tbalt  was  brought  into  Nevada  on  a  wagon,  after  being 
missed  for  ten  days.  William  Herren  came  to  Virginia  and  informed 
Tom  Baume,  who  at  once  went  down  to  where  the  body  lay.  The  head 
had  been  pierced  by  a  ball,  which  had  entered  just  over  the  left  eye. 
The  marks  of  a  small  lariat  were  on  the  dead  man's  wrist  and  neck.  He 
had  been  dragged  through  the  brush,  while  living,  after  being  shot,  and 
when  found  lay  on  his  face,  his  right  arm  bent  across  his  chest  and  his  left 
grasping  the  willows  above  him. 

When  captured  by  a  posse  of  twenty-five  citizens,  raised  principally 
at  Virginia  City  and  Nevada,  Ives  protested  his  innocence  of  the  das- 
tardly crime,  but  evidence  had  been  collected  against  him  on  the  way, 
through  one  Long  John  who  had  the  mules  of  the  murdered  man.  On  the 
way  to  Nevada,  where  Ives's  trial  was  to  be  held,  the  defendant  nearly 
escaped  by  inducing  his  captors  to  have  a  race  with  his  horse,  which  was 
remarkably  speedy.  With  Ives  were  arrested  Long  John  (John  Franck) 
and  George  Hilderman,  who  had  discovered  the  body  of  the  murdered  man 
and  kept  the  fact  secret  for  several  days. 

THE  TRIAL  AND  EXECUTION 

The  forenoon  of  December  19,  1863,  saw  the  swelling  tide  of  miners, 
merchants  and  artizans  wending  their  way  to  Nevada  and  the  scene  of 
the  trial  and  all  the  morning  was  spent  in  private  examinations  of  the 
prisoners,  and  private  consultations  as  to  the  best  method  of  procedure. 
Friends  of  the  accused  were  found  in  all  classes  of  society;  many  of 
them  were  assiduously  at  work  to  create  a  sentiment  in  his  favor,  while 
a  large  multitude  were  there,  suspicious  that  the  right  man  had  been 
caught ;  and  resolved,  if  such  should  prove  to  be  the  case,  that  no  loop- 
hole of  escape  should  be  found  for  him,  in  any  technical  form  of  the 
law. 

Although  on  the  eve  of  "Forefathers'  Day,"  there  was  in  the  atmo- 
sphere the  mildness  and  the  serenity  of  October.  There  was  no  snow, 
and  but  little  ice  along  the  edges  of  sluggish  streams ;  but  the  sun,  bright 
and  genial,  warmed  the  clear  air,  and  even  thawed  out  the  congealed  mud 
in  the  middle  of  the  streets.  Little  boys  were  at  play  in  the  streets,  and 
1,500  men  stood  in  them,  impatient  for  action,  but  waiting  without  mur- 
mur, in  order  that  everything  might  be  done  decently  and  in  order. 

Messrs.  Smith,  Richie,  Thurmond  and  Colonel  Wood  were  Ives's  law- 
yers, with  whom  was  associated  Mr.  Alex.  Davis,  then  a  comparative 
stranger  in  Montana. 

Col.  W.  F.  Sanders,  at  that  time  residing  at  Bannack  City,  but  tem- 
porarily sojourning  at  Virginia,  was  sent  for  to  conduct  the  prosecution, 


256  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  Hon.  Charles  S.  Bagg  was  appointed  his  colleague,  at  the  request 
of  Judge  Wilson,  Mr.  Bagg  being  a  miner,  and  then,  little  known. 

In  settling  upon  the  mode  of  trial,  much  difference  of  opinion  was 
developed;  but  the  miners  finally  determined  that  it  should  be  held  in 
presence  of  the  whole  body  of  citizens,  and  reserved  to  themselves  the 
ultimate  decision  of  all  questions;  but  lest  something  should  escape  their 
attention,  and  injustice  thereby  be  done  to  the  public,  or  to  the  prisoner,  a 
delegation  composed  of  twelve  men  from  each  district  (Nevada  and  Junc- 
tion) was  appointed  to  hear  the  proof,  and  to  act  as  an  advisory  jury. 
W.  H.  Patton,  of  Nevada,  and  W.  Y.  Pemberton,  of  Virginia,  were  ap- 
pointed amanuenses.  An  attempt  to  get  on  the  jury  twelve  men  from  Vir- 
ginia was  defeated,  and  late  in  the  afternoon,  the  trial  began  and  con- 
tinued till  nightfall.  The  three  prisoners  were  chained  with  lightest  logging 
chain  that  could  be  found — this  was  wound  round  their  legs,  and  the 
links  were  secured  with  padlocks. 

In  introducing  testimony  for  the  people,  on  the  morning  of  the  2ist, 
the  miners  informed  all  concerned  that  the  trial  must  close  at  three  P.  M. 
The  announcement  was  received  with  great  satisfaction. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  describe  the  trial,  or  to  recapitulate  the  evidence. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that  two  alibis,  based  on  the  testimony  of  George  Brown, 
guide  for  Colonel  Marshall  in  the  Indian  Campaign  1862,  and  honest 
Whiskey  Joe,  failed  altogether.  Among  the  lawyers,  there  was,  doubt- 
less, the  usual  amount  of  brow-beating  and  technical  insolence,  inter- 
mingled with  display  of  eloquence  and  learning;  but  not  the  rhetoric  of 
Blair,  the  learning  of  Coke,  the  metaphysics  of  Alexander,  the  wit  of 
Jerrold,  or  the  ardor  of  Oberlin,  could  dull  the  perceptions  of  those  hardy 
mountaineers,  or  mislead  them  from  the  stern  and  righteous  purpose  of  all 
this  labor,  which  was  to  secure  immunity  to  the  persons  and  property  of 
the  community,  and  to  guarantee  a  like  protection  to  those  who  should 
cast  their  lot  in  Montana  in  time  to  come. 

The  evidence  was  not  confined  to  the  charge  of  murder ;  but  showed, 
also,  that  Ives  had  been  acting  in  the  character  of  a  robber,  as  well  as 
that  of  a  murderer;  and  it  may  well  be  doubted  whether  he  would  have 
been  convicted  at  all  if  developments  damaging  to  the  reputations  and 
dangerous  to  the  existence  of  some  of  his  friends  had  not  been  made  dur- 
ing the  trial,  on  which  they  absented  themselves  mysteriously,  and  have 
never  been  seen  since.  There  was  an  instinctive  and  unerring  conviction 
that  the  worst  man  in  the  community  was  on  trial ;  but  it  was  hard  work, 
after  all  the  proof  and  all  this  feeling,  to  convict  him. 

"The  crowd  which  gathered  around  that  fire  in  front  of  the  court,  is 
vividly  before  our  eyes,"  reads  Dimsdale's  narrative.  "We  see  the  wagon 
containing  the  judge,  and  an  advocate  pleading  with  all  his  earnestness 
and  eloquence  for  the  dauntless  robber,  on  whose  unmoved  features  no 
shade  of  despondency  can  be  traced  by  the  fitful  glare  of  the  blazing  wood, 
which  lights  up,  at  the  same  time,  the  stern  and  impassive  features  of 
the  guard,  who,  in  every  kind  of  habiliments,  stand  in  various  attitudes, 
in  a  circle  surrounding  the  scene  of  justice.  The  attentive  faces  and  com- 
pressed lips  of  the  jurors  show  their  sense  of  the  vast  responsibility  that 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  257 

rests  upon  them,  and  of  their  firm  resolve  to  do  their  duty.  Ever  and 
anon  a  brighter  flash  than  ordinary  reveals  the  expectant  crowd  of  miners, 
thoughtfully  and  steadily  gazing  on  the  scene,  and  listening  intently  to 
the  trial.  Beyond  this  close  phalanx,  fretting  and  shifting  around  its 
outer  edge,  sways  with  quick  and  uncertain  motion,  the  wavering  line 
of  desperadoes  and  sympathizers  with  the  criminal;  their  haggard,  wild 
and  alarmed  countenances  showing  too  plainly  that  they  tremble  at  the 
issue  which  is,  when  decided,  to  drive  them  in  exile  from  Montana,  or  to 
proclaim  them  as  associate  criminals,  whose  fate  could  neither  be  delayed 
nor  dubious.  A  sight  like  this  will  ne'er  be  seen  again  in  Montana.  It 
was  the  crisis  of  the  fate  of  the  territory. 

"Nor  was  the  position  of  prosecutor,  guard,  juror,  or  judge,  one  that 
any  but  a  brave  and  law-abiding  citizen  would  chose,  or  even  accept. 
Marked  for  slaughter  by  desperadoes,  these  men  staked  their  lives  for 
the  welfare  of  society.  A  mortal  strife  between  Colonel  Sanders  and  one 
of  the  opposing  lawyers  was  only  prevented  by  the  prompt  action  of  wise 
men,  who  corraled  the  combatants  on  their  way  to  fight.  The  hero  of 
that  hour  of  trial  was  avowedly  W.  F.  Sanders.  Not  a  desperado  present 
but  would  have  felt  honored  by  becoming  his  murderer,  and  yet,  fear- 
less as  a  lion,  he  stood  there  confronting  and  defying  the  malice  of  his 
armed  adversaries.  The  citizens  of  Montana,  many  of  them  his  bitter 
political  opponents,  recollect  his  actions  with  gratitude  and  kindly  feeling. 
Charles  S.  Bagg  is  also  remembered  as  having  been  at  his  post  when 
the  storm  blew  loudest. 

"The  argument  of  the  case  having  terminated,  the  issue  was,  in  the 
first  place,  left  to  the  decision  of  the  twenty-four  who  had  been  selected 
for  that  purpose,  and  they  thereupon  retired  to  consult. 

"Judge  Byam,  who  shouldered  the  responsibility  of  the  whole  pro- 
ceeding, will  never  be  forgotten  by  those  in  whose  behalf  he  courted 
certain,  deadly  peril,  and  probable  death. 

"The  jury  were  absent,  deliberating  on  their  verdict,  but  little  less 
than  an  hour,  and  on  their  return,  twenty-three  made  a  report  that  Ives 
was  proven  guilty;  but  one  member — Henry  Spivey — declined  to  give  in 
any  find,  for  unknown  reasons. 

"The  crisis  of  the  affair  had  now  arrived.  A  motion  was  made  'That 
the  report  of  the  committee  be  received,  and  it  discharged  from  further 
consideration  of  that  case/  which  Mr.  Thurmond  opposed ;  but  upon  ex- 
planation, deferred  pressing  his  objections  until  the  motion  should  be 
made  to  adopt  the  report,  and  to  accept  the  verdict  of  the  committee  as 
the  judgment  of  the  people  there  assembled;  and  thus  the  first  formal 
motion  passed  without  opposition. 

"Before  this,  some  of  the  crowd  were  clamorous  for  an  adjournment, 
and  now  Ives'  friends  renewed  the  attempt ;  but  it  met  with  signal  failure. 

"Another  motion:  'That  the  assembly  adopt  as  their  verdict  the 
report  of  the  committee,'  was  made,  and  called  forth  the  irrepressible 
and  indefatigable  Thurmond  and  Col.  J.  M.  Wood;  but  it  carried,  there 
being  probably  not  more  than  one  hundred  votes  against  it. 

"Here  it  was  supposed  by  many  that  the  proceedings  would  end  for 


258  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  present,  and  that  the  court  would  adjourn  until  the  morrow,  as  it  was 
already  dark.  Col.  Sanders,  however,  mounted  the  wagon,  and  having 
recited  that  Ives  had  been  declared  a  murderer  and  a  robber  by  the 
people  there  assembled,  moved,  'That  George  Ives  be  forthwith  hung 
by  the  neck  until  he  is  dead' — a  bold  and  businesslike  movement  which 
excited  feeble  opposition,  was  carried  before  the  defendant  seemed  to 
realize  the  situation ;  but  a  friend  or  two  and  some  old  acquaintances  hav- 
ing gained  admission  to  the  circle  within  which  Ives  was  guarded,  to  bid 
him  farewell,  awakened  him  to  a  sense  of  the  condition  in  which  he  was 
placed,  and  culprit  and  counsel  sought  to  defer  the  execution.  Some  of 
his  ardent  counsel  shed  tears,  of  which  lachrymose  effusions  it  is  well  to 
say  no  more  than  that  they  were  copious.  The  vision  of  a  long  and  scaly 
creature,  inhabiting  the  Nile,  rises  before  us  in  connection  with  this 
aqueous  sympathy  for  an  assassin.  Quite  a  number  of  his  old  chums 
were,  as  Petroleum  V.  Nasby  says:  'Weeping  profoosly.'  Then  came 
moving  efforts  to  have  the  matter  postponed  until  the  coming  morning, 
Ives  giving  assurances,  upon  his  honor,  that  no  attempt  at  rescue  or  escape 
would  be  made ;  but  already,  Davis  and  Hereford  were  seeking  a  favor- 
able spot  for  the  execution. 

"An  unfinished  house,  having  only  the  side-walls  up,  was  chosen  as  the 
best  place,  near  at  hand,  for  carrying  into  effect  the  sentence  of  death. 
The  preparations,  though  entirely  sufficient,  were  both  simple  and  brief. 
The  butt  of  a  forty-foot  pole  was  planted  inside  the  house,  at  the  foot 
of  one  of  the  walls,  and  the  stick  leaned  over  a  cross  beam.  Near  the 
point,  was  tied  the  fatal  cord,  with  the  open  noose  dangling  fearfully 
at  its  lower  end.  A  large  goods  box  was  the  platform.  The  night  had 
closed  in,  with  a  bright,  full  moon,  and  around  that  altar  of  vengeance, 
the  stern  and  resolute  faces  of  the  guard  were  visible,  under  all  circum- 
stances of  light  and  shade  conceivable.  Unmistakable  determination  was 
expressed  in  every  line  of  their  bronzed  and  weather-beaten  countenances. 

"George  Ives  was  led  to  the  scaffold  in  fifty-eight  minutes  from  the 
time  that  his  doom  was  fixed.  A  perfect  babble  of  voices  saluted  the  move- 
ment. Every  roof  was  covered,  and  cries  of  'Hang  him!'  'Don't  hang 
him !'  'Banish  him !'  'I'll  shoot !'  'Let's  hang  Long  John !'  were  heard  all 
around.  The  revolvers  could  be  seen  flashing  in  the  moonlight.  The 
guard  stood  like  a  rock.  They  had  heard  the  muttered  threats  of  a  rescue 
from  the  crowd,  and  with  grim  firmness — the  characteristic  of  the  miners 
when  they  mean  'business' — they  stood  ready  to  beat  them  back.  Woe  to 
the  mob  that  should  surge  against  that  living  bulwark.  They  would  have 
fallen  as  grass  before  the  scythe. 

"As  the  prisoner  stepped  on  the  fatal  platform,  the  noise  ceased,  and 
the  stillness  became  painful.  The  rope  was  adjusted,  and  the  usual  re- 
quest was  made  as  to  whether  he  had  anything  to  say.  With  a  firm  voice 
he  replied,  'I  am  innocent  of  this  crime;  Aleck  Carter  killed  the  Dutch- 
man.' 

"The  strong  emphasis  on  the  word  'this'  convinced  all  around,  that 
he  meant  his  words  to  convey  the  impression  that  he  was  guilty  of  other 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  259 

crimes.  Up  to  this  moment  he  had  always  accused  Long  John  of  the 
murder. 

"Ives  expressed  a  wish  to  see  Long  John,  and  the  crowd  of  sympathiz- 
ers yelled  in  approbation;  but  the  request  was  denied,  for  an  attempt  at 
a  rescue  was  expected. 

"All  being  ready,  the  word  was  given  to  the  guard,  'Men  do  your  duty.' 
The  click  of  the  locks  rang  sharply  and  the  pieces  flashed  in  the  moonlight, 
as  they  came  to  the  'Aim'  the  box  flew  from  under  the  murderer's  feet, 
with  a  crash,  and  George  Ives  swung  in  the  night  breeze,  facing  the  pale 
moon  that  lighted  up  the  scene  of  retributive  justice. 

"As  the  vengeful  click !  click !  of  the  locks  sounded  their  note  of  deadly 
warning  to  the  intended  rescuers,  the  crowd  stampeded  in  wild  affright, 
rolling  over  one  another  in  heaps,  shrieking  and  howling  with  terror. 

"When  the  drop  fell,  the  judge,  who  was  standing  close  beside  Ives, 
called  out,  'His  neck  is  broken ;  he  is  dead.'  This  announcement,  and  the 
certainty  of  its  truth — for  the  prisoner  never  moved  a  limb — convinced 
the  few  resolute  desperadoes  who  knew  not  fear,  that  the  case  was  hope- 
less, and  they  retired  with  grinding  teeth,  and  with  muttered  curses  issuing 
from  their  lips." 

COLONEL  SANDERS  ON  THE  TRIAL  AND  EXECUTION 

The  trial  in  detail  is  described  by  Col.  W.  F.  Sanders,  who  states 
that  Ives  was  tried  by  twenty-four  miners  as  jurors  and  Hon.  Don 
D.  Byam  as  presiding  judge.  Before  the  proceedings  commenced  about  a 
thousand  armed  miners  had  gathered  from  the  gulches  for  several  miles 
around  Nevada  and  Virginia  to  see  ^fair  play."  Two  sheriffs  were  also 
on  hand.  The  courtroom  was  on  the  east  side  of  the  main  street  in 
Nevada,  "where  a  big  Schuttler  wagon  had  been  drawn  up  in  front  of  a 
two-story  building,  some  seats  arranged  for  the  court,  counsel  and  prison- 
ers in  the  same,  and  a  fire  had  been  built  on  the  ground  near  the  wagon 
from  cord  wood  which  some  unlucky  woodman  had  the  misfortune  to 
have  placed  there.  William  Y.  Pemberton,  Esq.,  then  a  genial  young 
lawyer  living  at  Virginia  City,  was  appointed  amanuensis,  and  a  table  was 
provided  for  him  near  the  fire.  A  semi-circle  of  benches  from  an  ad- 
jacent hurdy-gurdy  house  had  been  placed  around  the  fire  for  the  accomo- 
dation  of  the  twenty-four  jurors  and  behind  that  semi-circle  a  place  was 
reserved  for  a  cordon  of  guards,  who,  with  their  shotguns  or  rifles,  as  the 
case  might  be,  marched  hour  by  hour.  Although  Ives  was  charged  with 
a  number  of  crimes  and  testimony  introduced  to  sustain  the  charges,  the 
verdict  of  guilty  voted  by  twenty-three  of  the  twenty-four  jurors  was 
founded  on  the  murder  of  Tbalt.  He  was  defended  by  able  counsel. 
When  the  verdict  was  announced,  Colonel  Sanders,  as  chief  prosecutor, 
made  a  motion  that  it  be  made  the  verdict  of  the  miners'  meeting  there 
assembled,  and  supplemented  it  by  another — that  Ives  be  hung — both  of 
which  were  put  by  Judge  Byam  and  carried  with  a  rush. 

Ives  endeavored  to  secure  delay  for  the  purpose  of  writing  to  his 
mother  and  sisters,  but  X.  Beidler,  who  was  in  the  background  watch- 


260  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ing,  shouted,  "Sanders,  ask  him  how  long  a  time  he  gave  the  Dutchman!" 
He  was  allowed  to  write  a  letter  then  and  there,  but  not  on  the  following 
day,  as  he  requested.  He  was  interrupted  by  his  friends,  who  were 
allowed  to  bid  him  good-bye,  some  of  them  weeping  bitterly ;  for  although 
he  was  a  scoundrel  and  a  murderer  he  had  the  faculty  of  binding  closely 
to  him  men  of  his  type. 

Toward  the  last  of  his  account  of  the  trial  and  execution,  Colonel 
Sanders  says :  "It  has  been  generally  stated  that  Ives  pulled  off  his 
boots,  saying  that  he  had  sworn  that  he  would  not  die  with  his  boots  on. 
I  do  not  remember  this  and  only  think  it  probable  because  it  was  told 
shortly  thereafter,  and  I  cannot  say  that  I  ever  contradicted  it,  which  I 
think  I  should  have  done  had  it  not  been  true.  However,  I  have  not 
written  the  details  of  this  prosecution,  nor  have  I  attempted  to  speak  of 
it  in  detail;  now,  for  the  first  time,  putting  down  with  pen  the  events 
as  I  remember  them,  without  consultation  with  any  other  authorities 
whatever.  In  fact,  the  written  authorities  of  Langford  and  Dinsdale  are 
hearsay,  neither  one  of  these  gentlemen  having  been  present,  but  their 
information  was  gathered  from  actors  in  this  stirring  tragedy  and  I  con- 
sider them  reliable." 

ORGANIZATION  OF  VIGILANTES 

About  the  time  of  the  execution  of  Ives  and  shortly  following  the 
murder  of  Lloyd  Magruder  and  his  four  companions,  the  citizens  of  Ban- 
nack,  Virginia  City  and  its  twin  settlement,  Nevada,  decided  that  some  or- 
ganization must  be  effected  to  promptly  punish  the  reckless  criminals  who 
were  carrying  the  communities  with  such  a  high  hand.  From  the  best  evi- 
dence at  hand,  the  movement  was  started  by  five  men  in  Virginia  City, 
four  in  Bannack  and  one  in  Nevada.  A  vigilance  committee  was  formed 
with  Paris  S.  Pfouts  as  president,  Wilbur  F.  Sanders,  official  prosecu- 
tor, and  Capt.  James  Williams,  executive  officer.  Then,  in  total  darkness, 
standing  in  a  circle  with  hands  uplifted,  Colonel  Sanders  adminis- 
tered the  following  oath:  "We,  the  undersigned,  uniting  ourselves  to- 
gether for  the  laudable  purpose  of  arresting  thieves  and  murderers  and 
recovering  stolen  property,  do  pledge  ourselves  on  our  sacred  honors,  each 
to  all  others,  and  solemnly  swear  that  we  will  reveal  no  secrets,  violate  no 
laws  of  right,  and  never  desert  each  other  or  our  standard  of  justice,  so 
help  us  God."  One  of  the  by-laws  read :  "The  only  punishment  that  shall 
be  inflicted  by  this  committee  is  death."  The  vigilantes  did  not  strictly 
conform  to  this  by-law,  as  it  was  thought  advisable  to  banish  some  of 
the  minor  criminals  whose  offenses  did  not  warrant  death,  but  whose 
permanent  absence  was  obviously  conducive  to  the  well-being  of  Mon- 
tana. 

HANGING  OF  RED  AND  BROWN 

On  the  23rd  of  December,  1863,  twenty-four  members  of  the  Vigil- 
ance Committee,  which  had  just  been  organized,  started  from  Bannack 
City  to  run  down  the  criminals  of  the  region.  Each  man  carried  gen- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  261 

erally  a  pair  of  revolvers,  a  rifle  or  shotgun,  blankets  and  some  rope. 
The  cavalcade,  mounted  both  on  horse  and  mule  back,  went  by  way  of 
Stinking  Water,  on  to  the  Big  Hole  and  over  the  divide  in  the  main  range. 
The  weather  was  very  cold  and  there  was  much  snow  upon  the  ground. 
Fires  could  not  be  lighted  when  wanted  at  night,  for  fear  of  attracting 
attention.  The  men  leaving  their  horses  under  a  guard  lay  down  in  their 
blankets  on  the  snow — "the  wisest  of  them,  in  it."  On  Deer  Lodge  Creek 
they  commenced  to  come  in  contact  with  the  desperadoes.  Red  (Erastus 
Yager),  the  letter  carrier  of  the  band,  was  finally  captured  as  well  as 
Brown,  the  secretary. 

*The  culprits  were  informed  that  they  should  be  taken  to  Virginia,  and 
were  given  in  charge  to  a  trustworthy  and  gallant  man,  with  a  detachment 
of  seven,  selected  from  the  whole  troop.  This  escort  reached  Lorraine's 
in  two  hours.  The  rest  of  the  men  arrived  at  sundown.  The  prisoners 
were  given  up,  and  the  leader  of  the  little  party,  who  had  not  slept  for 
four  or  five  nights,  lay  down  to  snatch  a  brief,  but  welcome  repose.  About 
10  P.  M.,  he  was  awakened,  and  the  significant,  "We  want  you,"  an- 
nounced "business." 

The  tone  and  manner  of  the  summons  at  once  dispelled  even  his 
profound  and  sorely  needed  slumber.  He  rose  without  further  parley  and 
went  from  the  parlor  to  the  bar-room  where  Red  and  Brown  were  lying 
in  a  corner,  asleep.  Red  got  up  at  the  sound  of  his  footsteps,  and  said, 
"You  have  treated  me  like  gentlemen,  and  I  know  I  am  going  to  die — 
I  am  going  to  be  hanged."  "Indeed,"  said  his  quondom  custodian,  "that's 
pretty  rough."  In  spite  of  a  sense  of  duty,  he  felt  what  he  said  deeply. 
"It  is  pretty  rough,"  continued  Yager,  "but  I  merited  this,  years  ago. 
What  I  want  to  say  is  that  I  know  all  about  the  gang,  and  there  are  men 
in  it  that  deserve  this  more  than  I  do ;  but  I  should  die  happy  if  I  could 
see  them  hanged,  or  know  that  it  wouTd  be  done.  I  don't  say  this  to  get 
off.  I  don't  want  to  get  off."  He  was  told  that  it  would  be  better  if  he 
should  give  all  the  information  in  his  possession,  if  only  for  the  sake  of 
his  kind.  Times  had  been  very  hard,  and  "you  know,  Red,"  said  the 
vigilante,  "that  men  have  been  shot  down  in  broad  daylight — not  for 
money,  or  even  for  hatred,  but  for  luck,  and  it  must  be  put  a  stop  to." 

To  this  he  assented,  and  the  captain  being  called,  all  that  had  passed 
was  stated  to  him.  He  said  that  the  prisoner  had  better  begin  at  once, 
and  his  words  should  be  taken  down.  Red  began  by  informing  them  that 
Plummer  was  chief  of  the  band ;  Bill  Bunton  second  in  command  and 
stool  pigeon;  Sam  Bunton,  roadster,  (sent  away  for  being  a  drunkard)  ; 
Cyrus  Skinner,  roadster,  fence  and  spy.  At  Virginia  City,  George  Ives, 
Steven  Marshland,  Dutch  John  (Wagner),  Aleck  Carter,  Whiskey  Bill 
(Graves),  were  roadsters ;  George  Shears  was  a  roadster  and  horse-thief ; 
Johnny  Cooper  and  Buck  Stinson  were  also  roadsters;  Ned  Ray  was 
council-room  keeper  at  Bannack  City;  Mexican  Frank  and  Bob  Zachary 
were  also  roadsters;  Frank  Parish  was  roadster  and  horse-thief;  Boon 
Helm  and  Club-Foot  George  were  roadsters ;  Haze  Lyons  and  Bill  Hunter 


*  Dimsdale's  "Vigilantes  of  Montana." 


262  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

were  roadsters  and  telegraph  men;  George  Lowry,  Billy  Page,  Doc 
Howard,  Jem  Romaine,  Billy  Terwilliger  and  Gad  Moore  were  roadsters. 
The  password  was  "Innocent."  They  wore  a  necktie  fastened  with  a 
"sailor's  knot,"  and  shaved  down  to  moustache  and  chin  whiskers.  He 
admitted  that  he  was  one  of  the  gang;  but  denied — as  they  invariably 
did — that  he  was  a  murderer.  He  also  stated  that  Brown — his  fellow 
captive — acted  in  the  capacity  before  mentioned. 

He  spoke  of  Bill  Bunton  with  a  fierce  animosity  quite  unlike  his 
usual  suave  and  courteous  manner.  To  him,  he  said,  he  owed  his  pres- 
ent miserable  position.  He  it  was  that  first  seduced  him  to  commit  crime, 
at  Lewiston.  He  gave  the  particulars  of  the  robberies  of  the  coaches  and 
of  many  other  crimes,  naming  perpetrators.  As  these  details  have  been 
already  supplied  or  will  appear  in  the  course  of  the  narrative,  they  are 
omitted,  in  order  to  avoid  a  useless  repetition. 

After  serious  reflection,  it  had  been  decided  that  the  two  culprits 
should  be  executed  forthwith,  and  the  dread  preparations  were  imme- 
diately made  for  carrying  out  the  resolution. 

The  trial  of  George  Ives  had  demonstrated  most  unquestionably  that 
no  amount  of  certified  guilt  was  sufficient  to  enlist  popular  sympathy  ex- 
clusively on  the  side  of  justice,  or  to  render  the  just  man  other  than  a 
mark  for  vengeance.  The  majority  of  men  sympathize,  in  spite  of  the 
voice  of  reason,  with  the  murderers  instead  of  the  victims;  a  course  of 
conduct  which  appears  to  us  inexplicable,  though  we  know  it  to  be  com- 
mon. Every  fibre  of  our  frame  vibrates  with  anger  and  disgust  when  we 
meet  a  ruffian,  a  murderer  or  a  marauder.  Mawkish  sentimentalism  we 
abhor.  The  thought  of  murdered  victims,  dishonored  females,  plundered 
wayfarers,  burning  houses,  and  the  rest  of  the  sad  evidences  of  villainy, 
completely  excludes  mercy  from  our  view.  Honor,  truth  and  the  sacrifice 
of  self  to  consideration  of  justice  and  the  good  of  mankind — these  claim, 
we  had  almost  said  our  adoration;  but  for  the  low,  brutal,  cruel,  lazy, 
ignorant,  insolent,  sensual  and  blasphemous  miscreants  that  infest  the 
frontiers,  we  entertain  but  one  sentiment — aversion — deep,  strong,  and 
unchangeable.  For  such  cases,  the  rope  is  the  only  prescription  that 
avails  as  a  remedy.  But  tnough  such  feelings  must  be  excited  in  the  minds 
of  good  citizens,  when  brought  face  to  face  with  such  monsters  as  Stin- 
son,  Helm,  Gallagher,  lyes,  Skinner,  or  Graves,  the  calm  courage  and 
penitent  conduct  of  Erastus  Yager  have  the  opposite  effect,  and  loss  of 
the  goodly  vessel  thus  wrecked  forever,  must  inspire  sorrow,  though  it 
may  not  and  ought  not  to  disarm  justice. 

Brief  were  the  preparations  needed.  A  lantern  and  some  stools  were 
brought  from  the  house,  and  the  party,  crossing  the  creek  behind  Lor- 
raine's ranch,  made  for  the  trees  that  still  bear  the  marks  of  the  axe 
which  trimmed  off  the  superfluous  branches.  On  the  road  to  the  gallows, 
Red  was  cool,  calm  and  collected.  Brown*  sobbed  and  cried  for  mercy, 
and  prayed  God  to  take  care  of  his  wife  and  family  in  Minnesota.  He 


*  Brown  was  a  scout  and  guide  for  Colonel  Marshall  in  an  expedition  into 
Dakota  in  pursuit  of  Indians  in  October,  1862.  He  had  been  a  trader  among  the 
Indians  on  the  Missouri  River.  He  was  called  "Missouri  Brown." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  263 

was  married  to  a  squaw.  Red,  overhearing  him,  said,  sadly  but  firmly, 
"Brown,  if  you  had  thought  of  this  three  years  ago,  you  would  not  be 
here  now,  or  give  these  boys  this  trouble." 

After  arriving  at  the  fatal  trees,  they  were  pinioned  and  stepped 
on  to  the  stools,  which  had  been  placed  one  on  the  other  to  form  a  drop. 
Brown  and  the  man  who  was  adjusting  the-  rope,  tottered  and  fell  into 
the  snow;  but  recovering  himself  quickly,  the  vigilanter  said  quietly, 
"Brown  we  must  do  better  than  that." 

Brown's  last  words  were,  "God  Almighty  save  my  soul." 

The  frail  platform  flew  from  under  him,  and  his  life  passed  away 
almost  with  the  twang  of  the  rope. 

Red  saw  his  comrade  drop;  but  no  sign  of  trepidation  was  visible. 
His  voice  was  as  calm  and  quiet  as  if  he  had  been  conversing  with  old 
friends.  He  said  he  knew  that  he  should  be  followed  and  hanged  when 
he  met  the  party  on  the  Divide.  He  wished  that  they  would  chain  him 
and  carry  him  along  to  where  the  rest  were,  that  he  might  see  them 
punished.  Just  before  he  was  launched  into  eternity,  he  asked  to  shake 
hands  with  them  all,  which  having  done,  he  begged  of  the  man  who  had 
escorted  him  to  Lorraine's,  that  he  would  follow  and  punish  the  rest. 
The  answer  was  given  in  these  words,  "Red,  we  will  do  it,  if  there's  any 
such  thing  in  the  book."  The  pledge  was  kept. 

His  last  words  were,  "Good-bye,  boys;  God  bless  you.  You  are  on 
a  good  undertaking."  The  frail  footing  on  which  he  stood  gave  way, 
and  this  dauntless  and  yet  guilty  criminal  died  without  a  struggle.  It  was 
pitiful  to  see  one  whom  nature  intended  for  a  hero,  dying — and  that 
justly — like  a  dog. 

A  label  was  pinioned  to  his  back  bearing  the  legend : 

"Red!  Road  Agent  and  Messenger." 

The  inscription  on  the  paper  fastened  on  to  Brown's  clothes  was: 

"Brown!    Corresponding  Secretary." 

The  fatal  trees  still  smile  as  they  don  the  green  livery  of  spring,  or 
wave  joyfully  in  the  summer  breeze ;  but  when  the  chill  blast  of  winter 
moans  over  the  snow-clad  prairie,  the  wind  sighing,  and  creaking  through 
the  swaying  boughs  seems,  to  the  excited  listener,  to  be  still  laden  with  the 
sighs  and  sounds  of  that  fatal  night. 

The  bodies  were  left  suspended,  and  remained  so  for  some  days  before 
they  were  buried.  The  ministers  of  justice  expected  a  battle  on  their 
arrival  at  Nevada ;  but  they  found  the  Vigilantes  organized  in  full  force, 
and  each  man,  as  he  uncocked  his  gun  and  dismounted,  heaved  a  deep 
sigh  of  relief.  The  crisis  was  past. 

EXECUTION  OF  PLUMMER,  STINSON  AND  RAY 

When  Dutch  John  Wagner  was  brought  back  to  Bannack  City,  after 
his  attempted  escape  to  Utah,  the  Vigilantes  of  Virginia  sent  a  communi- 
cation to  his  captors,  containing  an  order  for  the  execution  of  Henry 
Plummer,  Buck  Stinson  and  Ned  Ray — the  first  as  captain,  and  the 
others  as  members  of  the  road  agent  band.  That  action  was  followed 


264  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

by  the  formal  organization  of  the  Bannack  Vigilantes,  and  Dutch  John 
was  taken  by  his  captors  to  an  empty  cabin  of  Yankee  Flat,  where  he 
was  held,  pending  the  more  important  affair  in  connection  with  the  fate 
of  Messrs.  Plummer,  Stinson  and  Ray. 

About  dusk  of  the  following  day,  the  three  horses  of  the  afore- 
mentioned outlaws  were  brought  into  Bannack  by  the  Vigilantes,  and  not 
long  afterward  the  principals  were  captured.  The  three  details  marched 
their  men  to  a  given  point,  en  route  to  the  gallows.  Here  a  halt  was 
made.  The  leader  of  the  Vigilantes  and  some  others,  who  wished  to 
save  all  unnecessary  hard  feeling,  were  sitting  in  a  cabin,  designing  not 
to  speak  to  Plummer,  with  whom  they  were  so  well  acquainted.  A  halt 
was  made,  however,  and,  at  the  door,  appeared  Plummer.  The  light  was 
extinguished ;  when  the  party  moved  on,  but  soon  halted.  The  crisis  had 
come.  Seeing  that  the  circumstances  were  such  as  admitted  of  neither 
vacillation  nor  delay,  the  citizen  leader,  summoning  his  friends,  went  up 
to  the  party  and  gave  the  military  command,  "Company!  forward — 
march !"  This  was  at  once  obeyed.  A  rope  taken  from  a  noted  function- 
ary's bed  had  been  mislaid  and  could  not  be  found.  A  nigger  boy  was 
sent  off  for  some  of  that  highly  necessary,  but  unpleasant  remedy  for 
crime,  and  the  bearer  made  such  good  time  that  some  hundreds  of  feet 
of  hempen  neck-tie  were  on  the  ground  before  the  arrival  of  the  party 
at  the  gallows.  On  the  road,  Plummer  heard  the  voice  and  recognized 
the  person  of  the  leader.  He  came  to  him  and  begged  for  his  life ;  but 
was  told,  "It  is  useless  for  you  to  beg  for  your  life ;  that  affair  is  settled 
and  cannot  be  altered.  You  are  to  be  hanged.  You  cannot  feel  harder 
about  it  than  I  do !  but  I  cannot  help  it,  if  I  would."  Ned  Ray,  clothed 
with  curses  as  with  a  garment,  actually  tried  fighting,  but  found  that  he 
was  in  the  wrong  company  for  such  demonstrations ;  and  Buck  Stinson 
made  the  air  ring  with  the  blasphemous  and  filthy  expletives  which  he 
used  in  addressing  his  captors.  Plummer  exhausted  every  argument 
and  plea  that  his  imagination  could  suggest,  in  order  to  induce  his  cap- 
tors to  spare  his  life.  He  begged  to  be  chained  down  in  the  meanest 
cabin;  offered  to  leave  the  country  forever;  wanted  a  jury  trial;  im- 
plored time  to  settle  his  affairs ;  asked  to  see  his  sister-in-law,  and,  falling 
on  his  knees,  with  tears  and  sighs  declared  to  God  that  he  was  too  wicked 
to  die.  He  confessed  his  numerous  murders  and  crimes,  and  seemed 
almost  frantic  at  the  prospect  of  death. 

The  first  rope  being  thrown  over  the  crossbeam,  and  the  noose  being 
rove,  the  order  was  given  to  "Bring  up  Ned  Ray."  This  desperado  was 
run  up  with  curses  on  his  lips.  Being  loosely  pinioned,  he  got  his  fingers 
between  the  rope  and  his  neck,  and  thus  prolonged  his  misery. 

Buck  Stinson  saw  his  comrade  robber  swinging  in  the  death  agony, 
and  blubbered  out,  "There  goes  poor  Ed  Ray."  Scant  mercy  had  he 
shown  to  his  numerous  victims.  By  a  sudden  twist  of  his  head  at  the 
moment  of  his  elevation  the  knot  slipped  under  his  chin,  and  he  was 
some  minutes  dying. 

The  order  to  "Bring  up  Plummer"  was  then  passed  and  repeated;  but 
no  one  stirred.  The  leader  went  over  to  this  perfect  gentleman,  as  his 


PLUMMER-STINSON-RAY  SCAFFOLD 


266  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

friends  called  him,  and  was  met  by  a  request  to  "Give  a  man  time  to 
pray."  Well  knowing  that  Plummer.  relied  for  a  rescue  upon  other  than 
Divine  aid,,  he  said  briefly  and  decidedly,  "Certainly ;  but  let  him  say  his 
prayers  up  here."  Finding  all  efforts  to  avoid  death  were  useless,  Plum- 
mer rose  and  said  no  more  prayers.  Standing  under  the  gallows  which 
he  had  erected  for  the  execution  of  Horan,  this  second  Haman  slipped 
off  his  neck-tie  and  threw  it  over  his  shoulder  to  a  young  friend  who 
had  boarded  at  his  house,  and  who  believed  him  innocent  of  crime,  saying 
as  he  tossed  it  to  him,  "Here  is  something  to  remember  me  by."  In  the 
extremity  of  his  grief,  the  young  man  threw  himself  weeping  and  wailing 
upon  the  ground.  Plummer  requested  that  the  men  would  give  him  a 
good  drop,  which  was  done,  as  far  as  circumstances  permitted,  by  hoisting 
him  up  as  high  as  possible,  in  their  arms,  and  letting  him  fall  suddenly. 
He  died  quickly  and  without  much  struggle. 

It  was  necessary  to  seize  Ned  Ray's  hand  and  by  a  violent  effort  to 
draw  his  fingers  from  between  the  noose  and  his  neck  before  he  died. 
Probably  he  was  the  last  to  expire,  of  the  guilty  trio. 

The  news  of  a  man's  being  hanged  flies  faster  than  any  other  in- 
telligence, in  a  Western  country,  and  several  had  gathered  round  the 
gallows  on  that  fatal  Sabbath  evening — many  of  them  friends  of  the 
road  agents.  The  spectators  were  allowed  to  come  up  to  a  certain  point, 
and  were  then  halted  by  the  guard,  who  refused  permission  either  to 
depart  or  to  approach  nearer  than  the  "dead  line,"  on  pain  of  their  being 
instantly  shot. 

The  weather  was  intensely  cold;  but  the  party  stood  for  a  long  time 
round  the  bodies  of  the  suspended  malefactors,  determined  that  rescue 
should  be  impossible.  Loud  groans  and  cries,  uttered  in  the  vicinity,  at- 
tracted their  attention,  and  a  small  quad  started  in  the  direction  from 
which  the  sound  proceeded.  The  detachment  soon  met  Madam  Hall,  a 
noted  courtezan — the  mistress  of  Ned  Ray — who  was  "making  night 
hideous"  with  her  doleful  wailings.  Being  at  once  stopped,  she  began 
inquiring  for  her  paramour,  and  was  thus  informed  of  his  fate:  "Well 
if  you  must  know,  he  is  hung."  A  volcanic  eruption  of  oaths  and  abuse 
was  her  reply  to  this  information ;  but  tfie  men  were  on  "short  time,"  and 
escorted  her  toward  her  dwelling  without  superfluous  display  of  courtesy. 
Having  arrived  at  the  brow  of  a  short  descent,  at  the  foot  of  which  stood 
her  cabin,  stern  necessity  compelled  a  rapid  and  final  progress  in  that 
direction. 

Soon  after,  the  party  formed  and  returned  to  town,  leaving  the 
corpses  stiffening  in  the  icy  blast.  The  bodies  were  eventually  cut  down 
by  the  friends  of  the  road  agents  and  buried.  The  "Reign  of  Terror," 
in  Bannack,  was  over. 

THE  GREASER  AND  DUTCH  JOHN  HANGED 

Commenting  on  this  triple  execution,  Professor  Dimsdale  says :  "Men 
breathed  freely;  for  Plummer  and  Stinson  especially  were  dreaded  by 
almost  every  one.  The  latter  was  of  the  type  of  that  brutal  desperado 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  267 

whose  formula  of  introduction  to  a  Western  bar-room  is  so  well  known  in 
the  mountains :  'Whoop !  I'm  from  Pike  County,  Missouri.  I'm  ten  feet 
high.  My  abode  is  where  lewd  women  and  licentious  men  mingle.  My 
parlor  is  in  the  Rocky  Mountains.  I  smell  like  a  wolf.  I  drink  water  out 

of  a  brook  like  a  horse.     Look  out  you !     I'm  going  to  turn  loose!' 

A  fit  mate  for  such  a  God-forsaken  outlaw  was  Stinson  and  he,  with  the 
oily  and  snake-like  demon,  Plummer,  the  wily,  red-handed  and  politely 
merciless  chief,  and  the  murderer  and  robber,  Ray,  were  no  more.  The 
Vigilantes  organized  rapidly.  Public  opinion  sustained  them." 

On  the  Monday  morning  following  the  hanging  of  these  wholesale 
criminals,  the  Vigilantes  determined  to  arrest  Joe  Pizanthia,  the  Greaser, 
to  see  precisely  how  his  record  stood  in  Montana.  Outside  of  it,  it 
was  known  that  he  was  a  desperado,  a  murderer  and  a  robber;  but  any- 
thing outside  of  the  territory  was  not  the  business  of  the  Vigilantes.  Two 
of  the  party  sent  to  arrest  him  were  shot  from  his  cabin,  one  of  them 
fatally.  The  other,  though  wounded,  shot  the  desperado,  whose  cabin 
was  finally  bombarded  with  a  mountain  howitzer  directed  by  some  mil- 
itary members  of  the  assaulting  party,  now  beside  themselves  with  fury 
and  unsatisfied  vengeance.  After  the  house  had  been  partially  wrecked, 
the  wounded  Greaser  was  dragged  forth,  again  riddled  with  bullets,  the 
body  hoisted  and  fastened  to  a  pole  and  made  the  target  for  a  hundred 
shots.  As  if  this  were  not  enough,  the  crowd  which  had  now  become  a 
mob  set  the  cabin  afire  and  threw  the  corpse  into  the  fierce  blaze  where  it 
was  burned  to  ashes.  And  in  the  following  morning,  some  women  of 
ill-fame  panned  out  the  ashes  to  see  whether  the  desperado  had  any  gold 
in  his  purse.  "We  are  glad  to  say,"  comments  the  professor,  "that  they 
were  not  rewarded  for  their  labors  by  striking  any  auriferous  deposit." 

The  evening  after  the  death  of  Pizanthia,  the  newly  organized  com- 
mittee met,  and,  after  some  preliminary  discussion,  a  vote  was  taken  as 
to  the  fate  of  Dutch  John.  The  result  was  that  his  execution  was  unan- 
imously adjudged,  as  the  only  penalty  meeting  the  merits  of  the  case.  He 
had  been  a  murderer  and  a  highway  robber,  for  years. 

One  of  the  number  present  at  the  meeting  was  deputed  to  convey 
the  intelligence  to  Wagner;  and,  accordingly,  he  went  down  to  his  place 
of  confinement  and  read  to  him  his  sentence  of  death,  informing  him  that 
he  would  be  hanged  in  an  hour  from  that  time.  Wagner  was  much 
shocked  by  the  news.  He  raised  himself  to  his  feet  and  walked  with 
agitated  and  tremulous  steps  across  the  floor,  once  or  twice.  He  begged 
hard  for  life,  praying  them  to  cut  off  his  arms  and  legs,  and  then  to  let 
him  go.  He  said,  "You  know  I  could  do  nothing  then."  He  was  in- 
formed that  his  request  could  not  be  complied  with,  and  that  he  must 
prepare  to  die. 

Finding  death  to  be  inevitable,  Wagner  summoned  his  fortitude  to  his 
aid  and  showed  no  more  signs  of  weakness.  It  was  a  matter  of  regret  that 
he  could  not  be  saved  for  his  courage,  and  (outside  of  his  villainous 
trade)  his  good  behavior  won  upon  his  captors  and  judges  to  an  extent 
that  they  were  unwilling  to  admit,  even  to  themselves.  Amiability  and 
bravery  could  not  be  taken  as  excuses  for  murder  and  robbery,  and  so 


268  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Dutch  John  had  to  meet  a  felon's  death  and  the  judgment  to  come,  with 
but  short  space  for  repentance.  He  said  that  he  wished  to  send  a  letter 
to  his  mother,  in  New  York,  and  inquired  whether  there  was  not  a  Dutch- 
man in  the  house,  who  could  write  in  his  native  language.  A  man  being 
procured  qualified  as  desired,  he  communicated  his  wishes  to  him  and  his 
amanuensis  wrote  as  directed.  Wagner's  fingers  were  rolled  up  in  rags 
and  he  could  not  handle  the  pen  without  inconvenience  and  pain.  He  had 
not  recovered  from  the  frost-bites  which  had  moved  the  pity  of  X. 
Beidler  when  he  met  John  before  his  capture,  below  Red  Rock.  The 
epistle  being  finished,  it  was  read  aloud  by  the  scribe ;  but  it  did  not 
please  Wagner.  He  pointed  out  several  inaccuracies  in  the  method  of 
carrying  out  his  instructions,  both  as  regarded  the  manner  and  the  matter 
of  the  communication;  and  at  last,  unrolling  the  rags  from  his  fingers, 
he  sat  down  and  wrote  the  missive  himself.  He  told  his  mother  that  he 
was  condemned  to  die,  and  had  but  a  few  minutes  to  live;  that  when 
coming  over  from  the  other  side  to  deal  in  horses,  he  had  been  met  by 
bad  men,  who  had  forced  him  to  adopt  the  line  of  life  that  had  placed  him 
in  his  present  miserable  position;  that  the  crime  for  which  he  was  sen- 
tenced to  die  was  assisting  in  robbing  a  wagon,  in  which  affair  he  had  been 
wounded  and  taken  prisoner,  and  that  his  companion  had  1)een  killed. 
(This  latter  assertion  he  probably  believed.)  He  admitted  the  justice  of 
his  sentence. 

The  letter,  being  concluded,  was  handed  to  the  Vigilantes  for  trans- 
mission to  his  mother.  He  then  quietly  replaced  the  bandages  on  his 
wounded  fingers.  The  style  of  the  composition  showedThat  he  was 
neither  terrified  nor  even  disturbed  at  the  thought  of  the  fast  approaching 
and  disgraceful  end  of  his  guilty  life.  The  statements  were  positively 
untrue,  in  many  particulars,  and  he  seemed  to  write  only  as  a  matter  of 
routine  duty;  though  we  may  hope  that  his  affection  for  his" mother  was, 
at  least,  genuine. 

Dutch  John  was  marched  from  the  place  of  his  confinement  to  an 
unfinished  building,  where  the  bodies  of  Stinson  and  Plummer  were  laid 
out — the  one  on  the  floor  and  the  other  on  a  work  bench.  Ray's  corpse 
had  been  handed  over  to  his  mistress,  at  her  special  request.  The  doomed 
man  gazed  without  shrinking  on  the  remains  of  the  malefactors,  and 
asked  leave  to  pray.  This  was,  of  course,  granted,  and  he  knelt  down. 
His  lips  moved  rapidly;  but  he  uttered  no  word  audibly.  On  rising  to 
his  feet,  he  continued  apparently  to  pray,  looking  round,  however,  upon 
the  assembled  Vigilantes  all  the  time.  A  rope  being  thrown  over  a 
cross-beam,  a  barrel  was  placed  ready  for  him  to  stand  upon.  While 
the  final  preparations  were  made,  the  prisoner  asked  how  long  it  would 
take  him  to  die,  as  he  had  never  seen  a  man  hanged.  He  was  told  that 
it  would  be  only  a  short  time.  The  noose  was  adjusted ;  a  rope  was  tied 
round  the  head  of  the  barrel  and  the  party  took  hold.  At  the  word,  "All 
ready,"  the  barrel  was  instantly  jerked  from  beneath  his  feet,  and  he 
swung  in  the  death  agony.  His  struggles  were  very  powerful,  for  a 
short  time ;  so  iron  a  frame  could  not  quit  hold  on  life  as  easily  as  a  less 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  269 

muscular  organization.    After  hanging  till  frozen  stiff,  the  body  was  cut 
down  and  buried  decently. 

CAPTAIN  J.  A.  SLADE'S  TAKING-OFF 

The  execution  of  Capt.  J.  A.  Slade  is  in  a  class  by  itself ;  naturally, 
an  able,  likable  man,  when  sober,  but  a  reckless  rough  and  outlaw 
when  drunk.  If  ever  there  was  a  man  of  "two  natures,"  under  such  con- 
ditions, that  unfortunate  man  was  Slade.  He  came  of  a  respectable 
Illinois  family  and  was  for  several  years  a  law-abiding  resident  of  Clinton 
County.  Subsequently  he  was  a  division  manager  on  the  Overland  Stage 
line  and  murdered  and  mutilated  one  of  the  station  agents  on  the  Platte 
River,  but  under  most  aggravating  circumstances.  Far  from  committing 
any  bloody  crime  since  coming  to  Virginia  City,  in  the  spring  of  1863,  he 
had  upheld  the  vigilantes,  when  sober;  when  drunk,  he  flouted  all  ev- 
idences of  law  and  order,  and  rode  rough-shod  over  everything  and 
everybody.  From  the  fact  that  his  influence  was  so  strong  with  the  na- 
turally lawless  element,  such  manifestations  formed  a  menace  to  the 
entire  region;  and  it  was  imperative  that  an  example  be  made  of  him. 
There  has  always  been  more  or  less  of  a  dispute  as  to  whether  his  hanging 
was  not  beyond  his  deserts,  as  based  upon  his  record  in  Montana.  Mark 
Twain,  in  his  "Roughing  It,"  and  Professor  Dimsdale,  J.  X.  Beidler  and 
others  have  pictured  Captain  Slade  in  the  foregoing  lines,  and  have  graph- 
ically described  the  events  leading  to  his  execution,  as  well  as  his  last 
moments  on  earth. 

After  the  execution  of  the  five  men,  on  the  I4th  of  January*,  the 
vigilantes  considered  that  their  work  was  nearly  ended.  They  had  freed 
the  country  from  highwaymen  and  murderers  to  a  great  extent,  and  they 
determined  that,  in  the  absence  of  the  regular  civil  authority,  they  would 
establish  a  People's  Court,  where  all  offenders  should  be  tried  by  judge 
and  jury.  This  was  the  nearest  approach  to  social  order  that  the  cir- 
cumstances permitted,  and,  though  strict  legal  authority  was  wanting, 
yet  the  people  were  firmly  determined  to  maintain  its  efficiency,  and  to 
enforce  its  decrees.  It  may  here  be  mentioned  that  the  overt  act  which 
was  the  last  round  on  the  fatal  ladder  leading  to  the  scaffold  on  which 
Slade  perished,  was  the  tearing  in  pieces  and  stamping  upon  a  writ  of  this 
court,  followed  by  the  arrest  of  the  judge,  Alexander  Davis,  by  authority 
of  a  presented  Derringer,  and  with  his  own  hands. 

On  returning  from  Milk  River,  where  he  had  been  unsuccessfully 
engaged  as  a  freighter,  he  became  more  and  more  addicted  to  drinking; 
until  at  last,  it  was  a  common  feat  for  him  and  his  friends  to  "take  the 
town."  He  and  a  couple  of  his  dependants  might  often  be  seen  on  one 
horse,  galloping  through  the  streets,  shouting  and  yelling,  firing  revol- 
vers, etc.  On  many  occasions  he  would  ride  his  horse  into  stores ;  break 
up  bars ;  toss  the  scales  out  of  doors,  and  use  most  insulting  language  to 


*  George  Lane  (Club  Foot  George),  Frank  Parish,  Haze  Lyons,  Jack  Galla- 
gher and  Boone  Helm.  The  last  named  was  perhaps  the  most  hardened  of  the 
five.  Lyons  had  confessed  to  the  murder  of  Dillingham,  one  of  Plummer's 
deputy  sheriffs. 


270  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

parties  present.  Just  previous  to  the  day  of  his  arrest,  he  had  given  a 
fearful  beating  to  one  of  his  followers;  but  such  was  his  influence  over 
them  that  the  man  wept  bitterly  at  the  gallows,  and  begged  for  his  life 
with  all  his  power.  It  had  become  quite  common,  when  Slade  was  on  a 
spree,  for  the  shop-keepers  and  citizens  to  close  the  stores  and  put  out 
all  the  lights ;  being  fearful  of  some  outrage  at  his  hands.  One  store  in 
Nevada  he  never  ventured  to  enter — that  of  the  Lott  brothers — as  they 
had  taken  care  to  let  him  know  that  any  attempt  of  the  kind  would  be 
followed  by  his  sudden  death,  and,  though  he  often  rode  down  there, 

threatening  to  break  in  and  raise ,  yet  he  never  attempted  to  carry 

his  threat  into  execution.  For  his  wanton  destruction  of  goods  and  fur- 
niture, he  was  always  ready  to  pay,  when  sober  if  he  had  money ;  but  there 
were  not  a  few  who  regarded  payment  as  small  satisfaction  for  the  out- 
rage, and  these  men  were  his  personal  enemies. 

From  time  to  time,  Slade  received  warnings  from  men  that  he  well 
knew  would  not  deceive  him,  of  the  certain  end  of  his  conduct.  There 
was  not  a  moment,  for  weeks  previous  to  his  arrest,  in  which  the  public 
did  not 'expect  to  hear  of  some  bloody  outrage.  The  dread  of  his  very 
name,  and  the  presence  of  the  armed  band  of  hangers-on,  who  followed 
him  alone  prevented  a  resistance,  which  must  certainly  have  ended  in  the 
instant  murder  or  mutilation  of  the  opposing  party. 

Slade  was  frequently  arrested  by  order  of  the  court  whose  organiza- 
tion we  have  described,  and  had  treated  it  with  respect  by  paying  one  or 
two  fines,  and  promising  to  pay  the  rest  when  he  had  money ;  but  in  the 
transaction  that  occurred  at  this  crisis,  he  forgot  even  this  caution,  and 
goaded  by  passions  and  the  hatred  of  restraint,  he  sprang  into  the  em- 
brace of  death. 

Slade  had  been  drunk  and  "cutting  up"  all  night.  He  and  his  com- 
panions had  made  the  town  a  perfect  hell.  In  the  morning,  J.  M.  Fox, 
the  sheriff,  met  him,  arrested  him,  took  him  into  court,  and  commenced 
reading  a  warrant  that  he  had  for  his  arrest,  by  way  of  arraignment. 
He  became  uncontrollably  furious,  and  seizing  the  writ,  he  tore  it  up, 
threw  it  on  the  ground  and  stamped  upon  it.  The  clicking  of  the  locks 
of  his  companions'  revolvers  was  instantly  heard  and  a  crisis  was  ex- 
pected. The  sheriff  did  not  attempt  his  capture;  but  being  at  least  as 
prudent  as  he  was  valiant,  he  succumbed,  leaving  Slade  the  master  of  the 
situation  and  the  conqueror  and  ruler  of  the  courts,  law  and  law-makers. 
This  was  a  declaration  of  war,  and  was  so  accepted.  The  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee now  felt  that  the  question  of  social  order  and  the  preponderance 
of  the  law-abiding  citizens  had  then  and  there  to  be  decided.  They  knew 
the  character  of  Slade,  and  they  were  well  aware  that  they  must  submit 
to  his  rule  without  murmur,  or  else  that  he  must  be  dealt  with  in  such 
fashion  as  would  prevent  his  being  able  to  wreck  his  vengeance  on  the 
Committee,  who  could  never  have  hoped  to  live  in  the  territory  secure 
from  outrage  or  death,  and  who  could  never  leave  it  without  encountering 
his  friends,  whom  his  victory  would  have  emboldened  and  stimulated  to 
a  pitch  that  would  have  rendered  them  reckless  of  consequences.  The 
day  previous,  he  had  ridden  into  Dorris's  store,  and  on  being  requested  to 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  271 

•leave,  he  drew  his  revolver  and  threatened  to  kill  the  gentleman  who 
spoke  to  him.  Another  saloon 'he  had  led  his  horse  into,  and  buying  a 
bottle  of  wine,  he  tried  to  make  the  animal  drink  it.  This  was  not  con- 
sidered an  uncommon  performance,  as  he  had  often  entered  saloons, 
and  commenced  firing  at  the  lamps,  causing  a  wild  stampede. 

A  leading  member  of  the  committee  met  Slade,  and  informed  him  in 
the  quiet  earnest  manner  of  one  who  feels  the  importance  of  what  he  is 
saying:  "Slade,  get  your  horse  at  once,  and  go  home,  or  there  will  be 
to  pay."  Slade  started  and  took  a  long  look  with  his  dark  and  pierc- 
ing eyes,  at  the  gentleman.  "What  do  you  mean?"  said  he.  "You  have 
no  right  to  ask  me  what  I  mean,"  was  the  quiet  reply.  "Get  your  horse 
at  once,  and  remember  what  I  tell  you."  After  a  short  pause  he  promised 
to  do  so,  and  actually  got  into  the  saddle;  but,  being  still  intoxicated,  he 
began  calling  aloud  to  one  after  another  of  his  friends,  and,  at  last  seemed 
to  have  forgotten  the  warning  he  had  received  and  became  again  up- 
roarious, shouting  the  name  of  a  well-known  prostitute  in  company  with 
two  men  whom  he  considered  head  of  the  Committee,  as  a  sort  of 
challenge ;  perhaps,  however,  as  a  simple  act  of  bravado.  It  seems  prob- 
able that  the  intimation  of  personal  danger  he  had  received  had  not  been 
forgotten  entirely;  though  fatally  for  him,  he  took  a  foolish  way  of 
showing  his  remembrance  of  it.  He  sought  out  Alexander  Davis,  the 
judge  of  the  court,  and  drawing  a  cocked  Derringer,  he  presented  it  at 
his  head,  and  told  him  that  he  should  hold  him  as  a  hostage  for  his  own 
safety.  As  the  judge  stood  perfectly  quiet,  and  offered  no  resistance  to 
his  captor,  no  further  outrage  followed  on  this  score.  Previous  to  this, 
on  account  of  the  critical  state  of  affairs,  the  committee  had  met,  and  at 
last  resolved  to  arrest  him.  His  execution  had  not  been  agreed  upon,  and, 
at  that  time,  would  have  been  negatived,  most  assuredly.  A  messenger 
rode  down  to  Nevada  to  inf6rm  the  leading  men  of  what  was  on  hand, 
as  it  was  desirable  to  show  that  there  was  a  feeling  of  unanimity  on  the 
subject,  all  along  the  gulch. 

The  miners  turned  out  almost  en  masse,  leaving  their  work  and  form- 
ing in  solid  column,  about  600  strong,  armed  to  the  teeth,  they  marched 
up  to  Virginia.  The  leader  of  the  body  well  knew  the  temper  of  his 
men/on  the  subject.  He  spurred  on  ahead  of  them,  and  hastily  calling  a 
meeting  of  the  Executive,  he  told"  them  plainly  that  the  miners  meant 
"business,"  and  that  if  they  came  up,  they  would  not  stand  in  the  street 
to  be  shot  down  by  Slade's  friends;  but  that  they  would  take  him  and 
hang  him.  The  meeting  was  small,  as  the  Virginia  men  were  loath  to 
act  at  all. 

The  committee  were  most  unwilling  to  proceed  to  extremities.  All 
the  duty  they  had  ever  performed  seemed  as  nothing  to  the  task  before 
them ;  but  they  had  to  decide,  and  that  quickly.  It  was  finally  agreed  that 
if  the  whole  body  of  the  miners  were  of  the  opinion  that  he  should  be 
hanged,  that  the  committee  left  it  in  their  hands  to  deal  with  him.  Off, 
at  hot  speed,  rode  the  leader  of  the  Nevada  men  to  join  his  command. 

Slade  had  found  out  what  was  intended,  and  the  news  sobered  him 


272  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

instantly.  He  went  into  P.  S.  Pfouts's  store,  where  Davis  was,  and  apol- 
ogized for  his  conduct,  saying  that  we  would  take  it  all  back. 

The  head  of  the  column  now  wheeled  into  Wallace  Street  and 
marched  up  at  quick  time.  Halting  in  front  of  the  store,  the  executive 
officer  of  the  committee  stepped  forward  and  arrested  Slade,  who  was  at 
once  informed  of  his  doom,  and  inquiry  was  made  as  to  whether  he  had 
any  business  to  settle.  Several  parties  spoke  to  him  on  the  subject ;  but 
to  all  such  inquiries  he  turned  a  deaf  ear,  being  entirely  absorbed  in  the 
terrifying  reflections  on  his  own  awful  position.  He  never  ceased  his 
entreaties  for  life,  and  to  see  his  dear  wife.  The  unfortunate  lady  re- 
ferred to,  between  whom  she  and  Slade  there  existed  a  warm  affection, 
was  at  this  time  living  at  their  ranch  on  the  Madison.  She  was  possessed 
of  considerable  personal  attractions;  tall,  well-formed,  of  graceful  car- 
riage, pleasing  manners,  and  was,  withal,  an  accomplished  horsewoman. 

A  messenger  from  Slade  rode  at  full  speed  to  inform  her  of  her  hus- 
band's arrest.  In  an  instant  she  was  in  the  saddle,  and  with  all  the 
.energy  that  love  and  despair  could  lend  to  an  ardent  temperament  and 
a  strong  physique,  she  urged  her  fleet  charger  over  the  twelve  miles  of 
rough  and  rocky  ground  that  intervened  between  her  and  the  object  of 
her  passionate  devotion. 

Meanwhile  a  party  of  volunteers  had  made  the  necessary  preparations 
for  the  execution,  in  the  valley  traversed  by  the  branch.  Beneath  the  site 
of  Pfouts's  and  Russell's  stone  building  there  was  a  corral,  the  gateposts 
of  which  were  strong  and  high.  Across  the  top  was  laid  a  beam,  to  which 
the  rope  was  fastened,  and  a  drygoods  box  served  for  the  platform.  To 
this  place  Slade  was  marched,  surrounded  by  a  guard,  composing  the  best 
armed  and  most  numerous  force  that  has  ever  appeared  in  Montana 
Territory.  The  doomed  man  had  so  exhausted  himself  by  tears,  prayers 
and  lamentations,  that  he  had  scarcely  strength  left  to  stand  under  the 
fatal  beam.  He  repeatedly  exclaimed :  "My  God !  My  God !  Must  I  die  ? 
Oh,  my  dear  wife !" 

On  the  return  of  the  fatigue  party,  they  encountered  some  friends  of 
Slade,  stanch  and  reliable  citizens  and  members  of  the  committee,  but  who 
were  personally  attached  to  the  condemned.  On  hearing  of  his  sentence, 
one  of  them,  a  stout-hearted  man,  pulled  out  his  handkerchief  and  walked 
away,  weeping  like  a  child.  Slade  still  begged  to  see  his  wife,  most 
piteously,  and  it  seemed  hard  to  deny  his  request;  but  the  bloody  con- 
sequences that  were  sure  to  follow  the  inevitable  attempt  at  a  rescue, 
that  her  presence  and  entreaties  would  have  certainly  incited,  forbade 
the  granting  of  his  request.  Several  gentlemen  were  sent  for  to  see  him, 
in  his  last  moments,  one  of  whom  (Judge  Davis)  made  a  short  address 
to  the  people;  but  in  such  low  tones  as  to  be  inaudible,  save  to  a  few 
in  his  immediate  vicinity.  One  of  his  friends,  after  exhausting  his 
powers  of  entreaty,  threw  off  his  coat  and  declared  that  the  prisoner  could 
not  be  hanged  until  he  himself  was  killed.  A  hundred  guns  were  in- 
stantly leveled  at  him ;  whereupon  he  turned  and  fled ;  but,  being  brought 
back,  he  was  compelled  to  resume  his  coat,  and  to  give  a  promise  of  future 
peaceable  demeanor. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  273 

Scarcely  a  leading  man  in  Virginia  could  be  found,  though  numbers 
of  the  citizens  joined  the  ranks  of  the  guard  when  the  arrest  was  made. 
All  lamented  the  stern  necessity  which  dictated  the  execution. 

Everything  being  ready,  the  command  was  given,  "Men,  do  your 
duty,"  and  the  box  being  instantly  slipped  from  beneath  his  feet,  he  died 
almost  instantaneously. 

The  body  was  cut  down  and  carried  to  the  Virginia  Hotel,  where, 
in  a  darkened  room,  it  was  scarcely  laid  out,  when  the  unfortunate  and 
bereaved  companion  of  the  deceased  arrived,  at  headlong  speed,  to  find 
that  all  was  over,  and  that  she  was  a  widow.  Her  grief  and  heart-piercing 
cries  were  terrible  evidences  of  the  depth  of  her  attachment  for  her  lost 
husband,  and  a  considerable  period  elapsed  before  she  could  regain 
the  command  of  her  excited  feelings. 

BEIDLER' s  ACCOUNT  OF  SLADE'S  END 

While  stirring  up  Virginia  City  in  his  last  drunken  spree,  Slade  had 
come  across  Beidler  (X,  he  was  called  for  short),  who  had  done  all  in  his 
power,  both  individually  and  through  friends,  to  induce  the  whiskey- 
crazed  man  to  "go  home  and  behave  himself."  Kiscadden,  a  friend,  who 
afterward  married  Slade's  widow,  was  among  the  most  earnest  in  making 
these  requests.  They  had  no  effect,  and  while  Slade  was  grossly  in- 
sulting, a  local  storekeeper,  at  the  latter's  place  of  business,  "over  two 
hundred  honest,  determined  miners  (says  Beidler),  headed  by  Captain 
Williams  (the  executive  of  the  Vigilance  Committee),  were  just  turning 
the  corner.  They  came  up  to  Pfouts's  store  and  Captain  Williams  stepped 
up  and  arrested  Slade  while  he  was  holding  up  Pfouts,  Fox  and  Davis 
with  a  Derringer  in  each  hand.  Captain  Williams  was  backed  up  by 
two  hundred  miners,  each  of  whom  could  have  shaken  two  or  three  dollars 
worth  of  pay  dust  out  of  the  rims  of  their  hats  and  who  had  rifles  and 
revolvers  in  abundance. 

"Slade  looked  around  and  said  'My  God!'  He  was  informed  that 
he  had  one  hour  to  live  and  if  he  had  any  business  to  attend  to,  he  had 
better  do  it.  I  was  well  aware  of  the  approach  of  the  committee,  and  was 
informed  long  before  that  the  boys'  rifles  and  revolvers  were  being 
cleaned  and  loaded  fresh,  which  meant  business,  and  I  had  begged  Slade 
to  go  home,  but  I  knew  when  he  got  off  his  horse  and  I  made  the  remark 
to  Kiscadden  (asking  him  to  coax  Slade  homeward)  that  it  was  his 
last  ride.  If  Sfade  had  gone  off  when  he  was  told,  the  committee  would 
not  have  hung  him  at  that  time. 

"Slade  was  taken  into  the  back  room  of  the  store  to  settle  up  his 
business  and  begged  all  the  time  most  piteously  for  his  life.  A  party  was 
sent  to  arrange  a  place  for  the  execution.  They  went  down  the  gulch 
and  found  an  empty  beef  scaffold,  made  the  noose  and  fixed  everything 
for  the  hanging.  *  *  *  While  Slade  was  standing  on  the  boxes 
under  the  scaffold,  with  the  rope  around  his  neck,  he  asked  for  Col.  W. 
F.  Sanders,  and  the  boys  around  were  afraid  to  do  too  much  shouting, 
and  I  said  'Pass  the  word  along  for  Sanders,'  which  was  done,  but  he 


Vol.  1—18 


274  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

could  not  be  found,  and  Slade  then  asked  for  Alex  Davis,  who  came  up 
and  talked  with  the  doomed  man.  Slade  asked  Davis  to  plead  to  the 
crowd  for  his  life  and  Davis  said,  'Mr.  Slade,  I  can  only  repeat  your 
words.  I  have  no  influence  but  would  gladly  do  so,  if  I  had.'  The  two 
hundred  miners  were  getting  impatient  and  shouted  'Time's  up!' 

"These  men  were  running  mines  on  their  own  account  and  wanted 
to  get  back  and  clean  up  and  attend  to  their  business,  as  they  did  not 
come  on  any  child's  play.  A  noble  German  by  the  name  of  Brigham  ad- 
justed the  rope  around  Slade's  neck  and  afterward  left  the  territory, 
being  afraid  of  the  Slade  men.  Dutch  Charley  selected  the  place  for  the 
execution.  Captain  Williams,  when  he  heard  how  impatient  the  miners 
were  getting,  said :  'Men  do  your  duty,'  and  Slade  died !" 

Justice,  as  backed  by  a  preponderance  of  honest  public  sentiment,  was 
master  of  the  situation. 

The  most  notorious  and  dangerous  of  the  road  agents  had  met  their 
deserts  through  the  Vigilantes  and  the  miner's  courts,  but  the  champions 
of  law  and  order  were  not  satisfied  and  would  have  nothing  but  a 
thorough  clean-up  of  infesting  criminals.  On  the  evening  of  January 
13,  1864,  tlie  executive  committee  of  the  Vigilantes  determined  on  hanging 
six  of  the  worst  men  still  alive.  The  morning  of  January  I5th  came, 
and  the  detachment  of  Vigilantes  marched  in  from  Nevada,  Junction, 
Summit,  Pine  Grove,  Highland  and  Fairweather,  and  halted  in  a  body 
in  Main  Street  of  Bannack.  Parties  were  immediately  detailed  for  the 
capture  of  the  road  agents,  and  all  succeeded  in  their  mission  except  the 
one  which  went  after  Bill  Hunter,  who  temporarily  escaped.  The  other 
five  were  "rounded  up"  the  same  day  and  executed  in  front  of  the 
Virginia  Hotel.  It  will  serve  no  purpose  to  enter  into  details  as  to  the 
different  attitudes  assumed  by  the  criminals  at  their  arrest  and  execution. 
Some  were  cool,  some  profane,  some  furious,  some  rebellious  and  some  re- 
signed almost  to  the  point  of  repentance.  But  the  men  paid  the  just 
penalty  for  their  many  crimes  and  the  days  of  outlawry  were  doomed 
in  Montana. 

The  operations  of  the  Vigilantes  were,  at  this  time,  especially,  planned 
with  a  judgment,  and  executed  with  a  vigor  that  has  never  been  surpassed 
by  any  body,  deliberative  or  executive.  On  the  I5th  of  January,  1864,  a 
party  of  twenty-one  men  left  Nevada  under  the  command  of  a  citizen 
whose  name  and  actions  remind  us  of  lightning.  He  was  prompt,  brave, 
irresistible  (so  widely  did  he  lay  his  plans)  and  struck  when  least  ex- 
pected. Bill  Hunter  had  temporarily  escaped  and  was  in  hiding,  but  he 
was  rooted  out  of  his  nest  about  twenty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the 
Gallatin  River,  and  started  with  his  escort  toward  Virginia  City.  The 
captors  proceeded  on  their  way  in  that  direction  for  about  two  miles  and 
halted  at  the  foot  of  a  tree  which  seemed  as  if  it  had  been  fashioned 
by  nature  for  a  gallows.  A  horizontal  limb  at  a  convenient  height  was 
there  for  the  rope,  and  on  the  trunk  was  a  spur  like  a  belaying  pin,  on 
which  to  fasten  the  end.  Scraping  away  about  a  foot  of  snow  they 
camped,  lit  a  fire  and  prepared  their  breakfast.  An  onlooker  would  never 
have  conjectured  for  a  moment,  that  anything  of  a  serious  nature  was 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  275 

likely  to  occur,  and  even  Hunter  seemed  to  have  forgotten  his  fears, 
laughing  and  chatting  gaily  with  the  rest. 

After  breakfast,  a  consultation  was  held  as  to  what  should  be  done  with 
the  road  agent,  and  after  hearing  what  was  offered  by  the  members  of 
the  scouting  party,  individually,  the  leader  put  the  matter  to  vote.  It 
was  decided  by  the  majority  that  the  prisoner  should  not  go  to  Virginia ; 
but  that  he  should  be  executed  then  and  there.  The  man  who  had  given 
Hunter  to  understand  that  he  would  be  taken  to  Virginia,  voted  for  the 
carrying  out  of  this  part  of  the  programme;  but  he  was  overruled. 

The  earnest  manner  of  the  Vigilantes,  and  his  own  sense  of  guilt, 
overpowered  Hunter;  he  turned  deadly  pale,  and  faintingly  asked  for 
water.  He  knew,  without  being  told  that  there  was  no  hope  for  him. 
A  brief  history  of  his  crimes  was  related  to  him  by  one  of  the  men,  and 
the  necessity  of  the  enforcement  of  the  penalty  was  pointed  out  to  him. 
All  was  too  true  for  denial.  He  merely  requested  that  his  friends  should 
know  nothing  of  the  manner  of  his  death,  and  stated  that  he  had  no 
property;  b"f  he  hoped  they  would  give  him  a  decent  burial.  He  was 
told  that  every  reasonable  request  would  be  granted ;  but  that  the  ground 
was  to  hard  for  them  to  attempt  his  interment  without  proper  imple- 
ments. They  promised  that  his  friends  should  be  made  acquainted  with 
his  execution,  and  that  they  would  see  to  that.  Soon  after,  he  shook  hands 
with  each  of  the  company,  and  said  that  he  did  not  blame  them  for  what 
they  were  about  to  do. 

His  arms  were  pinioned  at  the  elbows;  the  fatal  noose  was  placed 
round  his  neck,  and  the  end  of  the  rope  being  thrown  over  the  limb, 
the  men  took  hold  and  with  a  quick,  strong  pull,  ran  him  up  off  his  feet. 
He  died  almost  without  a  struggle ;  but,  strange  to  say,  he  reached  as  if 
for  his  pistol,  and  went  through  the  pantomime  of  cocking  and  discharg- 
ing his  revolver  six  times.  This  is  no  effort  of  fancy.  Every  one  present 
saw  it,  and  was  equally  convinced  of  the  fact.  It  was  a  singular  instance 
of  "the  ruling  passion,  strong  in  death." 

The  place  of  the  execution  was  a  lone  tree,  in  full  view  of  the 
travelers  on  the  trail,  about  twenty  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Gallatin. 
The  corpse  of  the  malefactor  was  left  hanging  from  the  limb,  and  the 
little  knot  of  horsemen  was  soon  but  a  speck  in  the  distance. 

Bill  Hunter  was  the  last  of  the  old  road  agent  band  that  met  death  at 
the  hands  of  the  Committee.  He  was  executed  on  the  3rd  of  February, 
1864.  There  was  now  no  openly  organized  force  of  robbers  in  the  ter- 
ritory, and  the  future  acts  of  the  Committee  were  confined  to  taking 
measures  for  the  maintenance  of  the  public  tranquility  and  the  punishment 
of  those  guilty  of  murder,  robbery  and  other  high  crimes  and  mis- 
demeanors against  the  welfare  of  the  inhabitants  of  Montana. 

LAST  WORK  OF  THE  VIGILANTES 

*On  looking  back  at  the  dreadful  state  of  society  which  necessitated 
the  organization  of  the  Vigilantes,  and  on  reading  these  pages,  many  will 


*  Professor  Dimsdale  in  "Vigilantes  of  Montana." 


276  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

learn  for  the  first  time  the  deep  debt  of  gratitude  which  they  owe  to  that 
just  and  equitable  body  of  self-denying  and  gallant  men.  It  was  a  dread- 
ful and  disgusting  duty  that  devolved  upon  them;  but  it  was  a  duty,  and 
they  did  it.  Far  less  worthy  actions  have  been  rewarded  by  the  thanks 
of  Congress,  and  medals  glitter  on  many  a  bosom,  whose  owner  won 
them,  lying  flat  behind  a  hillock,  out  of  range  of  the  enemy's  fire.  The 
Vigilantes,  for  the  sake  of  their  country  encountered  popular  dislike, 
the  envenomed  hatred  of  the  bad,  and  the  cold  toleration  of  some  of  the 
unwise  good.  Their  lives  they  held  in  their  hands.  "All's  well  that  ends 
well."  Montana  is  saved,  and  they  saved  it,  earning  the  blessings  of 
future  generations,  whether  they  receive  them  or  not.  *  *  * 

Very  little  action  was  necessary  on  the  part  of  the  Vigilance  Com- 
mittee, to  prevent  any  combination  of  the  enemies  of  law  and  order 
from  exerting  a  prejudicial  influence  on  the  peace  and  good  order  of  the 
capital;  in  fact,  the  organization  gradually  ceased  to  exercise  its  func- 
tions, and,  though  in  existence,  its  name,  more  than  its  active  exertions, 
sufficed  to  preserve  tranquility.  When  Chief  Justice  Hosmer  arrived 
in  the  territory,  and  organized  the  Territorial  County  Courts,  he  thought 
it  his  duty  to  refer  to  the  Vigilantes,  in  his  charge  to  the  Grand  Jury, 
and  invited  them  to  sustain  the  authorities  as  citizens.  The  old  guardians 
of  the  peace  of  the  territory  were  greatly  rejoiced  at  being  released  from 
their  onerous  and  responsible  duties,  and  most  cheerfully  and  heartily 
complied  with  the  request  of  the  Judiciary. 

For  some  months  no  action  of  any  kind  was  taken  by  them ;  but,  in 
the  summer  of  1865,  news  reached  them  of  the  burning  and  sacking  of 
Idaho  City,  and  they  were  reliably  informed  that  an  attempt  would  be 
made  to  burn  Virginia,  also,  by  desperadoes  from  the  West.  That  this 
was  true  was  soon  demonstrated  by  ocular  proof ;  for  two  attempts  were 
made  though  happily  discovered  and  rendered  abortive,  to  set  fire  to  the 
city.  In  both  cases,  the  parties  employed  laid  combustibles  in  such  a 
manner  that,  but  for  the  vigilance  and  promptitude  of  some  old  Vig- 
ilantes, a  most  destructive  conflagration  must  have  occurred  in  the  most 
crowded  part  of  the  town.  In  one  case  the  heap  of  chips  and  whittled 
wood  a  foot  in  diameter  had  burnt  so  far  only  as  to  leave  a  ring  of  the 
outer  ends  of  the  pile  visible.  In  the  other  attempt  a  collection  of  old 
rags  were  placed  against  the  wall  of  an  out-building  attached  to  the  Wis- 
consin House,  situated  within  the  angle  formed  by  the  junction  of  Idaho 
and  Jackson  Streets.  Had  this  latter  attempt  succeeded,  it  is  impossible 
to  conjecture  the  amount  of  damage  that  must  have  been  inflicted  upon 
the  town,  for  frame  buildings  fifty  feet  high  were  in  close  proximity,  and 
had  they  once  caught  fire,  the  flames  might  have  destroyed  at  least  half  of 
the  business  houses  on  Wallace,  Idaho  and  Jackson  Streets. 

At  this  time,  too,  it  was  a  matter  of  every-day  remark  that  Virginia 
was  full  of  lawless  characters,  and  many  of  them  thinking  that  the 
Vigilantes  were  officially  defunct,  did  not  hesitate  to  threaten  the  lives 
of  prominent  citizens,  always  including  in  their  accusations,  that  they 
were  strangling.  This  state  of  things  could  not  be  permitted  to  last ;  and, 
as  the  authorities  admitted  that  they  were  unable  to  meet  the  emergency, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  277 

the  Vigilantes  reorganized  at  once,  with  the  consent  and  approbation  of 
almost  every  good  and  order-loving  citizen  in  the  territory. 

The  effect  of  this  movement  was  marvellous ;  the  roughs  disappeared 
rapidly  from  the  town;  but  a  most  fearful  tragedy,  enacted  in  Portneuf 
Canyon,  Idaho,  on  the  I3th  of  July,  roused  the  citizens  almost  to  frenzy. 
The  overland  coach  from  Virginia  to  Salt  Lake  City,  was  driven  into  an 
ambuscade  by  Frank  Williams,  and  though  the  passengers  were  pre- 
pared for  road  agents,  and  fired  simultaneously  with  their  assailants,  who 
were  under  cover  and  stationary,  yet  four  of  them,  viz:  A.  S.  Parker, 
A.  J.  McCausland,  David  Dinan  and  W.  L.  Mers,  were  shot  dead;  L.  F. 
Carpenter  was  slightly  hurt  in  three  places  and  Charles  Parks  was  ap- 
parently mortally  wounded.  The  driver  was  untouched,  and  James 
Brown,  a  passenger,  jumped  into  the  bushes  and  got  off,  unhurt.  Car- 
penter avoided  death  by  feigning  to  be  in  the  last  extremity,  when  a 
villain  came  to  shoot  him  a  second  time.  The  gang  of  murderers,  of 
whom  eight  were  present  at  the  attack,  secured  a  booty  of  $65,000  in 
gold,  and  escaped  undetected. 

A  party  of  Vigilantes  started  in  pursuit,  but  effected  nothing  at  the. 
time;  and  it  was  not  till  after  several  months  patient  work  of  a  special 
detective  from  Montana,  that  guilt  was  brought  home  to  the  driver,  who 
was  executed  by  the  Denver  committee,  on  Cherry  Creek. 

The  last  offenders  who  were  executed  by  the  Vigilance  committee  of 
Virginia  City,  where  two  horse  thieves  and  confessed  road  agents,  named, 
according  to  their  own  account,  John  Morgan  and  John  Jackson,  alias 
Jones.  They  were,  however,  of  the  "alias"  tribe.  The  former  was 
caught  in  the  act  of  appropriating  a  horse  in  one  of  the  city  corrals.  He 
was  an  old  offender,  and  on  his  back  were  the  marks  of  the  whipping 
he  received  in  Colorado  for  committing  an  unnatural  crime.  He  was 
a  low,  vicious  ruffian.  His  comrade  was  a  much  more  intelligent  man, 
and  acknowledged  the  justice  of  his  sentence  without  any  hesitation. 
Morgan  gave  the  names  and  signs  of  the  gang  they  belonged  to,  of  which 
Rattlesnake  Dick  was  the  leader.  Their  lifeless  bodies  were  found  hang- 
ing from  a  hay-frame,  leaning  over  the  corral  fence  at  the  slaughter 
house,  on  the  branch,  about  half  a  mile  from  the  city.  The  printed  man- 
ifesto of  the  Vigilantes  was  affixed  to  Morgan's  clothes  with  the  warning 
words  written  across  it,  "Road  Agents,  beware !" 


CHAPTER  XIII 
DAWN  OF  LAW  AND  ORDER 

The  era  of  outlawry,  miners'  courts  and  vigilantes,  with  the  summary 
execution  and  exile  of  dangerous  criminals,  was  closely  followed  by  the 
establishment  of  constitutional  government  and  legal  processes,  with  their 
slower,  more  cumbersome,  approved  operations.  During  the  worst  of 
the  conflict  between  law  and  order,  what  is  now  Montana  west  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  was  under  the  jurisdiction  of  Idaho  (organized  as 
a  territory  in  March,  1863)  and  that  portion  east  of  the  mountains  was 
a  part  of  Dakota.  So  that  the  nearest  constituted  courts  for  the  few 
settlers  in  the  Montana  region  were  held  at  Salem,  the  capital  of  Oregon, 
and  at  Yankton,  Dakota's  territorial  seat  of  justice. 

To  attend  the  first  session  of  the  territorial  Legislature  of  Idaho  held 
at  Lewiston  in  the  winter  of  i863-'64,  members  were  compelled  to  travel 
hundreds  of  miles,  over  unknown  ranges  and  through  trackless  fields  of 
snow.  The  pioneers  of  what  is  now  Southwestern  Montana,  who  had 
bravely  fought  and  fairly  subdued  the  criminal  element  in  their  midst, 
demanded  that  legalized  justice  be  brought  within  more  convenient  dis- 
tance of  them,  and  fortunately  found  an  effective  personal  instrument 
within  their  reach. 

COMING  OF  SIDNEY  EDGERTON  AND  WILBUR  F.  SANDERS 

Sidney  Edgerton,  an  able  lawyer  and  republican  congressman  from 
Ohio,  at  the  conclusion  of  his  two  terms  in  the  national  house  of  rep- 
resentatives had  been  appointed  chief  justice  of  the  new  territory  of 
Idaho  by  President  Lincoln.  In  June,  1863,  he  had  left  Akron,  Ohio, 
for  Idaho,  accompanied  by  his  family  and  his  nephew,  Wilbur  F.  San- 
ders, who  also  took  his  family.  They  went  to  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  where 
they  outfitted,  and  thence  by  ox-teams  to  Bannack,  then  on  the  eastern 
borders  of  Idaho  Territory,  arriving  September  17,  1863.  Mr.  Sanders 
was  soon  engaged  in  the  prosecution  of  the  road  agents,  and  established 
his  reputation  as  a  fearless  and  versatile  lawyer,  earning  the  gratitude 
of  all  supporters  of  law  and  order  in  the  community.  Mr.  Edgerton  was 
destined  for  other  work,  which  at  once  brought  him  into  unusual  prom- 
inence. " 

The  story  of  this  portion  of  Sidney  Edgerton's  career  is  told  so  well 
by  his  daughter,  Martha  Edgerton  Plassman,  that  it  is  reproduced  in  her 
words:  "Shortly  after  arriving  at  Bannack,  my  father  strolled  up  Main 
Street  to  see  the  town.  Coming  to  a  Building  where  miners'  court  was 

278 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  279 

in  progress,  he  went  in.  The  judge,  seeing  that  he  was  a  stranger,  in- 
vited my  father  to  sit  beside  him.  The  trial  of  the  case  proceeded,  but 
not  for  long,  when  it  was  interrupted  by  the  suggestion  of  some  one 
present  that  it  was  time  liquid  refreshments  should  be  served.  The  judge 
and  everyone  present  approving  the  suggestion,  an  old  darkey  was  dis- 
patched to  a  neighboring  saloon  for  the  whisky.  On  his  return,  the 
court  took  a  recess  and  a  drink,  several  of  them  in  fact.  When  the  liquor 
was  exhausted  and  the  court  and  those  in  attendance  upon  it  sufficiently 
stimulated,  the  trial  went  on,  only  to  meet  with  a  similar  interruption 
in  the  course  of  half  an  hour  or  so.  This  was  the  initiation  of  the  new 
Chief  Justice  into  western  methods  of  legal  procedure. 

"At  a  meeting  of  the  citizens  of  Virginia  City  and  Bannack,  some 
months  later,  Judge  Edgerton  was  selected  to  go  to  Washington  to 
secure  the  division  of  the  territory.  About  this  time  occurred  the  hang- 
ing of  Henry  Plummer  and  other  road  agents.  These  events  postponed 
my  father's  journey  to  Washington  until  the  middle  of  January,  1864. 
It  was  a  winter  of  great  severity,  and  while  he  and  those  who  went  with 
him  knew  they  were  not  likely  to  be  attacked  by  highwaymen  between 
Bannack  and  Salt  Lake  City,  the  intense  cold  was  an  enemy  not  to  be 
despised. 

MONTANA  GOLD  TO  DAZZLE  CONGRESS 

"The  party  traveled  with  pack  horses  to  Salt  Lake,  crossing  the  rivers 
on  the  ice  and  exposed  to  all  the  hardships  of  that  bitter  season.  From 
Salt  Lake  they  went  by  stage  to  the  railroad.  What  added  to  the  dangers 
of  the  journey  was  that  most  of  the  men  took  with  them  large  quantities 
of  gold.  Ingots  were  quilted  into  the  lining  of  my  father's  overcoat 
and  he  carried  in  his  valise  immense  nuggets  wherewith  to  dazzle  the 
eyes  of  congressmen  and  to  impress  upon  their  minds  by  means  of  an 
object  lesson  some  adequate  idea  of  the  great  mineral  wealth  of  this 
section  of  the  country.  Arriving  safely  in  Washington,  the  gold  was 
exhibited,  congressmen  interviewed,  and  at  length  the  desired  end  was 
accomplished.  Idaho  was  divided,  and  the  Territory  of  Montana  created. 
There  was  some  discussion  over  the  proposed  western  boundary  line 
but  the  combined  efforts  of  Governor  Wallace  of  Idaho  and  Judge  Edger- 
ton saved  to  Montana  all  of  her  rich  territory  lying  west  of  the  summit  of 
the  Rockies. 

"My  father  was  one  of  the  numerous  applicants  for  the  governor- 
ship of  the  new  territory.  Whether  his  ultimate  appointment  to  the 
position  was  the  result  of  his  last  visit  to  Mr.  Lincoln  will  never  be 
known,  but  this  is  his  account  of  the  visit  he  made  and  the  story  he 
told: 

EDGERTON  INTERVIEWS  LINCOLN 

"  'When  the  division  bill  passed,  I  went  to  the  White  House  to  make 
my  farewell  visit,  as  I  had  already  been  in  Washington  some  time  and 
I  was  anxious  to  get  home.  On  my  way  there,  a  gentleman  told  me 


280  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

that  a  senator  had  filed  a  protest  against  my  appointment  as  governor. 
On  meeting  Mr.  Lincoln,  I  asked  if  this  was  true.  He  said  it  was. 
I  then  inquired  if  any  charges  had  been  made  against  me.  He  said 
none,  but  that  I  had  called  the  gentleman  a  liar.  I  insisted  that  it  was 
the  truth  and  if  he  (Mr.  Lincoln)  chose  to  appoint  some  of  the  other 
applicants,  it  would  be  satisfactory.' 

"  'As  for  me,  I  should  return  home  and  mine,  as  Dosheimer  kept 
tavern.'  "Dosheimer !"  exclaimed  Mr.  Lincoln ;  "I  knew  Dosheimer. 
What  was  the  story  ?"  The  story  was  this :  'Dosheimer  attended  a  con- 
vention at  Utica  hoping  to  obtain  the  nomination  as  canal  commissioner. 
He  was  defeated,  and  rising  from  his  seat,  said :  "Shentlemen,  I  goes 
back  to  Puffalo  and  keeps  tavern  like  hell !"  I  left  Mr.  Lincoln  laughing 
heartily  at  the  story.  It  was  the  last  time  I  saw  him.  I  did  not  know 
of  my  appointment  until  I  reached  Salt  Lake.' 

THE  GOVERNOR'S  DIFFICULT  POSITION 

"It  was  not  an  easy  position  which  the  new  governor  was  called  upon 
to  fill.  He  was  chief  executive  in  a  portion  of  the  country  where,  up  to 
the  hanging  of  George  Ives,  every  man  had  been  a  law  to  himself.  He 
represented  the  United  States  Government  in  a  territory  many  of  whose 
citizens  had  renounced  allegiance  to  the  Union.  Any  signs  of  wavering 
on  the  part  of  the  governor,  any  concessions  to  those  who  were  disloyal 
to  the  United  States  would  have  been  looked  upon  as  marks  of  cowardice, 
and  he  would  have  gained  the  contempt  of  the  very  men  who  were  loud- 
est in  denouncing  him  for  upholding  the  law  of  the  land. 

"Threats  had  been  made  that  any  one  would  be  shot  who  dared  to 
raise  the  star  spangled  banner.  My  father  heard  of  this,  and  out  flew  the 
old  flag  from  the  staff  above  the  house  which  sheltered  his  wife  and 
children.  The  threats  proved  to  be  mere  bravado ;  but  drunken  horsemen 
galloping  by  at  night  often  fired  random  shots  at  the  red,  white  and 
blue  target  while  hurrahing  lustily  for  Jeff  Davis. 

"A  more  serious  trouble  arose  in  the  first  legislature  when  John 
Rogers,  formerly  of  the  Confederate  army,  sought  to  gain  admission 
to  that  body  without  taking  the  required  oath.  This  caused  a  deadlock 
which  was  only  broken  when  a  new  oath  had  been  framed  which  could 
fit  so  delicate  a  case,  and  Mr.  Rogers  was  admitted. 

GEN.  THOMAS  F.  MEAGHER  ACTING  GOVERNOR 

"The  following  spring  President  Lincoln  was  assassinated,  and  during 
the  political  upheaval  which  followed  Andrew  Johnson's  accession  to  the 
presidency,  it  became  necessary  for  Governor  Edgerton  to  go  east  in 
the  interest  of  Montana.  General  Thomas  Francis  Meagher  had  arrived 
to  assume  the  duties  of  the  secretary  of  the  territory;  but  one  of  the 
most  important  duties  was  to  disburse  money  and  there  was  no  money 
to  disburse — my  father  and  a  few  others  having  supplied  the  requisite 
funds  to  keep  the  wheels  of  government  in  motion  up  to  that  time.  In 
order  to  obtain  money  for  the  territory,  and  also  wishing  to  place  his 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  281 

older  children  in  school,  my  father  once  again  set  across  the  plains  taking 
his  family  with  him.  He  left  Bannack  in  the  middle  of  September,  1865. 
The  return  journey,  made  with  mule  teams  and  from  Salt  Lake  City, 
followed  the  old  Bridger  and  South  Platte  trail  to  Nebraska  City.  As  the 
floating  ice  in  the  Missouri  made  it  impossible  to  run  the  ferry,  the  river 
at  that  place  was  crossed  in  a  skiff  at  the  imminent  peril  of  being 
swamped,  and  the  journey  continued  by  stage  through  Iowa  and  Mis- 
souri to  Savannah  in  the  latter  state,  which  was  then  the  terminal  point 
of  the  railroad." 

Governor  Edgerton  thus  severed  his  permanent  connection  with  the 
affairs  of  Montana.  He  twice  revisited  the  state,  the  last  time  in  1891, 
but  his  home  continued  in  Akron,  Ohio,  for  fifty-five  years,  or  until  his 
death  July  19,  1900.  Almost  to  the  last  he  practiced  his  profession  and 
was  ever  alive  to  the  best  things  of  the  world. 

MONTANA  TERRITORY  TAKES  FORM 

The  bill  organizing  the  territory  of  Montana  passed  both  houses  of 
Congress  on  May  24,  1864,  and  two  days  later  was  signed  by  President 
Lincoln  and  the  commonwealth  admitted  into  the  Union.  Its  boundaries 
were  fixed  by  the  organic  act,  the  president  commissioned  Judge  Edger- 
ton governor  June  22,  1864,  and  on  the  following  I2th  of  December 
Governor  Edgerton  convened  the  first  session  of  the  Territorial  Legisla- 
ture, on  January  16,  1864,  were  created  the  counties  of  Missoula,  Deer 
Lodge,  Dawson,  Beaverhead,  Madison,  Jefferson,  Chouteau  and  Big  Horn. 
The  organic  act  creating  the  Territory  of  Montana,  empowered  the  gov^ 
ernor  to  lay  off  necessary  districts  for  members  of  the  Council  and  House 
of  Representatives  and  to  provide  for  an  election  of  such  members.  On 
September  22,  1864,  Governor  Edgerton  therefore  called  the  first  elec- 
tion in  Montana  to  be  held  on  the  24th  of  October.  In  establishing  the 
districts,  Governor  Edgerton  recognized  the  counties  established  by  the 
first  Idaho  Legislature,  insofar  as  they  had  any  population  to  be  repre- 
sented in  the  Montana  Assembly,  viz.,  Missoula,  Deer  Lodge,  Beaver 
Head,  Madison,  Jefferson  and  Chouteau.  In  the  counties  of  Dawson  and 
Big  Horn,  there  were  so  few  qualified  persons  entitled  to  representation 
that  they  were  not  recognized  as  distinct  election  districts  by  Governor 
Edgerton,  and  were  deemed  part  of  Madison  County  for  political  pur- 
poses. 

THE  BANNACK  LEGISLATURE 

The  election  was  duly  held,  which  resulted  in  the  choice  of  what  has 
become  known  as  the  Bannack  Legislature.  A  delegate  to  Congress  was 
also  chosen.  The  republicans,  or  unionists,  nominated  Wilbur  F.  San- 
ders, and  the  democrats,  Samuel  McLean.  Partisanship  over  the  issues  of 
the  war  were  as  intense  in  Montana  as  in  the  older  territories  and  states, 
although  the  new  commonwealth  was  far  removed  from  the  immediate 
theater  of  hostilities.  The  voters  came  from  both  North  and  South  and 
the  campaign  was  waged  with  much  rancor  on  both  sides.  Governor 


282  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Edgerton  coming  from  an  Ohio  hotbed  of  radical  republicanism,  was 
the  leader  of  the  Montana  unionists  in  every  sense  of  the  word,  and 
his  young  nephew,  the  Congressional  candidate,  was  a  brisk  running 
mate  in  that  regard.  Whatever  the  cause  of  the  result,  the  democrats 
won  and  Colonial  Sanders  was  defeated.  There  is  some  question  as 
to  the  respective  votes,  although  both  sides  agree  upon  the  total  of 
6,864.  The  democrats  themselves  attributed  their  success  to  the  dom- 
inant* method  of  the  campaign  pursued  by  the  republicans  in  charging 
their  opponents  with  disloyalty. 

The  first  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  territory  con- 
vened at  Bannack  on  December  12,  1864,  and  adjourned  February  9,  1865. 
The  presiding  officers  of  both  sides  were  republicans,  Robert  Lawrence 
being  chosen  president  of  the  Council  and  George  Detwiler,  speaker  of 
the  House. 

The  membership  of  the  two  houses,  with  the  localities  represented 
was  as  follows: 

Members  of  the  Council:  Frank  M.  Thompson  and  Erasmus  D. 
Leavitt,  Beaverhead  County;  Frank  L.  Worden,  Chouteau,  Deer  Lodge 
and  Missoula  counties;  Nathaniel  Merriman,  Jefferson  County;  Charles 
S.  Bagg,  Robert  Lawrence  and  Anson  S.  Potter,  Madison  County. 

Members  of  the  House :  William  Faulds  and  Andrew  J.  Smith,  Bea- 
verhead County ;  James  Stuart,  Deer  Lodge  County ;  Isaac  N.  Buck,  Milo 
Courtright  and  George  Detwiler,  Jefferson  County;  John  H.  Rodgers, 
Patrick  Ryan,  Wila  Huffaker,  Alexander  E.  Mayhew,  Francis  Bell  and 
Washington  J.  McCormick,  Madison  County;  E.  B.  Johnson,  Missoula 
County. 

At  this  time  among  the  leaders  of  the  democratic  party  were  Sample 
Orr;  Edwin  W.  Toole,  a  brilliant  lawyer  and  brother  of  Joseph  K.  Toole, 
the  first  governor  of  the  state;  William  Y.  Pemberton,  afterward  chief 
justice  of  the  State  Supreme  Court,  altogether  a  distinguished  member 
of  the  bench  and  bar,  and  librarian  of  the  State  Historical  Society; 
Thomas  Thoroughman,  R.  C.  Ewing,  Alexander  Davis,  Samuel  Word, 
N.  J.  Bond,  W.  L.  McMath,  Samuel  McLean  and  Ansell  Briggs. 

The  laws  passed  at  this  first  session  were  voluminous  and  important. 
Not  a  few  of  them  related  to  the  judiciary.  The  act  providing  for  the 
organization  of  the  territory  vested  the  judicial  power  in  a  supreme  court, 
district  courts,  probate  courts  and  in  justices  of  the  peace,  and 
divided  the  territory  into  three  judicial  districts.  Pursuant  to  the  au- 
thority given,  this  session  enacted  a  law  establishing  these  courts  and  pre- 
scribing the  jurisdiction  thereof.  A  Criminal  Practice  Act  was  passed,  pro- 
viding for  the  indictment  and  trial  of  offenders,  defining  offenses  punish- 
able thereunder  and  the  penalties  to  be  imposed.  A  Probate  Act  relating 
to  the  estates  of  deceased  persons,  minors  and  incompetents,  and  an  act 
relating  to  executors  and  administrators  and  to  guardians  and  wards  were 
passed.  One  of  the  most  important  laws  enacted  by  this  assembly  was 
that  incorporating  the  Historical  Society  of  Montana,  the  incorporators  of 
which  were  H.  L.  Hosmer,  C.  P.  Higgins,  John  Owen,  James  Stuart, 
W.  F.  Sanders,  Malcolm  Clarke,  F.  M.  Thompson,  William  Graham,  Gran- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  283 

ville  Stuart,  W.  W.  DeLacy,  C.  E.  Irwin  and  C.  S.  Bagg.  The  seat  of 
government  was,  by  an  act  approved  February  7,  1865,  located  at  the  city 
of  Virginia,  pursuant  to  the  authority  granted  the  legislative  assembly 
by  the  act  of  congress  providing  for  the  organization  of  the  territory. 

Besides  general  laws  of  the  nature  outlined,  measures  were  adopted 
to  meet  the  special  conditions  of  the  people  and  the  times.  An  act  was 
passed  to  prevent  the  counterfeiting  of  gold  dust,  as  a  spurious  imita- 
tion was  in  circulation.  During  the  session,  not  less  than  nine  special 
acts  were  passed  providing  for  marital  separation,  but  no  general  divorce 
law  was  enacted  until  near  the  adjournment  of  the  assembly.  Acts  were 
passed  to  reimburse  those  who  had  captured  road  agents  when  the  miners' 
courts  were  in  authority.  Without  general  legislation  enabling  indus- 
trial and  commercial  enterprises  to  be  incorporated,  almost  one  hundred 
private  charters  were  granted  to  mining  companies,  ditch  companies,  town 
site  enterprises,  and  bridge,  ferry  and  wagon  road  projects.  This  char- 
acter of  legislation  called  forth  denunciation  from  the  Congress  of  the 
United  States,  which,  in  1867  passed  an  act  providing  that  the  legisla- 
tive assemblies  of  the  territories  should  not  grant  private  charters  or 
special  privileges,  but  they  might,  by  general  incorporation  acts,  per- 
mit persons  to  associate  themselves  together  as  bodies  corporate  for  min- 
ing, manufacturing  and  other  industrial  pursuits.  Such  a  general  incor- 
porating act  was  passed  by  the  third  Legislative  Assembly  of  the  territory, 
and  at  subsequent  sessions  most  of  the  special  privilege  acts  passed  at 
the  first  session  were  repealed. 

In  the  light  of  events  of  a  later  period,  this  special  legislation 
enacted  at  the  first  session  of  the  territorial  assembly  was  of  such  an 
interesting  character  as  to  warrant  more  detailed  comment.  The  most 
complete  and  satisfactory  account  of  the  doings  of  the  Bannack  Assembly 
was  contributed  to  the  Anaconda  Standard,  of  February  23,  1919,  by 
James  U.  Sanders,  of  Helena,  secretary  of  the  Society  of  Montana  Pio- 
neers, and  one  of  the  sons  of  Wilbur  F.  Sanders,  the  pioneer.  After 
noting  the  conscientious  and  industrious  character  of  that  legislature  and 
that,  in  addition  to  passing  civil  and  criminal  practice  acts,  it  enacted 
nearly  one  hundred  special  or  private  laws,  Mr.  Sanders  continues :  "These 
charters  were  given  to  nearly  500  men,  but  a  careful  perusal  of  the  names 
discloses  only  eight  survivors  today.  The  full  list  includes  men  in  Lon- 
don, England,  and  many  Eastern  cities,  including  New  York,  St.  Louis, 
Philadelphia  and  Albion,  N.  Y. 

"I  will  recall  only  a  few  companies  in  which  the  survivors  mentioned 
were  interested  with  about  ninety  associates." 

FIRST  Is  ROAD  LAW 

"The  first  law  approved  by  Governor  Edgerton  on  December  27,  1864, 
was  an  act  to  incorporate  the  Missouri  River  &  Rocky  Mountain  Wagon 
Road  and  Telegraph  Company.  This  was  granted  to  Judge  Pemberton 
and  fourteen  associates,  among  whom  are  some  familiar  names,  such  as 
Judge  Walter  B.  Dance,  a  miners'  judge  of  those  days ;  N.  P.  Langford, 


284  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

elected  to  the  Idaho  legislature  the  year  before  and  superintendent  of  the 
Yellowstone  National  Park  on  its  creation  in  1872  and  which  from  its 
initials  Mr.  Langford  used  to  say  was  named  after  him :  S.  T.  Hauser, 
afterward  governor  of  the  territory;  T.  C.  Evarts,  whose  'Thirty-seven 
Days  of  Peril,'  being  an  account  of  experiences  while  lost  from  the  Wash- 
burne  party  in  1870,  was  read  the  world  over;  Razin  Anderson,  a  member 
of  the  Stuart  party  which  discovered  gold  at  Gold  Creek ;  Samuel  Word 
and  F.  B.  Kercheval  of  St.  Joseph,  Missouri,  who  endeavored  to  found 
Kercheval  City  at  the  mouth  of  the  Judith  River  in  1866  and  which  was 
made  the  county  seat  of  Musselshell  County  on  its  creation  by  one  of 
the  bogus  legislatures  of  that  year.  Today  the  judge  is  the  only  survivor 
of  this  list  and  an  effort  to  pump  Pern  on  the  achievements  of  this  com- 
pany only  disclosed  the  fact  that  his  recollection  of  the  enterprise  is  a 
little  vague,  but  he  admitted  that  he  probably  wrote  the  law  for  a  block 
of  the  capital  stock,  stated  to  be  $800,000,  and  that  also  some  of  the  in- 
corporators  had  a  preliminary  survey  of  the  proposed  road  made." 

It  was  to  start  from  Virginia  City  and  run  to  the  head  of  naviga- 
tion on  the  Yellowstone  River  and  thence  to  the  mouth  of  that  river 
or  some  other  point  on  the  Missouri  River.  They  were  to  have  the 
privilege  of  establishing  toll  gates  and  collecting  toll  not  oftener  than  a 
gate  to  each  forty  miles  of  the  road.  They  also  had  the  privilege 
of  erecting  tool  gates  at  bridges  and  ferries,  but  not  on  streams  fordable 
at  all  seasons  of  the  year.  The  charter  also  gave  the  privilege  of  erecting 
an  electro  telegraph  line  along  said  road  and  also  by  way  of  Bannack  to 
the  southern  boundary  of  the  territory  toward  Salt  Lake  City.  The  com- 
pany was  authorized  to  issue  bonds  for  the  raising  of  funds  for  con- 
struction and  to  pay  interest  at  not  more  than  15  per  cent. 

FOR  ANOTHER  ROAD 

Judge  Pemberton  and  Mr.  Evarts  promoted  another  enterprise  under 
a  charter  to  the  Bozeman  City  &  Milk  River  Wagon  Road  Company, 
with  a  capital  stock  of  $200,000,  for  the  purpose  of  locating  and  main- 
taining a  toll  wagon  road  from  Bozeman  to  the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell 
River,  and  thence  to  the  mouth  of  the  Milk  River.  Some  mean  in- 
dividual reading  this  charter  might  note  that  nothing  is  said  as  to  con- 
structing a  road,  although  a  survey  is  provided  for  and  exclusive  privi- 
leges given  with  ten  miles  of  its  line,  and  also  within  the  same  distance 
of  all  bridges  and  ferries  established  on  streams  crossed,  said  toll  gates 
not  to  exceed  one  for  every  forty  miles  of  road.  Authority  to  estab- 
lish town-sites  at  the  termini  of  said  route  and  also  at  the  crossing  of 
the  Musselshell  River  and  at  other  points,  with  authority  to  pre-empt 
320  acres  at  each  of  said  points  and  lay  off  into  lots,  blocks  and  streets 
and  hold  or  dispose  of  the  same,  is  given. 

Had  the  judge  laid  out  this  road  on  an  air  line,  like  the  road 
from  St.  Petersburg  to  Moscow,  and  should  he  go  over  it  today,  he 
would  traverse  the  counties  of  Park,  Sweet  Grass,  Meagher,  Musselshell, 
Fergus,  the  new  county  of  Garfield,  possibly  Phillips,  and,  if  we  were 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  285 

more  familiar  with  the  geography  of  Montana  while  the  present  session 
of  the  legislature  is  in  session,  we  might  add  Dawson,  and  before  they 
adjourn  we  might  add  others.  When  laid  out  this  road  traversed  only 
Gallatin,  Chouteau  and  Big  Horn  counties.  With  these  enterprises  the 
judge  satisfied  himself  for  the  time  being  in  the  mad  rush  for  worldly 
wealth,  at  the  same  time  securing,  and  ever  since  maintaining,  a  warm 
place  in  the  regard  and  affections  of  the  people  of  Montana. 

STILL  ANOTHER  ROAD 

On  January  27,  1865,  a  charter  to  the  Virginia  City  &  Summit  City 
Wagon  Road  Company  was  approved  by  Governor  Edgerton.  This 
charter  was  granted  to  Joseph  H.  Millar,  now  of  Omaha,  and  president 
of  the  Omaha  National  Bank,  and  B.  F.  Allen  of  Des  Moines,  and  in- 
terested in  a  bank  in  Virginia  City  with  Mr.  Millard  under  the  name  of 
Allen  &  Millard,  and  while  the  metropolis  of  Alder  Gulch  was  still  in  the 
territory  of  Idaho ;  also  W.  C.  Burton  of  Des  Moines  and  John  S.  Atchi- 
son,  many  years  later  a  banking  associate  of  Governor  Hauser  in  Helena, 
and  others. 

A  recent  inquiry  of  Senator  Millard  discloses  the  facts  of  the  en- 
terprise. Mr.  Burton  conceived  the  idea  of  the  road  up  Alder  and 
secured  the  backing  of  Allen  and  Millard  shortly  after  the  discovery 
of  gold  in  May,  1863.  This  occurred  just  a  little  above  the  foot  of 
Wallace  Street  as  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Edgar,  one  of  the  discoverers,  at 
the  meeting  of  the  Pioneer  Society  twenty  years  ago.  Mr.  Burton  built 
the  road  in  1863,  but  the  miners  washing  the  bed  of  the  gulch  that  fall  and 
next  summer  were  continually  washing  it  out  and  interfering  with  it  as  a 
highway  and  the  rights  secured  under  the  charter  did  not  much  improve 
their  authority.  The  road  was  eight  miles  in  length  from  Virginia  City 
to  Summit  and  they  were  authorized  to  establish  a  toll  gate  at  the  town 
of  Highland  and  one  near  Virginia  City  and  crossing  and  recrossing 
Alder  Creek  and  bridging  the  same  where  necessary.  The  capital  of  the 
company  was  to  be  $27,000,  which  perhaps  is  the  amount  of  money  spent 
in  building  and  maintaining  the  road.  With  the  liberal  charges  allowed,  $3 
for  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  span  of  horses  or  yoke  of  oxen  or  a  carriage 
drawn  by  one  animal,  etc.,  the  road  never  paid  or  reimbursed  the  build- 
ers. 

WATER  CHARTER 

Also  on  January  27th  a  charter  was  granted  to  A.  M.  Holter,  still 
living  in  Helena,  and  associates  under  the  name  of  the  Virginia  City 
Water  Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000,  with  authority  to  in- 
crease it  to  $100,000.  The  company  had  authority  to  convey  the  waters 
rising  or  flowing  from  all  springs  in  Daylight  Gulch  and  distribute  it 
through  hydrants  and  through  the  streets  of  the  city.  Mr.  Holter  made 
a  success  of  this  enterprise,  which  was  conceived  the  summer  before  and 
work  commenced  by  his  associates,  O.  Norelius  and  J.  P.  Oleson. 

Another  charter  was  granted  for  the  purpose  of  supplying  Virginia 


286  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

City  with  gas  to  the  Virginia  City  Gas  Company,  with  a  capital  stock  of 
$10,000,  with  the  authority  to  increase  it  to  $200,000.  All  of  the  incor- 
porators  of  this  company  are  dead,  but  among  the  names  we  note  those 
of  Governor  S.  T.  Hauser  and  W.  J.  McCormick,  a  member  of  the  Ban- 
nack  legislature  and  father  of  the  representative  from  Missoula  County. 

A  charter  was  granted  to  Mortimer  H.  Lott,  still  residing  at  Twin 
Bridges,  and  his  associates,  among  whom  we  note  Paris  S.  Pfouts,  for- 
merly president  of  the  vigilance  committee,  and  James  Williams,  a 
captain  in  that  organization,  and  one  of  the  executive  officers.  The 
company  was  known  as  the  Montana  Bridge  and  Ferry  Company,  with 
authority  to  construct  bridges  or  ferries,  one  on  the  Big  Hole  River  near 
Twin  Bridges  and  one  on  the  Jefferson  River  near  Pat  Carney's  Ranch 
at  Waterloo.  At  the  Big  Hole  crossing  the  toll  charge  for  a  vehicle 
and  two  animals  was  $4  and  at  the  Jefferson  crossing  the  charge  was  $5. 

On  February  2d  Mr.  Lott  and  his  brother,  John  S.  Lott,  were  author- 
ized to  use  the  water  of  Wisconsin  Gulch  for  irrigating  and  milling  pur- 
poses with  right-of-way  to  the  Beaverhead  River. 

IN  DEER  LODGE  VALLEY 

Gus  Graeter  of  Dillon,  the  bride-groom  of  85  years,  and  his  asso- 
ciates were  given  a  charter  as  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley  Mining  Company, 
with  a  capital  of  $200,000.  The  office  of  the  company  was  established  at 
Silver  Bow  City,  and  the  company  was  authorized  to  establish  a  branch 
office  in  New  York  City  if  deemed  proper. 

Books  were  to  be  opened  for  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock  on 
twenty  days'  notice  published  in  a  newspaper,  if  there  was  one  published 
in  the  territory,  otherwise  by  posting  notices  at  three  public  places  in 
Silver  Bow  City. 

Mr.  Graeter  and  his  associates  were  also  given  a  charter  as  the 
Beaverhead  Ditch  Company,  with  authority  to  construct  a  ditch  and  divert 
the  waters  of  Rattlesnake  Creek  and  supply  water  for  mining,  milling 
and  other  purposes,  evidently  in  the  vicinity  of  Argenta,  west  of  Dillon. 

William  Berkin  of  Meagher  County,  now  over  90  years  of  age,  and 
hale  and  hearty,  with  associates,  was  given  a  charter  as  the  Eureka  Gold 
and  Silver  Mining  Company  with  a  capital  stock  of  $50,000  which  might 
be  increased  to  $1,000,000,  with  offices  at  the  town  of  Montana,  an  embryo 
city  at  the  Point  of  Rocks  on  Rattlesnake  Creek,  and  also  in  the  City 
of  New  York.  Among  the  other  incorporators  are  to  be  noted  Samuel 
McLean,  delegate  in  congress ;  George  Brown,  member  of  the  state  senate 
from  Beaverhead  County  at  the  third  and  fourth  sessions,  and  Ashael 
K.  Eaton,  who  was  later  interested  with  Col.  A.  K.  McLure  in  mining 
enterprises  in  Madison  County. 

IN  MINING  INDUSTRY 

Mr.  Berkin  was  also  interested  in  two  other  companies  created  by 
this  legislature,  one  the  Boulder  Town  Company,  located  at  the  north 
side  of  the  crossing  of  the  Boulder  River  about  two  miles  from  the  pres- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  287 

ent  town.  Capt.  Nick  Wall  of  St.  Louis,  and  a  member  of  the  firm  of 
J.  J.  Roe  &  Co.,  and  also  an  active  member  of  the  Virginia  Vigilantes, 
and  John  J.  Healy  of  Northern  Montana  and  later  of  Alaska  were  asso- 
ciated in  this  enterprise.  The  other,  the  Kalida  Gold  and  Silver  Mining 
Company,  was  granted  the  usual  mining  rights  and  among  the  other  in- 
corporators  are  to  be  noted  the  names  of  Matthew  Carroll,  George  Steell 
and  Gad  E.  Upson,  the  successful  candidate  in  1865  against  Colonel  Mc- 
Lean for  delegate  to  congress. 

James  Gourley  of  Gallatin  County  and  a  pioneer  of  1862,  and  asso- 
ciates, were  given  a  charter  as  the  Prickly  Pear  Gold  and  Silver  Mining 
Company,  with  a  capitalization  limited  to  $1,000,000.  T.  G.  Merrill,  later 


MONTANA  CITY  IN  EARLY  DAYS 

of  Jefferson  County,  was  one  of  the  incorporators  of  this  company.  Both 
Messrs.  Gourley  and  Merrill  were  members  of  the  first  republican  terri- 
torial convention  the  summer  before. 

Fred  Root  of  Grant,  Montana,  is  the  surviving  incorporator  of  two 
companies,  one  of  the  East  Ophir  Town  Company,  with  townsite  privi- 
leges at  the  mouth  of  the  Maria's  River.  Many  familiar  names  were 
associated  with  him  in  this  enterprise  as  Ed.  House,  Alf  Nichols,  Buzz 
Cavin,  Caleb  Irvine,  John  A.  Creighton,  Jesse  Armitage,  W.  W.  De  Lacy, 
A.  J.  Oliver,  Robert  Hereford  and  others. 

The  other  company  in  which  Mr.  Root  was  interested  was  the  Mon- 
tana Quicksilver  Company,  and  associated  with  him  was  John  Potter,  the 
first  postmaster  at  Helena. 

PRICKLY  PEAR 

Another  company  in  which  Mr.  Gourley  was  an  incorporator  was 
one  changing  the  name  of  Montana  City  and  incorporating  the  town  of 


288  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Prickly  Pear.  The  town  was  situated  eight  miles  southeast  of  Helena 
and  was  a  lively  mining  camp  in  1862  as  the  result  of  rich  gold  discoveries 
which  paid  for  several  years.  Many  of  the  early  maps  in  the  geographies 
of  the  time  gave  Montana  City  without  indicating  the  present  capital 
of  Montana,  Last  Chance  Gulch  being  discovered  two  years  later.  The 
Great  Northern  Railroad  on  the  line  from  Helena  to  Butte  runs  through 
the  main  street  of  the  "city,"  but  the  traveler  would  never  know  that  it 
was  once  a  lively  mining  camp,  the  only  building  standing  today  being  an 
apparently  abandoned  section  house  formerly  used  by  the  railroad  com- 
pany. A  close  observation  would  disclose  signs  of  extensive  mining 
operations  and  perhaps  indications  of  former  habitations. 

In  the  summer  of  1862  King  &  Gilette,  freighting  a  stock  of  goods 
from  Fort  Benton  which  had  been  shipped  up  the  river  and  consigned  to 
Bannack,  offered  some  for  sale  from  their  wagons,  and  before  they  knew 
it  had  closed  out  their  stock. 

These  are  a  few  of  the  hundred  companies  organized  by  the  First 
(Bannack)  Legislative  Assembly  of  Montana  Territory  during  the  session 
that  winter,  linked  to  the  present  by  surviving  incorporators. 

CHIEF  JUSTICE  HOSMER  AND  HON.  JAMES  M.  ASHLEY 

The  variety  and  nature  of  the  legislation  enacted  at  the  first  session 
are  illuminating  illustrations  of  the  trend  of  public  thought  and  in- 
dividual endeavor;  they  illustrate  what  the  people  of  territorial  Montana 
were  thinking  about  and  doing.  In  the  meantime,  the  judicial  ma- 
chinery was  generally  getting  into  motion.  On  June  30,  1864,  President 
Lincoln  had  commissioned  Hezekiah  L.  Hosmer  as  chief  justice  of  the  new 
territory  of  Montana.  Like  Governor  Edgerton,  he  was  a  New  Yorker 
who  moved  to  Ohio  and  was  educated  and  trained  to  the  law  in  that  state. 
In  the  Buck  Eye  State,  he  also  indulged  in  newspaper  work  and  author- 
ship. He  was  either  a  whig  or  republican.  In  1861,  he  went  to  Washing- 
ton hoping  to  secure  the  position  of  librarian  to  Congress.  Although 
unsuccessful  in  that  mission,  he  became  secretary  of  the  House  Committee 
on  Territories,  of  which  Hon.  James  M.  Ashley,  then  member  from  the 
Toledo  District,  was  chairman.  In  that  capacity,  on  February  n,  1863, 
Mr.  Ashley  (afterward  governor  of  Montana)  reported  the  bill  for  the 
organization  of  Montana  as  a  territory.  He  had  already  proposed  a  bill 
for  the  creation  of  what  was  eventually  called  Idaho,  under  the  name 
of  Montana,  and,  although  disappointed  in  his  first  effort  at  this  christen- 
ing, had  the  satisfaction  of  seeing  his  favorite  name  applied  to  the  ter- 
ritory of  which  he  became  governor. 

HOLDING  OF  FIRST  LEGALIZED  COURTS 

As  stated,  at  the  organization  of  the  territory  of  Montana,  President 
Lincoln  appointed  Mr.  Hosmer  its  chief  justice,  and  the  judge  reached 
Virginia  City,  after  the  vigilantes  and  the  miners'  courts  had  partially 
pacified  the  country,  in  October,  1864.  From  a  sketch  of  Judge  Hosmer, 
approved  by  his  son,  J.  H.  Hosmer,  and  published  among  the  contribu- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  289 

tions  of  the  State  Historical  Society  (Vol.  Ill),  is  taken  the  follow- 
ing narrative,  descriptive  of  political,  legal  and  judicial  conditions  then 
existing:  The  territory,  then  three  months  old,  had  no  law  but  the 
Organic  Act  of  Congress  creating  it.  Such  United  States  laws  as  were 
general  in  their  operation  and  remembered  by  those  who  had  read  them, 
for  the  books  were  not  there,  and  the  precedents  of  the  common  and  civil 
law  likewise  confided  to  the  repositories  of  retentive  memories,  except 
in  a  few  noted  instances,  where  the  expectant  practitioner  had  brought 
a  few  text  books  with  him,  were  the  only  guides.  But  it  didn't  take  a 
set  of  reports  to  make  a  library  in  those  days,  and  a  lawyer  didn't  look 
for  a  case  to  hit  the  facts  so  much  as  he  sought  something  to  sustain 
the  reason  and  spirit  of  his  contention. 

No  legislature  had  met  and  the  Organic  Act,  hardly  more  than  a  right 
to  exist,  made  no  provisions  for  the  rule  of  procedure  when  courts  should 
be  organized.  There  was  no  civil  or  criminal  code,  nor  any  practice  act 
or  statute  that  authoritatively  applied  to  the  territory,  which  was  then  in 
the  Territory. 

Municipal  buildings  had  not  been  erected.  But  after  canvassing  the 
matter  for  a  time  it  was  determined  to  open  court  in  the  dining  room 
of  the  Planters  House,  then  at  the  corner  of  Idaho  and  Jackson  streets 
in  Virginia  City,  which  Mr.  Shoot,  the  proprietor,  proffered  for  the  occa- 
sion. And  it  was  discovered  immediately  that  while  it  might  answer  as 
a  courtroom,  it  seriously  inconvenienced  the  guests  of  the  hotel,  as  their 
dinner  and  supper  depended  upon  the  adjournment  of  the  court. 

The  time  for  the  opening  of  the  District  Court  of  the  First  Judicial 
District,  having  both  federal  and  territorial  nisi  prius  jurisdiction,  arrived, 
it  being  the  first  Monday  of  December,  1864.  The  Planters  House 
dining  room  was  early  cleared  of  breakfast  dishes,  a  bench  was  improvised 
by  putting  a  number  of  tables  close  together  and  then  placing  another 
table  on  -top  of  them,  behind  which  the  judge  sat.  Another  table  was 
arranged  for  Mr.  A.  M.  Forbet,  the  clerk,  another  was  for  the  lawyers, 
while  the  usual  dining  room  chair  of  the  day,  a  stool  made  of  four  pieces 
of  wood  inserted  in  a  piece  of  board  was  placed  around  for  lawyers  and 
spectators. 

The  lawyers  who  assembled  on  that  first  day  of  meeting  were  mostly 
young  men,  and  came  from  all  parts  of  the  United  States.  Many  have 
since  become  prominent  in  the  history  of  the  Territory.  There  were  E.  B. 
Neally,  United  States  district  attorney ;  W.  F.  Sanders,  Jerry  Cook,  Alex 
Davis,  Tom  Thbroughman,  James  G.  Spratt,  Sam  Word,  W.  M.  Stafford, 
R.  B.  Parrott,  L.  W.  Boarton,  W.  Y.  Pemberton,  W.  L.  McMath,  W.  Y. 
Lovell,  W.  J.  McCqrmick,  Harry  Burns,  William  Chumasero  (district 
attorney),  J.  C.  Turk,  O.  F.  Strickland,  Theo.  Muffley,  R.  W.  Robertson, 
Alex  E.  Mayhew  and  Charles  Baggs. 

Upon  the  opening  of  the  court  a  grand  jury  was  impaneled,  to 
which  Judge  Hosmer  gave  a  charge  prepared  upon  the  then  existing 
state  of  society.  He,  among  other  matters,  reviewed  the  history  of  the 
two  preceding  years,  the  establishment  of  order  by  the  aid  of  the  vigilance 
committee,  approved  its  action  as  a  necessity,  but  counseled  as  the  courts 


Vol.  1—19 


290  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

were  established  that  summary  proceedings  should  give  way  to  the  law. 
The  charge  was  met  with  approval,  by  the  bar,  and  by  requests  it  was 
published. 

Upon  the  first  adjournment  for  the  day,  a  citizen  who  had  listened 
to  the  charge  remarked  to  the  judge:  "We  are  glad  the  Government  has 
sent  you  here.  We  have  some  civil  matters  to  attend  to,  but  you  had  better 
let  us  take  charge  of  the  criminal  affairs." 

Immediately  Judge  Hosmer  was  met  with  questions,  novel,  important, 
without  precedent  and  debated  with  great  skill  and  ability  on  both 
sides. 

The  first  important  question  submitted  was  what  rule  should  govern 
in  regard  to  litigated  rights  and  practice?  As  a  sort  of  successor  to  the 
Miners'  Court,  T.  C.  Jones  had  been  appointed  by  the  governor  as  a 
Probate  Judge.  In  that  court  a  number  of  cases  were  commenced  which 
were  transferred  to  the  District  Court  when  that  court  was  organized 
by  Judge  Hosmer.  Discussion  was  requested  by  the  judge.  For  several 
evenings  the  dining  room  of  the  Planters  House  heard  echoes  from  the 
time  of  the  Decemviri  down  to  and  including  the  last  statutes  of  the 
Territory  of  Idaho.  While  the  civil  law  was  the  Louisiana  rule,  yet  under 
it  there  were  no  vested  rights  in  the  new  territory,  and  the  later  states 
and  territories  carved  out  of  the  original  territory,  to  which  the  Mon- 
tana Territory  had  from  time  to  time  belonged,  had  adopted  the  common 
law.  The  common  law,  therefore,  as  the  abstract  rule,  was  approved 
and  consented  to. 

The  question  of  practice  then  became  important.  Montana,  as  then 
inhabited,  had  been  a  part  of  Idaho.  The  Idaho  Legislature  had  the 
preceding  winter  passed  statutes  including  a  practice  act.  Only  one  copy 
had  reached  Montana.  It  was  decided  that  as  Montana  had  been  a  part 
of  Idaho  when  the  statute  was  passed,  and  as  no  provision  had  been  made 
by  the  government,  and  that  it  was  necessary  before  legislation  could  be  had 
to  have  a  course  of  practice  adopted  for  a  guide,  that  the  Idaho  statutes 
so  far  as  they  could  be  made  applicable  to  Montana,  should  be  the  law 
until  legislature  met  and  remedied  the  difficulty.  The  rule  then  approved 
for  the  Territorial  District  Court  was  the  Idaho  statute  so  far  as  it  could 
be  made  applicable,  and  where  it  was  deficient,  the  common  law. 

This  seemed  to  work  well  until  in  the  course  of  time  prior  appropria- 
tion of  water  in  connection  with  placer  mining  claims,  and  prior  right 
of  discovery  of  quartz  lodes  occasioned  an  adoption  of  the  California  rule, 
and  the  California  reports  later  became  the  leading  authority  in  the 
territory. 

Another  question  presented  about  this  time  was  as  to  the  construc- 
tion of  contracts.  United  States  Treasury  Notes  were  at  the  time  accepted 
in  payment  at  fifty  cents  on  the  dollar  in  gold  dust  at  least ;  the  merchant 
after  blowing  out  black  sand  and  manipulating  the  scale  weights  as  he 
saw  fit,  usually  got  more.  The  question  presented  was  whether  the 
creditor  could  demand  payment  in  gold  dust,  or  if  payment  was  made 
in  greenbacks,  should  they  be  accepted  at  a  figure  different  from  the  rated 
value  in  the  Virginia  trade — their  value  in  the  markets  of  the  world. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  291 

The  decision  held  that  in  the  absence  of  a  specific  contract,  treasury  notes 
were  a  legal  tender,  but  if  specific,  payment  should  be  made  in  gold 
dust. 

Another  difficulty  early  presented,  and  which  if  not  liberally  construed 
had  a  tendency  to  destroy  the  validity  of  every  written  contract  in  the 
territory,  was  as  to  the  necessity  of  internal  revenue  stamps  upon  written 
contracts.  Until  the  organization  of  the  territory  and  the  arrival  of  the 
collector  of  internal  revenue,  there  were  no  stamps  in  the  territory.  Dur- 
ing all  the  time  contracts  involving  large  amounts  of  money  had  been 
made,  which  some  of  the  parties  now  sought  to  avoid  as  a  violation  of  the 
United  States  laws.  Judge  Hosmer  held  that  as  it  had  been  impossible 
to  procure  stamps  and  it  was  not  the  policy  of  the  law  to  invalidate  con- 
tracts made  in  good  faith,  that  such  a  liberal  construction  should  be 
given  to  the  law  as  to  authorize  the  stamping  of  the  contracts  when  the 
stamps  were  obtainable,  with  like  effect  as  if  stamped  when  made. 

Questions  of  like  character  attributable  to  the  unsettled  condition  of 
the  country  and  undefined  condition  of  the  laws  were  frequently  arising 
during  the  period  prior  to  the  going  into  effect  of  the  laws  enacted  at 
Bannack  during  the  winter  of  1864-65. 

.  The  Planters  House  dining  room  was  not  long  utilized  as  a  courtroom. 
A  change  was  made  to  the  Union  League  Room.  The  floor  was  covered 
with  sawdust  and  made  a  very  fair  courtroom.  But  while  the  building 
fronted  on  Wallace  Street,  there  was  no  entrance  from  the  street,  and 
in  order  to  get  to  the  courtroom  it  was  necessary  to  go  along  a  path  on 
a  side  hill  at  the  back  of  the  building  for  200  feet  or  more,  then  ascend 
a  stairway  which  went  up  on  the  outside  at  the  back  of  the  house.  Other 
places  were  from  time  to  time  selected  as  courtrooms.  During  the  four 
years  of  Judge  Hosmer's  term  of  office  nearly  a  dozen  different  places 
were  so  used. 

One  of  the  first  cases  to  be  tried  was  old  John  Thorburn,  for  killing 
D.  D.  Chamberlain  at  Central  City.  A  great  deal  of  interest  was  taken  in 
the  case,  which  resulted  in  an  acquittal.  William  Chumasero  appeared 
as  district  attorney,  and  Messrs.  Sanders  and  Thoroughman  appeared  for 
the  defense.  It  was  on  the  trial  of  this  case  that  a  party  who  had  been 
prominent  as  a  vigilante  was,  on  being  called  as  a  juror,  asked  if  he  had 
conscientious  opinions  against  the  death  penalty,  and  replied:  "In  all 
cases  where  it  is  not  done  by  a  vigilance  committee."  And  that  this  was 
the  sentiment  of  many  is  shown  by  the  fact  during  the  early  years  of 
the  territory  there  was  no  conviction  of  a  capital  offense  in  the  courts, 
but  malefactors  were  occasionally  found  hanging  in  between  three-sticks 
or  on  a  dry  tree  with  the  word  "Vigilantes"  pinned  on  their  backs.  When 
Sam  Perry,  in  1870,  was  convicted  of  murder,  with  sentence  at  five  years 
in  prison,  he  was  hardly  more  than  under  sentence  before  he  dug  under  the 
logs  of  the  jail  and  was  never  caught  afterwards. 

The  court  begun  in  December,  1864,  was  continuously  in  session  for 
over  six  months.  During  that  time  cases  involving  many  new  and  novel 
points  were  tried.  With  few  exceptions  the  litigation  was  such  as  would 
challenge  close  and  technical  study.  Judge  Hosmer  received  expressions 


292  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  the  highest  commendation  from  the  bar  on  the  completion  of  the  first 
term. 

It  was  while  this  term  was  in  progress  that  the  news  of  the  assassina- 
tion of  President  Lincoln  reached  Virginia  City,  ten  days  after  it  occurred. 
The  Olinghouse  stone  building  was  being  erected  at  the  time,  and  the  pile 
of  rocks  somewhere  near  twenty  feet  high  was  used  for  speaking  pur- 
poses, and  here  those  who  had  recently  borne  arms  for  the  South  with 
those  who  had  done  like  service  for  the  North  uttered  their  eulogies  for 
the  martyred  President. 

GENERAL  SULLY^S  Sioux  CAMPAIGN   (1864) 

These  movements  of  the  Assembly,  Bench  and  Bar,  tending  to  estab- 
lish law  and  order  in  the  territory  of  Montana,  found  a  salutary  com- 
plement, in  the  campaign  waged  by  the  War  Department,  through  Gen. 
Alfred  Sully*  against  the  dreaded  Sioux  of  the  Eastern  country.  They 
were  the  great  deterrent  to  settlement  in  Central  and  Eastern  Montana. 
The  large,  well  equipped  and  conducted  expedition  led  by  General  Sully 
and  sent  against  the  hostile  Sioux  Indians  in  July  and  August,  1864, 
resulted  in  a  most  effective  campaign  against  the  savage  enemies,  who 
were  supposed  to  be  located  in  the  Big  Horn  and  Yellowstone  valleys  of 
Eastern  Montana.  As  it  happened  they  were  found  in  force  in  the  Bad 
Lands  Region  of  the  Little  Missouri,  which  were  explored  during  the 
several  days  of  fierce  fighting  experienced  by  the  United  States  troops. 
These  comprised  4,000  cavalry,  800  mounted  infantry,  twelve  pieces  of 
artillery,  300  Government  teams  and  300  beef  steers,  with  fifteen  steam- 
boats to  carry  the  supplies  of  the  expedition  along  the  courses  of  the 
Missouri  and  Yellowstone.  The  troops  were  mostly  drawn  from  Iowa  and 
Minnesota,  although  there  was  one  regiment  of  Wisconsin  infantry.  The 
general  route  of  the  expedition  was  from  Fort  Ridgely,  Minnesota,  west- 
ward, to  the  Bad  Lands  of  the  Missouri. 

In  the  Eastern  border  of  that  desolate  region,  at  the  head  of  Big 
Knife  River,  in  July,  a  large  Sioux  Village  was  attacked  at  a  place 
called  Kill-the-Deer-Butte,  the  resulting  engagement  being  known  in 
Indian  warfare  as  the  Battle  of  Killdeer  Mountain.  Col.  M.  T.  Thomas, 
of  the  Second  Minnesota  Brigade,  who  was  in  active  command  of  the 
column,  as  General  Sully  was  ill  during  much  of  the  march,  describes  the 
battle :  "They  had  congregated  this  great  force  to  clear  out  the  white  sol- 
diers and  appeared  to  believe  that  they  could  do  it.  We  were  about  three 
miles  from  the  camp  when  they  were  first  discovered  by  the  scouts.  There 
was  no  excitement  apparent  on  either  side,  and  both  deliberately  pre- 
pared for  battle  with  equal  confidence.  The  line  was  formed  by  dismount- 
ing three  men  out  of  four,  leaving  the  fourth  man  in  charge  of  the  horses 
who  followed  the  line  in  close  columns.  The  dismounted  men  were 
formed  in  line  as  skirmishers,  about  four  paces  apart,  with  a  reserve 
cavalry  to  cover  the  flanks,  and  the  artillery  within  supporting  distance 

*  Served  as  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs  for  Montana,  in  1869-70,  the  gov- 
ernors of  the  territory  having  held  that  position  up  to  the  time  of  his  incumbency. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  293 

of  the  line  of  battle.  It  was  a  formidable  looking  force  and  when  the 
'Forward'  was  sounded  there  was  a  determined  look  on  the  faces  of  the 
men  which  indicated  that  they  now  had  a  chance  to  get  satisfaction  from 
the  redskins. 

GRAPHIC  PICTURE  OF  INDIAN  BATTLE 

"The  Indians  gathered  on  their  horses,  stripped  for  battle,  and  be- 
gan to  leisurely  ride  out  towards  us;  first  a  few  fine  looking  fellows 
rode  up  nearly  within  gun-shot  to  reconnoiter,  and  then  little  bands  would 
lea've  the  camp  and  advance,  but  without  any  demonstration  other  than 
waving  their  arms  in  the  air  or  cantering  across  the  plain.  At  last  they 
came  within  our  reach,  and  a  few  rifle  shots  precipitated  the  conflict,  but 
not  until  we  had  passed  half  the  distance  to  their  camp.  At  the  first 
shot  everything  was  changed.  The  bands  concentrated  and,  uttering 
their  war  cries,  they  dashed  toward  our  lines.  Riding  at  full  speed,  they 
would  fire  their  guns  and  wheel  and  disappear  to  load,  and  come  again, 
in  front  and  flanks  and  rear.  It  was  a  continuous  succession  of  charges 
that  were  always  repelled  by  the  steady  volleys  of  our  men.  We  kept 
steadily  advancing,  their  camp  our  objective  point.  Their  confidence 
was  such  that  they  did  not  make  an  effort  to  save  it  until  we  were 
within  half  a  mile;  then,  for  the  first  time,  we  set  the  artillery  to  work 
and  threw  shells  from  eight  guns  with  terrifying  effect. 

"It  was  a  magnificent  sight — 1,600  lodges  filled  with  women  and  chil- 
dren, dogs,  horses  and  all  the  paraphernalia  of  their  homes,  and  they 
attempting  to  save  them,  with  the  shells  bursting  about  them,  carrying 
destruction  in  their  path.  The  lodges  came  down,  but  too  late.  The 
warriors  shot  their  guns,  and  arrows  hissed  through  the  air,  but  onward 
went  the  blue-coated  line  and  the  camp  was  taken.  The  fighting  was  kept 
up  in  a  desultory  way  until  the  sun  went  down,  but  the  Indians  were 
whipped  and,  what  was  worse,  had  lost  their  camp  and  all  supplies,  and 
were  fleeing,  almost  naked,  into  the  mountains. 

"The  white  soldiers  camped  upon  the  ground.  General  Sully  ordered 
Major  Camp  to  follow  the  Indians  through  the  deep-wooded  ravines  and 
drive  them  off  the  high  hills  beyond  the  camp,  which  they  accomplished, 
with  some  loss  to  the  Indians.  From  these  hills  a  fine  view  of  the 
Indians  and  their  families  could  be  had  as  they  swarmed  away  through 
the  ravines  of  the  Bad  Lands,  mostly  beyond  reach.  *  *  * 

"Sully  had  2,200  men  (in  the  engagement)  and  he  estimated  the  num- 
ber of  Indians  at  from  5,000  to  6,000,  and  that  their  loss  was  100  to  150 
killed.  Half  the  next  day  was  spent  in  destroying  the  camp  and  killing 
the  dogs  that  were  left  behind.  The  one  supremely  sad  thing  about  a 
battle  is  burying  the  dead,  and  in  this  case,  although  there  were  but  few, 
it  was  sad  indeed.  In  the  middle  of  the  night  the  graves  were  prepared, 
and,  without  a  light  or  the  sound  of  a  drum  or  bugle,  their  bodies  were 
placed  in  the  earth  and  carefully  covered  up,  levelling  the  surface  so 
that  the  grave  would  not  be  noticed,  and  when  the  command  marched  over 
them  they  would  be  hidden  from  the  sight  of  the  Indians,  who  would 
mutilate  and  destroy  them.  *  *  * 


294  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

IN  "HELL  WITH  THE  FIRES  PUT  OUT" 

"In  the  afternoon  of  the  5th  of  August,  we  were  marching  leisurely 
along,  the  Knife  Mountains  just  visible  in  the  north  and  the  Black 
Hills  equally  distant  in  the  southward.  In  front  there  was  no  indication 
of  anything  but  an  almost  level  plain,  but  suddenly  the  head  of  the  column 
halted  and,  riding  to  the  front,  I  found  the  general  and  the  advance 
guard  gazing  down  at  the  Bad  Lands.  As  I  halted  beside  the  general  he 
said,  'This  is  hell  with  the  fires  put  out.'  The  description  was  brief, 
but  to  the  point.  Dante  must  have  received  his  inspiration  from  such  a 
scene.  For  forty  miles  to  the  west,  and  as  far  as  the  eye  could  see  to 
the  north  and  south,  the  body  of  the  earth  was  rent  and  torn,  leaving 
gorges,  buttes  and  yawning  chasms,  and  everything  showing  the  color  of 
burnt-out  fires.  It  was  an  awe-inspiring  sight.  True,  it  had  not  come 
without  warning,  for  some  knowledge  of  it  was  general,  but  no  description 
could  bring  to  the  mind  a  comprehension  of  its  magnitude. 

"We  had,  among  the  scouts,  a  little  Blackfoot  Indian,  who  said  that  when 
he  was  a  boy  he  had  crossed  the  Bad  Lands  with  his  father's  band,  and 
that  he  could  find  the  way  again.  This  young  Indian  was  now  installed  as 
guide,  and  following  him,  the  command,  by  turning  devious  ways,  plunged 
down  into  the  abyss.  We  camped  that  night  under  the  shadow  of  some 
buttes  whose  towering  heads  threw  shadows  that  hid  us  from  the  world. 
The  next  day  we  toiled  among  the  rocks,  up  and  down  and  across  a  seem- 
ingly endless  mass  of  obstructions,  and  at  last,  as  the  sun  was  going  down, 
the  heart  of  the  Bad  Lands  was  reached  by  striking  the  Little  Missouri 
river.  It  was  Saturday  night,  and  we  went  into  camp  to  spend  a  Sunday 
in  the  heart  of  the  region  that  had  never  before  been  seen  by  white  men's 
eyes." 

The  advance  into  and  through  the  Bad  Lands  involved  a  journey  of 
fearful  suffering  to  men  and  horses ;  water  was  so  scarce  and  filthy,  when 
found,  that  at  one  time  it  seemed  as  if  the  animals  could  never  survive. 
The  third  day  out — early  in  the  morning  of  August  8,  1864 — after  the 
troops  had  left  the  headwaters  of  the  Little  Missouri  and  were  headed 
north,  through  the  Bad  Lands,  for  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  the  Sioux 
attacked  the  column  in  greater  numbers  and  more  defiantly  than  ever. 
"The  firing  began  at  the  front,"  says  a  condensed  paper  from  the  diary 
of  Judge  Nicholas  Hilger,  "but  soon  they  charged  us  at  all  available 
points.  Our  artillery  was  now  distributed ;  six  pieces  were  placed  in  front, 
two  on  each  flank,  and  two  in  the  rear.  General  Sully  ordered  shell  to  be 
thrown  into  all  the  numerous  hiding  places  (places  of  ambush)  along  the 
route,  and  so  effective  were  these  means  in  dislodging  the  Indians  that 
by  noon  they  feared  to  occupy  such  positions  and  thenceforth  fought  upon 
open  ground. 

"The  dead  bodies  of  many  Indians  lay  strewn  along  the  route.  Our 
chief  guide,  the  young  man  who  had  been  shot  through  the  body  as  be- 
fore described,  still  rode  with  us  in  a  carriage,  but  many  of  our  men  were 
killed  and  wounded  by  the  bullets  of  the  hostiles.  Owing  to  the  inferiority 
of  their  arms  we  could  keep  the  savages  at  a  tolerably  safe  distance  with 


THE  BAD  LANDS  OF  MONTANA 


296  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

our  longer  range  guns  and  the  artillery;  otherwise  there  might  not  have 
been  a  man  of  us  left  alive,  so  numerous  were  they  and  so  persistent  in 
their  attacks.  *  *  * 

"The  next  morning  (August  9th),  at  daybreak,  the  command  started 
forward.  The  Indians  came  on  stronger  than  ever  and  attacked  us  on  all 
sides.  Close  to  the  camp  a  high  and  rocky  butte  arose  above  the  surround- 
ing country.  Many  of  us  climbed  to  its  summit,  from  which  vantage- 
ground  we  could  overlook  the  whole  field  of  battle.  Indian  chiefs  and  com- 
manders could  be  seen  in  all  directions,  signalling  and  directing  the 
movements  of  their  forces.  It  was  a  sight  one  may  never  forget.  About 
two  miles  west  of  us  our  front  seemed  to  have  been  checked  by  the 
hostiles,  while  the  reports  of  firearms  and  artillery  indicated  a  desperate 
struggle.  About  this  time  the  rear  of  the  train  got  in  motion  and  shortly 
thereafter  the  firing  ceased.  Soon  a  great  cloud  of  dust  was  seen  rising 
about  two  miles  to  the  southwest  of  our  advance,  which,  upon  close  in- 
spection proved  to  be  a  living  mass  of  warriors,  with  their  families  and 
herds,  stampeding  in  a  southeasterly  direction  into  the  Bad  Lands  and 
endeavoring  to  escape  from  their  victorious  and  unconquerable  enemies. 
We  did  not  pursue  them,  however. 

"By  noon  our  advance  had  reached  the  western  boundary  of  the  Bad 
Lands,  at  a  small  creek  on  a  rolling  prairie  that  stretched  to  the  west- 
ward. Here  had  been  the  chosen  spot  of  the  Sioux  for  a  safe  camp  and 
a  stronghold  against  all  enemies.  The  camping  ground  was  about  three 
miles  long,  from  north  to  south,  and  three-fourths  of  a  mile  wide.  Their 
fires  were  yet  burning;  and  many  of  their  effects,  including  the  undis- 
posed-of  bodies  of  dead  warriors,  were  left  in  the  camp  to  tell  of  the  hasty 
and  unexpected  flight.  About  three  miles  farther  west  we  camped  for  the 
night,  with  water  in  plenty  but  with  grass  scant. 

"The  hostile  warriors,  as  soon  as  their  camp  was  in  safety,  climbed- 
up  onto  the  highest  elevations  around  us  and  there  sat  by  thousands, 
looking  quietly  on  to  see  us  move  forward  at  our  leisure  towards  their 
new  Eldorado — the  Yellowstone  country. 

"The  next  day  (August  loth)  the  command  traveled  northwest  over 
a  rolling  prairie  that  was  intersected  by  broken  ridges,  without  feed  or 
water  for  our  animals  until  near  midnight,  when  we  found  a  little  strong 
alkali  water  and  a  little  'wire'  grass.  On  this  day  our  animals  began  to 
give  out  by  the  hundreds,  and  the  rear  guard  kept  up  a  continuous  fire 
to  kill  them  as  they  fell.  Their  carcasses  and  the  abandoned  wagons  will 
mark  our  route  here  for  many  years  to  come. 

"Upon  August  i.ith,  in  order  to  recuperate,  we  did  not  start  until  late. 
The  citizens,  now  in  the  advance  and  feeling  safe  from  Indian  attack, 
about  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  heard  the  welcome  sound  of  steam 
whistles,  which  proved  to  be  those  of  the  steamboats  on  the  Yellowstone 
River  about  ten  miles  west  of  us.  Immediately  upon  the  receipt  of  this 
news  General  Sully  pushed  forward  his  command  through  the  Bad  Lands 
and  by  dark  we  had  arrived  upon  the  banks  of  the  river,  a  short  distance 
below  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  Glendive.  Here,  in  the  wilderness,  we 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  297 

once  again  beheld  those  splendid  Government  steamboats,  two  in  number,* 
which  had  been  moving  up  and  down  the  beautiful  stream  for  two  days 
in  their  endeavors  to  find  our  expedition.  Laden  with  supplies,  they  had 
been  sent  on  in  advance  early  in  the  season  to  meet  us  here,  thousands 
of  miles  from  civilization.  They  were  the  first  that  had  ever  ascended 
the  Yellowstone  River  to  this  point,  we  were  informed.  As  there  was  no 
grass  for  animals  up  the  river,  the  country  having  been  stripped  of 
vegetation  by  the  drouth  and  grasshoppers,  and  the  season  being  too 
far  advanced  for  further  military  operations,  the  command  took  its  march 
down  the  Yellowstone.  It  took  the  steamers  three  days  to  ferry  across 
our  supplies  and  the  baggage  to  the  opposite  bank.  The  wagons  and 
animals  were  necessarily  compelled  to  ford  the  river ;  in  doing  which  many 
Government  teams  and  teamsters,  and  two  citizens  from  Shakopee,  Min- 
nesota, were  carried  down  the  stream  and  drowned.  The  expedition 
then  moved  across  the  country  about  thirty  miles  to  opposite  old  Fort 
Union,  a  mile  or  two  above  the  present  site  of  Fort  Buford,  and  there 
crossed  the  Missouri  River  in  the  same  manner  as  we  had  crossed  the 
Yellowstone;  many  Government  horses  and  animals  being  drowned  at 
this  crossing  also. 

"From  this  point,  Fort  Union,  the  military  forces  returned  eastward 
to  the  frontier  posts  of  Minnesota  and  Iowa,  there  to  go  into  winter 
quarters.  Many  citizens,  also,  discouraged  by  the  hardships  they  had 
suffered,  returned  with  the  military  command  to  the  'States.'  The  re- 
mainder of  the  citizens,  however,  turned  westward  to  Milk  River  and 
moved  up  that  stream  to  the  Bear  Paw  Mountains,  then  across  the  country 
to  Fort  Benton  and  from  there  south  to  Sun  River,  thence  by  the  old 
'Mullan  road'  along  the  eastern  base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the 
present  site  of  the  City  of  Helena,t  where  the  travel-worn  emigrants 
finally  located  with  their  train  and  animals  for  the  winter. 

"Starting  upon  the  journey  from  Fort  Ridgely,  Minnesota,  we  had 
been  four  months  on  the  road,  and  arrived  at  Helena  on  the  2ist  day  of 
September,  1864,  after  an  experience  the  like  of  which  few  emigrants 
have  ever  been  called  upon  to  pass  through  or  compelled  to  endure. 

MEMBERS  OF  THE  EXPEDITION  WHO  REMAINED 

"Many  members  of  our  expedition  remained  and  are  still  living  in  the 
vicinity  of  Helena,  well  known  to  our  citizens,  and,  I  believe,  respected 
by  all  for  their  true  worth.  Their  names  are : 

"Nicholas  Hilger,  wife  and  daughters,  cattle  owner,  Helena. 

"David  N.  Hilger,  cattle  owner,  Helena. 

"Matthew  Hilger,  cattle  owner,  Helena. 

"Henry  Jurgens,  merchant,  Helena. 

"Hon.  Thos.  J.  Lowry,  attorney-at-law,  Helena. 

"Hon.  John  H.  Shober,  attorney-at-law,  Helena. 


*  Chippewa  Falls  and  Alone. 

tThis  route  is  approximately  that  of  the  present   (1896)    Great  Northern  and 
Montana  Central  railways.  , 


298  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

"George  B.  Foote,  civil  engineer,  Helena. 

"Joseph  W.  Hartwell,  lumberman,  Helena. 

"George  White,  builder,  Helena. 

"Gilbert  Benedict,  farmer,  Helena. 

"*Adam  Grossman,  wife  and  children,  mason,  Helena. 

"*Anton  Miller,  Helena. 

"Dr.  S.  Irwin  Blake,  dentist,  Helena. 

"Paul  Weidert,  wife  and  children,  Lewiston. 

"*M.  Lemline  and  wife. 

"*Nicholas  Gromesh. 

"Philip  Constans,  merchant,  Unionville. 

"Hon.  Frank  Welles,  merchant,  Radersburg. 

"* Handsheidt,  wife  and  children. 

"*John  Somerville  and  wife. 

" Le  Brash  and  wife. 

" Hase  and  wife. 

"P.  Hopefield,  wife  and  children. 

"Paul  Kratke  and  wife. 

"Beside  those  mentioned  above  there  were  five  ladies,  whose  names 
are  not  remembered,  who  accompanied  their  husbands  through  with  the 
expedition. 

"Andrew  J.  Fisk,  quartermaster  sergeant,  now  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  Helena  Herald,  and  Richard  Hoback,  sergeant,  Company  H,  2nd 
Minnesota  Cavalry,  returned  with  the  Sully  expedition  from  Fort  Union 
to  Minnesota.  Both  returned  to  Montana  with  Captain  James  Fisk's 
expedition  in  1866  and  yet  remain  here." 

CLASH  BETWEEN  ASSEMBLY  AND  JUDICIARY 

Upon  the  departure  of  Governor  Edgerton  to  his  Ohio  home,  in  Sep- 
tember, 1865,  Thomas  F.  Meagher,  secretary  of  the  territory,  became  its 
acting  governor.  As  the  Assembly  which  met  in  Bannack  had  adjourned 
without  making  provisions  for  a  second  session,  as  required  by  the  organic 
act,  the  chief  executive  was  confronted  with  a  perplexing  situation ;  but 
as  legislation  on  a  multitude  of  subjects  was  urgent,  he  called  a  session 
in  the  winter  of  1865-66.  The  judiciary  at  once  protested  on  constitu- 
tional grounds.  Judge  L.  E.  Munson,  associate  justice  of  the  Supreme 
Court,  had  arrived  early  in  1865  and  settled  at  Helena,  while  Judge  L.  P. 
Williston,  the  second  associate,  who  arrived  in  the  territory  at  a  later 
date  in  that  year,  had  established  himself  and  court  at  Bannack;  but 
while  the  Bannack  Assembly  had  made  no  special  provision  for  a  second 
session,  had  designated  Virginia  City  as  the  capital  of  the  territory 
and  Chief  Justice  Hosmer  and  his  associates  had  there  held  the  first 
session  of  the  Supreme  Court,  in  the  summer  of  1865. 

But  when  Governor  Meagher  called  a  second  session,  in  the  winter 
of  1865-66,  to  meet  at  Virginia  City,  the  chief  justice  and  his  associate, 
Judge  Munson,  refused  to  recognize  its  constitutionality.  Anson  S. 


*  Deceased,  1896,  date  of  publication  of  Judge  Hilgers'  "Diary." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  299 

Potter  had  been  elected  president  of  the  territorial  Council  and  Alex- 
ander E.  Mayhew,  speaker  of  the  House.  A  third  session,  held  during  the 
winter  of  1866-67,  met  with  a  like  rejection  by  the  judiciary  of  the 
territory  and  their  position  was  subsequently  approved  by  Congress.  In 

1867,  the  national  body  passed  an  enabling  act  for  the  Legislature  by 
which  the  measures  passed  by  the  latter  were  legalized.     This  constitu- 
tional opposition  of  Judges  Hosmer  and  Munson  made  them  unpopular 
with  the  home  government.    Justice  Hosmer  completed  his  term  in  July, 

1868,  and  never  sought  a  reappointment.     In  1872,  he  moved  to  San 
Francisco,  having  served,  for  most  of  that  period  as  postmaster  at  Vir- 
ginia City.     The  last  years  of  his  life  were  largely  devoted  to  literary 
work,  his  best  known  production  being  the  book  in  which  he  claimed  that 
Shakespeare's  Sonnets  was  a  cipher  poem  written  by  Bacon  and  claiming 
to  be  the  author  of  Shakespeare's  plays.    During  his  stay  in  Montana  his 
home  was  ever  a  pla'ce  of  reception,  and  he  did  as  much  as  any  citizen  to 
give  Virginia,  in  the  early  days,  the  name  of  the  Social  City. 

The  unstable  status  of  the  territorial  Assembly,  when  Acting  Gov- 
ernor Meagher  assumed  the  chief  executive's  office  caused  so  many  legis- 
lative complications  that,  as  a  solution  of  the  problem,  many  citizens  of 
both  parties  were  favoring  and  pressing  statehood  upon  the  national 
authorities.  Meagher  himself  at  first  favored  a  convention  to  secure 
the  early  admission  of  the  territory  as  a  state,  but  within  a  few  weeks 
changed  his  mind  and  in  January,  1866,  issued  a  call  for  a  constitutional 
convention  to  be  held  at  Helena  on  March  26th  of  that  year. 

ACTING  GOVERNOR  MEAGHER 

A  native  of  Ireland,  the  acting  governor  was  one  of  its  typical 
sons.  In  his  young  manhood  he  was  a  leader  in  the  Young  Ireland  Party, 
overseas,  was  captured  by  English  troops  and  his  death  sentence  having 
been  commuted  to  life  imprisonment  in  Van  Dieman's  land,  in  1853  he 
escaped  from  his  island  prison  and  settled  in  New  York  to  practice  law. 
At  the  outbreak  of  the  Civil  War,  he  raised  a  regiment  in  the  Empire 
State,  which  became  a  unit  of  the  famous  Irish  Brigade  with  which  his 
dashing  record  as  a  northern  commander  is  linked.  General  Meagher 
left  New  York,  in  July,  1865,  as  secretary  of  the  newly  organized  territory, 
and  his  troubles  as  an  official  and  a  fiery  democratic  leader  commenced 
when,  soon  afterward,  he  succeeded  Governor  Edgerton  as  acting  chief 
executive  of  the  territory  and  leader  of  the  Democracy,  which,  for  a 
year,  waged  a  bitter  warfare  against  Justice  Hosmer  and  Judge  Munson, 
of  the  State  Supreme  Court. 

Declaring  his  authority  to  convene  the  legislative  Assembly,  the  gov- 
ernor issued  a  proclamation  summoning  the  members  of  the  Council 
elected  October  24,  1864,  and  the  members  of  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives elected  September  4,  1865,  in  the  absence  of  legislative  appor- 
tionment to  meet  in  extraordinary  session  at  Virginia  City,  on  March  5, 
1866,  "for  the  transaction  of  business  as  well  as  to  give  legislative  sane- 


300  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

tion  and  validity  to  the  convention"  which  was  about  to  assemble.  This 
second  (extraordinary)  session  sat  for  forty  days  and  adjourned  April 
14,  1866,  simultaneously  with  the  adjournment  of  the  constitutional  con- 
vention, which  had  been  sitting  since  the  Qth  of  that  month.  A  memorial 
to  Congress  was  prepared  by  the  convention  suggesting  various  matters 
for  appropriate  congressional  action,  but  so  far  as  advancing  the  cause 
of  statehood  or  clarifying  the  legislative  tangle,  it  accomplished  nothing. 
The  time  and  vitality  of  the  second  and  third  assemblies  were  largely 
absorbed  in  actions  directed  by  the  democratic  legislators  against  the 
judiciary  of  the  territory,  in  the  persons  of  Judges  Hosmer  and 
Munson,  solidly  backed  by  the  union  party.  At  the  convening  of  the 
constitutional  convention,  on  April  9,  1866,  the  Assembly  passed  a  bill 
recognizing  the  legality  of  that  body,  and  Meagher  publicly  announced 
that  it  was  his  intention  to  have  the  laws  so  framed  that  "no  judge, 
whatever  his  powers  or  consequence,  should  dispute  or  disobey  them" 
and  that  he  would  enforce  the  laws  passed  by  the  Assembly  "with  the 
whole  power  of  the  County  of  Madison  and,  if  need  be,  with  the  whole 
power  of  the  territory."  As  stated,  Justice  Hosmer  served  until  the 
conclusion  of  his  term  in  1868,  refusing  to  vacate  his  office  at  the 're- 
quest of  the  democratic  majority  in  the  Assembly,  but  Judge  Munson 
resigned  before  his  term  had  expired. 

ARRIVAL  OF  GOVERNOR  CLAY  SMITH 

Green  Clay  Smith,  who  had  been  appointed  to  succeed  Governor 
Edgerton,  reached  Montana  in  October,  1866,  but  the  third  extraordinary 
session  of  the  Assembly  had  been  convened  by  Acting  Governor  Meagher 
and  was  held  at  Virginia  City,  in  November-December  of  that  year.  As 
noted,  the  laws  passed  by  it,  as  well  as  those  of  the  second  session,  were 
nullified  by  the  act  of  Congress  passed  March  2,  1867.  The  arrival 
of  Governor  Smith  was  followed  by  a  general  investigation  of  the  ter- 
ritorial finances,  which  showed  great  laxity  by  the  officials  in  the  col- 
lection of  taxes  and  indicated  that  the  public  debt  was  more  than 
$80,000. 

For  the  purpose  of  restoring  the  legislative  functions  of  the  terri- 
tory, under  the  congressional  act  of  March  2,  1867,  which  was  passed 
largely  through  the  representations  of  Col.  W.  F.  Sanders,  who  was 
sent  to  Washington  for  the  purpose,  Governor  Smith  was  authorized 
on  or  before  July  ist  to  divide  Montana  into  legislative  districts,  in  con- 
formity with  its  organic  act. 

THE  DEATH  OF  GENERAL  MEAGHER 

Before  continuing  the  story  of  Montana's  early  legislation  as  a  terri- 
tory, the  writer  pauses  to  record  an  event  which  saddened  thousands  of 
men  and  women,  East  and  West — the  death  of  General  Meagher,  about 
which,  for  years,  or  until  a  comparatively  recent  period,  investigations 
and  theories  have  thrown  about  it  a  veil  'of  mystery.  The  weight  of 
evidence  points  to  his  death  as  accidental,  or  suicidal,  and  not  the  result 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  301 

of  murder.  The  facts,  as  given  by  W.  F.  Sanders,  his  friend,  who  was 
with  him  at  Fort  Benton,  a  short  time  before  his  death,  are  to  this 
effect:  He  (Colonel  Sanders)  was  waiting  at  Fort  Benton  to  meet  the 
boat  which  was  bearing  his  family  to  Montana  from  the  East,  where  the 
different  members  had  been  on  a  visit.  "About  12  :oo  or  I  :oo  o'clock 
(July  i,  1867),  I  discerned  on  the  tableland,  where  the  road  descended 
to  the  town,  a  number  of  horsemen  in  military  apparel  and  upon  their 
arrival  we  (a  steamboat  captain  and  Colonel  Sanders)  greeted  General 
Thomas  Francis  Meagher  and  his  military  staff.  He  advised  us  he  was 
on  his  way  to  Camp  Cooke  after  130  muskets  which  the  general  govern- 
ment had  proffered  to  the  territorial  authorities  for  use  in  the  Indian 
war  in  which  we  were  engaged.  The  day  was  intensely  hot,  and  the 
general  and  his  staff  had  made  a  swift  and  dusty  ride  from  Sun  River, 
where  Messrs.  Carroll  and  Steel  had  a  camp,  and  were  founding  that 
flourishing  town,  near  which  Major  Clinton  was  marking  out  his  site 
of  Fort  Shaw,  so  named  in  honor  of  Colonel  Robert  Shaw,  of  the  Fifty- 
fourth  Massachusetts  Regiment.  I  do  not  recall  all  the  members  of  the 
general's  staff,  nor  their  number,  but  one  of  them  was  Captain  William 
Boyce,  afterward  a  resident  of  Butte.  The  afternoon  was  delightfully 
spent  in  social  visits  through  the  business  portions  of  the  town,  and 
General  Meagher  seemed  at  his  best  in  a  conversational  way,  but  he 
resolutely  and  undeviatingly  declined  that  form  of  hospitality  with  which 
Fort  Benton  then  abounded.  As  he  was  my  near  neighbor  at  Virginia 
City,  and  a  most  genial  and  interesting  companion,  I  spent  most  of  the 
afternoon  with  him,  introducing  him  to  so  many  of  the  citizens  and 
sojourners  in  that  unique  and  thrifty  seaport  (sic)  as  he  had  not  there- 
tofore known." 

Mr.  Sanders  goes  on  to  say  that  General  Meagher  dined  with  Maj. 
T.  H.  Eastman,  the  fur  company's  agent  at  Fort  Benton,  a  sociable  and 
hospitable  man  after  his  own  heart.  He  also  accepted  the  invitation  of  the 
pilot  of  one  of  the  old  steamboats,  an  Irish-American  who  had  ascer- 
tained the  general's  identity,  to  take  voyage  on  his  craft  down  the  river 
as  far  as  Camp  Cooke.  "General  Meagher  returned  from  the  fort  about 
dusk,"  continues  the  narrator,  "in  company  with  some  other  gentlemen 
whose  names  I  do  not  recall.  I  was  seated  in  front  of  the  store  of  I.  G. 
Baker  &  Co.,  when  my  attention  was  arrested  by  abnormally  loud  con- 
versation, and  as  the  party  came  nearer  I  saw  that  it  came  from  General 
Meagher.  As  the  party  came  to  the  place  where  I  was,  it  was  apparent 
that  he  was  deranged.  He  was  loudly  demanding  a  revolver  to  defend 
himself  against  the  citizens  of  Fort  Benton,  who,  in  his  disturbed  mental 
condition,  he  declared  were  hostile  to  him,  and  several  who  then  joined 
us  sought  to  allay  his  fears  and  by  all  the  means  in  our  power  to  restore 
to  sanity  his  disturbed  mental  condition.  His  nauticai  "friend,  whose  host 
he  was  to  be  the  ensuing  morning,  suggested  that  he  go  to  his  state  room 
on  the  boat  and  three  or  four  of  us  accompanied  him.  He  was  still 
insistent  that  the  people  at  Fort  Benton  were  hostile  to  him  and  was  im- 
portunate for  a  revolver.  He  was  induced  to  retire  to  his  berth,  which 
was  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  boat  next  the  bank,  and  in  the  hope  that 


302  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

he  would  sleep  we  all  went  on  shore,  seeking  to  allay  his  anxiety  by  the 
promise  of  getting  him  a  revolver.  As  he  had  removed  his  outer  gar- 
ments and  lain  down  in  his  berth,  we  did  not  apprehend  that  there  would 
be  any  further  trouble,  thinking  the  temporary  aberration  the  result  of 
the  hot  and  exhausting  ride  of  the  morning,  which  sleep  would  speedily 
correct.  It  was  a  great  shock  to  his  friends,  but  we  were  confident  of 
his  immediate  recovery. 

"I  do  stop  here  to  speculate  on  the  cause  of  his  hallucination  that 
the  people  of  Fort  Benton  were  hostile  to  him,  but  I  have  always  thought 
that  a  contention  between  the  Blackfeet  Indian  agent,  George  Wright,  and 
the  general  as  superintendent  of  Indian  affairs,  wherein  the  general 
directed  the  release  of  all  the  intoxicating  liquors  in  the  country  which 
the  agent  had  assumed  to  seize,  was  in  his  mind.  This  controversy  had 
assumed  an  epistolary  form  in  the  newspapers,  as  General  Meagher's 
controversies  were  exceedingly  wont  to  do.  I  only  attributed  it  to  this 
for  lack  of  other  causes,  but  General  Meagher  had  no  more  loyal  friends 
than  those  in  Fort  Benton,  who  solicitously  surrounded  him  there  in 
his  last  hours. 

"I  cannot  say  that  anyone  remained  in  the  state  room  with  him,  for 
nothing  was  farther  from  our  thoughts  than  the  denouement  then  im- 
pending. After  a  brief  consultation  on  the  lower  deck,  I  went  to  the 
office  of  the  Indian  agent,  opposite  the  G.  A.  Thompson  and  perhaps 
fifty  yards  distant,  where  I  wrote  a  letter  for  the  outgoing  mail  to  Helena 
which  left  at  11:00  o'clock.  Perhaps  I  had  been  in  the  office  thirty 
minutes,  when  I  heard  Captain  James  Gorman,  the  stage  agent  of  C.  C. 
Huntley,  excitedly  exclaim  'General  Meagher  is  drowned !' 

"I  dropped  my  pen  and  hastened  out  the  door  and  rushed  across  the 
gang  plank  and  across  the  lower  deck  of  the  steamer.  There  was  a  col- 
ored man,  one  of  the  men  connected  with  the  boat — the  barber,  I  believe 
— who,  replying  to  my  interrogation,  said  a  man  had  let  himself  down 
from  the  upper  to  the  lower  deck  and  jumped  into  the  river  and  gone 
on  down  stream.  I  immediately  returned  to  land  and  ran  down  the  river 
bank,  repeating  the  alarm  until  I  reached  one  of  the  lower  steamers, 
the  Guidon,  I  believe,  where  I  went  across  the  boat  to  the  river  side  to 
watch  for  the  general. 

"Boats  were  instantly  lowered  and  many  anxious  eyes  were  peering 
in  the  darkness  at  the  swift-rolling  waters  of  the  great  river  that  never 
seemed  so  wicked  as  then.  It  gave  no  wished-for  sight  or  sound.  The 
search  was  kept  up  all  night  and  for  two  or  three  days  thereafter. 
Loaves  of  bread  were  cast  on  the  turbid  waters  in  obedience  to  a 
belief  that  they  would  cause  a  drowned  body  to  rise  to  the  surface  of 
the  stream.  A  cannon  was  brought  into  requisition  for  the  same  pur- 
pose, but  the  mighty  river  defied  all  our  solicitudes  and  kept  its  treasure 
well.  I  turned  from  the  steamer,  as  I  saw  the  boats  go  down  the  river 
in  the  darkness,  to  fulfill  the  sad  duty  of  advising  Mrs.  Meagher  of  the 
overwhelming  calamity  which  had  befallen  her  and  us  all.  She  lived 
on  the  same  street  near  me  in  Virginia  City,  and  it  seemed  to  me  to 
be  my  duty  to  tell  her  the  sad  story.  I  inclosed  my  letter  to  Dr. 


303 

James  Gibson,  the  postmaster  at  Virginia  City,  an  accomplished  gentle- 
man and  a  fast  friend  of  Mrs.  Meagher,  confiding  to  his  discretion  the 
manner  in  which  he  should  break  to  her  the  melancholy  news. 

"As  there  was  no  telegraph,  the  news  of  the  event  went  by  mail  that 
night.  No  person,  so  far  as  I  know,  save  the  colored  man,  saw  general 
Meagher  go  into  the  river,  and  he  related  to  me  the  circumstances  as  I 
have  told.  The  next  day  some  members  of  the  general  staff  said  to  me 
that  we  must  report  that  he  fell  from  the  boat  accidentally,  and  must 
not  mention  the  mental  aberration  and  not  attribute  it  to  that.  I  said 
to  them  that  I  had  written  to  Mrs.  Meagher  the  exact  facts  as  they 
had  been  related  to  me,  and  could  see  no  imputation  upon  the  general  nor 
cause  of  humiliation  to  his  friends,  if  eager  devotion  to  his  duties  in 
hand  had  brought  upon  them  so  great  an  affliction.  Some  of  them 
seemed  to  think  otherwise,  and  in  the  proclamation  of  Governor  Green 
Clay  Smith  announcing  his  death  it  was,  I  believe,  alleged  to  have  been 
caused  'by  accident.' 

"I  can  well  appreciate  the  affection  which  General  Meagher  inspired 
among  his  race  and  countrymen.  His  form  was  manly,  his  manners  cor- 
dial, his  demeanor  gracious,  his  conversation  instructive,  his  wit  kindly, 
his  impulses  generous,  and  I  agree  with  Horace  Greeley,  who  once  said 
to  me  that  General  Meagher  was  one  of  the  finest  conversationalists  and 
extemporaneous  speakers  he  had  ever  known. 

"It  is  .to  be  regretted  that  so  much  is  said  and  written  of  General 
Meagher  and  the  manner  of  his  death  that  is  not  so.  Those  who  were 
with  him  on  the  last  day  of  his  life  will  join  me,  I  know,  in  denying 
his  death  could  be  attributed  to  any  convivial  habit.  I  was  with  him 
most  of  the  afternoon,  and  he  was  resolutely  abstemiously  as  the  most 
devout  anchorite,  and  it  is  cruelly  unjust  to  repeat  such  an  accusation. 

"The  river  was  searched  for  his  remains  down  to  the  mouth  of  the 
Marias,  but  the  search  was  in  vain.  Somewhere  in  the  stream  his  manly 
form  sleeps  in  as  serene  repose  as  it  would  in  classic  Arlington,  but 
the  jealous  waters  guard  the  secret  well,  and  the  rushing  waves  from 
unfound  springs  seem  destined  forever  to  be  his  monument  and  his 
grave." 

ANOTHER  ATTEMPT  TO  FOUND  GREAT  CENTRAL  ENTREPOT 

The  various  attempts  made  by  the  early  settlers  to  found  a  town  at 
the  confluence  of  the  Musselshell  and  the  Missouri  rivers  were  failures 
because  the  advantages  of  such  a  location  for  a  center  of  trade  and 
freighting  transportation  were  all  based  on  the  elements  of  water  navi- 
gation and  the  topography  of  the  country  in  its  relations  to  overland 
travel  between  the  central  plains  and  the  more  populous  districts  of 
Southwestern  Montana.  The  mouth  of  the  Musselshell  was  considered 
the  limit  of  safe  navigation  for  boats  of  considerable  draft,  numbers  of 
which  had  commenced  to  ply  the  Missouri  after  the  mining  districts  had 
brought  a  large  influx  of  permanent  settlers.  The  overland  road  from 
the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell  southwest  toward  the  political  and  mining 


304  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

centers  of  Montana  would  also  cut  off  miles  of  travel  required  to  reach 
Fort  Benton,  so  long  the  entrepot  of  the  growing  districts  of  the  terri- 
tory. Such  a  thoroughfare  and  convenient  cut-off,  avoiding  the  great 
northern  bends  of  the  Missouri,  would  also  pass  through  such  fertile 
tributary  valleys  as  that  of  the  Judith  River  and  possible  mining  dis- 
tricts nearer  than  those  of  the  far  Southwestern  Montana. 

"Influenced  by  such  considerations,"  says  Lieutenant  James  H.  Brad- 
ley's  account,  "a  number  of  gentlemen  associated  themselves  as  the 
Rocky  Mountain  Wagon  Road  Company  and  in  1866  opened  a  route 
across  the  mountains  south  of  the  Missouri  River,  from  the  mining 
regions  of  Montana  to  the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell,  at  which  point  a 
town  site  was  selected.  An  old  steamboat  captain  named  Kerchival  had 
been  among  the  first  to  advocate  such  a  route  and  was  one  of  the 
partners  in  the  company,  and  in  his  honor  the  place  was  given  the 
name  of  Kerchival  City.  The  company  put  up  a  log  cabin  which  was 
occupied  by  its  employes;  but  two  years  passed,  the  town  did  not  grow, 
the  freighting  business  did  not  flourish  in  consequence  of  powerful 
opposition,  and  presently  the  encroaching  waters  of  the  river  swept  the 
establishment  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Wagon  Company  into  the  stream, 
and  Kerchival  City  passed  into  the  catalogue  of  towns  that  were,  but 
are  not. 

"In  1868,  the  attempt  was  renewed  under  the  auspices  of  the  Montana 
Hide  and  Fur  Company,  of  Helena,  which  dispatched  a  party  of  nine 
men  under  James  Brewer  to  take  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell 
and  build  a  warehouse.  They  arrived  in  March,  1868,  laid  out  a  town  on 
the  south  bank  of  the  Missouri  and  called  it  Musselshell.  Soon  after- 
ward they  were  joined  by  Colonel  George  Clendennin,  with  his  brother 
Richard,  and  James  McGinnis,  from  Grand  Island,  where  this  gentle- 
man had  opened  a  wood  yard  while  awaiting  the  developments  respect- 
ing the  new  town.  He  at  once  began  the  construction  of  buildings  for 
the  purpose  of  engaging  in  trade.  In  the  course  of  the  season  a  num- 
ber of  people  flocked  to  the  new  town  from  the  mountains  and  up  and 
down  the  river,  and  before  the  following  winter  eight  buildings  were 
ranged  in  line  fronting  the  river  bank,  while  some  fifty  people  were 
gathered  in  the  vicinity. 

"A  company  of  troops,  commanded  by  Captain  Nugent,  of  the  Thir- 
teenth Infantry,  came  down  from  Camp  Cooke  and  took  post  there, 
building  a  stockade  with  bastions  just  below  the  town  within  whose  walls 
they  pitched  their  tents,  giving  to  the  place  the  name  of  Camp  Reeve. 
The  friendly  tribes  of  Gros  Ventres  and  Crows  resorted  to  the  place  in 
large  numbers  to  trade;  and  thus  during  the  summer  of  1868  all  was 
bustle  and  activity  at  the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell." 

That  year  appears  to  have  been  the  zenith  of  its  history,  for  not  only 
did  the  buffalo,  formerly  so  numerous  in  the  Musselshell  region  desert  it 
in  the  following  winter,  migrating  to  the  north  of  Fort  Benton,  but  the 
warlike  Sioux  commenced  to  attack  the  wood  cutters  and  others  in  the 
neighborhood,  killing  a  number  in  March,  1869.  A  force  of  about  thirty 
townsmen  was  raised  and,  under  Colonel  Clendennin,  had  a  pitched  bat- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  305 

tie  with  a  war  party  of  about  200  Sioux  and  routed  the  Indians.  The 
savages  fled,  leaving  in  the  hands  of  the  whites  thirteen  of  their  num- 
ber dead  or  wounded,  and  bearing  with  them  a  large  number  of  wounded, 
of  whom  twenty-one  afterwards  died,  many  of  them  immediately  after 
the  battle.  Colonel  Clendennin's  party  lost  one  man  killed  and  another 
wounded.  What  followed  at  the  hands  of  the  whites  might  have  been 
retaliation  for  Sioux  outrages.  The  wounded  Indians  left  upon  the 
field  were  at  once  dispatched,  and  the  bodies  scalped,  and  otherwise 
shamefully  mutilated.  The  following  day,  Captain  Andrews,  a  well 
known  miner  of  Montana,  retaliated  for  the  loss  of  his  oxen,  which  had 
been  stolen  by  some  Sioux  in  the  previous  March,  by  removing  the  heads 
from  ten  of  the  bodies  of  the  slain  Indians,  cutting  off  and  preserving 
the  ears,  and  boiling  the  heads  till  the  skulls  could  be  cleaned,  which  he 
then  placed  on  exhibition  and  finally  carried  East. 

The  Musselshell  neighborhood  passed  through  the  remainder  of  the 
year  1869  without  any  episode  of  importance,  but  it  began  to  appear  that 
as  a  freighting  town  it  was  a  failure,  most  of  the  steamboats  continuing 
to  pass  through  the  new  port  to  Fort  Benton,  where  the  conveniences  for 
unloading  and  storing  were  so  superior.  In  1870,  the  waning  confi- 
dence in  the  enterprise  upon  the  part  of  the  founders  of  Musselshell 
induced  the  Montana  Hide  and  Fur  Company  to  close  its  affairs  there 
and  abandon  the  place;  and  throughout  the  season  desertions  occurred 
one  by  one,  until  Colonel  Clendennin  found  himself,  about  the  close  of 
August,  alone  with  his  employes  and  establishment.  Musselshell  as  a 
town  was  no  more. 

This  gentleman  resolved  to  remain,  for  the  purpose  of  carrying  on 
an  Indian  trade,  and  with  this  view  took  down  the  abandoned  houses, 
made  considerable  additions  to  his  buildings  and  connected  them  with 
a  stockade,  making  a  compact  and  handsome  fort  to  which  he  gave  the 
name  of  Fort  Sheridan.  For  four  years  he  remained  resolutely  in  this 
dangerous  region  with  a  garrison  of  from  five  to  eight  men,  trading 
with  the  Indians  and  keeping  a  wood  yard  for  the  convenience  of  steam- 
boats. His  customers  were  the  Sioux,  who  upon  the  abandonment  of 
the  town  ceased  open  hostilities  against  the  place  and  agreed  to  remain 
peaceable  as  they  wished  to  make  the  fort  a  point  to  trade.  Standing 
Buffalo  with  a  numerous  band  was  the  first  to  appear,  in  the  spring  of 
1871,  but  though  similar  bands  visited  the  fort  in  succeeding  years,  the 
trade  was  never  extensive  or  profitable.  The  Crows  and  Gros  Ventres 
ceased  their  trading  visits  when  the  town  was  abandoned,  but  the  sur- 
rounding region  was  a  standing  battle  ground  between  them  and  the 
Sioux  to  which  few  but  war  parties  resorted. 

Although,  during  the  existence  of  Fort  Sheridan,  the  Sioux  exhibited 
no  open  hostility  in  that  vicinity,  they  continued  to  steal  horses  when 
opportunity  offered,  and  upon  two  occasions  added  to  the  list  of  murders 
perpetrated  there.  On  the  fifth  of  January,  1871,  two  employes  of  the 
fort,  Charles  B.  McKnight  and  John  Ross,  were  surprised  and  killed  by 
the  Santee  Sioux  within  a  mile  and  a  half  of  the  fort  while  in  the  woods 
looking  for  ash  timber.  The  following  year  a  white  man  named  Hunter, 

Vol.  1—20 


306  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

accompanied  by  three  Assiniboine  squaws,  was  attacked  by  the  Uncpapas 
while  looking  over  the  battle  ground  of  May  9,  1869.  The  squaws  were 
all  killed  under  the  supposition  that  they  were  Crows,  but  Hunter  es- 
caped with  a  severe  wound. 

Upon  the  founding  of  Carroll  in  the  spring  of  1874,  Colonel  Clen- 
dennin  broke  up  his  establishment  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mussellshell  and 
in  May  of  that  year  removed  to  the  new  town.  Fort  Sheridan  was 
dismantled  and  the  available  material  transferred  to  Carroll,  the  cannon 
contributed  by  General  Hancock  being  returned  to  Fort  Buford.  About 
200  cords  of  wood  valued  at  $4.50  per  cord  were  left  behind  at  the  land- 
ing and  was  burned  by  the  Sioux  the  June  following.  In  July,  Christo- 
pher Gates  and  Patrick  Vaughan  wefe  dispatched  by  Colonel  Clendennin 
to  take  down  the  remaining  buildings  at  Fort  Sheridan  and  cut  up  the 
material  into  steamboat  wood.  While  thus  engaged  they  were  surprised 
by  the  Sioux,  who  seemed  to  haunt  the  place  with  relentless  hatred.  From 
the  indications  it  appeared  that  Gates  was  killed,  while  Vaughan  had 
sought  refuge  in  one  of  the  buildings,  which  was  then  fired  by  the  Indians 
and  he  perished  in  the  flames. 

BOZEMAN  AND  THE  DEATH  OF  ITS   FOUNDER 

John  M.  Bozeman  stood  with  Captain  Bonneville  and  James  Bridger 
among  the  great  pathmakers  of  the  rugged  West  and,  more  than  either 
of  his  pioneer  friends,  is  identified  with  the  foundation  history  of  Mon- 
tana. Peter  Koch,  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Gallatin  Valley,  has  writ- 
ten much  of  the  localities  with  which  he  was  so  familiar  and  thus  narrates 
some  of  the  main  events  connected  with  the  life  and  death  of  Bozeman : 

"In  the  winter  of  1862-3,  two  men,  John  M.  Bozeman  and  John  M. 
Jacobs,  left  Bannack  for  the  states  with  the  idea  of  looking  out  a  shorter 
route  for  emigrants  than  the  roundabout  one,  up  the  Platte.  They  were 
set  afoot  by  the  Sioux  on  Powder  River  and  nearly  starved,  being  reduced 
to  a  diet  of  grasshoppers,  but  made  their  way  finally  to  Missouri.  They 
started  back  immediately  to  guide  a  train  through  by  the  new  road. 
Meeting  hostile  Indians,  they  were  turned  back  and  compelled  to  come 
by  way  of  Lander's  cut-off  and  Snake  River.  Bozeman  himself  went 
back  to  Missouri  and  succeeded  in  getting  a  large  train  to  follow  him  in 
1864.  His  route  lay  between  the  Black  Hills  and  Wind  River  Moun- 
tains, leaving  the  latter  to  the  west  and  south.  Bridger  was  also  tak- 
ing a  train  by  his  new  road  west  of  the  Wind  River  Mountains  and  down 
Clark's  Fork  and  had  denounced  Bozeman's  road  as  impracticable.  But 
although  Bridger  had  several  weeks  start  and  reached  Yellowstone  first, 
his  road  into  Gallatin  Valley  up  Shield's  River  and  Brackett  Creek  and 
down  Bridger  Creek  was  so  circuitous  that  Bozeman  reached  the  valley 
ahead  of  him,  but,  lingering  there,  Bridger  overtook  him,  and  they 
raced  their  trains  from  the  West  Gallatin  into  Virginia,  reaching  that 
place  within  a  few  hours  of  each  other. 

"In  1863  Gallatin  City  was  laid  out  by  certain  enterprising  Missour- 
ians  who  expected  it  to  prove  the  head  of  navigation  on  the  Missouri, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  307 

forgetting  that  there  was  a  slight  obstruction  below  in  the  shape  of  tre- 
mendous falls.  After  receiving  a  few  lessons  in  geography  most  of  them 
abandoned  the  location. 

"In  1864  the  first  house  was  built  in  Bozeman,  occupying  a  part  of 
the  site  now  covered  by  The  Bozeman.  During  the  two  following  years 
the  principal  immigration  into  Montana  was  by  the  Bozeman  road  and 
across  the  Bozeman  pass,  and  many  of  our  leading  citizens  came  over  the 
road  in  those  years  and  could  doubtless  tell  many  a  moving  tale  of  acci- 
•dent  by  flood  and  field  during  their  long  overland  journey.  Forts  Reno, 
Phil.  Kearney  and  C.  F.  Smith  were  built  by  the  Government  to  protect 
the  trains  on  this  road;  but  on  December  21,  1866,  the  Fort  Philip  Kear- 
ney massacre  took  place,  and  with  characteristic  pusillanimity  (?)  the 


STATUE  OF  JOHN  M.  BOZEMAN,  AT  BOZEMAN 

Government  ordered  all  the   forts  abandoned  and  the  road  closed  to 
travel. 

"The  next  April,  Bozeman  and  Tom  Coover  started  across  our  pass 
(Bozeman's)  down  the  Yellowstone.  They  stopped  at  Story's  cattle  camp 
near  Benson's  landing.  While  there,  five  Indians  drove  off  a  lot  of 
horses.  Mitz  Buoyer  and  another  man  followed  them  and  recovered  all 
but  one  pony.  The  next  morning  Bozeman  and  Coover  went  on,  crossed 
the  Yellowstone  and  camped  for  dinner  on  a  little  creek  a  few  miles 
below  the  old  Crow  agency.  While  cooking  dinner,  five  Indians  came 
toward  them,  leading  the  very  horses  stolen  at  Story's  camp  the  day 
before.  Mistaking  them  for  Crows,  they  permitted  them  to  come  up 
and  gave  them  some  dinner,  but  becoming  suspicious  Coover  went  to 
saddle  the  horses,  leaving  his  gun.  Suddenly  two  of  them  shot  Bozeman* 
through  the  body  and  then  ran  off  shooting  at  Coover,  grazing  his  shoul- 
der only.  Coover  rushed  for  his  camp,  seized  his  Henry  rifle  and  hid 
in  a  clump  of  chokecherry  bushes  near  by.  The  Indians  returned,  took 


*  Bozeman's  death  occurred  near  the  old  Crow  agency  in  April,  1867. 


308  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  horses  and  blankets,  but  left  the  saddles  and  provisions  and  did  not 
scalp  Bozeman.  It  was  shown  later  that  the  Indians  were  Blackfeet, 
fugitives  from  their  own  tribe  for  killing  a  chief,  and  then  living  with 
the  Crows.  Coover  wandered  around  all  night,  half  dazed  with  fright, 
and  finally  reached  Story's  camp  the  next  morning.  A  few  days  later 
Story  and  others  went  down  and  buried  Bozeman  where  he  was  killed. 
In  1869,  Major  Camp  brought  his  body  to  Bozeman  and  had  it  buried 
in  our  graveyard  on  the  bluff,  where  Nelson  Story,  some  years  ago,  erect- 
ed a  handsome  monument  over  his  grave. 

"There  he  rests,  on  the  hill  yonder,  in  sight  of  Bozeman,  deservedly 
named  after  him.  He  and  Bridger  were  the  pioneers  in  opening  eastern 
Montana  to  the  white  men,  and  it  is  fitting  that  our  City  of  Bozeman, 
and  the  peak  and  creek  of  Bridger  should  stand  here  as  their  monu- 
ments." 

THE  Sioux  AGAIN  CHECKED  AT  "THE  PLACE  OF  SKULLS" 

The  implacable  Sioux  were  again  checked  by  United  States  troops 
from  Forts  Shaw  and  Ellis,  at  a  fierce  engagement  fought  near  the  mouth 
of  Clark's  Fork  of  the  Yellowstone,  on  August  14,  1872.  The  site  of  the 
battlefield  had  been  known  to  the  Crows,  for  many  generations,  as  the 
Place  of  Skulls,  and  Bradley,  in  his  "Journal,"  accounts  for  the  fact  in 
this  wise :  "Something  less  than  a  hundred  years  ago,  the  Crows  were 
living  in  two  bands,  the  greater  portion  making  their  home  upon  the 
waters  of  the  Powder  river,  while  the  smaller  band  of  four  hundred 
lodges,  or  about  four  thousand  souls,  were  camped  in  the  lower  extremity 
of  Clark's  fork  bottom,  along  the  base  of  the  bluffs.  Here  a  terrible 
disease  broke  out  among  them,  the  victims  being  covered  from  head  to 
foot  with  grievous  sores.  It  proved  very  fatal  and  destroyed  almost  the 
entire  band.  The  plain  was  covered  with  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  and 
their  horses  ran  wild  because  there  was.no  one  to  take  care  of  them. 
The  few  who  escaped  the  disease  fled  to  the  village  on  Powder  river. 
The  skulls  of  the  victims  were  subsequently  deposited  on  a  natural  shelf 
some  two-thirds  of  the  way  up  the  rocky  wall,  from  whence  the  name — • 
Place  of  Skulls.  It  is  probable  that  this  destructive  malady  was  the 
small-pox,  as  it  is  a  matter  of  history  that  about  that  time  it  ravaged 
the  country  occupied  by  the  tribes  along  the  upper  Missouri  and  in  the 
southern  part  of  British  America,  reducing  their  numbers  in  frightful 
degree.  It  was  not  supposed  that  the  contagion  extended  to 'the  tribes 
of  this  region,  but  from  this  tradition  it  is  evident  that  it  did. 

"The  tradition  terminates  with  the  following  romantic  incident :  There 
were  in  the  diseased  camp  two  young  men  who  escaped  the  contagion, 
and  who  did  not  join  the  few  remaining  survivors  in  their  flight,  but 
staid  with  the  sick  doing  for  them  what  they  could.  At  last  they  were 
alone,  and  seeing  the  lodges  desolate  and  their  friends,  relatives  and 
countrymen  all  motionless  in  death,  one  said  to  the  other:  'It  is  better 
to  destroy  ourselves  than  die  in  this  manner.  We  cannot  escape — the 
Great  Spirit  is  angry  with  the  Crows  and  determined  to  remove  them 


309 

from  the  earth.  Let  us  ascend  the  cliff  and,  throwing  ourselves  over, 
die  like  brave  men.'  The  other  consented,  and  leaping  over  the  precipice 
they  were  dashed  in  pieces  on  the  rocks  below." 

"BAKER'S  BATTLE"  OF  1872 

Although  the  site  of  "Baker's  Battle"  was  traditionally  known  as- 
the  Place  of  Skulls,  its  gruesomeness  was  little  increased  by  the  fatali- 
ties of  the  modern  engagement.  The  Indian  loss  was  said  to  have  been 
forty  killed  and  a  number  wounded;  of  the  troops,  one  was  killed,  and 
an  employe  of  the  surveying  party  which  the  soldiers  were  protecting 
was  so  badly  wounded  that  he  died  three  days  afterward.  But  the  result 
of  the  battle  was  a  decisive  defeat  of  the  Sioux  and  had  its  effect  in 
bringing  more  settled  conditions  to  Eastern  Montana. 

By  the  terms  of  the  charter  granted  to  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
road, the  United  States  Government  bound  itself  to  afford  all  necessary 
protection  against  hostile  Indians  to  the  parties  engaged  in  the  survey  of 
the  route  and  construction  of  the  road.  The  company  desiring  in  the 
year  1872  to  extend  its  surveys  over  the  region  stretching  from  the 
base  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to  the  Missouri  River  at  Bismarck,  which 
was  in  complete  possession  of  hostile  Sioux,  called  upon  the  Government 
for  the  protection  it  was  pledged  to  provide.  Two  surveying  parties  were 
to  take  the  field — one  to  begin  at  the  Missouri  River  and  extend  its  ex- 
plorations westward,  the  other  on  the  upper  Yellowstone  and  work  down 
that  stream  till  it  should  meet  the  eastern  corps  at  the  mouth  of  Powder 
River.  The  former  was  provided  with  an  escort  of  nearly  1,000  men 
commanded  by  Col.  David  S.  Stanley,  Twenty-second  Infantry,  while  to 
Col.  John  Gibbon,  Seventh  Infantry,  commanding  the  District  of  Mon- 
tana was  assigned  the  duty  of  providing  from  the  troops  of  his  command 
a  suitable  force  for  the  protection  of  the  western  corps. 

For  this  purpose  Companies  C,  E.,  G  and  1  Seventh  Infantry,  were 
drawn  from  Fort  Shaw,  and  companies  F.,  G.,  H.  and  L.,  Second  Cav- 
alry, from  Fort  Ellis,  the  whole  force,  which  numbered  about  400  men 
being  placed  under  command  of  Maj.  Eugene  M.  Baker,  Second  Cavalry. 
Having  marched  from  their  respective  posts  they  were  all  assembled 
at  Shield's  River  on  the  thirtieth  of  July,  1872,  and,  being  there  joined 
by  Colonel  Hayden  with  his  corps  of  surveyors,  began  their  march  down 
the  Yellowstone  the  following  day. 

In  the  meantime  a  heavy  force  of  Sioux  warriors,  variously  estimated 
at  from  800  to  1,000  strong,  were  ascending  the  river  upon  a  hostile 
incursion  against  the  Crows;  and  about  the  twelfth  of  August  discovered 
through  their  scouts  that  they  were  in  the  presence  of  Baker's  com- 
mand. This  unexpected  rencontre  created  a  division  in  their  councils, 
many  being  anxious  to  give  over  their  former  design  and  measure  forces 
with  the  troops,  while  the  more  prudent  minority  were  disposed  to 
avoid  so  hazardous  an  enterprise  and  continue  their  advance  on  the  less 
prepared  and  unsuspecting  Crows.  At  length,  however,  tempted  by  the 
large  spoils  in  horses  which  they  hoped  by  dexterous  management  to 


310  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

secure  at  little  cost  to  themselves,  they  declared  in  favor  of  an  attack 
upon  the  troops,  and  fixed  upon  the  morning  of  August  I4th  for  carry- 
ing the  plan  into  effect. 

The  troops  had  now  reached  and  were  encamped  upon  the  ground 
that  became  the  scene  of  the  fight.  A  party  of  surveyors,  escorted  by  a 
force  of  cavalry  commanded  by  Captain  Ball,  had  the  previous  year  car- 
ried the  survey  down  the  Yellowstone  Valley  to  the  Place  of  Skulls,  and 
the  command  having  by  easy  marches  reached  the  field  of  the  summer's 
work  were  resting  in  camp  while  Colonel  Hayden  completed  his  arrange- 
ments for  taking  up  and  continuing  the  surv.ey.  The  presence  in  the 
neighborhood  of  two  or  three  Indian  dogs  had  excited  some  apprehension 
that  there  were  Indians  about,  but  the  general  feeling  was  of  confidence 
and  security;  and  not  only  were  no  special  precautions  taken  by  the 
commander  of  the  force  to  guard  against  an  attack,  but  upon  the  very 
night  fixed  for  it  he  permitted  himself  to  become  unfitted  for  the  proper 
performance  of  his  duties  by  an  over-indulgence  in  strong  drink.* 

The  Sioux  attacked  the  camp  early  in  the  morning  of  the  I4th,  as 
was  their  custom,  but,  notwithstanding  the  incapacity  of  Major  Baker, 
Captain  Rawn,  commander  of  the  infantry  battalion,  was  equal  to  the 
occasion,  and  handled  his  troops  with  such  promptness,  and  so  well 
supported  by  his  under  officers,  that,  after  about  five  hours  of  manoeuver- 
ing  and  attacks  and  counter-attacks,  the  Indian  warriors  withdrew  before 
the  disciplined  forces  of  the  whites.  The  result  would  have  been  even 
more  decisive,  but  Major  Baker  did  not  urge  a  pursuit  of  the  retreating 
Sioux,  and  his  former  reputation  as  an  Indian  fighter  suffered  a  great 
decline  in  consequence  of  his  conduct  during  and  after  the  engagement 
of  August  14,  1872. 

According  to  Lieutenant  Bradley's  account:  "After  this  affair,  the 
troops  continued  their  march  slowly  down  the  north  bank  of  the  Yellow- 
stone, the  engineers  carrying  forward  their  survey;  but  Engineer  Hay- 
den's  fears  had  got  the  better  of  him,  and  he  sought  an  occasion  to 
return.  He  sounded  the  opinions  of  the  officers,  but  found  the  major- 
ity of  them  in  favor  of  pushing  on  and  satisfied  of  their  ability  to  take 
care  of  themselves.  At  last,  on  the  twentieth  of  August,  at  a  point  about 
six  miles  above  Pompey's  Pillar,  he  insisted  upon  returning  or  turning 
off  toward  Musselshell,  and  the  latter  course  was  pursued.  After  sur- 
veying across  the  country  to  that  stream  and  up  its  south  fork,  the 
expedition  finally  disbanded  on  the  twenty-fifth  oi  September,  the  troops 
returning  to  their  posts.  Engineer  Hayden,  though  wholly  responsible 
for  the  failure  to  prosecute  the  survey  to  Powder  River  as  had  been 
originally  designed,  afterwards  endeavored  to  shirk  it  upon  the  mili- 
tary. Had  it  been  his  desire  to  proceed,  there  would  have  been  no 
hesitation  on  the  part  of  the  commander  of  the  troops  to  accompany 
him ;  and  the  great  majority  of  the  officers  were  eager  to  go  on,  to  save 
that  command  from  any  suspicion  of  having  been  frightened  from  its 
purpose  by  Indian  hostility." 


*  Lieutenant  Bradley's  Journal,  Vol.  II,  "Contributions  Montana  State  Historical 
Society." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  311 

NEW  AND  STRENGTHENED  MILITARY  POSTS 

Shortly  after  the  campaign  of  1864  against  the  Sioux,  which  fol- 
lowed upon  the  heels  of  the  organization  of  the  territory,  the  war 
department  took  steps  to  establish  new  military  posts  and  strengthen  the 
old  camps  that  the  white  settlers  and  emigrants  might  be  assured  of  pro- 
tection against  the  uneasy  and  threatening  Indians  of  Montana.  In  the 
spring  of  1866,  the  Thirteenth  regular  infantry  was  ordered  up  the 
Missouri  River  to  take  post  in  the  new  territory.  Camp  Cooke  was 
established  on  the  Missouri,  120  miles  below  Fort  Benton,  and  in  the 
following  year  Fort  Shaw,  on  Sun  River,  and  Fort  Ellis,  on  East  Galla- 
tin,  and,  in  1869,  Camp  Baker  on  Smith's  River,  or  Deep  Creek,  were 
added  to  the  defenses  of  the  territory.  In  the  latter  year  Camp  Cooke 
was  abandoned,  what  remained  of  the  garrison  being  removed  to  Fort 
Benton.  In  December,  1869,  four  companies  of  the  Second  Cavalry 
were  added  to  the  garrison  at  Fort  Ellis,  where  they  have  remained  ever 
since;  and  in  June,  1870,  seven  companies  of  the  Seventh  Infantry  ar- 
rived in  Montana,  relieving  the  Thirteenth,  to  which  were  added  the 
other  three  companies  in  1872. 

DEATH  OF  JAMES  STUART 

James  Stuart,  a  human  engine  of  force  in  control  and  a  Montana  pillar 
of  law  and  order,  passed  from  a  brave  and  useful  life,  at  Fort  Peck 
Indian  agency,  on  September  30,  1873.  He  had  served  in  the  first  terri- 
torial Assembly,  held  at  Bannack,  and  when,  in  the  spring  of  1865,  the 
North  Blackf  eet  or  Blood  Indians  threatened '  an  uprising,  Governor 
Edgerton  commissioned  him  lieutenant  colonel  to  quell  it,  should  it  come 
to  a  head ;  but  it  did  not.  Then  for  three  years,  he  was  superintendent 
of  the  St.  Louis  and  Montana  Mining  Company's  silver  mines  and 
works  at  Philipsburg.  In  1871,  he  was  appointed  post  trader  at  Fort 
Browning,  the  headquarters  of  the  Assiniboine  and  Upper  Sioux  Indian 
agency.  Two  years  thereafter  the  Assiniboine  agency  was  moved  sixty 
miles  up  Milk  River  to  Fort  Belknap,  and  the  Sioux  agency  was  con- 
centrated at  Fort  Peck,  on  the  Missouri  River,  in  the  extreme  northeast 
corner  of  Montana.  Fort  Browning  was  then  dismantled  and  abandoned. 

Mr.  Stuart's  brother,  Granville,  thus  sketches  the  last  year  of  the 
life  of  the  noted  pioneer: 

"James  sold  out  his  stock  at  this  time,  and  accompanied  the  agent, 
Major  A.  J.  Simmons,  to  Ft.  Peck,  where  his  thorough  knowledge  of 
Indian  character,  his  courage,  coolness,  and  excellent  administrative 
abilities  were  invaluable  assistants  in  the  control  of  the  warlike  Sioux. 
He  was  eminently  fitted  by  nature  to  deal  with  the  Indian  tribes,  for  he 
easily  and  quickly  acquired  their  languages,  and  had  that  peculiar  tact  so 
necessary  in  dealing  with  them.  He  was  a  good  judge  of  human  nature, 
either  civilized  or  savage ;  and  while  his  kind  and  gentle  manners  won 
their  good  will,  he  also  had,  when  necessary,  the  high  courage  and  iron 
determination  that  nothing  could  shake,  and  which  invariably  secures 
the  respect  of  the  savage.  What  he  told  them  he  would  do,  he  always 


312  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

scrupulously  performed;  and  when  he  said  he  would  not  do  a  thing, 
neither  entreaties,  threats,  nor  danger  could  move  him  from  his  pur- 
pose— and  for  these  reasons,  he  soon  stood  high  in  their  estimation. 
Being  a  physician  and  surgeon,  he  always  took  pleasure  in  treating  their 
wounds  and  diseases,  and  this  also  gave  him  great  influence  among  them. 

"In  June,  he  paid  a  visit  to  his  brothers  in  Deer  Lodge,  who  en- 
treated him  to  remain,  as  they  had  a  presentiment  of  evil,  and  were  very 
averse  to  his  returning  into  the  Indian  country.  But  he  had  promised 
to  return  and  take  charge  of  the  agency,  until  Major  Simmons,  who  had 
resigned,  could  turn  it  over  to  his  successor — and  with  him  to  promise 
was  to  perform.  He  therefore  took  leave  of  his  brothers  and  friends, 
expecting  soon  to  return,  but  in  this  life  they  never  saw  him  more. 

"It  is  probable  that  his  health  was  giving  way  at  this  time,  for  he 
had  had,  early  in  the  spring,  a  severe  attack  of  what  at  that  time  was 
supposed  to  be  inflammation  of  the  bowels,  but  which  it  afterward  ap- 
peared was  organic  disease  of  the  liver.  And  after  his  return  from  Deer 
Lodge,  he  wrote  in  his  weather  memorandum  that,  on  the  8th  of  August, 
he  had  another  attack  of  the  same  character.  And  on  the  i8th  of  Sep- 
tember he  was  taken  very  ill,  and  soon  told  the  attendants  that  he  now 
knew  his  illness  to  be  organic  disease  of  the  liver,  as  all  the  symptoms 
were  very  marked,  and  that  he  thought  he  would  not  recover.  He  lin- 
gered in  great  pain  until  death  came  to  his  relief.  He  died  sitting  in  a 
chair,  with  his  elbows  on  a  table,  and  his  head  resting  in  his  hands,  at 
half-past  five  on  the  morning  of  September  30,  1873.  He  was  in  the 
prime  of  life,  being  in  his  forty-second  year;  and  it  is  sad  to  think  what 
possibilities  the  future  might  have  had  for  him." 

FOURTH  AND  FIFTH  ASSEMBLIES 

The  fourth  and  fifth  legislative  assemblies  were  largely  devoted  to 
the  work  of  legalizing  the  measures  of  the  second  and  third.  The  fourth 
session  was  held  at  Virginia  City  from  November  4  to  December  24, 
1867.  As  authorized  by  Congress,  the  territorial  penitentiary  was  located 
at  Deer  Lodge ;  the  creation  of  the  County  of  Meagher  was  confirmed, 
and  the  City  of  Helena  was  incorporated,  provision  being  made  for  its 
municipal  organization. 

At  the  fifth  session,  held  also  at  Virginia  and  which  covered  the 
period  from  December  7,  1868,  to  January  15,  1869,  a  homestead  exemp- 
tion law  was  enacted,  and  the  general  incorporation  act  of  1867  was 
annulled.  The  first  Monday  of  December,  1870,  and  biennially  there- 
after, was  designated  as  the  date  for  the  convening  of  the  Assembly,  at 
the  seat  of  government.  The  temporary  capital  of  the  territory  was 
located  at  Helena,  an  election  to  be  held  on  the  first  Monday  of  August, 
1869,  to  determine  the  respective  claims  of  that  place  and  Virginia  City 
for  the  permanent  seat  of  justice.  The  county  of  Dawson  was  estab- 
lished by  the  act  of  January  15,  1869,  and  the  boundaries  of  Deer  Lodge, 
Beaver  Head  and  Madison  counties  were  readjusted. 


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314  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

GOVERNOR  JAMES  M.  ASHLEY 

Governor  Smith  resigned  his  office  in  the  spring  of  1869  (April  8th), 
and  James  M.  Ashley,  who  gave  Montana  its  name,  succeeded  him  in 
the  gubernatorial  office.  He  was  a  Pennsylvanian  by  nativity,  engaged 
in  various  kinds  of  business,  studied  medicine  and  law,  made  an  un- 
profitable newspaper  venture  and  was  otherwise  active  in  Ohio  and 
Virginia,  and  finally  brought  up  as  a  bitter  anti-slavery  advocate.  Poli- 
tics finally  absorbed  him,  and  in  1858  he  was  elected  to  Congress  as  a 
republican  from  the  Toledo  District.  His  determination  to  bring  the 
name  Montana  into  the  sisterhood  of  American  territories  or  states, 
with  the  success  which  attended  his  efforts  in  Congress,  has  been  noted. 
He  was  defeated  for  membership  in  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
1868,  but  in  the  following  year  President  Grant  appointed  him  as  Gov- 
ernor Smith's  successor.  It  was  his  intention  to  make  Montana  his 
permanent  home;  yet,  when  he  was  supplanted  in  the  governorship  by 
General  Benjamin  F.  Potts,  a  distinguished  Ohio  man — born,  bred  and 
trained  in  that  state — Governor  Ashley  returned  to  that  commonwealth, 
where,  after  several  other  terms  as  a  congressional  representative,  he 
died. 

Governor  Ashley  was  a  most  radical  republican — at  least,  in  Mon- 
tana— and  raised  up  so  many  personal  enemies  that  his  administration 
was  seriously  embarrassed.  His  expression  of  dissatisfaction  with  the 
Grant  administration  also  operated  against  him  so  effectually  that  the 
Soldier  President  commissioned  his  successor,  on  July  13,  1870,  about 
fifteen  months  after  he  became  chief  executive.  Governor  Ashley  had 
gone  over  to  the  liberal  wing  of  the  republican  party,  and  two  years 
afterward  supported  Horace  Greeley  for  the  presidency.  United  States 
Senator  Charles  A.  Sumner  was  his  personal  friend,  also,  and  vainly 
endeavored  to  prevent  the  confirmation  of  Governor  Potts  in  the  upper 
house  of  Congress. 

GOVERNOR  BENJAMIN  F.  POTTS 

Governor  Potts  was  a  public  man  of  such  judgment  and  practical 
ability  that  he  served  the  large  and  varied  interests  of  Montana  for 
twelve  years  and  six  months.  He  was  a  lawyer  and  originally  a  Doug- 
las democrat,  and  during  the  entire  period  of  the  Civil  war  was  a  leading 
Ohio  officer.  His  military  service  was  mostly  identified  with  Sherman's 
southwestern  campaigns  and  the  famous  expedition  of  the  union  com- 
mander to  Atlanta  and  through  the  Carolinas.  In  December,  1864,  he 
was  in  command  of  the  advance  brigade  of  Sherman's  army.  During 
the  Nez  Perce  outbreak  of  1877  his  military  training  was  invaluable 
and  he  maintained  field  headquarters  under  his  personal  supervision. 
After  retiring  from  the  governorship  of  the  territory,  he  was  elected 
to  the  legislative  Assembly.  Finally,  he  retired  to  private  life  to  devote 
his  attention  to  the  raising  of  blooded  stock,  and  died  at  Helena,  on 
June  17,  1889,  about  two  weeks  before  the  assembling  of  the  state  con- 
stitutional convention. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  315 

HELENA  BECOMES  TERRITORIAL  CAPITAL 

At  the  genera]  election  of  1874,  Helena  was  chosen  as  the  seat  of 
the  territorial  government,  Deer  Lodge  City,  as  well  as  Virginia,  hav- 
ing appeared  as  a  candidate  for  the  honor.  The  Assembly  did  not  con- 
vene at  the  new  capital  until  January,  1876,  at  its  ninth  session,  all  the 
previous  meetings  having  been  held  at  Virginia  City. 


At  the  seventh  session,  the  civil  practice  act  then  in  force  was  re- 
pealed, and  a  code  framed  after  the  California  statutes.  This  formed 
the  nucleus  of  the  territorial  practice  act,  which  was  substantially  in 
force  until  the  adoption  of  the  state  codes  in  1895.  At  the  same  time, 
the  criminal  laws  of  the  territory  were  revised  and  a  new  criminal  prac- 
tice act  was  passed.  This  Assembly  memorialized  Congress  to  set  apart 
the  Yellowstone  Park,  to  be  "devoted  to  public  use,  resort  and  recrea- 
tion for  all  time  to  come."  The  public  debt  of  the  territory  had  reached 
$500,000,  one  of  the  items  of  extravagance  charged  against  its  officials 
and  tending  to  bring  about  the  deficit  being  the  extra  compensation 
allowed  United  States  officers  and  drawn  from  the  territorial  treasury. 
This  had  amounted  to  $200,000  from  1866  to  1872,  and  to  prevent  these 
expenditures  in  the  future  Congress  passed  an  act  prohibiting  the 
payment  by  the  territory  of  any  compensation  to  officers  or  legislators 
other  than  that  provided  by  that  body. 

At  the  eighth  extraordinary  session  of  the  legislative  Assembly, 
April-May,  1873,  the  time  for  holding  the  regular  sessions  of  that  body 
was  fixed  on  the  first  Monday  after  the  first  day  of  January.  An-  act 
was  passed  over  Governor  Potts's  veto  providing  for  the  formation  of 
railroad  corporations,  and  authorizing  any  Montana  County  to  subscribe 
to  the  capital  stock  of  any  railroad  proposing  to  construct  a  line  in  the 
territory.  The  Union  and  Central  Pacific  roads  and  the  Utah  Northern 
line  were  specifically  mentioned.  No  county  was  to  subscribe  more  than 
20  per  cent  of  its  taxable  property,  and  Madison,  Jefferson,  Gallatin 
and  Lewis  and  Clark  counties  were  to  take  at  least  45  per  cent  of  the 
stock. 

The  principal  measure  passed  at  the  eight  regular  session  in  Janu- 
ary-February, 1874,  was  the  apportionment  bill  by  which  the  Council 
was  allotted  thirteen  members  and  the  House  of  Representatives,  twenty- 
six,  and  the  counties  rearranged  to  conform  to  the  new  apportionment. 
Bozeman  also  entered  the  class  of  incorporated  cities. 

This  closed  the  period  during  which  the  seat  of  territorial  govern- 
ment was  at  Virginia  City,  and,  in  accord  with  the  will  of  the  people  ex- 
pressed at  the  general  election  of  1874,  in  1876  Helena  became  the  per- 
manent capital  of  Montana  and  adequately  provided  for  the  regular 
biennial  sessions  of  the  Assembly,  and  any  extraordinary  which  were 
called  by  the  governor. 


CHAPTER  XIV 
PIONEERS  AND  THEIR  SOCIETY 

The  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers,  a  strong  and  active  organization 
of  men  and  women  of  the  state  who  settled  within  its  bounds  in,  or  be- 
fore 1868,  has  co-operated  with  the  State  Historical  Society,  for  thirty- 
seven  years,  in  perpetuating  the  stirring  record  and  solid  progress  of  the 
territory  and  state.  It  was  organized  at  Helena  on  September  n,  1884, 
and  400  members  were  enrolled  at  its  first  meeting.  James  Fergus, 
of  Meagher  County,  was  its  first  president;  Wilbur  F.  Sanders, 
of  Lewis  and  Clark  County  (Helena),  corresponding  secretary,  and 
George  W.  Irvin  II,  recording  secretary. 

OFFICERS  AND  MEMBERsm? 

The  first  fourteen  meetings  of  the  society  were  held  at  Helena  (no 
meeting  in  1893).  Up  to  that  time,  or  1898,  the  presidents,  most  of 
whom  served  in  the  society  for  one  year,  were  James  Fergus,  Walter  W. 
DeLacy,  Granville  Stuart,  Frank  H.  Woody,  Wilbur  F.  Sanders,  Anton 
M.  Holter,  William  A.  Clark,  Samuel  Word,  Walter  Cooper  (two  terms), 
John  T.  Conner,  Conrad  Kohrs,  William  L.  Steele  and  Nicholas  Kessler. 
In  1885-86  Cornelius  Hedges,  Lewis  and  Clark  County,  served  as  cor- 
responding secretary,  and  John  R.  Wilson,  of  Beaverhead  County,  as 
recording  secretary.  James  U.  Sanders  was  chosen  recording  secretary 
in  1886,  in  the  following  year  the  two  secretaryships  were  consolidated, 
and  Mr.  Sanders  has  held  the  united  office  since  1898.  The  society  cre- 
ated a  vice  president  at  large  in  1907. 

The  presidents  since  1898,  none  of  whom  have  held  office  more  than 
a  year,  have  been  Henry  Elling,  Madison  County ;  William  W.  Anderson, 
Gallatin  County ;  Henry  F.  Edgar,  Missoula  County ;  Timothy  E.  Collins, 
Cascade  County;  John  Caplice,  Silver  Bow  County;  O.  B.  Whitford, 
Silver  Bow  County;  Cornelius  Hedges,  Lewis  and  Clark  County;  John 
P.  Thomas,  Deer  Lodge  County;  Paul  McCormick,  Yellowstone  County; 
Charles  S.  Warren,  Silver  Bow  County ;  Andrew  J.  Fisk,  Lewis  and  Clark 
County ;  Warren  C.  Gillette,  Lewis  and  Clark  County ;  W.  Y.  Pemberton, 
Lewis  and  Clark  County;  Rod  D.  Leggat,  Silver  Bow  County;  Mortimer 
H.  Lott,  Madison  County;  Martin  Maginnis,  Lewis  and  Clark  County; 
James  M.  Page,  Madison  County ;  John  M.  Page,  Madison  County ;  John 
W.  Blair,  Powell  County;  George  W.  Morse,  Granite  County;  Frank  D. 
Brown,  Granite  County;  Charles  W.  Hoffman,  Gallatin  County;  Wil- 
liam A.  Clark,  Silver  Bow  County;  John  H.  Shober,  Lewis  and  Clark 
County;  John  F.  Bishop  (1920-21),  Beaverhead  County. 

316 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  317 

The  vice  presidents  at  large,  since  the  office  was  created  in  1907,  have 
been  David  Hilger,  Fergus  County ;  W.  Y.  Pemberton,  Lewis  and  Clark ; 
Rod  D.  Leggat,  Silver  Bow;  Martimer  H.  Lott,  Madison;  Robert 
Vaughn,  Cascade;  Nelson  Story,  Sr.,  Gallatin;  John  W.  Blair,  Powell; 
George  W.  Morse,  Granite;  Kelson  Story,  Sr.,  Gallatin;  George  A. 
Bruffey,  Park;  Tom  McTague,  Powell. 

The  secretaries  who  were  in  office  between  James  U.  Sanders's  first 
term  in  i887-'88,  and  the  commencement  of  his  twenty-three  years'  serv- 
ice in  1898,  were  Cornelius  Hedges,  Lewis  and  Clark  County,  i888-'92; 
Charles  D.  Curtis,  Lewis  and  Clark,  i892-'95  ;  and  Theophilus  Muffly,  same 
county,  i895-'98. 

Those  who  have  served  as  treasurers  since  the  organization  of  the 
society  in  1884  have  been  Samuel  T.  Hauser,  T.  H.  Kleinschmidt,  H.  M. 
Parchen,  T.  H.  Kleinschmidt  (second  terms),  Cornelius  Hedges,  T.  H. 
Kleinschmidt  (third  term),  Anton  M.  Holter,  Thomas  C.  Power,  Rich- 
ard Lockey,  John  C.  Curtin  and  Joseph  D.  Conrad;  all  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  County. 

In  1908,  Frank  D.  Brown,  of  Granite  County,  was  elected  the  first 
state  historian  of  the  society,  and,  with  the  exception  of  one  term  (1917- 
'18),  when  Mrs.  E.  L.  Houston,  of  Gallatin  County,  served,  has  been 
the  only  incumbent  of  the  office. 

PLACES  OF  ANNUAL  MEETINGS 

Since  1898,  the  annual  meetings  of  the  Pioneers'  Society  have  been 
distributed  throughout  the  state,  usually  in  Western  Montana,  which 
carries  the  bulk  of  the  population.  The  gatherings,  generally  well  at- 
tended, and  replete  with  interest  and  good  cheer  to  the  pioneers  of  ter- 
ritory and  state,  whose  earthly  ranks  are  rapidly  thinning,  have  been 
held  in  August,  September  or  October,  as  follows:  Virginia  City,  1899; 
Bozeman,  1900;  Missoula,  1901;  Dillon,  1902;  Great  Falls,  1903;  Fort 
Benton,  1903;  Butte,  1904;  Anaconda,  1904;  Helena,  1905;  Anaconda, 
1906;  Billings,  1907;  Lewistown,  1908;  Helena,  1909;  Deer  Lodge,  1910; 
Butte,  1911;  Deer  Lodge,  1912;  Missoula  and  Stevensville,  1913;  Boze- 
man, 1914;  Great  Falls,  1915;  Helena,  1916;  Livingston,  1917;  Ana- 
conda, 1918;  Butte,  1919;  Great  Falls,  1920;  Lewistown,  1921. 

In  1899,  the  society  first  published  a  register  of  its  members,  1,800 
of  whom  were  then  recorded.  About  1,150  have  since  joined  the  or- 
ganization and  1,900  have  "passed  over"  where  time  is  not  and  therefore 
there  are  no  pioneers.  The  present  membership  strength  of  the  Society 
of  Montana  Pioneers  is  about  1,050.  Because  of  the  early  date  of  set- 
tlement fixed  as  the  requisite  for  membership,  many  of  those  most 
anxious  for  its  growth  and  continued  usefulness  have  suggested  that 
the  year  be  advanced  at  least  into  the  '705. 

The  Society  of  Montana  Pioneers  has  done  much  to  foster  the  spirit 
of  historic  pride  within  the  limits  of  Montana,  and  the  printed  report 
of  its  thirty-fourth  annual  meeting  at  Livingston,  held  September  5-7, 
1917,  is  rich  with  material  descriptive  of  the  steps  it  had  already  taken 
binding  the  present  with  the  past.  Secretary  Sanders  reports : 


318 


"This  society  organized  a  generation  ago  at  Helena  during  the  Fif- 
teenth Exhibition  of  the  Montana  Agricultural,  Mineral  and  Mechanical 
Association,  with  a  membership  of  about  four  hundred  grew  rapidly  for 


MR.  AND  MRS.  JAMES  FERGUS 

thirty  years  and  since  1899  its  annual  meetings  held  from  year  to  year 
in  the  larger  cities  of  the  state  have  been  the  great  conventions  of  the 
period.  In  1899,  when  we  met  in  Alder  Gulch,  we  tried  the  experiment 
of  holding  the  meetings  outside  of  Last  Chance  Gulch  and  the  move 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  319 

met  with  instant  and  ever  increasing  favor  until  today.  Once  before 
we  ventured  into  the  land  of  the  Sioux  when  we  met  at  Billings  ten 
years  ago  and  now  we  have  come  back  to  Benson's  Landing  on  the  Yel- 
lowstone. During  these  eighteen  years  we  have  visited  most  of  the 
leading  cities  from  Billings  and  Lewistown  to  Missoula  and  Stevensville 
in  the  Bitter  Root  valley  and  from  Great  Falls  and  Fort  Benton,  the 
head  of  navigation  on  the  north,  to  Dillon  and  Virginia  City  on  the 
south,  and  our  receptions  in  these  centers  of  Pilgrims  and  Princes  have 
increased  in  warmth  and  enthusiasm  to  this  hour,  as  it  attested  by  this 
gathering,  frosted  by  more  than  fifty  winters.  Other  cities  visited  in- 
clude Anaconda,  Butte,  Bozeman,  Deer  Lodge  and  Helena. 

"The  roll  of  presidents  since  our  organization  comprises  the  names 
of  many  but  not  all  of  the  founders  of  this  Commonwealth,  many  of 
whom  assisted  in  founding  other  states  before  coming  to  this  corner  of 
the  Louisiana  purchase  and  of  the  Oregon  country.  Let  us  recall  those 
who  have  crossed  the  Great  Divide:  Fergus,  DeLacy,  Woody,  San- 
ders, Word,  Conner,  Steele,  Kessler,  Filing,  Alderson,  Edgar,  Collins, 
Caplice,  Hedges,  Thomas,  Fisk,  and  Gillette.  Truly  honored  names  in 
the  history  of  Montana. 

"Equally  illustrious  are  the  following  survivors:  *Stuart,  Holter, 
Clark,  Cooper,  *  Kohrs,  Graeter,  Whitford,  *  McCormick,  *  Warren, 
Pemberton,  Lott,  *  Leggat,  *  Maginnis,  Page,  Blair  and  Morse.  If  they 
are  not  with  us  today  they  at  least  are  here  in  spirit.  Some  of  these  men 
have  said  that  they  would  rather  hold  this  position  than  that  of  governor 
of  the  state  and  truly  it  is  a  higher  honor,  when  the  deeds  of  this  day 
are  transcribed  to  the  pages  of  history.  Governors  will  be  forgotten, 
Pioneers  never.  *  *  * 

"The  subject  of  a  Pioneer  Home  is  one  of  long  standing  and  the 
need  of  such  an  institution  is  becoming  acute.  Every  county  hospital 
in  Montana  probably  is  giving  asylum  to  a  worthy  pioneer.  In  my  own 
county  of  Lewis  and  Clark  today  is  a  pioneer  who  has  lived  in  Helena 
for  over  fifty  years  and  who  is  one  of  the  very  few  survivors  of  Perry's 
Expedition  to  Japan  in  1853.  The  history  of  that  trip,  when  our  gov- 
ernment knocked  at  the  gates  of  the  Hermit  Nation  of  the  centuries  and 
opened  its  ports  to  the  commerce  of  the  world  is  one  of  great  interest 
and  James  Mason  t  is  entitled  to  a  pension  for  the  remainder  of  his 
days.  I  endeavored  for  several  years  to  secure  one  for  him  through 
Senator  Walsh  and  Representative  Evans,  but  without  success,  and  now 
the  world  war  has  put  the  consideration  of  such  a  subject  out  of  the 
question.  It  was  with  a  great  deal  of  reluctance  that  we  induced  him 
to  leave  his  old  home  and  go  to  the  home  for  old  soldiers  and  sailors 
provided  by  a  grateful  country  and  state  at  Columbia  Falls  and  it  was 
with  greater  reluctance  that  his  friends  recommended  it.  *  *  * 

"The  last  legislature  passed  three  laws  commemorating  the  deeds 
of  pioneers  which  I  will  mention.  One  provided  for  the  placing  of  a 
tablet  in  the  Rotunda  of  the  Capitol  in  honor  of  Don  L.  Byam,  the  judge 

*  Deceased  since  1917. 

t  Mr.  Mason  died  in  April,  1918,  at  the  Soldiers'  Home  at  Columbia  Falls. 


320  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

who  presided  at  the  trial  of  George  Ives  at  Nevada  City,  December  19-21, 
1863.  Judge  Byam  sleeps  in  hallowed  ground  at  Emigrant  City,  op- 
posite old  Yellowstone  City,  in  Emigrant  Gulch  in  this  county.  His 
grandson,  Senator  Muffly  of  Broadwater  county  expects  to  visit  his 
grave  during  the  recesses  of  this  convention. 

"Another  provided  for  the  erection  of  a  monument  at  the  point  of 
the  discovery  of  gold  in  Alder  Gulch,  May  26,  1863,  by  the  Fairweather- 
Edgar  party.  The  third  law  approved  of  the  purpose  of  this  society 
to  erect  heroic  bronze  statutes  of  Lewis  and  Clark  at  the  Great  Falls 
and  at  the  Three  Forks  of  the  Missouri  river  and  provided  an  appropri- 
ation of  five  thousand  ($5,000)  dollars  to  be  placed  at  the  disposal  of 
a  commission  to  be  appointed  by  the  president  of  this  society  and  the 
governor  of  the  state  when  we  and  others  desiring  to  materially  assist 
in  the  laudable  undertaking  shall  raise  the  sum  of  fifteen  thousand 
($15,000)  dollars.  Such  a  statute  is  assured  at  Great  Falls  and  Mr. 
C.  M,  Russell,  whom  you  know  as  the  cowboy  artist,  has  submitted  a 
very  creditable  design  which  it  is  intended  to  set  up  in  Lewis  and  Clark 
Park  where  that  great  expedition  celebrated  July  4th,  1805,  near  the 
city  of  Great  Falls.  Equally  worthy  of  such  a  memorial  is  the  point 
at  the  Three  Forks,  the  scene  of  many  historical  incidents  and  the  cen- 
ter of  the  fur  trade  for  a  considerable  time  and  within  sight  of  two 
transcontinental  railroads  and  the  Yellowstone  Trail.  We  should  see 
that  the  matter  is  sufficiently  supported  to  make  available  the  appropri- 
ation of  the  state  which  was  so  liberal." 

Frank  D.  Brown,  of  Missoula,  whose  special  office  it  is  to  throw  the 
light  of  present' events  and  living  personalities  upon  the  past,  acquitted 
himself  well  in  the  society's  report  of  1917,  and  much  of  his  paper  is 
here  reproduced.  First  he  mentions 

THE  MULLAN  MONUMENTS 

"The  last  of  these  beautiful  memorials  to  the  explorer  and  his  men 
within  the  state,"  he  writes,  "has  been  erected  in  Fort  Benton,  and  will 
be  dedicated  the  ensuing  fall.  The  sight  of  the  same  is  in  the  handsome 
City  Park,  and  within  sight  of  where  Mullan  and  his  expedition  dis- 
banded after  their  long  and  adventurous  trip  from  Walla  Walla. 

"The  William  A.  Clark,  Jr.,  memorial  was  dedicated  at  St.  Regis 
July  4th  last.  The  meeting  was  presided  over  by  the  Hon.  Chas.  S. 
Warren,  and  oration  made  by  that  eloquent  native  son  of  Montana, 
William  L.  Murphy,  Esq.,  of  Missoula.  The  placing  of  this  monument 
within  the  grounds  of  the  new  and  most  presentable  school  building  at 
St.  Regis  will  be  ever  a  reminder  to  the  youth  attending  the  same  of  one 
of  the  most  important  incidents  connected  with  the  settlement  and  de- 
velopment of  this  great  Commonwealth.  It  is  placed  directly  upon  the 
road  of  Mullan,  and  occupies  a  commanding  position  within  sight  of  the 
Milwaukee  and  Northern  Pacific  Railroads. 

"The  dedication  oi  the  Hannaford  monument  at  Missoula  occurred 
during  the  session  of  the  County  Fair  and  upon  the  evening  of  October 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  321 

5th  last.  A  notable  incident  of  the  ceremony  was  the  attendance  upon 
the  platform  of  Mr.  David  C.  O'Keefe,  the  last  known  survivor  of  the 
Mullan  Expedition.  The  old  gentleman,  well  over  eighty,  is  entirely 
blind,  but  his  memory  remains  excellent  and  his  store  of  information 
relating  to  the  work  of  the  explorer  is  most  interesting,  and  of  value 
historically.  The  address  was  delivered  by  the  Hon.  W.  J.  McCormick,* 
a  native  of  Missoula  and  the  son  of  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
Bitter  Root. 

"  The  William  A.  Clark  monument  is  to  be  dedicated  the  6th  of  the 
present  month  (September  6,  1917).  The  Hon.  A.  L.  Stone,  Professor 
of  Journalism  at  the  University  of  Montana  will  deliver  the  address.  It 
is  highly  probably  that  no  one  better  qualified  could  have  been  selected. 
Mr.  Stone  is  a  member  of  the  State  Historical  Society,  the  author  of 
that  fascinatingly  interesting  work  on  the  earlier  history  of  Western 
Montana,  entitled  'Old  Trails,'  and  a  speaker  of  rare  ability.  The  site 
of  this  monument  is  upon  the  west  side  of  the  road  cut  leading  out  of 
the  Blackfoot  opposite  the  winter  quarters  of  Capt.  Mullan  the  winter  of 
1861-2,  known  as  'Cantonment  Wright,'  and  at  the  western  approach  to 
the  bridge  made  by  him  over  the  Blackfoot  river.  Grounds  surround- 
ing the  monument  cover  several  acres  of  well  kept  lawn  sloping  gradu- 
ally to  both  the  Hellgate  and  Blackfoot.  A  more  beautiful  location  it 
would  be  difficult  to  conceive.  As  the  property  belongs  to  the  Missoula 
Light  &  Power  Company,  whose  hydro-electric  plant  is  within  the  same 
enclosure  the  gratifying  assurance  is  conveyed  that  this  beautiful  memo- 
rial will  long  remain  a  lasting  testimonial  to  the  men  who  opened  up  to 
settlement  the  vast  areas  of  fertile  lands  in  northern  Oregon,  Idaho  and 
Washington  territories.! 

'The  Mullan  trail  will  be  marked  throughout  Idaho  during  the  en- 
suing year.  This  gift  to  a  great  Western  State,  out  of  which  was  carved 
Montana,  evidences  'the  love  and  patriotism  of  Montana  men  to  the 
Border  Commonwealth  who  gave  them  birthplace  and  wealth.  It  is 
the  patriotic  act  of  one  of  its  citizens  and  the  son  of  a  member  of  this 
society  who  determined  that  the  work  inaugurated  to  perpetuate  the  work 
and  memory  of  a  daring  explorer,  and  a  national  enterprise,  should  be 
carried  through  to  its  western  terminus,  at  Walla  Walla.  His  contribu- 
tion to  the  historical  records  of  our  neighboring  State  is  not  a  com- 
mentary upon  its  indisposition  to  continue  the  line  of  memorial  from 
the  Montana  line  through  Idaho  to  the  eastern  border  of  Washington, 
but  a  commendable  instance  of  love  for  our  great  west  of  the  Montanian 
that  recognizes  neither  section  or  "boundary  lines  in  preserving  from 
oblivion  any  important  historical  fact  relating  to  the  opening  up  and 
settlement  of  the  Northwest  Territories. 

"The  location  of  the  sites  of  the  Idaho  monuments  to  Mullan  was 
left  to  the  selection  of  Professor  Henry  C.  Talkington,  of  the  State  Nor- 
mal School  at  Lewiston,  a  member  of  the  Geographical  Society  of  Idaho, 
who  has  devoted  much  of  his  valuable  time  to  the  preservation  of  the 


*  Now  deceased. 

t  Monuments  marking  the  Mullan  Trail  erected  at  Lewistown,  Great  Falls,  etc. 

Vol.  1—21 


322  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

important  incidents  of  its  frontier  past.  After  a  thorough  examination  of 
the  work  of  Capt.  Mullan,  entitled  'On  the  construction  of  a  military 
road  from  Fort  Walla  Walla  to  Fort  Benton/  published  by  the  War 
Department  of  the  United  States  in  1863,  this  containing  carefully  pre- 
pared maps  showing  route  of  the  completed  highway,  Mr.  Talkington 
selected  the  following  places  as  being  appropriate  sites  for  the  intended 
memorials,  viz. :  Mullan,  Wallace,  Wardner,  Kellogg,  The  Mission, 
Coeur  d'Alene  City  and  Spokane  crossing,  and  he  is  at  this  time  arrang- 
ing with  the  municipal  authorities  of  the  cities  selected  to  care  for  and 
appropriately  dedicate  the  same.  One  is  also  to  be  erected  at  the  Pine 
Tree — upon  which  Mullan  cut  his  name — in  the  4th  of  July  Canyon,  and 
a  suitable  fence  will  enclose  both. 

DISCOVERY  OF  GOLD  IN  MONTANA 

"The  important  and  beautiful  monument  given  by  Mrs.  Mary  E. 
Morony  to  commemorate  the  gulch  wherein  gold  was  first  discovered  in 
what  is  now  the  State  of  Montana,  but  formerly  a  part  of  Idaho,  is  now 
in  place  between  the  tracks  of  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Milwaukee  Roads, 
on  Gold  Creek  bar,  near  the  Hellgate  river.  Here,  in  full  view  of  the 
continental  traveller,  and  stranger  within  our  gates,  this  costly  and 
beautifully  wrought  shaft  of  white  marble  will  tell  to  the  generations  of 
the  future  the  story  of  Granville  Stuart  and  his  party  of  prospectors, 
and  of  an  event  that  laid  the  foundation  for  a  great  and  mighty  State, 
Montana. 


"It  is  with  the  greatest  pleasure  that  I  announce  to  this  body  that 
through  the  efforts  of  Mr.  James  G.  Walker,  of  Virginia  City,  a  monu- 
ment to  be  erected  at  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Alder  gulch,  in  Madison 
County,  by  Fairweather  and  his  associates,  is  assured.  The  design  of 
the  same  to  be  selected  from  sketches  drawn  by  Messrs,  Paxson  and 
Russell,  both  artists  of  wide  reputation  and  high  repute,  is  assured.  Mr. 
Walker  found  his  work  to  such  laudable  end  greatly  lessened  through 
the  prompt  financial  assistance  of  Mr.  Andrew  J.  Davis,  of  Butte  City, 
whose  uncle,  Andrew  J.  Davis,  Sr.,  was  a  pioneer  of  Montana.  *  *  * 

GRAVES  OF  COMSTOCK  AND  BOZEMAN 

"Many  of  you  may  not  know  that  within  the  beautiful  cemetery  at 
Bozeman  lies  the  remains  of  Henry  T.  P.  Comstock,  the  discoverer  of 
the  famous  silver  lode  that  made  Nevada  famous.  Over  his  remains  Mr. 
Nelson  Story,  Sr.,  of  that  city,  placed  a  marble  slab  upon  which  is  in- 
scribed the  following  epitaph.  'In  memory  of  Henry  T.  P.  Comstock,  dis- 
coverer of  the  famous  Comstock  lode,  Story  county,  Nevada.  Died  at 
Bozeman,  September  29th,  1870.  Aged  50  years.' 

"Comstock  committed  suicide  by  shooting  himself  through  the  head. 
Before  committing  the  fatal  act  he  practiced  for  a  while  shooting  at  a 
mark.  He  had  come  into  the  Gallatin  Valley  with  about  seventy  other 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  323 

prospectors  with  the  intention  of  prospecting  the  Yellowstone  country, 
and  his  expedition  was  known  as  the  First  Big  Horn  exploring  party. 
They  disbanded  in  Bozeman,  leaving  there  the  cannon  which  they  had 
brought  along.  I  have  brought  the  fact  of  the  interment  at  Bozeman 
to  the  attention  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Nevada.  To  Mr.  Story  this 
Society,  and  State,  is  also  indebted  for  the  recovery  of  the  remains  of 
Bozeman,  who  was  murdered  by  a  war  party  near  the  present  site  of 
this  City,  and  their  interment  in  the  Bozeman  cemetery.  Both  of  these 
graves  are  kept  in  excellent  condition  by  Mr.  Story.  The  act  of  this 
gentleman,  and  venerable  pioneer,  in  both  instances,  is  highly  commend- 
able, and  an  illuminating  instance  of  what  a  public  spirited  man  can  do 
in  a  quiet  and  unobtrusive  way  towards  preserving  mementoes  of  the 
tragic  past  of  this  State.  *  *  * 

LEWIS  AND  CLARK  STATUE 

"Your  approval  is  further  requested  of  the  design  selected  for  the 
large  and  costly  monument  to  be  erected  at  Great  Falls  in  honor  of 
the  memory  and  achievements  of  Lewis  &  Clark.  The  City  of  Great 
Falls  has  donated  a  site  of  many  acres  of  very  valuable  land  within  the 
Park  system  of  the  city  for  the  purpose  intended,  and  the  location  is 
where  the  expedition  of  these  explorers  camped  in  1805,  and  where  the 
Declaration  of  the  Independence  of  the  United  States  was  read  for  the 
first  time  west  of  the  Mississippi  River.  It  is  proposed  by  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  of  Great  Falls,  who  inaugurated  the  movement,  to  make 
the  dedication  of  the  monument  a  national  affair,  and  to  be  a  credit  to 
this  State,  as  well  as  all  of  the  States  west  of  the  river  named,  it  should 
be  of  a  magnitude  and  artistic  worth  to  command  the  admiration  and 
patriotic  respect  of  all  interested  in  great  historical  events.  *  *  * 

BAKER  BATTLE  FIELDS 

"I  have  secured  the  attention  of  the  head  of  an  important  railroad 
to  the  erection  of  a  statue  marking  the  Baker  Battlefield  below  Billings. 
The  design  of  the  same  is  here  for  the  approval  of  your  Honorable 
Body,  as  it  is  under  your  auspices  the  memorial  is  to  be  erected. 

"Your  attention  is  further  directed  to  the  fact  that  suitable  stones 
are  to  be  erected  within  a  short  period  of  time  upon  the  battlefield  of 
Baker  on  the  Marias  river,  and  at  a  point  near  the  mouth  of  the  same 
stream  where  ten  men  were  killed — supposedly  by  the  Blackfeet  Indians 
— in  1865.  On  January  ist,  1870,  in  cold  many  degrees  below  zero, 
Baker's  cavalry  command  fell  upon  Heavy  Runners  band  of  Piegans 
and — it  is  said — killed  every  man,  woman  and  child  in  it.  It  was  alleged 
that  these  Indians  killed  Malcolm  Clarke,  a  fellow  classmate  of  General 
Sherman  at  West  Point,  and  whose  remains  are  now  buried  at  Mitchell, 
on  Little  Prickly  Pear  Creek  twenty-eight  miles  north  of  Helena,  near 
where  he  was  murdered.  Joe  Kipp,  scout  under  Baker,  knew  that  the 
Colonel  was  instructed  to  follow  Black  Weasel's  band,  the  murderers 
of  Clark,  but  the  first  trail  struck  by  the  command  was  that  of  Heavy 


324  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Runners,  the  result  of  the  foray  being  that  the  latter's  winter  camp 
was  totally  exterminated  of  its  people.  Baker  viewed  the  matter  in  the 
light  of  the,  frontier,  that  is  to.  say,  that  a  'hostile'  was  a  murderer,  there- 
fore entitled  to  death  on  general  principles  wherever  found.  *  *  * 

PROPOSED  MEMORIALS 

"For  the  consideration  of  this  society,  I  have  selected  the  following 
places  which  should  be  marked  during  the  ensuing  year,  as  being  fully 
worthy  of  saving  from  utter  forgetfulness,  viz. : 

"The  Old  Fur  Company  post,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Yellowstone  and 
Missouri,  known  in  all  annals  of  the  west  as  Fort  Union. 

"Fort  Pease,  trading  post  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn. 

"Fort  Copperopolis,  at  the  head  of  1 6-mile  creek,  upon,  or  near  one 
of  the  tributaries  of  the  Musselshell. 

"Fort  Hawley,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell  on  the  south  bank  of 
the  Missouri. 

"Fort  C.  F.  Smith,  in  the  Big  Horn  valley. 

"Emigrant  gulch. 

"Fort  Owen,  in  the  Bitter  Root.  The  fort  was  a  most  important  one 
in  the  earlier  history  of  Western  Montana,  and  is  still  a  substantial  relic 
of  its  former  self.  It  was  built  of  adobe,  and  reported  upon  by  both 
General  Stevens  and  Captain  Mullan.  It  is  upon  the  property  of  Mrs. 

McCormick,  the  wife  of  one  of  the  oldest  pioneers  of  Missoula  county. 
*  *  * 

"Mrs.  Henry  Flather,  the  daughter  of  Captain  John  Mullan,  and 
his  only  child,  made  a  visit  to  Montana  in  June,  visiting  me  at  Missoula 
the  twenty-fourth  of  that  month,  the  only  stopover  on  her  trip  to  the 
Coast,  this  due  to  ill  health.  She  visited  two  of  the  monuments  erected 
in  honor  of  her  father,  and  His  men,  expressing  her  warmest  apprecia- 
tion of  the  nobility  and  generosity  of  the  members  of  this  society  who, 
in  such  an  appropriate  manner,  evidenced  their  regard  and  esteem  for 
the  work  he,  and  they,  had  so  faithfully  and  intelligently  performed. 


JUDGE  PEMBERTON  A,ND  THE  STATE  HISTORICAL  LIBRARY* 

"The  recent  discovery  of  the  first  charter  granted  to  a  municipality 
in  Montana  was  recently  unearthed  at  Virginia  City,  and  reported  in  the 
Madisonian  of  March  7th,  last.  Others  of  like  importance  should  be 
looked  up  and  preserved.  In  this  connection  I  would  suggest  that  all 
such  valued  souvenirs  of  a  half  century  ago  be  deposited  with  the  state 
librarian,  at  Helena.  Under  the  careful  guardianship  of  this  officer  they 
will  be  well  cared  for,  and  made  readily  accessible  to  those  interested  in 
the  past  of  the  State.  Send  your  books,  documents,  old  papers  and  relics 
to  him  if  you  wish  them  to  receive  security  and  loving  care.  Every  one 
of  our  members  should  visit  the  library  when  in  the  Capital  City.  ,It 


*Now  June,  1921,  absent  in  Missouri,  on  account  of  his  precarious  health. 


t 
HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  325 

contains  a  vast  amount  of  material  that  should  prove  of  intense  interest 
to  them,  and  hours  can  be  most  profitably  spent  in  looking  over  the  his- 
toric treasures  stored  within  it.  I  found  the  most  courteous  attention 
paid  to  visitors  by  the  attendants,  all  being  earnestly  anxious  to  make  the 
stay  of  the  investigator  delightfully  pleasant  and  instructive.  In  a  way 
you  all  know  Pemberton,  but  you  must  sit  and  chat  with  him  to  know 
how  earnestly  his  heart  is  centred  in  his  work.  And  he  is  one  of  the 
notable  human  landmarks  of  the  early  Montana.  He  assisted  in  organ- 
izing the  first  court  held  in  the  Territory,  and  was.  counsel  in  some  of 
the  most  tragic  and  important  cases  tried  in  it,  not  the  least  memorable 
of  these  being  the  Territory  against  Johnny  Bull  for  the  killing  of 
Farmer  Peel,  a  desperado  of  wide  repute  in  the  West.  I  have  a  suspicion 
that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Vigilantes  of  Montana.  You  might  secure 
from  him  the  definition  of  the  cabalistic  numerals,  '3-7-77.'  Yet  you 
might  not.  I  have  never  found  any  member  of  that  body  disposed  to  be 
communicative  upon  the  subject." 

Most  of  the  projects — the  memorials  and  minor  historic  markings — 
mentioned  by  the  state  historian  have  materialized.  Some  of  his  comments 
and  suggestions  relating  intimately  to  society  affairs  have  been  eliminated 
from  the  text.  His  concluding  paragraph  is  retained.  It  is  a  pathetic 
picture  of  the  old  optimistic  miner  of  the  past,  still  struggling  and  un- 
subdued, lingering  amid  the  surging  events  of  the  present.  "Quite  re- 
cently," writes  Mr.  Brown,  "while  traveling  through  a  placer  district  in 
the  Clearwater  country  I  rode  up  to  the  bank  of  an  open  cut  in  a  narrow, 
heavily  timbered  gulch,  and  looked  down  upon  a  string  of  well-worn,  whip- 
sawed  sluice  boxes.  In  the  ground  sluice  at  its  head,  a  tall,  powerfully 
built  old  man  stood,  leaning  upon  his  shovel.  There,  amid  the  sands  and 
boulders  of  the  glacial  epoch,  with  the  sparkling  waters  swirling  about  his 
patched  gum  boots,  under  shadows  thrown  by  mighty  spruce,  he  gazed 
intently  upon  a  bedrock  littered  with  fine  particles  of  gold  dust.  For 
many  minutes  I  watched  this  man  of  eighty  years,  yet  he  moved  not. 
As  motionless  as  a  statue  he  looked  longingly,  wistfully  down  upon  the 
smooth  old  archean  floor  where  countless  years  ago  nature's  titanic  forces 
had  waged  a  merciless  warfare.  'What  is  he  thinking  of  ?'  I  asked  myself, 
'of  kin?'  He  had  none.  For  trouble  and  hardship  he  cared  not.  Through- 
out the  Western  world  he  had  traveled  with  saddle  and  pack  horse,  with 
always  the  lure  of  brilliant,  glittering  gold  urging  him  on.  And  now,  at 
the  end  of  his  trail,  he  had  found  pay  gravel,  and  made  a  last  camp.  I  left 
him  to  his  reveries.  As  I  rode  into  the  dense  timber  the  musical  sound 
of  swiftly  flowing  waters  bade  me  a  laughing  goodbye.  I  halted  and 
looked  back  upon  the  silent  man  standing  in  the  foreground  of  the  old 
whipsawed  flume.  The  golden  beams  of  the  dying  sun  filtered  through 
the  needles  of  the  lofty  trees  to  dance  merrily  with  the  shadows  playing 
upon  the  torrent  surging  about  the  bedrock  at  his  feet.  The  cloud-pierc- 
ing, shining  mountains  of  the  Clearwater  range  seemed  to  me  to  look 
proudly,  tenderly,  down  upon  an  Argonaut  who  had  never  quit;  whose 
optimism  and  indomitable  energy  had  won  him  fortune  at  the  very 
threshhold  of  the  grave." 


4 

326  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

WILLIAM  A.  CLARK  INTRODUCES  HIMSELF 

There  have  been  many  stories  written  of  how  the  Hon.  William  A. 
Clark  introduced  himself  to  the  people  of  Bannack  and  Virginia  City  in 
1862-63,  but  none  have  ever  been  told  with  more  color  than  the  narrative 
from  his  own  pen  contributed  to  the  pamphlet  of  the  Pioneers'  Society, 
published  in  1917.  With  all  his  gigantic  interests,  East  and  West,  Mr. 
Clark  has  seldom  failed  to  be  on  hand  at  these  annual  meetings,  or  to 
contribute  his  full  share  to  their  historic  interest  and  warm  sociability.  "In 
1862  and  1863,"  as  he  commences  his  story,  "I  was  engaged  in  mining  in 
Colorado,  at  that  time  also  a  territory,  at  a  place  known  as  Bob  Tail  hill, 
near  Central  City,  about  forty  miles  west  from  Denver.  I  was  working 
there  at  $2.50  and  $3.00  per  day.  With  three  others  I  helped  sink  a  shaft 
with  a  windlass,  to  a  depth  of  300  feet,  on  what  was  known  as  Field's 
claim,  on  the  Bob  Tail.  This  man  had  a  little  quartz  mill  on  Nevada 
creek,  just  above  the  town  of  Blackhawk,  where  the  ore  was  treated, 
naturally  in  a  very  primitive  manner,  as  it  consisted  chiefly  of  iron  pyrites, 
and  without  previous  roasting  the  gold  was  not  saved  very  closely.  His 
little  claim  was  only  35  feet  in  length.  It  was  a  chimney  of  the  great 
Gregory  lode  on  Bob  Tail  hill,  and,  I  believe,  owing  to  the  richness  of  the 
ore,  notwithstanding  the  primitive  character  of  the  mill,  yielded  more  gold 
perhaps  to  the  square  yard  than  any  other  mine  that  was  ever  discovered 
in  Colorado. 

"While  working  here,  during  the  winter  of  1862-3,  I  met  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Jack  Reynolds,  whom  probably  some  of  you  may  have  known  in 
the  early  days.  He  is  now  dead,  but  he  lived  here  for  a  number  of  years 
after  I  first  met  him  in  Colorado.  He  had  been  at  what  was  called  the 
Grasshopper  diggings  in  the  fall  of  '62,  soon  after  those  diggings  had 
been  discovered,  and  having  urgent  business,  he  returned  during  the  winter 
to  Blackhawk,  on  horseback;  naturally  a  very  strenuous  trip.  He  told 
some  marvelous  stories  about  the  new  discoveries  out  there  and  of  his 
intentions  to  return  in  the  early  spring.  Hearing  of  these  rumors  I  went- 
down  to  Blackhawk  to  see  Jack  and  had  a  long  talk  with  him.  He  gave  me 
a  very  rosy  description  of  the  marvelous  riches  of  the  country  comprising 
Grasshopper  creek.  The  town  of  Bannack  had  then  been  founded,  and 
there  are  a  few  old-timers  now  living  who  spent  the  winter  of  1862-3  at 
the  old  town.  I  then  made  up  my  mind  that  I  would  endeavor  to  make  the 
trip  as  early  as  the  weather  would  permit  to  the  Grasshopper  diggings. 
There  were  three  of  us,  besides  myself,  working  in  the  mine,  so  I  talked 
the  matter  over  with  them.  We  had,  all  together,  another  meeting  with 
Reynolds,  as  I  wanted  them  to  hear  his  story  and  make  up  their  own 
minds,  as  all  of  us  were  imbued  with  the  same  ambition,  to  endeavor  to 
better  our  condition  in  the  world  if  possible.  So,  after  due  consideration 
of  the  matter,  we  all  concluded  to  go  together  a"s  soon  as  the  weather 
would  permit.  The  name  of  my  companions  were  as  follows :  John  Hilde- 
brand,  who  afterwards  kept  a  store  at  Indian  creek.  William  V.  Myers, 
who  lived  in  Jefferson  county  until  a  few  years  ago,  and  was  treasurer 
of  the  county  at  the  time  of  his  death.  I  have  no  doubt  that  many  of  you 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  327 

knew  this  man.  There  was  another  man  by  the  name  of  Lloyd  Selby^ 
who  was  working  with  us  in  the  Colorado  mine,  and  these,  with  myself, 
comprised  the  party.  About  the  first  of  May,  1863,  we  went  down  to 
Denver  to  look  around  for  an  outfit  and  to  make  preparations  for  the  trip. 
We  finally  picked  up  two  yoke  of  cattle  and  a  light  Schuttler  wagon,  to- 
gether with  what  we  deemed  as  necessary  supplies,  comprising  picks, 
shovels,  gold  pans,  etc.  We  left  Denver  on  the  4th  day  of  May,  and  were 
about  sixty  days  in  making  the  trip  from  Denver  to  East  Bannack.  There 
was  another  town  in  the  Boise  Basin  in  Idaho,  also  named  Bannock,  but 
it  was  spelled  with  an  V  in  the  last  syllable,  probably  of  Scotch  origin, 
while  the  Montana  town  was  named  after  the  Bannack  tribe  of  Indians. 

"When  we  arrived  at  Fort  Bridger  we  learned  that  there  had  been, 
just  previous  to  that  time,  some  trouble  with  the  Shoshone  Indians  on 
Bear  river.  Quite  a  number  of  emigrants  had  been  killed,  and  afterwards, 
in  passing  through  that  country,  we  saw  the  newly-made  graves  of  a  num- 
ber. We  were,  on  that  account,  obliged  to  wait  nearly  two  weeks  before 
we  could  get  a  sufficient  number  of  wagons  and  men  to  warrant  us  in 
attempting  to  pass  through  that  district.  We  were  acting  upon  the  advice 
of  the  officers  stationed  at  Fort  Bridger.  In  waiting  we  amused  ourselves 
as  best  we  could.  I  recall  the  Indian  dances  where  some  of  the  young 
fellows  were  accepted  as  partners  by  the  squaws,  who  would  invariably 
beg  for  either  money  or  tobacco,  of  which  they  seemed  to  be  very  fond. 

"Finally  a  sufficient  number  of  emigrants  arrived  so  that  we  were  able 
to  get  away,  our  force  comprising  about  twenty-five  wagons,  with  probably 
about  one  hundred  men  and  some  women  and  a  few  children.  We  were 
very  vigilant  and  had  double  watches  on  our  cattle  at  night,  and  we  passed 
through  the  region  without  any  trouble.  We  saw  some  Indians  in  the 
distance,  but  they  showed  no  disposition  to  attack  us. 

"When  we  arrived  at  old  Fort  Hall,  on  Snake  river,  we  met  some  people 
coming  from  the  Boise  Basin,  who  advised  us  that  very  rich  diggings  had 
been  found  in  that  district,  and  that  they  had  come  out  for  supplies  and 
expected  to  return  very  soon.  These  glowing  accounts  enticed  most  of 
those  comprising  our  caravan  to  change  their  minds  about  going  to 
the  Grasshopper  diggings,  with  the  exception  of  four  wagons,  comprising 
about  fifteen  people,  who  had  started  to  go  to  Bannack,  and  who,  being 
impressed  with  the  force  of  the  idea,  'to  Bannack  or  bust,'  could  not  be 
diverted,  and  so  had  made  up  their  minds  not  to  change  their  destination. 
I  was  one  of  this  number,  so  we  parted  friends  with  our  associates  of  a  few 
days,  and  wended  our  way  up  the  valley  of  the  Snake  river  from  Fort 
Hall  through  a  country  then  utterly  desolate,  which  is  now  covered  with 
most  remarkable  farms  and  beautiful  towns  and  comprising  a  vast  area 
which  has  excited  the  admiration  of  all  who  have  passed  through  it. 
Among  those  who  left  us  and  went  to  the  Boise  diggings  were  Ed.  and 
Sam.  Jones,  brothers  of  afterwards  Senator  Jones,  of  Nevada. 

"We  wended  our  way  up  along  the  Snake  river,  past  the  point  where 
Idaho  Falls  now  stands,  and  up  to  the  mouth  of  Beaver  Canyon,  thence 
over  the  divide  by  the  present  site  of  Monida,  which  marks  the  boundary 
line  between  Montana  and  Idaho,  to  a  point  near  the  present  site  of 


328  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Lima,  where,  close  to  a  very  large  spring  of  water,  we  laid  over  to  celebrate 
the  fourth  of  July.  In  our  diminished  forces  there  was  one  Peter  Daly 
with  his  wife  and  two  little  girls,  my  associates,  myself  and  a  man  by  the 
name  of  Dick  Irons  and  his  family,  who,  I  think,  is  still  living  in  Deer 
Lodge  valley.  Mr.  Daly  had  two  cows,  so  that  we  had  a  supply  of  milk 
along  the  way.  We  likewise  had  left  of  our  original  supplies  part  of  a 
small  keg  of  pretty  good  Old  Rye  whisky,  so  that  we  planned  a  combination 
which  enabled  us,  witjji  some  enthusiasm,  to  celebrate  the  fourth  of  July. 
This  we  began  after  supper  time,  with  rattling  our  tin  pans,  blowing  an 
old  horn,  and  singing  occasionally  a  few  strains  of  the  Star  Spangled 
Banner,  to  which  we  had  some  very  enthusiastic  responses  from  the  coyotes 
in  the  surrounding  hills. 

"Resuming  our  journey  the  next  day,  we  reached  Horse  Prairie  Creek 
on  the  7th  day  of  July,  where  we  went  into  camp  just  below  the  crossing 
*on  the  way  to  Bannack.  I  saw  a  wagon  and  tent  a  short  distance  away 
on  the  other  side  of  the  creek,  so  I  went  over  and  accosted  the  gentleman 
in  charge  of  the  establishment.  He  was  evidently  preparing  to  build  a 
house,  as  a  load  of  logs  had  been  delivered  near  by.  In  seeking  some 
information  I  desired  I  was  very  cordially  received  by  him  and  satis- 
factorily answered.  Afterwards,  having  located  about  twenty  miles  above 
that  point  on  Horse  Prairie  Creek,  to  engage  in  mining,  I  became  very 
well  acquainted  with  this  individual,  whose  name  was  Martin  Barrett, 
whom  we  have  the  honor  of  having  present  with  us  today.  Martin  beat 
me  into  Montana  by  only  a  few  days.  He  lived  in  that  locality  for  a  long 
time,  became  engaged  in  the  cattle  business,  and  is  now  one  of  the  wealthy 
men  of  the  State,  highly  honored  by  all  who  know  him. 

"Only  a  few  miles  before  arriving  at  Horse  Prairie  Creek,  and  near 
its  junction  with  Red  Rock,  we  passed  over  the  trail  of  Lewis  and  Clark, 
the  great  explorers,  at  a  point  where  the  expedition  first  encountered  the 
Bannack  Indians,  whose  chief  was  recognized  by  his  sister,  the  famous 
Sacajawea,  who  was  the  guide  of  the  expedition,  and  whose  history  is 
familiar  to  all  of  you.  Near  this  famous  meeting  ground  the  spot  has 
been  appropriately  marked  by  the  patriotic  ladies  of  Montana,  comprising 
the  Daughters  of  the  American  Revolution,  by  a  bronze  plaque,  erected 
and  dedicated  with  an  appropriate  ceremony  about  two  years  ago,  over 
which  I  had  the  honor  to  preside. 

"The  next  morning  we  drove  to  Bannack,  reaching  there  at  noon,  when 
we  turned  our  cattle  out  to  graze  while  we  prepared  luncheon.  Our  camp 
was  on  Yankee  Flat,  where  there  were  a  few  cabins,  one  of  which  was 
afterwards  noted  as  the  home  of  Ned  Ray,  one  of  the  desperate  'road 
agents,'  or  highwaymen. 

"While  we  were  eating  our  luncheon  a  rather  old  man  by  the  name  of 
Baugh  came  over  from  the  town  and  told  us  a  story  about  an  important 
discovery  of  gold  which  had  been  made  about  a  day's  drive  from  Bannack. 
He  said  the  story  of  the  discovery  had  leaked  out  and  a  stampede  would 
take  place  that  night,  and  said:  'If  you  boys  will  take  your  wagon  and 
haul  a  barrel  of  whisky,  a  tent,  some  grub  and  a  few  boxes  of  cigars, 
I  will  send  a  man  along  to  show  you  the  way.' 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  329 

* 

"Alder  Gulch  had  been  discovered  some  weeks  before  that  by  Bill 
Fairweather  and  others,  and  there  was  considerable  excitement  about  it. 
We  heard  rumors  about  it  on  the  road,  and  two  of  our  companions,  Hilde- 
brand  and  Myers,  concluded  to  take  their  chances  over  there  and  declined 
to  take  in  the  stampede.  So  they  engaged  passage  on  a  wagon  headed  for 
Alder  gulch,  taking  their  part  of  the  mining  tools  and  the  few  provisions 
that  were  left,  leaving  the  balance  with  us.  We  were  to  dispose  of  the 
wagon  and  cattle  when  an  opportunity  should  arise,  and  send  them  their 
share,  which  we  afterwards  did. 

"Shelby  and  I  then  accepted  the  offer  of  Baugh,  and  at  ten  o'clock  that 
evening  I  drove  over  to  Baugh's  saloon  and  loaded  up  the  'wet'  goods, 
cigars,  etc.,  and  started  with  Baugh's  guide,  whose  name  was  R.  T.  Ken- 
non.  They  called  him  Dick,  and  I  knew  him  years  afterwards  when  living 
at  Deer  Lodge,  where  he  died  some  years  ago,  an  excellent  and  honored 
citizen.  We  found,  however,  after  starting,  that  Dick  did  not  know  any- 
thing more  about  the  direction  we  ought  to  go  than  we  did  ourselves,  but 
it  turned  out  all  right,  as  we  found  some  stampeders  already  on  the  way; 
some  of  them  afoot,  others  on  horseback,  and  all  we  had  to  do  was  to  follow 
the  crowd.  Our  route  lay  back  to  Horse  Prairie  creek  and  westward  to 
Red  Butte,  about  ten  miles  from  the  crossing,  where  we  stopped  to  prepare 
breakfast.  In  the  meantime  hundreds  of  people  had  passed  us  and  we 
did  not  get  into  the  camp  we  started  for  until  late  in  the  afternoon,  when 
we  discovered  that  everything  had  been  staked  for  miles  up  and  down 
Colorado  gulch.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Roe  Dorsett  and  a  party  had  dis- 
covered gold  on  a  bar,  which  they  were  working  by  the  means  of  ground 
sluices,  but  aside  from  this,  I  afterward  found  that  there  were  no  other 
bars  and  that  neither  the  main  gulch  or  any  of  the  side  gulches,  with  one 
exception,  contained  gold  in  paying  quantities. 

"Baugh,  our  benefactor,  rode  into  camp  just  before  we  arrived  and  set 
up  his  tent  and  dispensed  to  the  hungry  and  thirsty  crowd,  in  short  order 
and  no  doubt  at  satisfactory  prices,  the  goods  we  had  hauled  for  him. 
Having  found  all  the  ground  staked,  Selby  and  I,  the  following  day, 
started  out  prospecting  in  the  adjacent  gulches,  where  we  spent  several 
days,  but  could  only  get  colors  in  different  places  where  we  sank  to  bedrock. 
Upon  leaving  camp  we  told  Baugh  that  we  were  going  out  prospecting 
for  several  days  and  would  then  return.  He  said,  'All  right.  I  am  going 
to  do  a  little  prospecting  myself.  If  you  boys  find  anything  good  stake 
me  in  and  I  will  do  the  same  thing  with  you.'  To  which  we  agreed  at  is  a 
universal  rule  among  prospectors. 

"Upon  our  return,  after  several  days  in  fruitless  search,  we  found 
nearly  all  of  the  stampeders  had  gone,  but  Baugh  was  still  there.  Sure 
enough,  only  about  a  mile  from  the  camp  he  had  found  a  little  dry  gulch 
that  gave  encouraging  prospects,  and  as  he  was  an  ex-rebel,  he  named  it 
'Jeff  Davis'  gulch,  and  true  to  his  promise,  he  had  located  us  both  in, 
that  is,  with  claims  200  feet  in  length  from  rim  to  rim,  according  to  the 
established  rules  prevailing  in  those  days,  and  really  we  got  the  best 
ground  in  the  gulch,  which  we  proceeded  to  develop.  Not  being  inclined 
to  do  much  himself,  he  offered  to  sell  his  interest,  agreeing  to  give  some 


330  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

time  for  payment,  at  a  very  reasonable  price,  and  we  accepted.  We  were 
obliged  to  strip  off  about  four  feet  of  waste  before  reaching  the  pay  dirt 
near  the  bed  rock.  As  there  was  no  water  in  the  gulch  we  were  obliged  to 
haul  the  dirt  to  the  main  creek,  where  we  put  in  our  sluice  boxes.  There 
being  no  lumber  in  the  camp,  I  had  to  go  to  Bannack  to  purchase  some 
lumber  with  which  to  make  sluice  boxes  and  to  get  some  'grub'  also,  as 
we  were  running  short  at  that  time. 

"We  were  not  in  very  flush  financial  condition  at  that  time.  Upon  my 
arrival  at  Bannack  I  found  five  letters  from  home  that  anticipated  me 
and  had  been  carried  from  Salt  Lake  by  a  private  express  which  had  been 
established  between  that  place  and  Bannack.  The  price  of  transportation 
of  a  letter  at  that  time  was  $1.00  each,  and  I  had  just  $5.00  value  in 
Bob  Tail  dust  (a  term  applied  in  Colorado  to  gold  amalgam,  the  product 
of  the  mills  of  that  country,  and  at  that  time  it  was  the  sole  currency  in 
circulation  in  Colorado).  I  had,  besides,  a  fractional  greenback  currency 
of  the  denomination  of  fifty  cents.  I  gladly  dispensed  with  the  $5.00 
for  the  letters,  therefore.  I  was  obliged  to  endeavor  to  get  credit  for  the 
lumber  and  some  few  other  articles  which  we  needed,  and  this  I  readily 
obtained.  During  our  prospecting  trip  I  had  found  a  very  fine  pair  of  elk 
antlers,  which  I  brought  into  Bannack,  and  for  which  Cy.  Skinner,  who 
kept  a  saloon  and  who  was  afterward  hung  by  the  Vigilantes  near  Hell 
Gate,  offered  to  give  me  $10.00,  and  this  I  readily  accepted. 

"Returning  to  the  gulch,  I  found  that  my  companion  had  commenced 
operations,  and  it  was  not  long  until  we  installed  our  equipment  and  began 
our  first  experience  in  placer  mining.  We  first  got  some  logs  and  built  a 
cabin  of  about  fifteen  feet  by  twenty  feet  dimensions,  which  was  covered 
in  the  conventional  style  with  a  roof  of  split  poles  covered  with  dirt,  and 
which  we  found  very  satisfactory  in  absolutely  dry  weather.  We  took 
the  hind  wheels  of  the  wagon,  which  we  converted  into  a  cart  for  the  pur- 
pose of  hauling  dirt,  one  yoke  of  cattle  only  being  used.  We  had  about 
a  half  mile  to  haul  the  dfrt  to  Colorado  creek,  where  we  constructed  three 
sluice  boxes  of  the  lumber  which  I  had  brought  from  Bannack.  The  sum- 
mer and  fall  months  were  very  fine,  and  we  worked  almost  uninterruptedly 
until  the  beignning  of  November. 

"We  usually  observed  Sundays  and  refrained  from  working.  My  part- 
ner, who  was  very  fond  of  cards,  usually  passed  the  day  and  sometimes 
the  night,  at  the  Dorsett  camp,  a  mile  below.  I  usually  spent  Sundays 
sauntering  in  the  hills  or  mountains,  looking  for  gold  bearing  quartz 
ledges,  of  which  there  were  very  few  indications,  frequently  taking  a  book 
with  me  to  amuse  myself  while  reposing  on  some  grassy  plat  under  the 
shade  of  the  majestic  pine  trees.  My  library  consisted  of  three  books, 
which  I  had  brought  along  from  Colorado  and  previously  from  the  States, 
comprising  Toems  of  Robert  Burns,'  Hitchcock's  'Elements  of  Geology,' 
and  'Parsons  on  Contracts,'  one  of  the  text  books  I  had  used  when  study- 
ing law  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  and  afterwards  in  Missouri,  one  of  which 
I  usually  took  with  me  on  these  Sunday  saunterings. 

"Occasionally  I  was  obliged  to  go  to  Bannack  for  the  mail  or  to  pur- 
chase something  that  we  required.  On  these  occasions  I  rode  a  cayuse 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  331 

across  the  trail,  which  was  nearer  than  by  the  wagon  road.  On  one  of 
these  occasions  while  on  the  trail,  which  skirted  the  point  of  the  mountain 
overlooking  Horse  Prairie  valley,  and  about  ten  miles  distant,  I  saw  an 
Indian  on  horseback  chasing  another,  they  firing  at  each  other  quite 
rapidly  until  they  both  disappeared  in  the  timber  skirting  the  creek.  When 
I  reached  that  point,  about  an  hour  afterwards,  I  found  a  camp  of  Ban- 
nacks,  about  twenty  in  number,  including  warriors,  squaws  and  pappooses. 
They  had  got  their  man,  a  Blackfoot  Indian,  who,  perhaps  on  a  horse- 
stealing  mission,  had  ventured  too  near.  These  two  tribes  had  long  been 
at  war  with  each  other.  I  rode  up  close  to  the  camp  where  I  found  they 
had  placed  their  victim's  head  on  a  pole  and  were  having  a  wild  war 
dance,  chanting  unearthly  songs  and  gesticulating  like  demons,  men,  women 
and  papooses  all  participating.  Occasionally  one  of  the  warriors  would  take 
a  revolver  shot  at  the  victim's  head.  I  did  not  dismount,  but  watched  them 
for  quite  a  while,  as  to  me  it  was  a  very  interesting  exhibition.  No  one 
paid  any  attention  to  me  and  I  rode  quietly  away. 

"At  the  close  of  the  season,  towards  the  last  of  October,  we  closed 
mining  operations  and  put  everything  in  order  to  leave  the  camp.  We 
had  paid  up  all  our  obligations  and  had  several  thousand  dollars  each  in 
gold  dust  left.  We  then  went  to  Bannack  to  determine  where  we  should 
spend  the  winter.  So  far,  we  were  very  well  satisfied  that  we  had  shaken 
the  dust  of  Bob  Tail  hill  from  our  feet.  Upon  arriving  at  Bannack  we 
looked  about  for  a  cabin,  and  met  a  man  by  the  name  of  Sperry,  whom 
I  had  known  in  Colorado,  and  who  was  working  for  someone  at  Jimmie's 
Bar,  drifting  under  ground  on  a  streak  of  pay  dirt.  This  was  carried  on 
during  the  winter  season,  and  the  dirt  was  washed  in  sluice  boxes  in  the 
spring  time.  He  was  kind  enough  to  offer  us  the  hospitality  of  his  large 
cabin  at  Marysville,  situated  one  mile  below  Bannack,  which  we  accepted 
temporarily.  We  furnished  and  cooked  our  own  'grub/ 

AT  BANNACK 

"I  then  looked  around  for  something  to  do,  and  engaged  with  Bill 
Goodrich,  who  owned  a  small  hotel  at  Bannack,  by  the  terms  of  which 
I  was  to  go  up  on  the  mountain  with  a  span  of  horses  and  a  wagon  belong- 
ing to  him,  and  cut  and  haul  down  each  day  a  load  of  dry  logs  for  fire 
wood,  at  $2.00  per  day  and  board.  In  the  meantime,  however,  I  continued 
my  lodging  at  the  Hotel  Sperry,  at  Marysville.  The  third  day  I  was 
caught  in  a  fearful  blizzard  on  the  mountain,  where  myself  and  the  horses 
lost  our  way,  and  came  very  nearly  perishing  in  the  storm.  I  concluded 
that  this  was  not  a  good  winter's  job,  so  I  suggested  to  my  partners  and 
Sperry  that  we  each  buy  a  team  and  wagon  and  go  to  Salt  Lake  and  take 
a  look  at  the  Mormons,  concerning  whom  we  had  heard  many  interesting 
stories,  and  to  buy  something  appropriate  to  the  mining  camp,  which  we 
might  bring  back,  and  thereby  make  expenses  and  possibly  something 
more.  This  proposal  was  favorably  considered,  and  we  each  proceeded  to 
hunt  up  a  suitable  team  and  wagon,  which  we  purchased,  and  started  for 
Salt  Lake  on  the  7th  day  of  November. 


332  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

MEETS  PLUMMER  AND  OTHER  AGENTS 

"Upon  my  occasional  visits  to  Bannack  during  the  summer  and  fall, 
I  became  well  acquainted  with  some  of  the  prominent  road  agents,  of 
which  Plummer  was  the  leader.  It  was  said  that  he  formerly  came  from 
Marysville,  California,  where  he  had  some  family  trouble,  and  in  the 
melee  was  shot  by  someone  in  the  left  arm,  which  disabled  it,  but  he  had 
remarkable  use  of  his  right  hand,  and  was  an  expert  pistol  shot.  Plummer 
had  succeeded  in  getting  himself  elected  as  sheriff  of  the  Beaverhead 
country,  as  at  that  time  there  were  no  county  organizations,  and  claimed 
that  his  jurisdiction  extended  even  to  Alder  gulch.  He  was  most  affable 
to  everyone  in  his  demeanor  and  also  in  his  business  relations,  and  was 
exceedingly  polite  and  obliging  to  everyone.  I  frequently  met  him  during 
the  season,  and  after  our  arrival  in  Marysville  we  usually  spent  our 
evenings  up  in  Bannack  to  pass  the  time.  There  was  only  one  billiard  hall, 
kept  by  a  Frenchman  by  the  name  of  Durand.  In  this  I  spent  several 
evenings  as  I  was  fond  of  the  game,  and  there  I  first  met  Colonel  C.  A. 
Broadwater,  who  afterwards  became  one  of  our  most  distinguished  and 
enterprising  citizens.  Selby  preferred  to  play  a  game  called  'old  sledge,' 
at  which  the  stakes  were  $5.00  a  corner,  at  Goodrich's  salpon,  and  every 
evening  the  game  went  on  there,  in  which  Plummer  was  invariably  a  party. 

"When  ready  to  start  back  to  our  cabin  I  always  knew  where  to  find 
Selby,  and  sometimes  in  a  very  hilarious  condition.  On  one  occasion,  just 
as  I  was  entering  the  saloon,  he  pulled  out  a  large  powder  flask  filled 
with  gold  dust,  which  he  carried  in  the  leg  of  his  gum  boot,  and  laid  it 
on  the  table.  Plummer  reached  over  and  as  they  say  'hefted'  it  to  see  if 
it  were  real  gold  dust,  and  at  the  same  moment  Selby  jerked  out  his  six- 
shooter,  which  everybody  carried  in  those  days,  and,  laying  it  down  on  the 
table,  he  said,  'Here  is  a  friend  that  never  forsakes  me.'  I  soon  got  him 
out  of  the  saloon,  and,  notwithstanding  his  condition,  and  although  it  was 
a  dark  night,  we  were  not  molested  on  our  way  down  to  the  cabin. 

"Another  of  the  bandits  was  Buck  Stinson,  a  barber  who  had  a  chair 
in  the  corner  of  Skinner's  saloon.  I  had  been  in  the  habit  of  getting  shaved 
at  his  place  for  some  time,  and  on  the  morning  of  the  day  on  which  we 
started  out  for  Salt  Lake,  he  shaved  me  and  I  thoughtlessly  told  him  of 
our  intended  departure  for  Salt  Lake  City  and  the  purpose  of  our  visit. 
We  drove  through  Bannack  that  afternoon  with  our  teams  and  camped 
on  Horse  Prairie  creek,  about  twelve  miles  out,  that  night,  yet  were  never 
molested,  notwithstanding  quite  a  number  of  Plummer's  gang  were  then 
living  in  Bannack,  who  were  known  as  tough  characters,  but  had  not  been 
actually  identified  as  highwaymen.  Indeed,  it  was  not  known  at  that  time 
that  there  was  an  organized  band  of  'road  agents,'  so  adroitly  was  it 
managed  by  its  leader. 

TRIP  TO  SALT  LAKE  CITY 

"Our  trip  to  Salt  Lake  City,  which  occupied  about  twelve  days,  as  we 
traveled  leisurely,  was  without  important  incidents.  We  met  a  great 
number  of  wagons  and  some  mule  and  bull  trains  loaded  with  provisions, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  333 

headed  principally  for  Alder  gulch,  as  that  was  the  most  important  min- 
ing camp  by  far  in  the  territory  at  that  time.  Virginia  City  had  a  popu- 
lation of  several  thousand  people,  while  the  population  of  Bannack 
did  not  exceed  probably  one  thousand.  We  traveled  on  the  same  road  to 
old  Fort  Hall  that  we  came  in  on  a  few  months  before,  thence  up  the 
Port  Neuf  canyon  and  over  the  range  to  Malad  valley,  thence  to  Brigham 
City  and  Ogden,  and  reached  our  destination  at  the  'City  of  the  Saints/ 
which  had  been  founded  only  sixteen  years  before  by  that  master  mind 
and  great  organizer,  Brigham  Young,  who  prior  to  the  discovery  of  gold 
in  California,  had  fled  with  an  army  of  his  followers  from  Nauvoo,  Illinois, 
to  Council  Bluffs,  now  in  the  State  of  Iowa,  where  the  party  wintered. 
The  next  spring  he,  with  about  140  of  his  leading  followers,  crossed  the 
plains  to  Great  Salt  Lake,  where  on  the  24th  day  of  July,  1847,  he  laid 
out  the  foundation  of  the  present  Salt  Lake  City,  and  he  and  his  followers 
located  and  began  the  cultivation  of  farms  in  the  vicinity.  Afterwards  his 
followers  at  Council  Bluffs  followed  in  great  numbers  and  endured  many 
vicissitudes  in  crossing  the  plains  to  the  New  Zion,  which  their  leader  had 
established. 

"At  the  time  of  my  first  visit  there  were  probably  not  to  exceed  ten 
thousand*  people  in  the  city,  but  it  was  laid  out  on  broad  lines,  as  you 
who  have  visited  it  have  undoubtedly  observed.  There  was  only  one  public 
hotel,  the  Salt  Lake  House,  and  it  was  a  very  poor  one,  consisting  of  a 
frame  building  with  limited  accommodations.  They  had  a  very  commo- 
dious theatre,  however,  and  some  of  the  local  actors  had  remarkably  good 
talent.  They  had  already  begun  the  foundation  of  the  Temple,  and  great 
blocks  of  stone  had  been  quarried  and  lay  around  it.  We  heard  Brigham 
Young  preach  in  the  Tabernacle  and  were  struck  with  the  force  of  his 
mentality.  The  favorite  beverage  of  the  inhabitants,  which  they  called 
'Valley  Tan,'  was  a  colorless  species  of  whisky,  and  the  taste  was  abomin- 
able. We  observed  that  many  of  the  Mormon  girls  were  very  pretty. 

THE  RETURN  TO  BANNACK  AND  VIRGINIA 

"After  purchasing  such  articles  as  we  deemed  suitable  to  the  wants 
of  the  miners  at  Bannack,  we  loaded  up  and  started  on  the  return  journey. 
Upon  arriving  at  Malad  valley  we  found  that  heavy  snows  had  fallen  on 
the  range,  and  we  were  obliged  to  shovel  snow  and  take  our  stock  back 
to  the  valley  at  night  during  a  period  of  several  days.  When  we  reached 
Port  Neuf  canyon  we  met  a  mule  team  train  belonging  to  Forbes,  and  were 
told  that  it  had  been  attacked  by  'road  agents'  and  robbed  of  some  of  their 
gold  dust.  One  or  two  drivers  had  been  shot.  This  attack  occurred  on 
Snake  river,  above  Fort  Hall,  and  they  believed  they  had  wounded  and 
probably  killed  one  or  two  of  the  highwaymen. 

"We  found  no  snow  in  the  Snak£  River  valley  until  we  reached  the 
entrance  to  Beaver  canyon,  but  the  cold  became  so  intense  that  we  were 
unable  to  travel  for  three  days.  At  Camas  creek  we  met  Colonel  Broad- 
water  with  a  train  of  about  fifteen  cayuses  and  jacks,  who  stated  that 
salt  was  selling  at  about  $1.00  a  pound  in  the  mining  camps,  and  he  was 


334  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

going  to  Salt  Lake  to  bring  a  load  of  it  back.  I  afterwards  met  him  about 
the  middle  of  March  on  Horse  Prairie  creek  on  his  return  with  the  salt, 
but  the  price  at  that  time  had  gone  down  very  low  in  expectation  of  the 
approach  of  spring,  and  hence  his  trip  was  probably  not  a  very  profitable 
one. 

"At  the  entrance  to  Beaver  canyon,  where  we  were  obliged  to  stop 
on  account  of  the  cold  weather,  we  cut  some  brush  in  a  thick  grove,  where 
we  sheltered  our  animals  as  best  we  could.  Nearby  there  was  a  toll  gate 
and  a  large  cabin  about  30  feet  by  50  feet  in  dimensions,  in  which  there 
was  an  immense  fireplace,  and  here,  during  those  terrible  days  there  were 
gathered  all  the  travelers,  who,  like  ourselves,  were  obliged  to  wait  until 
the  storm  was  over,  and  most  of  them  made  their  rendezvous  at  the  toll 
gate  station,  which  was  well  heated  and  provided  with  some  rough  card 
tables,  improvised  perhaps  for  the  occasion,  and  there  was  an  ample 
provision  of  very  poor  whisky  at  the  bar. 

"Amongst  the  number  who  partook  of  the  hospitality  of  the  toll  gate 
were  Neil  Howie  and  John  Fetherstun,  officers  from  Alder  Gulch,  who, 
having  heard  of  the  attack  on  the  mule  train,  went  down  to  capture,  if 
possible,  the  highwaymen  who  had  made  the  attack.  They  had  captured 
'Dutch  John'  (Wagner)  at  Camas  creek.  He  was  wounded  in  the  shoulder 
and  I  heard  his  explanation  of  how  it  happened.  He  was  sleeping  at  a 
camp  fire  with  his  revolver  near  his  head,  and  as  the  ground  was  bare  of 
snow,  the  fire  had  run  into  the  grass  and  discharged  his  pistol,  which 
wounded  him  in  the  shoulder.  Of  course,  no  one  believed  his  story. 

"When  the  weather  moderated  somewhat  all  of  these  camps  broke  up 
and  the  parties  proceeded  on  their  way,  some  going  north,  some  south. 
There  was  considerable  snow  on  the  divide,  and  it  again  turned  very  cold, 
and  on  the  day  following  our  breaking  camp  at  the  toll  gate,  we  met  a 
bull  train,  which,  I  believe,  belonged  to  King  and  Gillette,  crossing  the 
divide.  I  witnessed  there  what  I  had  never  dreamed  of  before,  several 
cattle  in  the  moving  train  freeze  to  death  in  the  yoke  and  go  right  down 
upon  the  ground. 

"We  succeeded  in  crossing  the  range  that  afternoon,  and  camped  on 
the  Red  Rock,  near  the  scene  of  our  fourth  of  July  celebration.  About 
three  days  after  that  we  reached  Bannack,  and  in  making  some  inquiries 
about  the  fate  of  'Dutch  John,'  we  were  conducted  to  an  unfinished  house 
that  was  being  built  for  a  hotel  before  winter  set  in,  by  Judge  Burchett, 
who  was  afterwards  the  father-in-law  of  James  A.  Murray,  who  is  well 
known  to  most  of  you.  Upon  a  cross-beam  in  this  unfinished  building 
'Dutch  John'  was  hanging,  and  had  been  for  two  or  three  days  before  our 
arrival.  The  following  day  his  body  was  cut  down  and  dragged  through 
the  streets  to  a  place  of  burial.  We  were  then  informed  as  to  the  action 
of  the  vigilantes  of  Bannack,  assisted  by  a  number  who  came  from  Vir- 
ginia City,  who  had  disposed  of  Plummer,  Ned  Ray  and  Buck  Stinson 
in  a  summary  way,  and  as  I  recollect,  in  the  same  manner  and  in  the  same 
place  that  witnessed  the  finish  of  'Duluth  John.'  They  had  undoubted  proof 
of  the  criminal  action  of  all  of  these  men.  Skinner,  to  whom  I  have 
heretofore  referred,  was  also  implicated,  and  he  had  made  his  escape,  but 
was  overtaken,  as  I  have  above  stated,  and  hung  in  Hell  Gate  valley. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  335 

"We  proceeded  in  due  course  to  dispose  of  our  merchandise  at  very 
good  profits.  I  had  taken  the  risk  of  shipping  quite  a  lot  of  eggs,  well 
knowing  they  would  freeze,  yet  they  were  admirably  adapted  for  the 
making  of  'Tom  and  Jerry/  which  was  a  favorite  beverage  in  Bannack, 
and  I  disposed  of  them  at  a  price  of  $3.00  per  dozen.  We  were  all  very 
well  satisfied  with  our  excursion,  and  amply  remunerated,  and  also  had  an 
experience  which  was  very  gratifying  as  well  as  useful. 

"The  remainder  of  the  winter  rapidly  passed,  and  in  March  we  went 
back  to  Jeff  Davis  gulch  to  prepare  for  spring  operations. 

"Upon  some  future  occasion  I  may  have  the  pleasure  of  relating  some 
further  experiences  in  the  wild  life  characteristic  of  those  days.  My 
story  relates  to  a  period  of  small  beginnings,  yet  those  humble  pioneers 
builded  'better  than  they  knew'  and  were  actively  laying  the  foundations 
of  a  great  State,  whose  development  in  mineral  wealth,  in  agricultural  and 
various  other  resources  has  astounded  the  world." 

PROPOSED  METROPOLIS  OF  THE  NORTHWEST 

Secretary  Sanders  sets  forth  with  retrospective  glee  the  efforts  of 
1864  to  found  a  great  city  at  the  mouth  of  Maria's  River,  not  unlike  the 
one  which  also  failed,  several  years  later,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mussel- 
shell.  "Early  in  1864,"  he  observes,  "James  H.  Kiskadden,  Evan  P. 
Lewis,  Franklin  Moore,  Moses  Clark,  N.  W.  Burris,  F.  Davidson,  George 
B.  Parker,  George  Hill  and  others  apparently  selected  the  mouth  of  the 
Marias  for  the  great  city  of  the  Northwest.  My  father,  it  appears,  be- 
came interested  in  the  enterprise,  I  believe,  for  among  his  papers  I  found 
a  certificate  of  stock  in  an  unnamed  town  company,  reading  as  follows: 

"  'This  is  to  certify  that  W.  F.  Sanders,  his  heirs  or  assigns,  is  the 

owner  of  one  undivided  one-ninth  (1-9)  interest  in  the  town 

company.  In  testimony  of  which  witness  the  hands  and  seals  of  the  pres- 
ident and  secretary  of  said  company  hereunto  affixed  this  I2th  day  of 
March,  A.  D.  1864. 

"'].   H.   KISKADDEN,    (Seal)    President. 
"'E.  P.  LEWIS,  (Seal)  Secretary.'" 

"Eleven  months  after  the  date  of  this  certificate  these  eight  associates 
secured  from  the  Bannack  legislature  a  charter  for  the  Ophir  Town  com- 
pany, which  was  approved  February  2,  1865.  Of  the  many  private  laws 
passed  at  that  session  this  is  the  only  town  company  in  which  Messrs. 
Kiskadden  and  Lewis  were  associated,  and  the  fact  that  no  name  appears 
in  the  certificate  dated  March  12,  1864,  only  indicates  to  me  that  the 
name  of  the  future  city  had  not  been  agreed  on  at  that  time. 

"The  law  authorized  them  to  plot  a  town  site  to  be  known  as  Ophir, 
on  land  owned  by  them,  described  as  follows :  Commencing  at  the  mouth 
of  the  Marias  River  or  junction  of  said  river  with  the  Missouri  River; 
thence  running  up  and  along  the  south  bank  of  said  Marias  river  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Teton  River;  thence  south  six  hundred  yards;  thence  east 
to  the  Missouri  River;  thence  down  the  bank  of  said  river  to  the  place 
of  beginning,  containing  320  acres.  A  charter  for  the  North  Ophir  Town 
company  to  Frank  H.  Angevine,  N.  W.  Burris,  and  associates  with  sim- 


336  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ilar  privileges  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Marias  River  above  its  junc- 
tion with  the  Missouri,  also  containing  320  acres,  the  town  to  be  known 
as  North  Ophir,  was  secured  at  the  same  session.  The  law  also  provided 
that  the  river  front  extending  into  the  river  as  far  as  necessary,  included 
within  the  boundaries  described  was  declared  the  property  of  said  com- 
pany for  the  purpose  of  erecting  wharves,  warehouses,  etc.,  provided 
that  said  company  was  not  in  any  manner  to  obstruct  the  navigation 
of  said  river.  A  charter  for  another  company  granted  similar  powers 
for  a  town  to  be  known  as  East  Ophir  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Missouri 
and  below  the  mouth  of  the  Marias,  apparently  opposite  North  Ophir. 
Mr.  Burris  was  among  the  grantees  of  this  charter  and  similar  privi- 
leges were  granted  to  occupy  the  river  front  for  wharves  and  ware- 
house purposes,  with  restrictions  as  to  obstructing  the  navigation  of  the 
river. 

"The  three  townsites  described  were  to  be  a  great  metropolis,  appar- 
ently, and  the  country  in  all  directions  developed.  Messrs.  Burris,  Kis- 
kadden  and  Lewis  and  associates  were  granted  a  charter  for  the  Mis- 
souri River  Portage  and  Railroad  Company  for  twenty  years,  and  given 
necessary  corporate  powers  for  the  construction  of  a  wagon  road  or  rail- 
road or  both  for  the  purpose  of  transporting  passengers,  freight  and  mails 
around  the  great  Missouri  Falls.  The  original  capital  of  the  company 
was  to  be  $200,000  with  authority  to  increase  it  to  $500,000.  Two  years 
were  given  for  the  construction  of  the  wagon  road  and  five  years  for 
the  construction  of  the  railroad.  Sidney  Edgerton,  who  approved  this 
act  as  governor  of  the  territory,  was  one  of  the  grantees  and  associates 
of  Kiskadden  and  Lewis. 

"The  law  is  interesting  in  that  it  authorizes  the  company  to  borrow 
money  necessary  to  complete  and  stock  the  road  at  a  rate  of  interest  not 
to  exceed  60  per  cent,  per  annum  and  secure  the  repayment  by  mortgage 
or  pledge  of  the  property  and  issue  the  notes  or  bonds  of  the  company 
or  both  therefor.  It  was  also  authorized  to  establish  offices  in  the  terri- 
tory and  in  the  city  of  St.  Louis  and  elsewhere  as  they  deemed  neces- 
sary. Mr.  Burris  and  other  associates  were  also  granted  a  charter  as 
the  Upper  Missouri  River  Steamboat  Navigation  Company  to  open  and 
remove  all  obstructions  and  make  navigable  the  upper  Missouri  River 
from  the  falls  to  the  Three  Forks  at  Gallatin  City  and  to  have  the  ex- 
clusive right  to  the  navigation  of  said  river  between  the  points  men- 
tioned with  steamboats  and  all  kinds  of  water  craft  and  to  carry  freight 
and  passengers  over  the  same  for  fifty  years.  Had  the  whole  enterprise 
prospered  and  been  carried  through,  this  exclusive  franchise  would  have 
expired  a  few  months  ago. 

ROADS  AND  FERRIES  PROJECTED 

"George  W.  Stapleton,  for  many  years  a  resident  of  Butte,  was  among 
the  grantees  of  the  last  two  charters.  Gallatin  town  was  adopted  as  the 
head  of  navigation  and  a  charter  secured  by  Messrs.  Burris,  Lewis  and 
associates,  with  authority  to  make  additions  to  said  town.  A  'hitching 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  337 

post'  for  steamboats  stood  here  for  many  years.  Opposite  Gallatin  and 
on  the  east  side  of  the  river  a  charter  was  secured  by  Mr.  Burris  and 
associates  for  the  town  of  East  Gallatin,  with  authority  to  make  any 
desired  additions  to  the  same.  Another  charter  was  granted  for  the 
Gallatin  Ferry  Company  to  establish  and  maintain  a  ferry  on  the  Mis- 
souri river  at  Gallatin  City. 

ROADS 

"Two  ferry  companies  were  organized  at  Ophir.  One,  the  Marias 
Ferry  Company,  was  given  the  exclusive  privilege  of  establishing  and 
maintaining  a  ferry  across  the  Missouri  River  near  the  mouth  of  the 
Marias.  The  other,  the  Ophir  Ferry  Company,  was  given  the  exclusive 
privilege  of  establishing  and  maintaining  a  ferry  across  the  Marias  River 
at  any  point  desired  within  three  miles  of  its  junction  with  the  Missouri. 
Roads  across  the  mountains  were  to  be  constructed.  A  charter  to  the 
Ophir  and  Flathead  River  Wagon  Road  Company  provided  for  the  con- 
struction of  a  road  from  Ophir  and  thence  west  via  Lewis  and  Clark 
Pass  and  evidently  to  connect  with  the  Mullan  road.  Another  charter 
to  Messrs.  Burris  and  Lewis  and  associates  to  be  known  as  the  Fort  Ben- 
ton  and  Kootenai  Wagon  Road  Company  provided  for  the  construction 
and  maintenance  of  a  wagon  road  from  Fort  Benton  through  the  Marias 
Pass  to  connect  with  the  Hell  Gate  and  Kootenai  wagon  road. 

"These  twelve  companies,  all  related,  were  organized  for  the  rapid 
development  of  a  vast  region  of  country  from  the  Three  Forks  of  the 
Missouri  to  the  Kootenai  country,  with  the  town  of  Ophir  as  the  cen- 
ter, and  this,  it  apparently  seems  to  have  been  determined  to  build  first 
and  then  develop  the  tributary  country.  Among  the  charter  members 
of  these  twelve  companions  were  many  men  who  were  with  us  when  we 
organized  this  society.  Their  names  are  Matthew  Carroll,  John  J.  Healy 
and  George  Steell  of  Chouteau  County;  Caleb  E.  Irvine  of  Deer  Lodge 
County,  Horace  Annis  of  Gallatin  County,  Joshua  Armitage  and  Walter 
W.  DeLacy  of  Lewis  and  Clark  County  and  George  W.  Stapleton  of 
Silver  Bow  County. 

BUILDING  OF  OPHIR  COMMENCED 

"Mr.  Burris,  who  seems  to  have  been  very  busy  in  securing  these  com- 
pany charters  from  the  legislature  at  Bannack  in  February,  1865,  also 
seems  to  have  been  the  active  manager  in  the  field  of  development  and 
in  the  spring  went  to  the  mouth  of  the  Marias  River  and  commenced 
to  build  the  City  of  Ophir.  A  large  force  of  men  was  employed  in  the 
enterprise  and  the  steamer  Cutter,  which  had  plied  the  Missouri  River 
for  two  years,  was  chartered  and  made  its  trips  up  and  down  both  rivers 
as  demands  required  and  was  moored  at  one  of  the  wharves  of  the  future 
metropolis.  Here  Mr.  Burris  occupied  a  cabin,  probably  with  some  of  the 
men  interested  in  the  enterprise. 

"A  sawmill  was  set  up.  There  were  forests  along  the  Marias  River 
and  timber  camps  were  established  and  the  future  city  was  the  center 

Vol.  1—22 


338  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  considerable  activity.  The  Indians  in  small  bands  annoyed  the  work- 
men, but  did  not  attack  them  in  any  great  numbers,  although  everyone 
was  always  on  the  alert. 

"Matters  progressed  satisfactorily  until  the  latter  part  of  May.  On  the 
25th  of  that  month  Mr.  Burris  and  Mr.  Angevine,  one  of  the  incorpo- 
rators  of  the  town  of  North  Ophir,  had  occasion  to  visit  a  timber  camp 
a  few  miles  up  the  Marias.  Captain  Moore  had  let  a  contract  for  300 
house  logs,  which  had  been  cut,  and  the  contractors  had  gathered  some 
oxen  to  haul  them  to  the  river.  The  captain  was  one  of  the  parties 
interested  in  the  enterprise,  but  just  at  this  juncture  was  down  the  Mis-, 
souri  River  on  some  errand. 

L6GGING  PARTY  MASSACRED 

"The  party  was  attacked  by  a  band  of  180  Blood  Indians  who  employed 
the  usual  tactics  of  circling  around  them  as  they  endeavored  to  reach  the 
river  and  friends.  They  fought  valiantly,  using  the  bodies  of  the  oxen 
killed  for  breastworks  as  opportunity  and  necessity  prompted,  but  it 
was  a  losing  fight  and  the  party  was  exterminated.  Their  names  were: 
N.  W.  Burris,  Frank  H.  Angevine,  Franklin  Friend,  George  Friend, 
George  Allen,  Abraham  Lott,  Henry  Martin,  E.  J.  Martin,  John  Andrews 
and  James  Perie,  colored. 

"Mr.  Angevine  was  shot  with  bullets  and  arrows,  and  was  scalped. 
It  was  said  that  he  killed  one  of  the  Indian  chiefs.  Mr.  Andrews's  body 
was  found  behind  a  fallen  tree.  It  was  covered  with  wounds,  his  throat 
was  cut  from  ear  to  ear,  and  his  head  had  been  mashed,  and  everything 
indicated  that  he  had  made  a  desperate  fight  for  his  life.  All  of  the 
bodies  were  stripped  except  that  of  Lott,  in  a  pocket  of  whose  shirt  was 
found  forty  ($40)  dollars  in  greenbacks  and  gold  nuggets  which  were 
sent  to  his  wife  in  Illinois  by  a  friend.  It  was  said  that  the  Indians  took 
five  hundred  ($500)  dollars  from  his  person.  Mr.  Burns  was  a  man  of 
powerful  frame  and  evidently  was  the  last  to  die  as  he  made  a  running 
fight  nearly  to  Ophir.  He  was  finally  shot  in  the  leg  and  a  bullet  pene- 
trated his  left  lung,  and  there  were  several  gashes  made  by  a  knife  on  his 
left  side,  and  there  were  arrow  wounds  on  his  body.  His  horse  was 
shot  and  his  saddle  taken. 

"The  direct  cause  of  the  massacre  occurred  during  the  previous  winter 
when  Charlie  Carson,  a  cousin  of  Kit  Carson,  was  trapping  with  two 
partners  on  the  Missouri  river.  Three  Blood  Indians  stole  their  horses. 
Carson  and  party  followed,  caught  them  in  camp,  killed  them  and  recov- 
ered their  stock.  The  Bloods  determined  to  retaliate,  and  the  tragedy 
at  Ophir  was  the  result.  After  the  murder  the  band  fled  precipitately, 
abandoned  their  camp  and  went  north.  They  left  about  two  thousand 
pounds  of  dried  meat,  a  rifle,  a  brass  camp  kettle,  many  pairs  of  moccasins 
and  dresses  heavily  beaded  for  their  squaws. 

"Several  of  the  party  murdered  were  from  Iowa.  Mr.  Burris  had 
founded  a  town  in  that  state  which  was  named  for  him.  Mr.  Angevine 
was  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Bohm,  Angevine  &  Merry,  at  Virginia  City, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  339 

one  of  the  leading  firms  of  Alder  Gulch  in  its  palmy  days.  He  was  said 
to  be  engaged  to  a  young  lady  in  the  East  who  had  a  presentiment  that 
her  lover  would  never  return  from  the  mountains.  Andrews  was  from 
Oregon  and  had  spent  the  previous  winter  in  a  camp  of  Gros  Ventres 
Indians.  Lott  was  from  Gilson,  Knox  county,  Illinois,  where  he  left 
his  wife  for  the  West  in  the  previous  January. 

"The  Friend  brothers  were  also  from  Iowa,  and  a  year  or  so  ago 
some  of  their  relatives  visited  Judge  Pemberton  at  the  rooms  of  the 
State  Historical  Society.  The  Martins  were  probably  brothers,  although 
Henry  was  from  Iowa  and  E.  J.  had  an  honorable  discharge  from  the 
i8th  regiment  of  the  Missouri  Volunteers.  Perie  had  been  in  the  employ 
of  Philbrook  and  Carleton,  freighters,  and  the  Indians  said  afterwards 
that  he  fought  hard  in  his  last  battle.  He  was  a  colored  man.  The  skin 
of  the  black  race  has  from  the  days  of  Lewis  and  Clark  aroused  much 
curiosity  in  the  red  man.  It  is  remembered  that  they  frightened  York, 
stripping  him  and  endeavoring  to  see  how  deep  the  color  of  his  cuticle 
was.  The  incident  is  the  subject  of  a  valuable  painting  in  the  possession  of 
the  State  Historical  Society. 

TOWN  KILLED  BY  THE  TRAGEDY 

"The  next  day  a  party  from  the  Cutter  went  over  the  ground  and 
recovered  the  ten  bodies  and  they  were  buried  together  near  the  site  of 
Ophir,  and  there  they  still  rest  unless  the  river  has  invaded  their  sepulcher. 
The  enterprise  was  never  renewed.  The  steamer  was  released  and  the 
workmen  scattered,  the  wharves  and  warehouses  never  came.  About  - 
four  hundred  lots  were  laid  out  by  Frank  Foster,  a  surveyor,  and  a  few 
houses  built.  A  few  steamboat  arrivals  were  noted  but  the  town  did  not 
long  survive  the  tragedy  of  its  birth.  Fort  Benton  maintained  its  position 
as  the  head  of  navigation  for  nearly  twenty-five  years  and  became  our 
most  prominent,  if  not  our  only  river  port.  This  designation  she  per- 
haps can  still  claim." 


CHAPTER  XV 
DECADE  OF  INDIAN  WARFARE 

The  decade  preceding  the  Custer  disaster  of  1876  and  the  capture 
of  Chief  Joseph,  in  the  following  year,  was  a  period  of  great  activity  in 
the  Government  campaigns  against  the  Indians  of  Montana,  many  of 
whom  were  hostile  to  the  proposed  railroad  projects  and  all  other  evi- 
dences of  progressive  white  settlement.  The  discovery  of  gold  both  in 
Montana  and  Idaho,  and  the  immense  amount  of  travel  diverted  to  the 
more  northern  country  than  could  be  conveniently  reached  over  the  old 
emigrant  road  by  way  of  South  Pass  and  Salt  Lake  City,  doubtless 
presented  to  Indians  an  appalling  prospect  of  white  invasion. 

Further,  the  Crows,  whose  home — in  their  language,  Absaraka — lay 
between  the  Powder,  Tongue  and  Big  Horn  rivers  of  Northern  Wyom- 
ing and  Southeastern  Montana,  and  was  being  invaded  by  the  Sioux  and 
the  Cheyennes  from  the  East  and  Northeast',  were  friendly  to  the  white 
settlers  and  prospectors,  but  had,  at  the  same  time,  adopted  a  policy  of 
"watchful  waiting."  The  Northern  Sioux,  who  had  not  been  bound  by 
any  treaty,  were  openly  hostile,  and  when  the  government  proposed  to 
build  a  road  from  Fort  Laramie,  via  Bridger's  Ferry  and  the  headquar- 
ters of  the  Powder,  Tongue  and  Big  Horn  rivers  to  Virginia  City  and 
the  gold  districts  of  Montana,  there  were  fierce  threats  by  enemy  tribes, 
especially  the  Sioux,  led  by  Red  Cloud.  Outside  of  the  old  and  wonder- 
ful hunting  grounds  of  the  Crows,  to  Fort  Laramie,  in  what  is  now 
Southeastern  Wyoming,  was  a  wide  stretch  of  country  held  by  the  Ogal- 
lalla  and  Minneconjoux  bands  of  Sioux  and  the  northern  Cheyenne  and 
Arrapahoe  tribes. 

FUTILE  INDIAN  COUNCIL  AT  FORT  LARAMIE 

The  general  plan  of  the  Government  was  that  a  council  was  to  be 
held  at  Fort  Laramie  w.ith  the  Indian  tribes  which  claimed  possession  of 
the  country  through  which  the  road  was  to  pass  to  arrange  for  such 
right-of-way  and  obtain  assurances  of  the  safe  passage  of  emigrants. 
Colonel  Henry  B.  Carrington,  commanding  the  Eighteenth  United  States 
Infantry,  was  appointed  commander  of  the  Mountain  District,  military 
department  of  the  Platte,  with  headquarters  at  Fort  Philip  Kearney,  on 
the  Powder  River,  Northern  Wyoming,  when  the  latter  should  be  con- 
structed. Colonel  Carrington  had  under  him  about  700  officers  and 
men.  As  chief  guide  he  had  selected  our  old  friend,  Maj.  James  Bridger. 
The  expedition  was  formally  organized  at  Fort  Kearney,  on  the  North 
Platte  River,  central  Nebraska,  starting  from  that  place  May  19,  1866, 

340 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  341 

with  an  outfit  drawn  by  226  mule-teams  and  keyed  up  by  a  military  band 
of  thirty  pieces  until  the  column  passed  Kearney  City. 

Within  a  few  days  short  of  a  month,  the  expedition  reached  Fort 
Laramie.  There  was  much  trading  and  talking,  but  only  irresponsible 
Indians  appeared  in  the  Council  chamber.  Such  influential  Sioux  chiefs 
as  "The  Man  Afraid  of  His  Horses"  and  "Red  Cloud"  made  no  secret 
of  their  opposition  to  the  building  of  the  proposed  road,  and  the  latter, 
with  all  his  righting  men,  withdrew  from  association  with  the  treaty- 
makers.  Some  of  the  chiefs,  however,  were  seen  by  the  officers,  and 
when  they  knew  that  the  command  was  going  to  the  Powder  River 
country  in  advance  of  any  treaty  agreement,  they  gave  unequivocal  dem- 
onstrations of  their  dislike.  One  pleasant  intimation  was  given  that 
"in  two  moons  the  command  would  not  have  a  hoof  left."*  Several  of 
the  officers  were  accompanied  by  their  wives,  among  them  Mrs.  Carring- 
ton,  from  whose  "Ab-sa-ra-ka"  (Home  of  the  Crows),  with  her  hus- 
band's "Outline  of  Indian  Operations  and  Conferences,"  most  of  the  data 
are  extracted  for  this  portion  of  the  narrative. 

The  Cheyenne  chiefs  do  not  seem  to  have  been  so  irreconcilable.  It 
was  reported  that  the  following  question  was  put  to  Black  Horse,  one  of 
their  leading  chiefs:  "Why  do  the  Sioux  and  the  Cheyenne  claim  the 
land  which  belongs  to  the  Crows?" 

Black  Horse,  the  Wolf  that  Lies  Down,  Red  Arm  and  Dull  Knife, 
of  that  tribe,  agreed  upon  the  following  answer :  "The  Sioux  helped  us. 
We  stole  the  hunting-grounds  of  the  Crows  because  they  were  the  best. 
The  white  man  is  along  the  great  waters,  and  we  wanted  more  room. 
We  fight  the  Crows  because  they  will  not  take  half  and  give  us  peace 
with  the  other  half." 

Colonel  Carrington's  expedition  arrived  at  Fort  Laramie,  while  nego- 
tiations were  progressing  with  Red  Cloud  and  the  leading  chiefs  of  the 
Sioux  to  induce  them  to  yield  to  the  Government  the  right  to  peaceably 
establish  military  posts  along  the  line  of  the  road  to  Montana.  This 
right  they  had  persistently  refused  to  grant,  saying  that  it  was  asking 
too  much  of  their  people — asking  all  they  had — for  it  would  drive  away 
all  the  game.*  The  destination  and  purpose  of  Colonel  Carrington  and 
his  command  were  communicated  to  their  chiefs.  They  seemed  to  con- 
strue this  as  a  determination  on  the  part  of  the  Government  to  occupy 
their  country  by  military  posts,  even  without  their  consent  or  that  of 
their  people,  and  as  soon  as  practicable  withdrew  from  the  council  with 
their  adherents,  refusing  to  accept  any  presents  from  the  commission, 
returned  to  their  country  and  with  a  strong  force  of  warriors  com- 
menced a  vigorous  and  relentless  war  against  all  whites  who  came  into 
it.  both  citizens  and  soldiers. 

GOVERNMENT    PRONOUNCEMENT   AGAINST    ENEMY    INDIANS 

Quite  a  number  of  Indians  who  did  not  occupy  the  country  along 
this  road  were  anxious  to  make  a  treaty  of  peace,  especially  those  resid- 


*  See  Senate  Document  No.  13.  report  of  special  commission  to  investigate  the 
"disposition  and  conduct  of  the  Indians  about  Fort  Philip  Kearney." 


342  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ing  near  Fort  Laramie.  The  number  of  Sioux  Indians  who  considered 
themselves  bound  by  the  treaty  of  July,  1866,  numbered  about  2,000. 
The  northern  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  and  many  of  the  northern 
Sioux,  numbering  about  600  lodges,  remained  in  their  old  country  and 
went  to  war  under  the  auspices  of  their  old  chiefs. 

"We  therefore  report,"  announces  the  committee,  in  1867,  "that  all 
the  Sioux  Indians  occupying  the  country  about  Fort  Phil  Kearney  have 
been  in  a  state  of  war  against  the  whites  since  the  2Oth  of  June,  1866, 
and  that  they  have  waged  and  carried  on  this  war  for  the  purpose  of 
defending  their  ancient  possessions  and  possessions  acquired  by  them 
from  the  Crow  Indians  by  conquest  after  bloody  wars,  from  invasion 
and  occupation  by  the  whites. 

"This  war  has  been  carried  on  by  the  Indians  with  most  extraordi- 
nary vigor  and  unwonted  success.  During  the  time  from  July  26th, 
the  day  on  which  Lieutenant  Wand's  train  was  attacked,  to  the  2ist  of 
December,  on  which  Brevet  Lieutenant-Colonel  Fetterman,  with  his  com- 
mand of  eighty  officers  and  men,  was  overpowered  and  massacred,  they 
killed  ninety-one  enlisted  men  and  five  officers  of  our  army,  and  killed 
fifty-eight  citizens  and  wounded  twenty  more,  and  captured  and  drove 
away  306  oxen  and  cows,  304  mules  and  161  horses.  During  this  time 
they  appeared  in  front  of  Fort  Philip  Kearney,  making  hostile  demon- 
strations and  committing  hostile  acts  fifty-one  different  times,  and  at- 
tacked every  train  and  person  that  attempted  to  pass  over  the  Montana 
Road." 

PREPARATIONS  TO  PROTECT  MOUNTAIN  DISTRICT 

Following  the  military  instructions  of  his  superiors,  Colonel  Car- 
rington  had  organized  the  Mountain  district,  assigned  to  him,  in  June, 
established,  had  left  two  companies  at  Fort  Reno  on  the  Powder  River, 
had  established  Fort  Philip  Kearney,  forty  miles  west  of  Fort  Reno,  on 
the  Tongue  River,  in  July,  and  there  posted  another  two  companies,  and 
in  the  following  month  had  founded  Fort  C.  F.  Smith,  seventy  miles  be- 
yond, at  the  crossing  of  the  Big  Horn  River  with  the  Montana  Road,  and 
stationed  at  that  post  a  third  two  companies.  As  stated,  Fort  Philip  Kear- 
ney, between  the  other  posts  and  on  the  Tongue  river,  which  was  con- 
sidered the  center  and  backbone  of  the  great  hunting  grounds  through 
which  the  road  was  to  pass,  was  the  headquarters  of  the  Mountain  District 
commanded  by  Colonel  Carrington. 

As  early  as  the  3ist  of  July,  Colonel  Carrington  had  informed  Gen- 
eral P.  St.  George  Cooke,  the  department  commander,  that  the  status 
of  the  Indians  in  that  country  was  one  of  war,  requested  reenforce- 
ments  sent  to  him,  and  two  days  previously  had  telegraphed  the  adjutant 
general  of  the  army  for  Indian  auxiliaries  and  an  additional  force  of 
his  own  regiment.  No  auxiliaries  were  assigned  and  no  reenforcements 
came  until  November  and  December,  and  then  only  by  about  sixty  cav- 
alrymen and  ninety  recruits  divided  between  Fort  Philip  Kearney  and 
the  mountain  district.  Neither  were  requisitions  for  ammunition  an- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  343 

swered,  according  to  the  report  of  the  special  investigating  commission 
of  the  United  States  Senate.  The  result  was  that  the  garrisons  of  the 
forts  in  Colonel  Carrington's  district  were  quite  unprepared  to  withstand 
the  determined  Indian  attacks  which  extended  over  a  period  of  six 
months,  and  culminated  in  the  massacre  of  Colonial  Fetterman's  men, 
who  were  protecting  the  wood  train  which  was  engaged  in  drawing  mate- 
rials for  the  new  forts.  Despite  the  fact  that  he  went  beyond  his  duties 
and  disobeyed  Colonel  Carrington's  orders,  the  appalling  loss  of  his  entire 
force  was  the  means  of  turning  back  the  expedition. 

JAMES  BRIDGER  ADVANCE  GOVERNOR  AGENT 

In  the  meantime,  the  commander  of  the  mountain  district  had  sent 
forward  two  most  capable  men  to  investigate  conditions  along  and 
in  the  country  of  the  upper  Missouri — the  veteran  scout  Major  Bridger, 
accompanied  by  Henry  Williams,  assistant  guide,  and  Lieutenant  James 
H.  Bradley,  then  only  in  his  twenty-third  year,  but  who  had  fought 
through  the  Civil  war  and  had  but  lately  been  promoted  to  a  first  lieu- 
tenancy in  Colonel  Carrington's  regiment  (the  Eighteenth  U.  S.  In- 
fantry). As  it  was  from  Bridger  and  his  companions  that  the  most 
valuable  information  came,  the  following  is  extracted  from  Mrs.  Car- 
rington's Ab-sa-ra-ka :  "It  was  quite  early  after  the  establishment  of 
Fort  Philip  Kearney  that  measures  were  taken  to  hold  communication 
with  the  Crow  Indians,  to  consult  with  the  authorities  of  Montana  and 
determine  the  condition  of  the  entire  route  to  Virginia  City.  Major 
Bridger  was  selected  for  the  mission,  accompanied  by  Henry  Williams, 
assistant  guide,  who  proved  himself  valuable  in  almost  every  work  he 
undertook.  They  made  the  through  trip  with  comparative  expedition, 
made  complete  notes  of  the  journey,  and  besides  their  official  reports, 
were  very  courteous  in  contributing  their  information  to  those  who  were 
desirous  to  keep  a  full  record  of  all  that  transpired  during  our  sojourn 
on  the  frontier. 

"They  had  first  an  interview  with  nearly  600  warriors,  not  far  from 
Clark's  Fork  (of  the  Yellowstone).  On  that  occasion,  White  Mouth, 
Black  Foot  and  Rotten.  Tail  declared  their  uniform  and  unanimous  voice 
for  peace ;  but  said  that  in  some  instances  the  young  men  desired  to  join 
the  Sioux,  and  thus  come  to  some  accommodation  as  to  their  title  to  the 
lands  of  which  they  had  been  robbed  by  both  Sioux  and  Cheyennes. 

"Red  Cloud  had  made  them  a  visit  and  they  had  returned  the  visit, 
but  would  not  join  him  against  the  whites.  The  Man  Afraid  of  his 
Horses  told  them  that  his  young  men  were  going  on  the  war-path,  and 
that  the  Sissetons,  Bad  Faces,  Agillallas  from  the  Missouri,  the  Min- 
necongous  from  the  Black  Hills,  the  Unkpapas,  some  Cheyennes  and 
Arrapahoes,  as  well  as  the  Gros  Ventres  of  the  Prairie,  were  united  to 
drive  away  the  whites,  and  would  have  big  fights  at  the  two  new  forts  in 
the  fall.  They  also  represented  that  Iron  Shell,  with  some  of  the 
young  men  of  the  Minnecongous  and  Brules,  would  go  with  Red  Cloud, 
notwithstanding  the  Laramie  treaty ;  that  the  Nez  Perces  and  Flatheads 


344  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

were  friendly,  but  the  Pegans  and  Bloods  were  hostile,  while  the  Black- 
feet,  Assiniboines  and  Crees  were  friendly  with  both  parties  and  would 
join  no  league  against  the  whites. 

"Besides  the  visits  of  Bridger  along  the  route  from  Big  Horn  to  the 
Upper  Yellowstone,  James  Beck  with,  the  famous  mulatto  of  the  plains, 
who  had  also  lived  among  the  Crows  as  an  adopted  chief  and  had  sev- 
.eral  Crow  wives,  was  employed  as  an  assistant  guide,  and  was  sent  to 
their  villages  where  he  subsequently  sickened  and  died.  *  *  * 

"Other  parties  of  Crows  came  to  Fort  C.  F.  Smith  to  hunt  and  trade 
in  that  vicinity,  and  not  only  showed  uniform  friendliness  toward  the 
wrhites  and  the  new  road,  but  offered  250  young  warriors  to  engage  in 
operations  against  the  Sioux.  Major  Bridger  had  great  confidence  in 
this  proposition ;  but  the  officers  had,  it  would  seem,  no  authority  to  em- 
ploy so  many,  as  well  as  no  means  of  arming  and  equipping  them  when 
employed. 

"All  the  statements  of  the  Crows  were  substantially  confirmed  by  the 
Cheyennes  at  a  subsequent  visit.  They  represented  Red  Cloud  and  the 
Man  Afraid  of  his  Horses  to  be  in  Tongue  river  valley,  and  Buffalo 
Tongue  to  be  on  Powder  river;  that  the  Big  Bellies,  the  Bad  Arrows, 
Those  that  Wear  a  Bone  in  the  Nose  and  Those  that  Put  Meat  in  the 
Pot,  were  near  the  Big  Horn  river,  and  though  friendly  to  the  Crows 
were  opposed  to  the  road;  that  Bob  North,  a  white  man  with  but  one 
thumb,  with  twenty-five  lodges  and  the  Big  Medicine  Man  of  the  Arra- 
pahoes,  had  also  joined  the  aggressive  party.  Still  later  in  the  season, 
there  was  renewed  and  cumulative  evidence  that  the  Crows  were  truly 
friendly,  but  were  unwilling  to  venture  very  far  eastward  for  any  pur- 
pose, until  the  Sioux  were  out  of  the  way  or  the  white  soldiers  were 
sufficiently  numerous  to  guarantee  their  safety  without  sacrifice  of  life 
or  property. 

"White  Mouth  and  Rotten  Tail  told  Mr.  Bridger  that  they  were  half 
a  day  riding  through  hostile  villages  in  Tongue  river  valley,  and  that 
1,500  lodges  of  war  parties  were  preparing  to  attack  the  white  man  at 
Fort  Philip  Kearney  and  Fort  C.  F.  Smith. 

"All  these  statements  were  believed,  and  it  is  known  that  they  had 
important  influence  in  that  vigorous  prosecution  of  necessary  work  which 
followed  and  rendered  impossible  any  system  of  aggressive  war  on  the 
part  of  the  troops  of  the  garrison." 

The  last  days  of  August  brought  General  Hazen  on  a  tour  of  inspec- 
tion to  Fort  Philip  Kearney.  On  the  very  last  of  the  month,  upon  the 
general  understanding  that  reenforcements  were  close  at  hand,  the  gen- 
eral, accompanied  by  Lieutenant  Bradley  and  twenty-six  picked  men  of 
the  garrison's  mounted  infantry,  with  Mr.-  Brannan  as  guide,  started 
overland  for  Fort  Benton  and  other  posts  on  the  upper  Missouri.  This 
same  Brannan  was  scalped  on  his  return  from  the  Hazen  expedition. 

The  journey  States-ward,  by  way  of  Forts  Reno  and  Caspar,  to 
Fort  McPherson,  from  January  23rd  to  March  2,  1867,  was  a  dreary  trip 
of  intense  suffering  to  the  men,  women  and  children  comprising  the 
expedition.  Without  waiting  for  Colonel  Carrington's  report  on  the  Fet- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  345 

terman  massacre,  that  officer  was  removed  by  General  Cooke,  who,  in 
turn,  was  promptly  relieved  by  Lieutenant  General  Sherman.  The  Gov- 
ernment investigation  which  followed  cleared  Colonel  Carrington  of 
culpability. 

GOVERNMENT  EVACUATES  BIG  HORN  COUNTRY 

All  that  the  expedition  under  Colonel  Carrington  had  accomplished, 
with  its  sad  loss  of  life,  was  to  establish  the  claim  of  temporary  occu- 
pancy of  the  Big  Horn  country,  but  the  repeated  forays  and  detached 
murders  of  white  settlers  during  the  following  year  proved  how  barren 
was  such  an  outcome.  But  what  soldiers  and  military  measures  and 
treaties  of  peace  could  not  accomplish,  the  Union  Pacific  Railroad  was 
bringing  about,  by  making  Montana  and  the  great  West  safely  accessible 
to  white  settlers.  That  fact,  coupled  with  the  scarcity  of  troops  and 
other  prudential  reasons,  induced  the  president,  on  the  2nd  of  March, 
1868,  to  order  the  Big  Horn  country  to  be  evacuated  of  Government 
forces.  For  want  of  ready  transportation — as  wagons  had  first  to  be 
sent  out  for  removal  of  the  stores — the  movement  could  not  be  executed 
until  August.  A  Peace  Commission  was  organized  under  a  congres- 
sional act  of  July  20,  1867,  1868  was  a  bad  year,  while  1869  and  1870 
were  fairly  peaceable,  and  such  chiefs  as  Red  Cloud,  Young  Man  Afraid 
of  his  Horses,  Spotted  Tail,  and  American  Horse,  of  the  Sioux,  visited 
Washington  and  Fort  Laramie  to  confer  with  the  Peace  Commission. 
Red  Cloud  as  late  as  1871,  manifested  quite  a  friendly  disposition,  but 
could  not  bring  over  Sitting  Bull,  who  was  considered  responsible  for  the 
raids  of  the  Teton  Sioux  into  Gallatin  Valley  and  along  the  line  of  the 
proposed  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  in  the  summer  of  that  year.  The 
Union  and  Central  Pacific  railways  had  met  two  years  ago.  The  steel 
band  and  conductor  of  white  civilization  had  been  pushed  through  the 
Indian  lands  of  Central  United  States  and  preparations  were  then  well 
under  way  to  lay  another  menace  to  primitive  occupancy  through  the 
northern  regions. 

"AGENCY"'  PLAN  NOT  A  SUCCESS 
i 

Then  came  the  several  years  of  experiments  with  the  recalcitrant 
of  herding  them  into  "reservation;"  shifting  them  about  from  place  to 
place ;  peculations  of  Indian  agents  and  contractors,  of  which  the  Indians 
were  naturally  the  victims — which  finally  drew  from  Sitting  Bull  the 
voice  of  his  race  to  General  Miles :  "God  Almighty  had  made  him  an 
Indian,  not  an  Agency  Indian." 

The  records  of  1871-72  were,  on  the  whole  encouraging,  though  sev- 
eral officers  of  the  regular  army  were  killed  while  protecting  the  sur- 
veys of  the  Northern  Pacific  through  Montana.  Col.  D.  S.  Stanley,  of 
the  Twenty-second  Infantry,  from  Fort  Rice,  and  Maj.  E.  M.  Baker, 
Second  Cavalry,  from  Fort  Ellis,  made  expeditions  to  the  Yellowstone 
for  that  purpose,  the  latter  advancing  as  far  as  Pompey's  Pillar. 


346  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ANOTHER  MILITARY  EXPEDITION  TO  THE  YELLOWSTONE 

The  year  1873  marks  the  demolition  of  old  Fort  Kearney,  indicating  a 
purpose  on  the  part  of  the  Government  to  attempt  the  "agency  plan," 
rather  than  the  stern  military  policy.  In  August,  of  that  year,  how- 
ever, Colonel  Stanley  conducted  another  military  expedition  to  the  Yel- 
lowstone country  in  the  interests  of  the  railroad  survey.  His  force  was 
1,500  strong,  Lieut.-Col.  J.  W.  Custer,  with  eight  companies  of 
the  Seventh  Cavalry,  forming  part  of  the  column.  The  cavalry  moved 
in  advance  of  the  infantry  upon  reaching  Powder  River  and  advanced 
as  far  as  Pompey's  Pillar,  the  great  landmark  of  the  middle  Yellowstone 
Region.  On  the  4th  of  August,  1873,  Colonel  Stanley's  troops  were 


INDIANS  DRAWING  RATIONS 


attacked  near  the  mouth  of  Tongue  River  by  a  large  force  of  Sioux 
under  Sitting  Bull.  The  first  of  a  series  of  engagements  lasting  for  a 
week  continued  from  10  o'clock  A.  M.  until  nearly  3  o'clock  P.  M.,  all 
efforts  to  dislodge  the  white  soldiers  proving  unsuccessful.  From  the 
Army  and  Navy  Journal  of  September  13,  1873,  it  was  learned  that  the 
fight  was  brought  on  by  a  decoy  party  of  six  who  dashed  into  the  skirt 
of  timber  where  Colonel  Stanley's  command  had  halted  and  unsaddled 
and  attempted  to  stamgede  the  horses.  These  Indians  were  followed, 
but  they  retired  so  leisurely  as  to  excite  suspicion  and  finally,  as  they 
found  that  they  were  not  pressed  earnestly,  over  300  well-mounted  war- 
riors dashed  in  perfect  line  from  the  woods  and  charged  down  upon  one 
of  the  companies,  at  the  same  time  attempting  to  intercept  a  small  party 
under  Lieutenant  Custer. 

After  the  engagements  described,  the  Yellowstone  expedition  had 
no  trouble  with  the  Indians,  and  both  columns  returned  safely  to  their 
post  on  the  Missouri  River.  Sitting  Bull  evidently  concluded  that  the 
Custer  cavalry  were  too  much  for  his  warriors. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  347 

Until  the  last  part  of  1875,  although  there  was  no  organized  oppo- 
sition manifest,  a  general  and  expressed  sentiment  of  dissatisfaction 
and  unrest  was  evident  among  the  Agency  Indians.  Much  of  the  rations 
sent  to  them  by  the  Government  never  reached  them,  and  in  winter  they 
were,  at  times,  reduced  to  the  necessity  of  eating  wolves  and  their  own 
dogs  and  ponies  to  keep  from  starvation.  Both  enemy  Indians  and 
friendly  Indians,  from  self-preservation,  often,  were  forced  to  make 
forays  upon  the  livestock  and  provisions  of  the  whites.  The  personal 
center  of  disturbance  was  the  northern,  non-treaty  Sioux,  under  Sitting 
Bull,  and  the  territorial  danger-ground  the  Black  Hills,  into  which  the 
miners  were  pouring  despite  the  efforts  of  the  government  authorities  to 
keep  them  out. 

SITTING  BULL  AGAIN  TROUBLESOME 

At  the  close  of  1875,  the  Indian  Commissioner  announced  signifi- 
cantly: "It  will  probably  be  found  necessary  to  compel  the  northern, 
non-treaty  Sioux,  under  the  leadership  of  Sitting  Bull,  who  have  never 
yet  in  any  way  acknowledged  the  United  States  Government,  except  by 
snatching  rations  occasionally  at  an  Agency,  and  such  outlaws  from  the 
several  agencies  as  have  attached  themselves  to  these  same  hostiles,  to 
cease  marauding." 

The  year  1876  had  scarcely  opened  before  the  northern  Sioux  and 
Cheyennes  commenced  to  make  inroads  into  the  Yellowstone  Valley 
along  the  line  of  surveys  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  They  besieged  Fort 
Pease,  opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn,  killing  six  and  wounding 
eight  white  persons.  The  remainder  of  the  party  at  the  post  was 
rescued  by  troops  from  Fort  Ellis,  near  Bozeman. 

UNITED  CAMPAIGN  AGAINST  ENEMY  INDIANS 

The  troops  which  came  from  Fort  Ellis,  under  Major  Brisbin,  were 
identified  with  a  column  under  Gen.  John  Gibbon,  which  had  been  organ- 
ized there  to  carry  out  a  concerted  movement  against  the  northern  tribes 
which  were  still  in  a  state  of  warfare  against  the  Government.  The 
Interior  Department  had  issued  a  proclamation  in  the  preceding  Decem- 
ber that  all  Indians  who  did  not  report  at  the  reservations  by  December 
31,  1876,  would  be  compelled  to  do  so  by  the  military.  At  the  expiration 
of  that  period,  therefore,  three  separate  companies  were  organized, 
with  the  understanding  that  they  were  to  advance  from  the  west,  east 
and  south,  and  finally  unite  and  co-operate,  as  they  should  sweep  the 
enemy  Indians  before  them.  The  first  line,  commanded  by  General 
Gibbon,  advanced,  as  stated,  from  Fort  Ellis;  the  second,  from  the 
south,  was  under  Gen.  George  Crook,  and  the  third,  under  Gen.  Alfred 
H.  Terry,  advanced  from  Fort  Yankton,  through  the  eastern  field  of. 
operations.  With  Terry's  column  was  Custer's*  cavalry  from  Fort 
Abraham  Lincoln. 


*  George  A.  Custer. 


348 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


The  march  from  Fort  Shaw,  on  the  Sun  River,  in  the  present  Cas- 
cade County,  is  described  in  Lieut.  James  H.  Bradley's  Journal  of  the 
campaign.  That  officer,  who  was  to  lose  his  life  in  the  following  year 


GENERAL  JOHN  GIBBON 

in  the  Indian  operations  of  that  period,  commanded  a  mounted  detach- 
ment in  the  campaign  under  General  Gibbon.  The  march  from  Fort 
Shaw  commenced  on  March  17,  1876.  The  route  was  by  way  of  Helena, 
Little  Prickly  Pear  Canyon,  the  junction  of  the  Jefferson  and  Madison 
rivers,  the  West  Gallatin,  thence  over  the  divide  to  the  Yellowstone, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  349 

down  that  stream  to  Shield's  River  and  thence  to  the  Valley  of  Rosebud 
Creek,  or  Stillwater  River.  There  the  main  body  of  the  command  was 
joined  by  General  Gibbon,  Major  Brisbin,  who  commanded  the  cavalry, 
and  other  officers.  The  course  led  past  Countryman's  Ranch,  "the  last 
occupied  house  on  the  Yellowstone." 

The  advance  of  General  Perry's  column  was  sighted  aboard  a  steam- 
boat coming  up  the  river  at  8  o'clock  A.  M.,  June  2ist.  The  meeting 
was  near  the  mouth  of  the  Rosebud.  It  carried  the  commandant,  and 
Captain  Baker's  company  of  the  Sixth  Infantry  and  General  Gibbon, 
and  Major  Brisbin  joined  them  on  the  boat,  the  portion  of  his  com- 
mand accompanying  him  being  ordered  back  to  Fort  Pease.  Major 
Reno,  with  six  companies  of  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  had  already  scouted 
up  Powder  River,  crossed  to  the  Rosebud  and  moved  down  the  latter 
stream  to  its  mouth  without  meeting  with  any  Sioux.  Well-defined 
traces  of  them,  however,  had  been  found.  Other  scouting  parties  were 
equally  unsuccessful,  in  their  efforts  to  come  into  direct  contact  with  the 
enemy.  On  the  27th  of  May,  Lieutenant  Bradley,  while  leading  a  scouting 
party  in  the  region  of  the  Rosebud  and  Little  Wolf  Mountains,  discovered 
an  immense  Indian  camp,  traces  of  which  he  had  found  previously.  Major 
Reno's  scouting  trip  along  the  Rosebud  also  discovered  traces  of  it,  and 
Mitch  Bouyer,  a  guide  of  the  Gibbon  command  who  had  been  detached 
to  accompany  that  officer,  "counted  360  lodge  fires,  and  estimated  that 
there  were  enough  besides  to  make  the  number  about  400.*  The  lodges 
had  been  arranged  in  nine  circles  within  supporting  distance  of  each 
other,  within  which  the  Indians  evidently  secured  their  horses  at  night, 
showing  that  they  considered  an  attack  not  unlikely  and  were  prepared 
for  it.  A  well-defined  trail  led  from  the  site  of  the  village  across  the 
plain  toward  the  Little  Big  Horn,  and  it  is  now  thought  that  the  Indians 
will  be  found  upon  that  stream." 

CUSTER  STARTS  FROM  MOUTH  OF  THE  ROSEBUD 

When  Custer  appeared  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rosebud  with  the  Seventh 
Cavalry,  the  steamboat  bearing  General  Terry  and  his  staff  met  him,  and 
the  cavalry  commander  drew  rations  for  his  command  for  sixteen  days, 
moving  up  the  Rosebud  with  the  design  of  following  up  the  trail  found 
by  Major  Reno.  "Prior  to  his  departure,"  writes  Lieutenant  Bradley, 
"a  conference  took  place  on  the  boat  between  Generals  Terry,  Gibbon 
and  himself,  with  a  reference  to  a  combined  movement  between  the  two 
columns,  and,  though  it  is  General  Gibbon's  expectation  that  we  will 
arrive  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Sioux  Village  about  the  same  time  and 
assist  each  other  in  the  attack,  it  is  understood  that  if  Custer  arrives  first 
he  is  at  liberty  to  attack  at  once  if  he  deems  prudent.  We  have  little 
hope  of  being  in  at  the  death,  as  Custer  will  undoubtedly  exert  himself 
to  the  utmost  to  get  there  first  and  win  all  the  laurels  for  himself  and  his 
regiment.  He  is  provided  with  Indian  scouts,  but  from  the  superior 


*  Making  the  usual   estimate  of  two  or  two  and  a  half  warriors  to  a   lodge 
would  make  the  war  party  of  this  camp  from  800  to  1,000. 


350  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

knowledge  possessed  by  the  Crows  of  the  country  he  is  to  traverse  it 
was  decided  to  furnish  him  with  a  part  of  ours,  and  I  was  directed  to 
make  a  detail  for  that  purpose.  I  selected  my  six  best  men  and  they 
joined  him  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rosebud.  Our  guide,  Mitch  Bouyer, 
accompanies  him  also.  This  leaves  us  wholly  without  a  guide,  while 
Custer  has  one  of  the  very  best  the  country  affords.  Surely  he  is  being 
afforded  every  facility  to  make  a  successful  pursuit." 

The  consolidated  commands  of  General  Terry  and  Gibbon  were  taken 
over  the  Yellowstone  River — cavalry,  infantry  and  Catling  battery  of 
three  guns,  with  eight  days'  rations  and  a  pack  train — moved  up  the 
Big  Horn  River,  and  after  a  day's  march  discovered  "a  smoke"  in  the 
direction  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  which  was  thought  to  indicate  the 
presence  of  the  Sioux  Village,  and  the  cavalry  and  the  Catling  battery, 
accompanied  by  General  Terry,  were  pushing  on  with  a  view  of  getting 
as  near  it  as  possible  tonight.  The  infantry,  which  had  already  marched 
twenty-three  miles,  were  to  remain  in  camp  for  the  night  and  follow  in 
the  morning."  Without  a  white  guide,  the  column  lost  its  way  and 
in  the  dark  hours  of  the  night  brought  up  "on  the  brink  of  a  preci- 
pice at  whose  foot  swept  the  roaring  waters  of  the  Big  Horn.  The 
water  gleamed  in  front  150  feet  below,  and  to  the  right  hand  and  to  the 
left  the  ground  broke  off  into  a  steep  declivity  down  which  nothing  could 
be  seen  but  the  forbidding  gloom."  One  of  the  Crow  scouts,  Little  Face, 
led  the  command  to  a  safe  camp. 

FIRST  TIDINGS  OF  THE  CUSTER  DISASTER 

Early  on  the  following  morning  (June  26th),  Lieutenant  Bradley 
was  sent  out,  with  his  few  men,  to  scout  for  Sioux  traces.  He  sent  six 
Crows  ahead  of  him  half  an  hour  before  he  started.  All  were  instructed 
to  scout  to  the  Little  Horn,  sending  back  word  of  any  important  dis- 
coveries. What  follows  is  tragic  and  historic,  and  is  given  at  some 
length  in  Lieutenant  Bradley 's  words:  "Having  advanced  about  three 
miles  we  entered  a  valley  cut  by  a  dry  creek,  and  here  came  upon  the 
fresh  tracks  of  four  ponies.  As  we  entered  the  ravine  we  had  seen  a 
heavy  smoke  rising  in  our  front,  apparently  fifteen  or  twenty  miles  away, 
and  I  at  once  concluded  we  were  approaching  the  Sioux  Village  and  that 
the  trail  had  been  made  by  a  party  of  scouts  therefrom. 

"Sending  back  a  written  report  of  the  discovery,  I  took  the  trail  of 
the  four  supposed  Sioux  in  the  hope  of  catching  them  in  the  Big  Horn 
valley,  toward  which  the  trail  led  and  where  we  thought  they  might 
have  camped,  as  there  was  no  convenient  way  of  leaving  the  valley  into 
which  they  had  gone  except  that  by  which  they  had  entered  it. 

"At  the  distance  of  less  than  two  miles  the  trail  struck  the  river, 
and  we  found  that  they  had  there  crossed  leaving  behind  a  horse  and  sev- 
eral articles  of  personal  equipment,  indicating  that  they  had  fled  in  great 
haste.  An  examination  of  the  articles  disclosed,  to  our  great  surprise, 
that  they  belonged  to  some  of  the  Crows  whom  I  had  furnished  to  Gen- 
eral Custer  at  the  mouth  of  the  Rosebud,  which  rendered  it  probably 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  351 

that  the  supposed  Sioux  were  some  of  our  own  scouts  who  had  for  some 
reason  left  Custer's  command  and  were  returning  to  the  Crow  agency. 
While  speculating  upon  the  circumstance  three  men  were  discovered  on 
the  opposite  side  of  the  Big  Horn  about  two  miles  away,  apparently 
watching  our  movements.  We  at  once  signaled  to  them  with  blankets 
that  we  were  friends,  for  a  long  time  to  no  purpose,  but  when  we  were 
about  to  give  up  and  seek  some  other  method  of  communicating  with  them, 
they  responded  by  kindling  a  fire  that  sent  up  a  small  column  of  smoke 
indicating  that  they  had  seen  signals  and  trusted  our  assurances.  We 
gathered  wet  sage  brush  and  assured  them  with  a  similar  smoke,  and 
soon  afterwards  they  came  down  to  the  river  and  talked  across  the 
stream  with  Little  Face  and  one  or  two  more  of  the  scouts  who  went 
down  to  meet  them.  While  the  interview  went  on  I  kept  the  remainder 
of  the  detachment  on  the  bluffs.  Presently  our  Indians  turned  back,  and, 
as  they  came,  shouted  out  at  the  top  of  their  voices  a  doleful  series  of 
cries  and  wails  that  the  interpreter,  Bravo,  explained  was  a  song  of 
mourning  for  the  dead.  That  it  boded  some  misfortune  there  was  no 
doubt;  and  when  they  came  up,  shedding  copious  fears  and  appearing 
pictures  of  misery,  it  was  evident  that  the  occasion  was  of  no  common 
sort.  Little  Face  in  particular  wept  with  a  bitterness  of  anguish  such 
as  I  have  rarely  seen.  For  awhile  he  could  not  speak,  but  at  last  com- 
posed himself  and  told  his  story  in  a  choking  voice,  broken  with  frequent 
sobs.  As  he  proceeded,  the  Crows  one  by  one  broke  off  from  the  group 
of  listeners  and  going  aside  a  little  distance  sat  down  alone,  weeping 
and  chanting  that  dreadful  mourning  song,  and  rocking  their  bodies  to 
and  fro.  They  were  the  first  listeners  to  the  horrid  story  of  the  Custer 
massacre,  and,  outside  of  the  relatives  and  personal  friends  of  the 
fallen,  there  were  none  in  this  whole  horrified  nation  of  forty  millions 
of  people  to  whom  the  tidings  brought  greater  grief.  The  three  men 
over  the  river  were  in  truth  a  portion  of  the  six  scouts  furnished  to 
General  Custer  from  my  detachment;  and  this  is  the  story  they  had 
told  to  Little  Face : 

"After  Custer  left  the  mouth  of  the  Rosebud  he  had  followed  the 
Indian  trail  and  yesterday  struck  the  village  on  the  Little  Big  Horn,  the 
Sioux  warriors  letting  him  get  close  to  the  village  and  then  sallying  forth 
in  overwhelming  numbers  to  meet  him,  defeating  his  command,  and 
destroying  all  but  a  small  portion  who  had  been  driven  into  the  hills  and 
surrounded  by  the  Sioux,  where  the  Crows  had  left  them  fighting  des- 
perately. The  corpses  of  Custer's  men  were  strewn  all  over  the  country, 
and  it  is  probable  before  this  that  the  last  one  was  killed  as  it  was  im- 
possible for  the  party  who  had  taken  refuge  in  the  hills  to  hold  out  long, 
for  the  Sioux  immensely  outnumbered  them  and  were  attacking  them  in 
dense  masses  on  all  sides.  Of  the  six  Crows  who  had  gone  with  Custer, 
two — White  Swan  and  Half  Yellow  Face — were  killed,  and  another — 
*  Curley — was  missing  and  probably  also  killed.  The  fighting  had  occurred 
at  a  point  where  the  smoke  was  then  rising  in  our  front.  It  was  a  ter- 


*  Only  survivor  of  the  massacre. 


352 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


rible,  terrible  story,  so  different  from  the  outcome  we  had  hoped  for 
this  campaign,  and  I  no  longer  wondered  at  the  demonstrative  sorrow  of 
the  Crows.  My  men  listened  to  it  with  eager  interest,  betraying  none  of 
the  emotion  of  the  Crows,  but  looking  at  each  other  with  white  faces  in 
pained  silence  too  full  of  the  dreadful  recital  to  utter  a  word.  Did  we 
doubt  the  tale?  I  could  not;  there  was  an  undefined  vague  something 
about  it,  unlocked  for  though  it  was,  that  commanded  assent,  and  the 
most  I  could  do  was  to  hope  that  in  the  terror  of  the  three  fugitives 
from  the  fatal  field  their  account  of  the  disaster  was  somewhat  over- 


CURLEY 

drawn.  But  that  there  had  been  a  disaster — a  terrible  disaster,  I  felt 
assured. 

"It  was  my  duty  to  report  it  to  General  Terry,  and  being  a  matter  of 
such  importance  I  resolved  to  make  the  report  in  person,  as  I  now  saw 
the  head  of  the  column  appearing  over  the  ridge  a  couple  of  miles  away. 
I  therefore  rode  back  until  I  met  the  command,  which  was  halted  just 
before  I  came  up,  and  narrated  to  the  general  the  ghastly  details  as  I  had 
received  them  from  Little  Face. 

"He  was  surrounded  by  his  staff  and  accompanied  by  General  Gibbon, 
who  had  that  morning  joined,  and  for  a  moment  there  were  blank  faces 
and  silent  tongues  and  no  doubt  heavy  hearts  in  that  group,  just  as  there 
had  been  among  the  auditors  of  Little  Face  at  its  rehearsal  by  him.  But 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  353 

presently  the  voice  of  doubt  and  scorning  was  raised,  the  story  was 
sneered  at,  such  a  catastrophe  it  was  asserted  was  wholly  improbable, 
nay  impossible;  if  a  battle  had  been  fought,  which  was  condescendingly 
admitted  might  have  happened,  then  Custer  was  victorious,  and  these 
three  Crows  were  dastards  who  had  fled  without  awaiting  the  result  and 
told  this  story  to  excuse  their  cowardice.  General  Terry  took  no  part 
in  these  criticisms,  but  sat  on  his  horse  silent  and  thoughtful,  biting  his 
lower  lip  and  looking  to  me  as  though  he  by  no  means  shared  in  the 
wholesale  skepticism  of  the  flippant  members  of  his  staff.  My  imagina- 
tion was  busy  supplying  to  my  mind  his  train  of  thought,  and  it  ran 
like  this :  'The  story  may  not  be  true,  when  we  have  only  to  push  on 
according  to  the  original  plan.  It  may  be  true,  and  it  then  becomes  our 
duty  to  hasten  to  the  rescue  of  the  miserable  remnant  of  Custer's  com- 
mand surrounded  on  the  hills.  If  the  savages  have  been  able  to  destroy 
Custer's  noble  six  hundred,  what  can  we  hope  to  accomplish  with  our 
paltry  four?  But  we  will  do  the  best  we  can  and  rescue  the  wretched 
survivors  or  ourselves  perish  in  the  attempt.'  And  as  though  it  were 
the  seal  of  authenticity  to  this  bold  attempt  to  divine  the  workings  of  his 
mind,  he  cried  'Forward!'  and  once  more  the  column  was  in  motion 
toward  the  foe.  My  duty  there  was  done  and  taking  a  rapid  gait  I  soon 
gained  my  proper  distance  in  front  as  advance  guard. 

"The  infantry  had  remained  in  camp  last  night  twelve  miles  back 
and  at  5  A.  M.  resumed  the  march,  coming  up  with  the  cavalry  toward 
noon,  having  been  greatly  delayed  by  the  pack-train.  The  whole  column 
then  advanced  together  and  having  crossed  the  dry  creek,  where  I  now 
found  the  trail,  and  the  rugged  divide  separating  it  from  the  Little  Big 
Horn,  entered  the  valley  of  that  stream.  The  heavy  smoke  was  now 
continually  in  view,  and  notwithstanding  the  stiffened  limbs  of  the 
infantry,  in  consequence  of  their  hard  march  yesterday,  the  prospect  of 
an  early  arrival  at  the  village  and  a  brush  with  the  Indians  imparted  a 
wonderful  animation  to  their  movements  and  urged  them  on  at  a  rapid 
gait.  After  passing  up  the  valley  a  few  miles  the  column  crossed  to 
the  left  bank  and  soon  afterward  halted  to  allow  the  men  to  rest  and 
make  coffee. 

"The  three  Crows  who  had  escaped  from  Custer's  battle-field  promised 
to  recross  the  Big  Horn  and  rejoin  the  command,  provided  some  of  their 
comrades  waited  for  them,  and  partly  on  this  account  and  partly  to  allow 
them  time  to  recover  from  their  grief  I  permitted  all  the  Crows  to  remain 
behind  when  the  column  passed  the  point  where  we  had  received  news 
of  Custer's  overthrow.  Bravo,  the  interpreter,  stayed  with  them,  and 
as  he  was  frightened  nearly  out  of  his  wits  by  the  unfortunate  tidings, 
and  anxious  to  avoid  going  on,  he  no  sooner  saw  us  fairly  out  of  the 
way  than  he  exerted  himself  to  induce  the  Crows  to  abandon  the  ex- 
pedition ;  representing  to  them  that  some  of  our  officers  had  said  we  no 
longer  wanted  their  services.  Several  of  the  best  Crows  were  opposed  to 
such  a  measure,  but  Bravo  aided  by  some  of  the  malcontents  among  them 
carried  the  point  against  such,  and  the  whole  body  were  seen  by  some  of 


354  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  officers  at  the  rear  of  the  column  to  mount  and  gallop  away  together. 
They  recrossed  the  river  and  proceeded  straight  to  the  Crow  agency."  * 

FORCE  PARTICIPATING  IN  THE  LITTLE  BIG  HORN   BATTLE,  TOGETHER 
WITH  THE  KILLED  AND  WOUNDED* 

Mr.  Will.  Logan,  son  of  Capt.  Wm.  Logan  who  was  killed  at  the 
battle  of  the  Big  Hole,  August,  1877,  has  in  his  possession  a  piece  of 
Indian  parchment  found  on  Custer's  battle-field  shortly  after  the  fight. 
Captain  Logan's  company  clerk  made  out  on  this  piece  of  parchment 
a  list  of  killed  and  wounded  in  this  engagement  together  with  a  brief 
statement  relative  thereto,  and  it  is  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Logan, 
now  living  at  Elkhorn,  Montana,  that  an  exact  copy  is  here  given.  It  is 
to  be  regretted  that  no  date  is  given  when  the  list  was  made  out,  but 
it  must  have  been  soon  after  the  battle. 

SEVENTH  CAVALRY 

"True  account  of  killed  and  wounded  in  fight  with  Sioux  Indians  on 
the  25th  and  26th  June,  1876,  on  Little  Big  Horn  River,  Montana  Ter- 
ritory. 

"Present  before  action,  as  follows : 

Field  and  Staff,  Commissioned -. .     6 

Line,    Commissioned 25 

Total   Commissioned 31 

Enlisted   men    585 

Citizens 8 

Scouts,  Indians  Ries   6 

Crow  Indians 25 

624 

Total  commissioned,  enlisted,  etc,  etc 655 

Missing  after  action 332 

Total  remaining  after  action 323 

"Killed  and  wounded  as  follows: 

"Killed  with  General  Custer,  as  follows: 

Officers 13 

Enlisted   men    •„ 191 

Citizens 4 

Total  killed  with  General  Custer 208 

"Killed  with  Major  Reno,  as  follows: 

Officers 3 

Enlisted  men 48 

Citizens,  scouts,  etc 5 

Total    56 


*  Bradley's  Journal,  Vol.  II,   State  Historical   Society's   Contributions,   pp.  225, 
226. 


CUSTER  MEMORIAL  MONUMENT 


356  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Wounded  with  Major  Reno 59 

Died  of  wounds  since. .  8 


Total  killed   264 

Total   remaining   wounded 51  * 

"General  Terry  and  Colonel  Gibbon  with  six  companies,  7th  Infantry, 
and  four  companies,  2nd  Cavalry,  crossed  Yellowstone  River,  June  24, 
1876,  with  intention  to  assist  General  Custer  in  attacking  a  large  Sioux 
village  on  Little  Big  Horn  River,  Montana  Territory,  but  General  Custer 
did  not  wait  for  said  command  and  attacked  the  village,  five  companies 
charging,  one  company  with  pack-train  and  six  companies  with  Major 
Reno  on  the  opposite  end  of  the  village.  General  Custer  with  his  five 
companies  was  cut  down  entirely;  the  company  with  packs  joined  Reno, 
who  with  the  seven  companies  was  obliged  to  retreat  to  the  hills,  where 
the  Indians  held  him  and  cut  him  off  from  water  for  thirty-six  hours 
until  their  scouts  (Sioux)  discovered  the  approach  of  General  Terry's 
command,  when  they  abandoned  their  village  and  left  during  the  night, 
leaving  considerable  plunder  after  them,  also  some  ponies.  General 
Terry's  command  arrived  on  the  battle-ground,  June  27th,  at  about 
6  A.  M. ;  remained  there  and  buried  all  dead  and  took  care  of  wounded ; 
started  for  steamer  Tar  West,'  June  29th,  and  met  near  mouth  of  Little 
Big  Horn,  June  3Oth;  put  wounded  on  board  and  started  back  for  old 
camp  on  Yellowstone  near  mouth  of  Big  Horn  where  the  command 
arrived  July  2,  1876." 

GENERAL  CROOK'S  SOUTHERN  CAMPAIGN 

The  operations  conducted  by  General  Crook  from  the  south  were  more 
fortunate  than  the  northern  campaign  which  culminated  in  the  Custer 
massacre.  The  cavalry  of  his  command,  under  Col.  J.  J.  Reynolds, 
comprising  ten  companies  of  the  Second  and  Third  regiments,  struck  the 
first  blow  of  the  year  in  the  Tongue  and  Powder  River  region  dominated 
by  Crazy  Horse  and  his  band.  General  Crook's  column  was  organized 
toward  the  last  part  of  February  at  Fort  Fetterman,  on  the  North  Platte, 
and  on  the  ist  of  March  commenced  the  advance  westward.  After  reach- 
ing Crazy  Woman's  Fork,  the  wagons  were  sent  back  to  Fort  Reno,  now 
Fort  McKinney,  under  escort  of  infantry,  and  pack-mules  were  used  for 
the  transportation  of  ammunition  and  rations  for  fifteen  days.  Shortly 
after  passing  Crazy  Woman's  Fork,  March  7th,  the  troops  moved  nearly 
north  from  the  old  Phil  Kearney  Road.  On  the  i6th  of  March,  the  com- 
mand was  on  Tongue  River  and  after  marching  eastward  reached  Otter 
Creek.  Colonel  Reynolds,  with  one  day's  rations  and  unencumbered  with 
blankets,  was  in  the  advance  with  his  300  cavalrymen  and  fifteen  scouts, 
following  the  trail  of  the  Indians  toward  Powder  River.  General  Crook 


*  According  to  Capt.  E.  S.  Godfrey,  Seventh  Cavalry,  the  killed  and  wounded 
of  the  entire  command  was  respectively  255  and  52. 
See  Century  Magazine,  January,  1892. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  357 

followed  with  four  companies  and  the  pack  train,  the  total  force  being 
883  men.  Colonel  Reynold's  command  gained  the  vicinity  of  Powder 
River,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Powder,  at  about  4  o'clock  in  the 
morning  of  March  I7th.  A  heavy  trail  had  been  struck,  after  a  march 
of  fifty  miles  through  a  rugged  country,  with  snow  a  foot  deep,  ice  in  the 
streams  a  foot  or  more  thick  and  the  temperature  some  thirty  degrees 
below  zero!  The  men  suffered  severely,  especially  Colonel  Reynolds 
himself.  While  the  troops  were  secreted  in  a  ravine,  the  scouts  who 
had  been  sent  on  ahead  reported  the  discovery  of  an  Indian  camp  of  about 
a  hundred  lodges  in  a  basin  of  the  river  rimmed  by  steep  bluffs.  With- 
out going  into  details  as  to  the  assault  of  Reynold's  men,  it  may  be 
stated  that  it  was  such  a  complete  surprise  that  the  Indians  abandoned 
their  village  in  a  panic,  retreating  to  neighboring  timber  and  ravines, 
from  which  they  could  annoy  the  troops  and  attempt  to  regain  their  camp 
and  the  captured  ponies  and  mules — the  livestock  estimated  at  about 
700.  In  the  midst  of  continuous  attacks  and  skirmishes,  the  dismounted 
cavalrymen  regained  their  horses,  after  firing  the  village  and  continued 
their  march  toward  the  northwest  and  Lodge  Pole  Creek,  in  the  present 
Garfield  County,  where  Colonel  Reynolds  was  to  effect  a  juncture  with 
General  Crook  and  his  command.  The  destruction  of  Crazy  Horse's 
Village,  with  valuable  supplies  and  livestock,  was  a  serious  blow  to  the 
northern  Sioux-Cheyenne  coalition,  although  there  was  some  discussion 
among  army  officers  as  to  whether  Colonel  Reynolds  accomplished  all 
he  could  under  the  circumstances.  His  loss  was  four  men  killed  and  five 
wounded.  On  the  morning  of  the  i8th,  he  joined  his  forces  with  those 
of  General  Crook,  as  planned,  and  returned  to  Fort  Fetterman. 

In  a  telegram,  dated  Fort  Reno,  March  22,  1876,  General  Crook  says: 
"We  scouted  the  Tongue  and  Rosebud  rivers  until  satisfied  that  there 
were  no  Indians  upon  them,  then  struck  across  the  country  toward  Pow- 
der river.  General  Reynolds,  with  part  of  the  command,  was  pushed 
forward  on  a  trail  leading  to  the  village  of  Crazy  Horse,  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Little  Powder  river.  This  he  attacked  and  destroyed  on  the  I7th 
inst.  finding  it  a  perfect  magazine  of  ammunition,  war  material  and  gen- 
eral supplies.  Crazy  Horse  had  with  him  the  Northern  Cheyennes  and 
some  of  the  Minneconjous — probably,  in  all,  one-half  the  Indians  off  the 
reservation.  Every  evidence  was  found  to  prove  these  Indians  in  part- 
nership with  those  at  the  Red  Cloud  and  Spotted  Tail  agencies,  and  that 
the  proceeds  of  these  raids  upon  the  settlements  had  been  taken  to  those 
settlements  and  supplies  brought  back  in  return.  I  am  satisfied  that  if 
Sitting  Bull  is  on  this  side  of  the  Yellowstone,  he  is  camped  at  the 
mouth  of  Powder  river.  We  experienced  severe  weather  during  our 
absence  from  the  wagon-train,  snow  falling  every  day  but  one  and  the 
mercurial  thermometer  on  several  occasions  failing  to  register." 

WARFARE  OF  1876-77 

After  the  battle  of  the  Little  Big  Horn  and  the  Custer  disaster, 
General  Sheridan  at  once  concentrated  all  the  available  force  of  his 


358  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

division.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Carr  and  ten  companies,  Fifth  Cavalry, 
joined  General  Crook  at  Goose  Creek,  via  Fort  Laramie,  and  detachments 
of  infantry  were  sent  to  the  same  column.  Colonel  Miles  moved  from 
the  south  of  Kansas  with  the  Fifth  Infantry.  Lieutenant  Colonel  Otis, 
with  six  companies  of  the  Twenty-second  Infantry  and  four  companies  of 
artillery  from  the  Atlantic  Coast,  was  sent  to  General  Terry. 

As  early  as  July  26th,  General  Crook  was  in  communication  with 
General  Terry,  each  with  a  nominal  command  of  about  2,000  men.* 
General  Sheridan  thus  reported,  August  5th:  "General  Crook's  total 
strength  is  1,774  and  Terry's,  1,878;  and  to  give  this  force  to  them  I 
have  stripped  every  post  from  the  line  of  Manitoba  to  Texas." 

"Both  columns,"  says  General  Sherman,  "of  about  the  same  strength, 
moved  as  agreed  upon  and  made  junction  on  the  Rosebud,  August  roth, 
at  a  point  thirty-five  miles  above  its  mouth.  The  Indians  had,  as  ex- 
pected, slipped  out,  and  neither  column  had  a  chance  to  strike  a^  blow. 
The  Indians,  in  their  retreat,  left  a  broad  trail  leading  toward  Tongue 
river.  This  was  followed  promptly  and  steadily,  but  it  seems  to  be  im- 
possible to  force  Indians  to  fight  at  a  disadvantage  in  their  own  country. 
Their  sagacity  and  skill  surpass  that  of  the  white  race." 

In  September,  Capt.  Anson  Mills,  Third  Cavalry,  struck  a  small  vil- 
lage and  killed  American  Horse,  the  noted  chief,  and  the  Indians  were 
disarmed  at  all  the  agencies.  In  October,  1876,  Colonel  Miles  pursued 
and  overtook  Sitting  Bull,  and  was  met  by  the  request  for  supplies, 
peace  and  ammunition.  Two  days  of  conference  were  followed  by  hos- 
tilities. The  Indians  were  pursued  forty-two  miles  across  the  Yellow- 
stone, and  on  the  27th  of  October  they  sued  for  peace,  giving  Red  Skirt, 
White  Bull,  Black  Eagle,  Sun  Rise  and  Foolish  ^Thunder  as  hostages  for 
the  others  reporting  at  the  posts  named.  Crazy  Horse  sought  refuge 
in  the  buffalo  country  and  escaped  up  Powder  River.  v 

On  the  loth  of  November,  General  Crook  again  left  Fort  Fetterman 
and  crowded  Crazy  Horse  toward  the  Black  Hills.  Colonel  Mackenzie 
destroyed  a  Cheyenne  camp  in  November,  on  the  west  fork  of  Powder 
River,  and  the  country  north  of  the  Yellowstone  was  so  thoroughly 
scoured  that  the  remaining  Indians  were  driven  out  of  the  region  lying 
between  the  Musselshell  and  the  Dry  Fork  of  the  Missouri  River. 

On  the  1 7th  of  December,  Bull  Eagle,  Tall  Bull,  Red  Cloth  and 
another  chief  approached  the  Tongue  River  cantonment  with  a  white 
flag,  but  were  shot  by  Crow  Indians,  whose  antipathy  to  the  old  enemies 
who  had  robbed  them  of  the  country,  broke  forth,  before  any  effort  could 
be  made  to  arrest  the  attack.  The  best  satisfaction  possible  was  given  by 
way  of  explanation  and  presents ;  but  General  Crook,  in  referring  to  the 
matter,  says:  "The  affair  was  most  unfortunate,  as  their  coming  in 
would  have  secured  the  surrender  of  at  least  1,000  fighting  men." 

"Already,"  says  Colonel  Carrington,  "the  supervision  of  the  lower 
Brule,  Cheyenne  River  and  Standing  Rock  agencies  had  been  turned  over 
to  the  military  authorities  (as  early  as  July),  so  that  captured  Indians 


*  "Outline  of  Indian  Operations,"  by  Col.  Henry  B.  Carrington. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  359 

could  be  brought  together  and  the  peaceable  kept  from  roaming;  and 
army  officers  also  discharged  the  duties  of  agents  at  Red  Cloud  and 
Spotted  Tail  agencies.  To  all  of  them  there  came,  for  food  and  winter 
shelter,  bands  of  the  very  Indians  who  participated  in  the  fights  in  the 
Big  Horn  country." 

The  policy  toward  the  Indians  from  1876  on,  was  to  be  carried  along 
the  lines  of  concentrating  them  into  permanent  agencies  and  treating 
them  as  wards  of  the  Government,  rather  than  as  legal  possessors  of  the 
country,  the  relinquishment  of  which  must  be  obtained  through  formal 
treaties.  The  pre-eminence  of  the  military  establishment  was,  at  least, 
temporarily  recognized,  and  in  the  summer  of  1876  the  secretary  of 
war  urged  the  establishment  of  two  new  posts — Fort  Custer,  on  the  Big 
Horn  below  the  old  site  of  Fort  C.  F.  Smith  and  only  a  few  miles  from  the 
disastrous  battlefield,  and  Fort  Keogh,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Tongue 
and  Yellowstone,  just  south  of  the  present  Miles  City.  Fort  Keogh 
was  named  after  Custer's  heroic  captain. 

In  January,  1877,  Colonel  Miles  drove  Crazy  Horse  and  his  band 
from  Tongue  River  Valley  to  the  Big  Horn  Mountains.  During  a  sub- 
sequent campaign  against  Lame  Deer,  in  the  Rosebud  Valley,  he  narrowly 
escaped  assassination  at  the  hands  of  one  of  the  chiefs  who  had  been  cap- 
tured— Iron  Star.  The  treacherous  savage  shook  hands  with  Colonel 
Miles,  then  picking  up  his  carbine  fired,  the  ball  missing  its  mark,  but 
killing  a  soldier  behind  him.  This  was  after  protection  had  been  offered 
to  all  who  would  surrender.  On  the  5th  of  September,  1877,  Crazy  Horse 
made  an  attempt  to  escape  from  Camp  Robinson,  but  was  recaptured. 
He  afterward  was  killed  in  a  needless  encounter. 

SITTING  BULL  SQUATTING  IN  BRITISH  AMERICA 

On  the  I7th  of  October,  Gen.  A.  H.  Terry  and  Hon.  A.  J.  Lawrence 
had  a  conference  with  Sitting  Bull  at  Fort  Walsh,  Canada,  at  which  time 
he  refused  all  peace  overtures  and  asserted  that  he  purposed  to  con- 
tinue under  British  rule.  The  year  closed  with  comparative  peace  in 
the  three  departments  of  the  plains,  broken,  however,  by  the  pursuit  of 
Chief  Joseph  and  his  heroic  little  band  of  Idaho  Nez  Perces  through 
Western,  Southern  and  Northern  Montana. 

PURSUIT  OF  CHIEF  JOSEPH  AND  THE  NEZ  PERCES 

In  May,  1877,  councils  were  held  with  Chief  Joseph,  Looking  Glass 
and  White  Bird  by  representatives  of  the  Interior  Department  and  Gen. 
O.  H.  Howard,  commander  of  the  military  department  of  the  Columbia, 
and  the  representatives  of  the  Indians  had  examined  various  localities 
proposed  for  their  reservation.  The  commission  were  satisfied  that  the 
Nez  Perces  would  remove  to  the  reservation  proposed  in  the  Wallowa 
Valley.  The  date  fixed  for  their  removal  was  June  I4th,  but  prior  to  that 
time  the  Indians  commenced  hostilities  along  White  Bird  Creek,  near 
Mount  Idaho. 


360  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  troops  at  the  disposal  of  General  Howard  were  few,  but  he  made 
the  most  of  them  and  waged  a  vigorous  offensive  campaign,  with  the 
assistance  of  local  military  organizations.  The  Nez  Perces  were  finally 
driven  into  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains.  They  were  endeavoring  to 
escape  to  the  Buffalo  country  of  Montana  in  the  north,  when,  on  August 
9,  1877,  they  were  attacked  at  Big  Hole  Pass,  by  Colonel  Gibbon,  of  the 
Seventh  Infantry  and  commander  of  the  Montana  District.  At  that  time, 
General  Sherman  was  at  Bozeman,  and  had  dispatched  the  command 
post-haste,  in  an  endeavor  to  throw  the  retreating  Indians  back  upon 
General  Howard  who  was  still  in  pursuit.  His  report  of  August  nth 
shows  his  loss  in  that  furious  engagement  at  seven  officers  and  fifty-three 
men  killed  and  wounded.  Among  the  killed  were  Capt.  William  Logan, 
and  Lieut.  James  H.  Bradley,  of  the  Seventh  Infantry. 

BATTLE  AT  BIG  HOLE  PASS 

Colonel  Gibbon  was  himself  wounded,  and  thus  telegraphed  to  Gov- 
ernor Potts: 

"Big  Hole  Pass,  August  9,  1877. 

"Had  a  fight  with  the  Nez  Perces.  We  are  here  near  the  mouth  of 
Big  Hole  Pass,  with  a  large  number  of  wounded  men  in  want  of  every- 
thing; food,  clothing,  medicine  and  medical  attendance.  Send  assistance 
at  once 

"John  Gibbon,  Colonel  Commanding." 

While  Colonel  Gibbon  was  thus  trying  to  head  off  the  retreating 
Nez  Perces,  with  an  original  force  of  only  191  men,  including  thirty- 
four  citizens,  General  Howard,  with  a  small  escort  pushing  ahead  of  his 
column,  over  a  rough  country,  reached  Colonel  Gibbon  on  the  I2th  and 
telegraphed  to  General  McDowell's  headquarters:  "Gibbon's  command 
is  in  the  best  of  spirits.  The  last  of  the  Indians  left  last  night.  Shall 
continue  the  pursuit  as  soon  as  my  command  is  up."  As  the  result  of 
this  battle,  eighty-nine  bodies  of  Indians  were  found  on  the  field,  showing 
that  their  loss  was  equal  to  half  the  number  of  whites  engaged. 

The  retreat  of  the  Nez  Perces  was  southeast  nearly  to  Bannack  City, 
thence  southwest  to  Horse  Prairie  River  and  on  to  old  Fort  Limai.  Their 
only  avenue  of  escape  was  to  pass  around  Montana  to  the  south,  and 
then  strike  north,  east  of  Fort  Ellis  (near  the  present  Bozeman),  avoid- 
ing settlements  and  posts  as  much  as  possible.  Upon  reaching  Henry's 
Fork  of  Snake  River,  they  turned  north  toward  Henry's  Lake,  which  is 
southeast  of  Virginia  City  and  nearly  at  the  source  of  Henry's  Fork,  with 
General  Howard  in  close  pursuit.  At  camp  Meadow,  near  the  lake,  they 
turned  and  attacked  General  Howard's  column,  killing  one  man,  wound- 
ing seven  and  capturing  nearly  a  hundred  horses.*  On  the  27th  of  August, 
the  ragged,  hungry,  defiant  little  band  of  Indians,  protecting  a  far  greater 
number  of  women  and  children  than  they  could  muster  as  warriors, 


*  Near  this  locality  in  the  upper  basin  of  Yellowstone  Park,  Chief  Joseph  and 
his  band  met  a  party  of  tourists  headed  by  G.  F.  Cowan  and  wife. 


CHIEF  JOSEPH  AND  THE  COWAN  PARTY 


362  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

crossed  the  Yellowstone  above  the  falls,  at  the  upper  end  of  a  canyon 
in  the  National  Park  (Joseph  Peak),  just  north  of  the  Sulphur  Moun- 
tains, Northwestern  Wyoming.  They  then  took  the  Clark's  Fork  Trail. 
Colonel  Merritt,  of  the  Fifth  Cavalry,  with  six  companies  of  that  regi- 
ment, and  another  company  of  the  Third,  and  fifty  Shoshone  scouts, 
moved  from  the  Goose  Creek  Camp  to  occupy  the  line  of  the  Stinking 
River  and  cut  off  the  movements  of  the  Nez  Perces  from  the  south,  and 
Col.  S.  D.  Sturgis,  of  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  left  the  New  Crow  Agency 
at  the  forks  of  the  Big  and  Little  Rosebud  to  block  their  escape  to  the 
north. 

General  Sheridan,  in  ordering  the  recall  of  Colonel  Merritt,  "unless 
his  presence  should  be  longer  needed  in  that  direction,"  says  that  "instead 
of  going  up  Clark's  Fork,  as  was  expected,  Colonel  Sturgis  also  went 
over  to  Stinking  Water,  and  while  he  was  doing  so  the  Indians  came 
down  Clark's  Fork  and  passed  him."  Still,  on  the  I3th  of  September, 
he  overtook  and  had  a  fight  with  them  on  Canyon  Creek,  Clark's  Fork, 
and  pursued  them  closely  on  the  I4th  and  I5th.  On  the  latter  date  he 
reported  the  Indian  loss  at  sixty  and  that  "nine  hundred  ponies  had  been 
dropped  by  the  hostiles,"  and  adds  "I  am  going  ahead  this  morning,  and 
propose  to  push  them  until  they  drop  their  whole  herd,  and  I  think  they 
will  abandon  nearly  their  last  horse.  Today,  Howard,  with  infantry 
and  artillery,  was  north  of  the  Yellowstone,  below  Clark's  Fork.  The 
Sixteenth  Infantry  is  moving  on  Musselshell." 

The  remaining  Nez  Perces  eluded  further  punishment,  crossed  the 
Yellowstone,  Musselshell  and  Missouri,  and  safely  entered  the  Bear  Paw 
Mountains,  south  of  Milk  River  in  the  country  of  the  Blackfeet  and 
Bloods.  On  the  i8th  of  September,  Colonel  Miles,  having  learned  on 
the  evening  of  the  I7th,  from  General  Howard,  then  on  Clark's  Fork, 
that  the  Nez  Perces  had  evaded  the  commands  to  the  north  of  them 
and  were  pushing  northward,  at  once  organized  all  the  available  force 
at  his  command  for  a  movement  to  intercept  or  pursue.  The  commission 
sent  to  have  an  interview  with  Sitting  Bull  in  the  British  possession  had 
already  left  with  an  escort  from  the  Second  and  Seventh  Cavalry  regi- 
ments. This  was  overtaken,  and  the  combined  force  moved  on  without 
delay. 

CHIEF  JOSEPH'S  LAST  STAND 

The  march  led  directly  to  the  north  of  Musselshell,  nearly  north- 
west, thence  around  the  eastern  and  northern  bases  of  the  Little  Rocky 
Mountains  to  Snake  Creek,  a  fork  of  the  Milk  River,  the  distance  of 
265  miles  being  accomplished  in  ten  days.  On  the  evening  of  September 
29th,  Colonel  Miles'  troops  reached  the  northern  end  of  Bear  Paw 
Mountain,  which  the  Nez  Perces  had  approached  from  the  south,  and 
he  was  between  them  and  Milk  River.  From  the  official  report  of  the 
commander,  it  is  learned  that  the  expedition  entered  the  mountain  range 
at  4  o'clock  A.  M.  of  the  3Oth,  and  the  Indian  trail  was  struck  two 
hours  later  near  the  head  of  Snake  Creek.  The  village  on  Eagle  Creek, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  363 

a  short  distance  farther  west,  was  immediately  charged  in  front  by  the 
battalion  of  the  Seventh  Cavalry  under  Capt.  Owen  Hale,  and  the  Fifth 
Infantry,  Capt.  Simon  Snyder.  A  battalion  of  the  Second  Cavalry, 
Capt.  George  L.  Tyler,  attacked  in  the  rear  and  secured  the  stock,  to 
the  number  of  700  horses,  mules  and  ponies.  The  Indians  took  refuge 
in  some  deep  ravines,  and  the  firing  was  accurate  and  well  kept  up.  To 
avoid  the  loss  of  life,  incident  to  storming  these  positions,  from  which 
the  Indians  could  not  escape,  the  troops  remained  for  four  days  on  the 
alert,  shelling  the  ravines  and  exchanging  shots,  whenever  it  was  found 
effective.  White  flags  were  displayed,  and  communications  were  had 
with  the  Indians  several  times,  but  on  the  5th  of  October,  1877,  they  sur- 
rendered arms  and  ammunition,  and  the  contest  was  at  an  end.  Looking 
Glass  and  several  of  the  chiefs,  including  a  brother  of  Joseph,  and 
twenty-five  Indians  had  been  killed,  and  forty-six  Indians  were  wounded. 
The  casualties  of  the  command  were  Capt.  Owen  Dale  and  2nd  Lieut. 
Joseph  W.  Biddle,  both  of  the  Seventh  Cavalry,  killed ;  Capt.  Miles  Moy- 
lan  and  Edward  S.  Godfrey,  Seventh  Cavalry,  ist  Lieut.  George  W. 
Baird  and  Lieut.  Henry  Romeyn,  Fifth  Infantry,  wounded.  Enlisted 
men,  nineteen  killed  and  forty-two  wounded. 

It  is  stated  by  commissioner  of  Indian  affairs  in  his  report  for 
1877,  "That  Joseph  observed  the  rules  of  civilized  warfare,  and  did 
not  mutilate  dead  enemies,"  whereas  Red  Cloud  and  his  bands,  in  1866, 
in  their  first  resentment  of  the  invasion  of  the  Big  Horn  country, 
committed  atrocities  upon  living  captives  of  a  kind  unrecorded  else- 
where in  human  history. 

Colonel  Carrington,  commenting  upon  the  wonderful  retreat  of  Joseph 
and  his  people  from  Idaho  through  such  considerable  portions  of  Mon- 
tana, says :  "The  Nez  Perces  campaign  grew  out  of  wrongs  inflicted 
upon  their  people.  It  is  the.  old  story ;  and  after  all  due  resentment  is 
expended  upon  Joseph  for  murders  committed  by  his  band  in  the  im- 
mediate vicinity  of  their  old  home  in  Idaho,  this  war  must  be  classed 
among  the  inevitable  results  of  violated  treaties  and  original  trespass 
upon  the  red  man's  rights." 

General  Shanks  commanded  the  Seventh  Indiana  Cavalry  during  the 
Civil  war,  and  states  that  "Joseph's  party  was  thoroughly  disciplined; 
that  they  rode  at  full  gallop  along  the  mountain  side  in  a  steady  forma- 
tion by  fours;  formed  twos,  at  a  given  signal,  with  perfect  precision, 
to  cross  a  narrow  bridge ;  then  galloped  into  line,  reigned  in  to  a  sudden 
halt,  and  dismounted  with  as  much  system  as  if  regulars." 

CAPTAIN  ROMEYN'S  ACCOUNT 

Capt.  Henry  Romeyn,  of  the  Fifth  United  States  Infantry,  com- 
manded by  Col.  Nelson  A.  Miles,  has  written  a  full  account  of  the  cap- 
ture of  Chief  Joseph  and  his  band,  with  the  campaign  leading  to  it  (Vol. 
II,  Contributions  of  Historical  Society  of  Montana).  He  says:  "The 
campaign  of  1876  in  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  had  been  nearly 
a  fruitless  one.  The  overwhelming  disaster  of  the  7th  United  States 


364  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Cavalry  and  the  massacre  of  the  greater  part  of  its  officers  and  enlisted 
men  had  been  followed  by  an  abortive  attempt  of  the  commanders  of  the 
departments  of  the  Platte  and  Dakota  to  force  the  Indians  to  a  fight, 
as  it  had  been  preceded  by  a  drawn  battle  on  the  headwaters  of  the 
Rosebud.  It  fell  to  the  lot  of  the  5th  United  States  Infantry  under  its 
indefatigable  leader  to  strike  about  the  only  blow  of  the  year  which  had 
any  lasting  effect,  when  late  in  October  that  command  met  the  Sioux 
north  of  the  Yellowstone  not  far  below  the  mouth  of  Powder  river, 
and  forced  them  into  a  flight  and  most  of  them  finally  into  a  surrender 
and  return  to  the  agencies  on  the  Missouri  river;  Sitting  Bull  with 
most  of  his  band,  including  several  of  the  more  prominent  warriors 
escaping  across  the  Canadian  line.  This  had  been  followed  by  the 
winter  campaign  against  Crazy  Horse  and  his  band  up  the  valley  of  the 
Tongue  river,  in  which  they  were  driven  from  their  camps  which  were 
destroyed,  and  this  action  by  the  surrender  of  most  of  the  Northern 
Cheyennes  at  Tongue  River  cantonment. 

"Then  in  May  the  band  of  Lame  Deer  had  been  struck  in  its  camp 
on  a  tributary  of  the  Rosebud  and  scattered  over  the  country,  with  the 
loss  of  some  of  its  best  warriors,  all  of  its  best  horses  and  its  camp. 

"A  month  later,  a  column  consisting  of  portions  of  the  2nd  and  7th 
Cavalry,  and  ist,  5th  and  22nd  Infantry,  was  sent  into  the  field,  the  5th 
being  mounted  on  Indian  horses  captured  as  above  stated.  But  no  fight 
took  place,  though  the  remnants  of  Lame  Deer's  camps  were  trailed  over 
four  hundred  miles,  through  eastern  Montana,  western  Dakota  and 
northern  Wyoming,  to  the  end  that  the  Indians  finally  abandoned  the 
field  and  sought  shelter  at  the  agencies  in  the  Department  of  the 
Platte. 

"Late  in  the  autumn  of  1876  the  troops  located  at  the  mouth  of 
Tongue  river  had  constructed  shelters  made  of  logs  placed  on  end 
in  a  trench  dug  in  the  soil  and  'capped'  with  a  plate  or  log,  on  which 
rested  a  roof  of  poles  and  earth;  not  uncomfortable  as  far  as  warmth 
was  concerned  in  winter,  but  terribly  damp  and  leaky  in  the  heavy  rains 
of  spring.  But  material  and  labor  for  constructing  a  new  post  were  on 
the  way,  and  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  ice  was  out  of  the  stream, 
boats  began  to  arrive,  and  at  times  the  banks  of  the  heretofore  silent 
river  assumed  the  appearance  of  a  'levee'  of  a  lower  Mississippi  town — 
on  one  occasion  all  the  steamers  being  tied  at  the  landing  at  once. 

"A  large  proportion  of  the  army  was  represented  at  the  new  camp 
during  the  summer.  The  ist,  5th,  6th,  7th,  nth  and  22d  regiments  of 
infantry  had  each  one  or  more  companies  there,  with  what  was  known 
as  the  Montana  Battalion  of  the  2d  and  most  of  what  remained  of  the 
7th  Cavalry.  Scouting  was  kept  in  all  directions  from  the  new  camp, 
but  with  little  result. 

"On  the  afternoon  of  September  17,  1877,  news  of  the  escape  of  the 
Nez  Perces  from  the  various  commands  sent  against  him  and  the  cross- 
ing of  the  Indians  to  the  northern  bank  of  the  Yellowstone  in  their 
flight  to  the  Canadian  border,  reached  Colonel  Miles  and  his  troops  in 
their  new  camp  at  the  mouth  of  the  Tongue.  An  hour  later,  his  350 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  365 

men  including  a  large  scouting  detachment  of  regulars,  citizens  and  Chey- 
ennes,  with  two  small  pieces  of  artillery,  were  also  moving  across  the 
Yellowstone  and  toward  the  Missouri,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Musselshell. 
Four  of  the  five  infantry  companies  were  mounted  on  horses  captured 
from  Lame  Deer's  band  the  previous  spring.  As  the  remainder  of  the 
command  consisted  of  regular  cavalry,  Colonel  Miles's  men  were  vir- 
tually all  mounted,  and  well  equipped  for  rapid  pursuit  of  the  fleeing 
Nez  Perces. 

"While  the  expedition  -was  gathering  at  the  mouth  of  the  Mussel- 
shell  preparing  to  march  up  its  valley  and  cut  off  the  Indians,  a  small 
Mackinaw  boat  came  floating  around  a  bend  of  the  Missouri  and  the 
two  men  in  it  informed  the  colonel  that  the  Nez  Perces  had  crossed  the 
river  at  Cow  island  two  days  before  and  had  gone  north.  The  route 
of  the  pursuing  party  was  accordingly  changed,  and  on  the  29th  of  Sep- 
tember when  a  point  had  been  reached  just  northeast  of  the  Bear  Paw 
mountains,  the  Cheyenne  scouts  found  a  broad  and  fresh  trail  of  the 
retreating  Indians  leading  due  north. 

"When  the  cavalry  finally  reached  the  Nez  Perces's  camp,  they  found 
it  was  located  on  a  small  stream  called  Snake  creek.  It  proved  in  an 
excellent  position  for  defense,  as  it  was  in  a  kidney-shaped  depression 
covering  about  six  acres  of  ground  along  the  western  side  of  which  the 
stream  ran  in  a  tortuous  course,  while  through  it,  from  the  steep  bluffs 
forming  its  eastern  and  southern  sides,  ran  coulees  from  two  to  six 
feet  in  depth  and  fringed  with  enough  sage  brush  to  hide  the  heads  of 
their  occupants.  Here  the  Nez  Perce  chieftain  had  pitched  his  camp 
and  here  he  now  made  his  last  stand  for  battle.  From  the  point  where 
the  camp  could  first  be  seen  it  appeared  open  to  attack  from  all  but 
its  eastern  side,  and  even  that  was  overlooked  by  bluffs  too  steep  to  be 
readily  ascended.  At  the  south  end  of  the  valley,  or  camp  ground, 
there  was  an  almost  perpendicular  bluff  that  afforded  excellent  cover 
for  a  line  firing  toward  the  point  from  which  the  attacking  party  was 
advancing.  This  point  of  vantage  was  instantly  occupied  by  the  Nez 
Perces  who,  withholding  their  fire  until  the  Seventh  Cavalry  were  within 
two  hundred  yards,  then  delivered  it  with  murderous  effect. 

"Captain  Hale  and  Lieutenant  J.  W.  Biddle  were  killed' at  the  first 
fire,  and  Captains  Moylan  and  Godfrey  wounded  immediately  afterward, 
thereby  leaving  but  one  officer  with  the  three  troops.  All  the  first  ser- 
geants were  killed.  Wherever  the  Indians  heard  a  voice  raised  in  com- 
mand, there  they  at  once  directed  their  fire  with  the  evident  design 
of  picking  off  the  officers.  As  they  came  up,  the  other  commands  were 
posted,  one  of  them  cutting  off  a  herd  of  ponies  and  capturing  the  ani- 
mals. When  the  camp  was  first  discovered,  a  portion  of  the  lodges  had 
been  struck  and  about  one  hundred  ponies  packed  for  the  day's  march. 
These,  guided  by  women  and  children  and  accompanied  by  fifty  or  sixty 
warriors,  were  at  once  rushed  out  and  started  northward.  An  attempt 
was  made  to  cut  off  their  retreat  by  a  troop  of  cavalry.  The  Indians 
halted  for  fight  after  going  about  five  miles  from  the  main  body,  and, 
finding  a  large  portion  of  their  pursuers  encumbered  by  the  care  of  the 


366  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

poriies  which  they  had  captured  shortly  before,  boldly  assumed  the  of- 
fensive and  forced  the  soldiers  back,  although  they  failed  in  their  efforts 
to  retake  the  stock. 

"Most  of  the  Indians  succeeding  in  getting  back  through  the  invest- 
ing lines  and  joining  their  companions  in  the  defense.  So  well  had 
these  succeeded  in  covering  themselves  that  scarcely  one  could  be  seen; 
but  from  their  concealment  they  sent  shots  with  unerring  aim  at  every 
head  exposed  by  the  troops.  When  the  cavalry  occupied  the  bluffs  east 
of  the  camp,  they  forced  the  abandonment  of  the  steep  bluff  from  which 
the  Indians  had  first  fired  upon  them,  and  as  the  Fifth  Infantry  came 
up  it  was  halted  at  its  crest.  Here  it  was  greeted  by  a  hot  fire  from  the 
sheltered  coulees,  or  draws,  in  low  ground  in  front,  some  of  them  not 
more  than  fifty  yards  away,  and  men  and  horses  began  to  drop  before 
they  could  be  dismounted.  The  Hotchkiss  gun  was  brought  up  and  an 
attempt  made  to  shell  the  Indians  from  their  cover,  but  it  could  not 
be  depressed  enough  to  be  effective  and  was  soon  driven  from  the  position 
with  severe  loss  to  its  gunners.  Between  fifty  and  sixty  of  the  lodges 
were  still  standing  in  the  valley,  and  in  them,  and  at  any  other  place 
where  they  could  be  protected  from  fire,  the  Indian  women  began  to 
sink  pits  for  shelter.  Many  of  the  warriors  worked  their  way  up  to 
the  edges  of  the  bluffs,  through  the  coulees  which  seamed  their  faces, 
and,  digging  into  the  bank,  through  the  soil  thus  obtained  up  over  the 
top,  soon  having  very  formidable  rifle  pits  in  use.  From  these  they 
picked  off  every  man  who  rose  to  his  feet  on  the  level  ground  east  of 
their  defenses.  As  the  distance  was  so  short  every  shot  could  be  made 
to  tell.  An  officer  had  one  shot  through  his  belt,  another  carried  away  his 
field-glass,  while  a  third  took  off  his  hunting  knife  and  cut  the  skin  from 
an  ear.  Creeping  carefully  up  to  the  edge  of  the  bluff  to  look  over,  a 
bullet  instantly  lifted  the  hat  and  lock  of  hair  for  a  sergeant,  and 
another  went  through  the  head  of  a  comrade  at  his  side.  A  company  of 
the  Fifth  Jnfantry  charged  the  Indian  camp,  but  were  driven  away  with 
considerable  loss,  and  as  soon  as  darkness  closed  the  white  troops  were 
posted  around  the  valley  to  prevent,  if  possible,  the  escape  of  any  of  the 
defenders.  The  line  was  necessarily  a  thin  one  and  despite  all  precau- 
tions a  few,  among  them  White  Bird  and  some  of  his  band  who  had  been 
responsible  for  outrages  leading  to  the  first  outbreak,  succeeded  in  escap- 
ing and  joining  those  already  in  Canadian  territory.  Aside  from  the 
Nez  Perces  there  was  another  possible,  if  not  probable,  element  of  dan- 
ger and  strife  to  be  guarded  against. 

"Sitting  Bull  with  a  band  reinforced  by  renegades  from  the  agencies 
was  not  far  away,  and  should  he  and  they  decide  to  take  part  in  the 
fray  there  would  be  'work  cut  out'  for  every  man ;  all  that  he  could  do. 
Hearing  of  the  battle  and  that  'Bear  Coat'  was  in  command  of  the  troops 
they  not  only  did  not  come,  but  struck  camp  and  did  not  halt  in  their 
northward  flight  until  more  than  a  day's  march  had  been  placed  between 
them  and  the  line. 

"If  to  the  men  on  duty  that  night  was  one  of  watchfulness ;  to  the 
wounded  it  was  one  of  ceaseless  agony.  There  was  no  fuel  at  hand, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  367 

and  none  of  the  troops  could  be  spared  to  obtain  any  from  a  distance. 
The  night  was  bitterly  cold,  the  train  with  the  tents  had  not  arrived,  and 
the  morning  of  October  first  dawned  on  a  sad  sight.  Some  had  died 
during  the  night,  while  others  supposed  to  be  dead  now  revived  to  a 
sense  of  misery  and  suffering.  Officers  and  enlisted  men,  white  and 
Indian  allies,  to  the  number  of  fifty  or  more,  lay  in  that  little  hollow 
place  together.  To  add  to  the  discomfort  'a  snow  storm  set  in  and  by 
night  four  or  five  inches  had  fallen  upon  the  combatants  and  disabled 
alike.  Up  to  that  time  the  Indians  had  the  advantage  of  the  troops  in 
this  respect  for  their  shelters  had  not  been  destroyed  and  the  wounded 
in  the  pits  beneath  them  were  of  course  protected  to  a  great  extent  from 
the  storm.  During  the  night  of  September  thirtieth,  however,  the  troops 
threw  up  such  intrenchments  as  could  be  made  with  the  few  tools  at 
hand,  and  from  that  time  the  losses  were  very  few.  With  the  Indians 
still  in  possession  of  the  water,  well  supplied  with  provisions  captured 
on  the  Missouri,  able  to  utilize  the  meat  of  animals  killed  by  our  fire 
and  with  considerable  ammunition,  the  siege  promised  to  extend  in- 
definitely. 

"On  the  evening  of  October  first,  the  train  under  command  of  Capt. 
Brotherton  arrived.  Tents  were  at  once  put  up  to  shelter  the  wounded, 
but  in  the  darkness  were  so  placed  that  they  could  be  reached  by  the 
rifles  of  the  Indians  and,  upon  being  lighted  up,  drew  the  fire  of  the 
enemy,  whereby  at  least  one  man  was  wounded.  The  twelve-pounder 
was  also  with  the  train,  and  scarcely  had  day  dawned  on  the  second 
before  its  boom  told  the  Indians  that  a  new  element  had  entered  for 
their  destruction.  Still  it  was  almost  impossible,  owing  to  the  shape 
of  the  ground,  to  bring  it  to  bear  on  the  pits  now  occupied  by  the 
hostiles,  who,  as  soon  as  shells  fell  in  their  camp,  abandoned  it  and 
all  took  refuge  in  the  banks  of  the  crooked  'coulees'  where  no  direct 
fire  could  be  made  to  reach  and  where  the  shells,  if  burst  over  them, 
were  likewise  liable  to  injure  our  men  on  the  high  ground  beyond.  A 
dropping  or  mortar  fire  was,  however,  obtained  by  sinking  the  trail  of 
the  gun  in  a  pit  dug  for  it  and  using  a  high  elevation  with  a  small  charge 
of  powder.  This  made  the  fire  effective,  and  late  in  the  afternoon  of 
the  second  Joseph  raised  a  white  flag.  Cheers  greeted  its  first  appear- 
ance and  soon  under  it  the  Nez  Perce  Chief,  his  clothing  pierced  with 
over  a  dozen  bullets  although  he  was  still  unharmed,  stood  face  to  face 
with  his  opponent. 

"While  he  was  willing  to  treat  he  did  not  admit  that  his  case  was 
desperate,  and  his  first  proposition  was  to  be  allowed  to  march  out  armed 
and  mounted,  abandoning  only  the  position  to  his  foe.  He  was  willing  to 
fight  still,  but  wished  to  save  his  women  and  children.  So  did  the  op- 
posing commander,  though  refusing  to  entertain  this  proposition,  and 
the  Nez  Perce  went  back  to  renew  the  battle. 

"The  storm  still  continued.  The  troops  in  the  trenches,  unable  to 
erect  any  shelters,  were  exposed  to  its  inclemency  for  all  that  the  arrival 
of  the  wagon  train  with  its  guard  had  permitted  the  gathering  of  fuel 
from  some  timber  several  miles  away. 


368 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


"On  the  third  another  parley  was  held,  the  terms  proposed  being  a 
surrender  of  persons,  all  property  and  arms  to  be  held  by  the  Indians. 
This  was  refused,  but  afterwards  modified  to  the  surrendering  of  the 
property  taken  from  the  river,  they  to  retain  the  stock  and  arms  and  to 
return  to  their  own  country.  This  was  all  the  chief  would  offer,  and 
he  returned  to  his  followers  disappointed,  but  not  defeated.  While 
Joseph  was  in  conference  with  General  Miles,  Lieutenant  Jerome,  of  the 
2d  Cavalry,  taking  advantage  of  the  truce,  made  his  way  into  the  Indian 


CHIEF  JOSEPH  OF  THE  NEZ  PERCES 

camp  where  he  remained  during  the  night  and  from  which  he  was  al- 
lowed to  depart  unharmed  the  next  morning. 

"On  the  morning  of  the  fourth  the  position  of  the  gun  was  changed 
and  the  second  shell  fired  dropped  into  what  had  been  a  safe  position, 
making  sad  havoc,  killing  and  disabling  about  a  dozen  persons.  Con- 
vinced that  the  total  destruction  of  his  people  was  only  a  question  of 
time,  Joseph  again  hosted  the  white  flag  and  surrendered. 

"General  Howard  had  arrived  on  the  ground  the  previous  night  and 
was  present  at  the  surrender,  which  was,  however,  made  to  General 
Miles. 

"The  four  companies  of  the  5th  Infantry  present  during  the  first  two 
days  aggregated  about  ninety  men  and  officers,  and  Captain  Brother- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  369 

ton  brought  up  about  forty  with  the  wagon  train.  Of  the  latter,  how- 
ever, none  were  killed  or  wounded.  The  aggregate  of  the  /th  Cavalry 
battalion  was  one  hundred  and  eight  men  and  officers;  that  of  the  2d 
Cavalry  about  one  hundred  and  twenty-five.  Total  killed,  two  offi- 
cers and  twenty-two  enlisted  men;  wounded,  four  officers  and  thir- 
ty-eight enlisted  men.  Two  Indian  scouts  were  also  killed  and  a 
number  wounded.  The  heaviest  loss  fell  upon  the  7th  Cavalry,  and 
was  nearly  all  inflicted  at  the  first  attack.  The  2d  Cavalry  suffered  but 
little,  as  they  were  principally  in  charge  of  the  captured  herd  during  the 
first  and  no  attempt  was  made  by  the  owners  to  recapture  it. 

"The  Nez  Perces  acknowledged  a  loss  of  seventeen  killed  and  forty 
wounded.  Some  of  the  latter  died  during  the  march  back  to  the  Mis- 
souri. The  total  number  of  those  who  escaped  to  Canada  was  afterwards 
ascertained  to  be  one  hundred  and  four.  The  captives  numbered  eighty- 
seven  men,  one  hundred  and  eighty-four  women  and  one  hundred  and 
forty-seven  children,  a  total  of  four  hundred  and  eighteen.  The  pro- 
portion of  the  sexes  and  ages  of  those  killed  is  not  known. 

"Two  days  were  spent  at  the  battle  ground  a.fter  the  surrender,  giving 
necessary  attention  to  the  wounded,  burying  the  dead,  and  arranging  for 
transportation  of  those  unable  to  travel  on  horseback  to  the  river.  The 
only  ambulance  with  the  command  was  given  up  to  two  enlisted  men,  one 
of  whom  had  a  broken  thigh,  the' other  shot  through  the  hips.  They  lived 
to  reach  the  river,  but  the  latter  died  as  he  was  carried  on  board  the 
steamer.  Wagons,  the  beds  of  which  were  filled  with  small  brush  cov- 
ered with  grass,  were  utilized  for  the  conveyance  of  such  others  as  could 
not  bear  transportation  on  horseback.  Much  of  the  country  was  rough 
and  broken  in  character,  and,  though  all  possible  care  was  exercised,  the 
suffering  of  many  of  the  injured  was  intense.  The  brush  and  grass  soon 
became  unevenly  packed  down  and  every  jolt  of  the  wagon  seemed  to 
open  up  fresh  wounds. 

"Two  steamers  had  been  ordered  to  the  point  where  the  column  was 
to  reach  the  river,  and  on  them  the  crossing  to  the  south  bank  was  made ; 
those  of  the  whites  too  badly  wounded  to  bear  further  land  transporta- 
tion being  sent  down  the  river,  the  infantry  to  Fort  Buford,  the  cavalry 
to  Fort  Lincoln." 


IN  THE  GOLD  MINING  DAYS 


CHAPTER  XVI 


In  the  chapter  (XI)  on  the  "Mineral  Geology  of  Montana"  is  told 
Nature's  story  of  the  deposits  of  mineral  wealth  within  the  present 
limits  of  the  state.  The  glow  of  gold  first  encouraged  its  settlers  to 
develop  them  into  commercial  value,  and  for  years  that  mineral  was>  all 
powerful.  The  industrial  and  commercial  side  of  the  reign  of  gold 
has  also  been  turned  toward  the  reader.  Now  for  silver,  copper  and 
coal,  as  well  as  the  still  more  recent  candidate  for  popular  favor — that 
"liquid  gold,"  which  is  so  closely  connected  with  the  fields  of  coal. 

BUTTE  FAILS  AS  A  GOLD  DISTRICT 

The  rich  gold  deposits,  both  placer  and  quartz,  were  in  the  Bannack 
and  Virginia  City  districts;  at  Butte,  conditions  were  comparatively 
unfavorable.  Placer  mining  was  most  unprofitable.  Not  only  were  the 
diggings  shallow,  but  the  gold  was  of  low  grade,  was  distributed  in  fine 
particles  and  brought  only  $11  to  $14  an  ounce.  Neither  was  there  any 
available  stream  for  washing,  and  the  gravel  had  to  be  hauled  by  ox-team 
to  Silver  Bow  Creek.  This  lack  of  running  water  led  to  the  construc- 
tion of  a  number  of  ditches,  in  1865-66.  They  generally  connected  Sil- 
ver Bow  Creek  with  the  Butte  diggings ;  but  the  fourth  ditch  constructed 
was  dug  from  Divide  Creek  to  the  placer  diggings  at  Silver  Bow,  which 
was  the  first  recorded  instance  of  the  waters  of  the  Missouri  being  car- 
ried to  the  Pacific  watershed  and  used  for  mining. 

An  account  of  these  spasmodic  attempts  to  found  gold  mining  in  the 
Butte  region  on  a  paying  basis,  continues:  "The  completion  of  these 
ditches,  with  the  facilities  they  afforded  for  washing  gold-bearing  gravel 
added  much  to  the  prospects  of  Butte,  which  burst  for  a  time  into  the 
spectacular  prosperity  of  the  typical  'boom'  camp.  Hurdy-gurdy  houses 
and  the  'wide-open'  gambling  dens,  besides  innumerable  saloons,  were 
in  full  blast.  It  is  estimated  that  during  the  three  years  that  placer 
mining  was  carried  on  in  Butte  about  $1,000,000  in  gold  was  obtained. 

"The  quartz  veins  on  the  hills  adjoining  the  placer  mines  were  almost 
immediately  located  by  prospectors.  The  first  vein-location  was  made 
by  W.  L.  Farlin  in  1864,  who  staked  the  Asteroid  claim  on  the  great 
blackstained  quartz  reef  west  of  the  present  city.  This  location  called 
the  Black  Chief  and  afterward  the  Travona,  was  originally  discovered 
early  in  1864  by  Charles  Murphy,  Maj.  William  Graham  and  Frank 
Madison,  who  named  it  the  Deer  Lodge  lode.  During  the  following  two 

371 


372 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


years  numbers  of  locations  were  made,  but  at  that  time  only  free  milling 
gold  ores  were  sought;  the  black  manganese-stained  outcrops  of  the  sil- 
ver veins  were  not  considered  especially  valuable. 

"Several  claims  on  the  Rainbow  lode  at  Walkerville  were  staked  dur- 
ing the  '6os,  and  ore  from  the  Mountain  Chief  shaft  was  hauled  by 
wagon  to  Fort  Benton,  shipped  down  the  Missouri  and  taken  to  Newark, 
New  Jersey.  By  the  autumn  of  1867  many  of  the  smaller  placer  mines 
were  worked  out.  The  ever  restless  and  shifting  population  began  to 
disperse  and  Butte  was  well  nigh  deserted.  In  the  winter  of  1868 
and  1869,  the  firm  of  Barnard  &  Company  constructed  a  new  ditch  from 


WILLIAM  A.  CLARK 

Divide  Creek  to  the  placer  mines  at  Pioneer  Gulch  near  Silver  Bow  City. 
That  camp,  which  had  shared  the  same  depression  as  its  neighbor,  Butte, 
received  a  new  impetus.  During  the  spring  and  summer,  there  was  a 
'stampede'  to  Silver  Bow ;  its  population  suddenly  swelled  to  about  one 
thousand;  the  ditch  company  sold  water  for  fifty  cents  an  inch  for 
ten  hours,  wages  were  $6  a  day,  nearly  a  hundred  claims  were  working 
and  many  buildings  from  Butte  were  moved  to  its  thriving  rival." 

/ 
RISE  OF  SILVER  MINING 

Interest  in  the  Montana  silver  ores  was  reflected  from  the  great 
Comstock  lode  in  Nevada,  and  in  1865  a  rich  vein  of  the  mineral  was 
discovered  in  the  Black  Chief,  or  Travona  claim,  just  west  of  Butte. 
The  Parrot  lead,  named  in  honor  of  R.  R.  Parrot,  a  leading  attorney,  by 
Dennis  Leary  and  others,  was  discovered  and  brought  other  improve- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  373 

ments.  Little  arrastres  and  smelters  commenced  to  appear  for  the  treat- 
ment of  the  silver  ores,  Mr.  Leary  and  the  Porter  Brothers  being  espe- 
cially prominent  in  these  matters  in  connection  with  the  Parrot  lode. 

INTRODUCING  WILLIAM  A.  CLARK 

"The  first  important  stride  in  the  development  of  Butte  as  a  silver- 
producing  center  was  in  1875,  when  work  began  in  earnest  on  the  Tra- 
vona  and  W.  L.  Farlin  commenced  the  Dexter  ic-stamp  mill  and  fur- 
nace close  to  the  mine,  treating  the  ores  by  chloridizing  roasting  and 
amalgamation.  In  the  following  year  William  A.  Clark  completed  the 
mill,  and  started  the  first  really  successful  treatment  of  the  local  silver 
ores.  From  $25  to  $30  per  ton  was  charged  for  smelting,  and  the 
wonderful  career  of  the  Butte  district  as  a  producer  of  silver  and  cop- 
per was  launched.  In  1875,  also,  McEnery  &  Packard  discovered  the 
Acquisition  claim.  Some  rich  silver  ore  was  taken  from  it  and  shipped 
to  Walker  Brothers  of  Salt  Lake  City.  Naturally,  they  became  inter- 
ested in  the  district  which  produced  such  ore,  and  they  sent  Marcus  Daly, 
then  in  their  employ,  to  examine  the  country,  and  if  possible,  secure  a 
promising  claim.  Thus  were  introduced  to  Montana  two  of  the  greatest 
developers  of  its  mining  properties. 

MARCUS  DALY 

Mr.  Daly  obtained  a  bond  on  the  Alice  Mine,  which  commenced 
operation  in  the  summer  of  1876  and  opened  the  great  Anaconda  hill  to 
the  mining  world.  Robert  Walker  and  Prof.  Joshua  E.  Clayton  came 
on  to  examine  the  ground  closely  and  scientifically,  and  the  latter 
gave  the  name  to  the  famous  Rainbow  lode  which  carried  such  claims 
as  the  Alice,  Magna  Charta,  Valdemere  and  Moulton.  After  the  initial 
shaft  had  been  sunk  to  a  depth  of  200  feet,  an  old  stamp  mill  was  brought 
from  Utah,  in  the  autumn  of  1877,  and  commenced  to  dry-crush  the 
ores.  A  roaster  was  added  within  the  following  two  years,  and  the  enter- 
prise "panned  out"  so  well  that  the  Alice  Company  constructed  a  co-stamp 
mill  in  1880. 

Similar  improvements  were  introduced  on  the  Moulton  claim  and  by 
the  Silver  Bow  Mining  and  Milling  Company,  but  the  leading  mine  of 
the  region  up  to  that  time  was  the  Alice,  under  the  masterly  management 
of  Marcus  Daly  and  the  ownership  of  Walker  Brothers  of  Salt  Lake 
City.  Mr.  Daly  had  acquired  a  one-third  interest  in  the  Anaconda  mine, 
which  property  embraced  a  number  of  other  claims,  and  in  1881  the 
Anaconda  Silver  Mining  Company  leased  the  Dexter  mill  and  treated  8,000 
tons  of  oxidized  silver  ore  from  its  properties.  The  ore  was  said  to  con- 
tain "just  enough  copper  to  make  it  unnecessary  to  add  bluestone  in  raw 
amalgamation,  but  yielded  a  very  base  bullion,  some  of  which  ran  only 
400  fine."  The  outlook  was  so  discouraging  that  Daly's  partners  might 
have  abandoned  the  Anaconda  bonanza,  had  it  not  been  for  his  insistence 
and  confidence.  His  belief  that  they  would  strike  copper  rich,  instead  of 


374  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

silver,  was  justified,  when  at  a  depth  of  300  feet,  a  cut  was  run  across  the 
main  shaft  and  laid  bare  a  copper  glance  five  feet  in  thickness.  Daly  had 
already  spent  a  fortune  in  proving  his  judgment. 

Prof.  Walter  H.  Weed,  the  geologist,  writes  as  follows  regarding 
the  decline  of  Montana  as  a  silver-producing  country:  "The  climax  of 
what  may  be  called  the  silver  period  of  Butte's  history  was  reached  in 
1887,  when  the  Alice  mill  was  dropping  80  stamps,  the  Moulton  40, 
the  Lexington  50,  the  Bluebird  9,  and  the  Silver  Bow  30 — a  total  of  290 
stamps.  The  amount  of  ore  worked  in  these  mills  aggregated  nearly 
440  tons  a  day,  to  which  should  be  added  the  silver  ores  shipped  to  the 
smelters,  aggregating  probably  100  tons  a  day.  All  this  ore  carried  con- 
siderable gold.  The  average  yield  was  probably  about  $25  a  ton  in  gold 
and  silver. 

"The  period  of  active  silver  mining  continued  until  1893,  when,  in 
common  with  other  silver  producers,  the  Butte  mines  were  almost  pros- 
trated by  the  decline  in  the  price  of  silver.  A  few  mines,  notably  the 
Nettie  and  Lexington,  continued  to  work  up  to  1896-97,  and  others  have 
worked  at  intervals  since  then,  but  none  has  been  an  active  producer  since 
1893,  save  the  Lexington,  in  which  veins  carrying  copper  are  mined. 

"In  the  history  of  Butte  the  metallurgical  advance  in  the  treatment  of 
the  silver  ores  has  been  very  steady,  the  free-milling  process  giving  place 
to  chlorination  and  roasting,  and  these  in  turn  to  more  improved  methods, 
so  that  ores  lower  and  lower  in  grade  could  be  treated.  With  the  great 
decline  in  silver  in  1892-93  and  the  closing  down  of  all  the  large  silver 
plants  in  1896,  the  mining  of  silver  ores  became  of  relatively  slight  im- 
portance and  has  since  been  carried  on  chiefly  by  lessees.  The  present 
(1913)  importance  of  Butte  as  a  producer  of  silver  and  gold  is  due  to 
the  fact  that  each  pound  of  copper  produced  contains  0.0375  ounce  of 
silver  and  $0.0025  in  gold,  or  approximately  $0.02^  in  precious  metals. 
According  to  this  ratio  the  Butte  copper  mines  yielded  8,550,000  ounces 
of  silver  in  1891." 

It  should  not  be  understood  that  the  production  of  silver  in  Montana 
decreased  precipitately  after  1896.  Butte,  as  the  great  center,  was  most 
hard  pressed,  but  as  a  whole  the  decrease  throughout  the  state  was  not 
especially  noticeable  until  1906,  when  the  production  fell  from  $i7,359r 
912  (1905)  to  $8,027,072  (1906). 

During  the  World  war,  and  since,  there  has  been  an  upward  tendency 
in  silver  production,  the  improvement  being  noticeable  outside  the  Butte 
district.  In  Jefferson  County,  silver  properties  which  shut  down  a  quarter 
of  a  century  ago  and  which  had  produced  as  high  as  $15,000,000  before 
the  bottom  fell  out  of  that  metal,  are  being  revived.  Says  the  1920  Year 
Book  of  Montana :  "Time  has  been  required  to  pump  them  out,  retimber 
shafts  and  drifts  and  make  them  ready  to  produce,  but  already  they  are 
producing  a  goodly  tonnage  of  ore,  which  there  is  every  reason  to  believe 
will  be  largely  increased  in  the  next  few  months.  The  old  silver  mining 
camp  of  Neihart,  Cascade  County,  has  experienced  the  same  recrudes- 
cence as  the  Jefferson  County  district.  The  same  is  true  of  the  Philips- 
burg  district,  Granite  County,  which  has  also  benefited  from  its 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  375 

Manganese  deposits.  In  Northwestern  Montana,  in  Lincoln  County,  the 
Snow  Storm  mine,  a  big  silver  and  lead  producer,  has  continued  opera- 
tions. The  Boston  &  Montana,  operating  in  the  Elkhorn  district  of  Beaver- 
head  County,  this  year  completed  the  building  of  a  38-mile  narrow-gauge 
railroad  to  give  it  outside  communication  and  it  will  soon  be  in  a  position 
to  operate.  Development  of  the  Cooke  City  mining  district,  at  the  north- 
eastern corner  of  the  Yellowstone  park,  has  been  hindered  by  lack  of 
transportation  facilities.  Various  projects  are  being  pushed  to  overcome 
this  obstacle." 

THE  RULE  OF  COPPER 

The  rise  of  the  copper  period  of  mining  overlaps  the  decline  of  silver 
as  a  great  Montana  product.  The  decade  from  1888  to  1898  shows  the 
output  running  almost  neck-and-neck,  ranging  from  $15,000,000  to  more 
than  $26,000,000  yearly.  In  1899,  copper  took  an  immense  leap  in  pro- 
duction to  nearly  $41,000,000,  and  since  then  it  has  reached  nearly  $100,- 
000,000. 

The  late  '705  brought  a  tremendous  development  to  the  copper  min- 
ing and  related  industries  of  Montana,  largely  through  the  broad  and 
wise  operations  of  Mr.  Daly  and  Mr.  Clark.  The  former  was  develop- 
ing the  riches  of  the  Anaconda- Never  sweat  mine  and  Mr.  Clark  was 
manipulating  such  claims  as  the  Original,  Colusa,  Mountain  Chief  and 
Gambetta.  Mr.  Clark  was  the  first  person  to  ship  copper  in  commercial 
quantities  from  Butte;  but  at  that  time  transportation  charges  absorbed 
all  possible  profits.  The  first  charge — an  appalling  item — was  for  haul- 
ing the  ore  a  distance  of  400  miles  by  wagon  train  to  Corrine,  the  nearest 
railway  station.  Much  of  the  ore  was  shipped  either  to  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, or  Black  Hawk,  Colorado,  for  smelting  and  reduction.  The  Boston 
&  Colorado  Smelting  Company  had  a  plant  at  the  latter  place.  In  re- 
sponse to  a  suggestion  from  Mr.  Clark,  that  company  sent  a  representa- 
tive to  the  Butte  district  to  examine  the  local  claims  that  a  smelter  would 
be  supported  there.  The  report  was  favorable,  the  Colorado  and  Mon- 
tana Smelting  Company  was  organized  in  1879,  a  s^te  f°r  tne  new  plant 
purchased  and  the  reduction  works  were  built;  which  made  both  the 
mining  and  preparation  of  copper  for  the  market  a  home  industry. 

In  the  '8os,  the  railroads  furnished  an  outlet  for  the  products  of  the 
great  copper  country  of  Montana.  On  December  21,  1881,  the  Utah 
Northern  entered  Butte,  and  gave  the  district  access  to  the  Union  Pacific 
system,  and  thus  to  the  markets  of  the  world.  On  July  12,  1888,  the 
Montana  Central  Railway,  which  for  some  months  had  been  racing  with 
the  Northern  Pacific  to  reach  Butte,  was  completed  and  thrown  open  to 
traffic.  The  Northern  Pacific  did  not  complete  its  branch  from  Helena 
to  Butte,  but  a  few  years  later  built  a  line  from  Three  Forks  to  Butte. 
The  Montana  Union  road,  from  Butte  through  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley 
to  Garrison,  on  the  Northern  Pacific,  built  by  the  Union  Pacific  interests, 
was  finished  on  September  8,  1883,  and  subsequently  became  a  portion 
of  the  Northern  Pacific  system. 


376  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

F.  AUGUSTUS  HEINZE  COMES 

With  the  advent  of  the  railroads  to  the  copper  country,  there  was 
also  introduced  a  stirring  genius  of  the  mining  world  who  was  to  share 
the  Montana  honors  with  William  A.  Clark  and  Marcus  Daly.  F.  Augus- 
tus Heinze  had  a  small  capital  bequeathed  to  him  by  a  German  relative 
and  is  said  to  have  had  rich  connections  also.  He  directed  his  studies 
at  Columbia  College  toward  the  western  career  which  he  had  planned, 
obtained  a  position  as  mine  surveyor  with  the  Boston  &  Montana  Com- 
pany and  in  1889  arrived  at  Butte  in  the  capacity  named.  In  the  careful 
and  scientific  examination  of  its  Montana  properties,  Mr.  Heinze  ob- 
tained a  fund  of  practical  information,  which  he  soon  used  in  the  devel- 
opment of  independent  ventures.  On  March  n,  1893,  he  organized  the 
Montana  Ore  Purchasing  Company  and,  having  secured  several  leases, 
began  operations  on  the  Ramsdell-Parrot,  Estella,  Rarus  and  Glengarry, 
subsequently  buying  the  last  two  mines  outright,  as  well  as  the  Corra- 
Rock  Island  and  Nipper  mines.  "With  his  advent  as  the  head  of  a  cor- 
poration, Mr.  Heinze  took  his  place  as  the  most  picturesque  and  daring 
figure  in  the  whole  great  game,"  says  a  writer  of  the  times,  "where  for- 
tunes were  fought  for,  made  and  lost  through  bitter  struggle  and  acrid 
hostility." 

DALY  DEVELOPS  ANACONDA  PROPERTIES 

About  the  time  that  the  Heinze  element  was  introduced  to  the  mining 
interests  of  Montana,  Marcus  Daly  was  raising  the  Anaconda  properties 
to  a  condition  of  wonderful  productiveness.  In  the  late  '8os  the  ore  output 
of  500  tons  daily  had  outgrown  the  smelting  capacity  of  the  Upper 
Works  on  the  north  banks  of  Warm  Springs  Creek;  and  their  recon- 
struction, in  1886,  did  not  meet  the  increasing  demands.  The  Lower 
Works,  a  mile  east  of  the  older  plant,  having  a  capacity  of  3,000  tons 
daily,  were  put  in  operation  in  the  fall  of  1889,  although  the  new  plant 
had  been  destroyed  by  fire.  Within  the  following  few  years  two  con- 
verter plants  were  erected  and  the  great  Anaconda  properties  grew  into 
mammoth  proportions,  even  after  1890,  when  ill  health  compelled  Mr. 
Daly  to  withdraw  from  active  management  and  promotion,  and  spend 
his  time  outside  the  Butte  district.  During  the  succeeding  decade,  Otto 
Stalmann  and  John  S.  Daugherty  held  the  reins  over  Anaconda,  the 
creator  of  the  great  properties  dying  in  New1  York  City  on  the  I2th  of 
November,  1900. 

When  Mr.  Daly  arrived  in  Butte,  there  were  no  smelting  plants  in 
the  West,  and  the  ores  produced  by  the  Anaconda  Company  were  at  first 
shipped  to  Swansea,  Wales,  for  treatment.  Without  adequate  water  sup- 
ply at  Butte,  he  noted  the  great  natural  advantages  for  the  construction 
of  a  smelter  at  a  point  about  twenty-eight  miles  west  of  the  city.  There 
he  built  a  plant  suitable  for  his  purposes,  and  called  the  town  Anaconda 
after  the  name  of  his  company.  To  connect  mines  and  works,  his  com- 
pany built  a  railroad  known  as  the  Butte,  Anaconda  &  Pacific,  to  trans- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  377 

port  the  ore  to  the   smelter  at   a   minimum   cost.     Marcus   Daly   may 
truthfully  be  called  the  father  of  Montana's  copper  industry. 

HEINZE  vs.  THE  AMALGAMATED  COPPER  COMPANY 

In  the  meantime — in  the  spring  of  1899 — the  Amalgamated  Copper 
Company  was  formed  by  the  consolidation  of  the  Anaconda  Copper  Com- 
pany, the  Parrot  Company,  Trenton  Mining  and  Development  Company, 
Butte  &  Boston  Consolidated  Mining  Company  and  Boston  &  Montana 
Consolidated  Copper  and  Silver  Mining  Company.  The  Amalgamated 
also  purchased  the  capital  stock  of  the  Washoe  Copper  Company  and  the 
Colorado  Mining  and  Smelting  Company,  afterward  called  the  Trenton. 
In  1901,  the  capital  of  this  vast  monopoly  was  increased  from  $750,000,- 
ooo  to  $1,555,000,000.  Mr.  Heinze  was  not  permitted  to  enter  the 
charmed  circle  of  the  Amalgamated  Copper  Company,  and  proceeded  to 
fight  it  in  the  courts,  with  W.  A.  Clark  as  its  strongest  representative  in 
Montana.  The  young  German  engineer  and  copper  promoter  now  planted 
himself  before  the  public  and  in  the  courts  of  Silver  Bow  County,  as  the 
champion  of  the  miners  and  the  people  waging  deadly  war  against  the 
great  Amalgamated  trust ;  and,  after  several  years  of  legal  meanderings 
and  court  entanglements,  gained  his  points  or  contentions.  Lack  of  space 
and  vital  historic  value  make  it  possible  to  give  only  a  general  picture  of 
this  passing  show  in  the  development  of  the  practical  copper  interests  of 
Montana. 

The  chief  offensive  weapons  used  by  Heinze  against  the  Amalgamated 
were  the  Montana  Ore  Purchasing  Company,  the  Minnie  Healy  mine, 
and  his  claim  known  as  the  Rarus  quartz  lode.  He  contended  that  the 
latter  little  triangle  of  ground  carried  the  apex  of  the  rich  copper  veins 
which  were  being  developed  by  the  Anaconda,  St.  Lawrence,  Neversweat 
and  other  leading  mines  absorbed  by  the  Amalgamated.  According  to 
miners'  law,  the  apex  controlled  the  veins,  and  Heinze  proceeded  to  obtain 
a  court  injunction,  granted  December  20,  1899,  by  which  the  mines  named 
were  shut  down  and  3,000  miners  thrown  out  of  employment.  The 
miners  and  the  people  commenced  to  have  doubts  as  to  the  practical  advan- 
tages of  his  championship.  The  court  (Judge  William  Gancy)  soon 
revoked  his  injunction  and  the  men  returned  to  work. 

In  one  of  the  cases  which  he  brought  against  the  Boston  &  Montana 
Consolidated  Company,  directed  specially  against  its  Pennsylvania  mine, 
Heinze  was  directed  by  the  court  to  furnish  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $950,- 
ooo.  The  defendant  petitioned  the  Supreme  Court  to  increase  that  amount, 
on  the  ground  that  Heinze  had  already  removed  from  that  claim  ores 
valued  at  $1,250,000;  and  the  higher  court  ordered  his  bond  increased  by 
$350,000  within  twelve  days.  Not  to  comply  with  this  order  meant  dis- 
aster to  Heinze,  and  on  the  day  before  the  additional  bond  was  due  the 
Delaware  Security  Company,  "qualified  to  do  business  in  Montana,"  was 
created.  Securities  covering  the  $350,000  were  furnished,  and,  if  the 
new  corporation  was  not  perfectly  solid  at  the  time,  everything  was  made 
tight  and  legal-proof  before  the  conclusion  of  the  investigation  of  its 
responsibility  ordered  by  the  Supreme  Court/ 


378  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Other  actions  of  momentous  import  to  Heinze  were  the  Minnie  Healy 
and  Michael  Davitt  cases.  "During  the  pendency  of  the  Michael  Davitt 
suit,"  says  a  contemporaneous  account,  "the  contending  forces  of  Heinze 
and  the  Amalgamated  carried  on  underground  warfare,  employing  dyna- 
mite, hot  water,  steam  and  slaked  lime  as  weapons.  In  this  terrific  strug- 
gle two  miners  named  Oleson  and  Divel,  while  attempting  to  install  a 
door  as  an  upraise  to  prevent  the  Pennsylvania  miners  from  being  smoked 
out,  were  killed  by  a  quantity  of  giant  powder  which  came  down  upon 
them.  The  jury  at  the  coroner's  inquest  over  their  bodies  found  that 
the  blast  had  been  fired  with  criminal  carelessness,  if  not  with  criminal 
intent.  Later  the  widow  of  Oleson  obtained  a  verdict  of  $25,000  against 
the  Montana  Ore  Purchasing  Company,  a  Heinze  corporation.  Federal 
Judge  James  H.  Beatty,  on  March  30,  1904,  fined  Heinze  $20,000  for 
the  violation  of  an  order  issued  by  Judge  Hiram  Knowles  prohibiting  min- 
ing in  the  premises  in  controversy,  and  it  was  claimed  by  the  witnesses 
for  the  Amalgamated  properties  that  Heinze  or  his  companies  had  taken 
over  $1,000,000  worth  of  ore  from  the  Michael  Davitt  veins. 

"In  litigation  involving  the  ownership  of  immensely  valuable  ore 
bodies  lying  between  the  Minnie  Healy  claim  and  adjoining  properties 
belonging  to  the  Amalgamated,  the  same  tactics  were  pursued  and,  with 
Clancy's  decision  awarding  this  ground  to  Heinze,  a  series  of  giant  pow- 
der blasts  fired  almost  simultaneously  with  the  rendition  of  the  court's 
ruling,  shattered  the  area  in  conflict  beyond  the  hope  of  mining  operations 
therein  until  the  underground  workings  could  be  repaired.  The  Supreme 
Court  of  Montana  finally  decided  that  Heinze  had  no  right  to  these  ore 
bodies  in  dispute.  The  Amalgamated  had  destroyed  its  own  properties 
to  prevent  their  falling  into  the  hands  of  its  enemy." 

The  controversy  over  the  Minnie  Healy  property,  which  Heinze 
secured  in  1900  and  which  he  claimed  comprised  the  apex  of  several  valu- 
able veins,  or  mines,  worked  by  the  Boston  &  Montana  Consolidated, 
wound  through  the  courts  for  about  three  years.  Twice  the  County  Court 
decided  in  Heinze's  favor,  in  one  of  the  decisions  Judge  Clancy  deciding 
that  the  Amalgamated  Copper  Company  was  existing  in  violation  of  the 
laws  of  Montana  prohibiting  trusts  from  operating  within  its  limits.  The 
Amalgamated  then  closed  its  plants  in  Butte  and  thousands  of  men  were 
thrown  out  of  employment.  The  bankers  of  Butte,  the  Miners  Union, 
Heinze,  Governor  J.  K.  Toole  and  the  Legislative  Assembly  participated 
in  the  imbroglio.  In  1903,  the  Governor  called  an  extraordinary  session 
to  consider  the  matter,  and  on  November  nth  of  that  year,  the  date  of 
his  call,  work  was  resumed  on  the  properties  of  the  Amalgamated.  But 
Heinze's  opposition  was  not  quieted  until  February,  1906,  when  the  Butte 
Coalition  Company  and  the  Red  Metal  Mining  Company,  affiliated  with 
the  Amalgamated  Copper  Company,  purchased  the  Heinze  interests,  ex- 
cepting the  Lexington  mine,  for  the  sum  of  $10,500,000.  In  1910,  the 
Amalgamated  also  secured  all  the  important  holdings  of  William  A.  Clark, 
save  the  Black  Rock. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  379 

RENEWED  EXPANSION  AND  DEPRESSION 

Not  long  after  the  resumption  of  work  in  the  Amalgamated  prop- 
erties in  1903,  Pittsburg  capital  entered  Butte  and  Montana,  and  erected 
an  enormous  smelter  at  the  center  of  the  copper  industries.  The  com- 
pany which  thus  so  heartened  the  local  promoters  and  braced  the  home 
market  took  the  name  of  Pitts-mont,  which  is  easily  analyzed.  The  dis- 
covery of  a  very  large  vein  by  the  new  company,  afterward  absorbed  by 
the  East  Butte  Copper  Mining  Company,  established  the  existence  of  rich 
copper  deposits  in  the  "flat." 

In  1904,  the  North  Butte  Copper  Company,  then  recently  organized, 
purchased  a  controlling  interest  in  the  Spectacular  mine  for  $5,000,000, 
and  added  to  its  holdings  by  securing  a  number  of  adjoining  claims.  The 
successful  development  of  the  combined  holdings  caused  the  formation, 
in  1905,  of  the  East  Butte  Copper  Company.  Various  other  companies 
began  operations  to  the  east,  on  the  upward  slope  of  the  continental  divide, 
and  in  nearly  every  instance  where  sufficient  depth  was  attained,  copper 
was  found,  proving  that  the  veins  extended  beyond  the  limits  of  the  sup- 
posed copper  zone.  The  gold  fever  at  its  height  did  not  exceed  the  craze 
for  copper  mining  which  spread  through  all  classes.  In  the  Butte  dis- 
trict and  along  every  approach  to  it,  "gophering"  was  general.  Little 
greenish  white  dumps,  like  ant-hills,  speckled  the  dun  level,  ribs  of  tiny 
shaft  houses  appeared  on  the  foot-hills,  and  there  was  a  general  upheaval 
in  quest  of  the  metal  which  had  superseded  both  gold  and  silver  as  really 
"precious."  The  price  of  copper  rose  to  unprecedented  prices,  awaiting 
the  era  of  an  expanded  production. 

The  statistics  showing  the  copper  production  of  Montana  indicate  the 
retarding  influence  exerted  by  the  continuous  litigations  in  the  courts  and 
the  physical  acts  of  violence,  with  actual  discontinuance  of  mining  opera- 
tions, during  the  period  of  the  Heinze  activities.  From  $40,941,906,  in 
1899,  the  production  fell  as  low  as  $24,606,038,  in  1902.  It  rose  to  $56,- 
105,288,  in  1906;  $51,106,914,  in  1912;  $60,000,000,  in  1915;  $97,461,- 
ooo,  in  1916;  $81,142,377,  in  1917,  and  $79,824,189,  in  1918. 

The  drafting  of  an  industrial,  as  well  as  a  military  army  into  the 
World's  war,  seriously  affected  the  copper  industries  and  the  production 
of  Montana,  and  the  figures  were  not  slow  in  illustrating  the  fact.  The 
continuous  decrease  in  the  price  of  copper  has  had  the  greater  effect, 
which  has  resulted  in  closing  most  of  the  Butte  plants,  and  bringing  the 
working  force  of  those  which  are  in  operation  to  a  small  percentage  of 
what  it  was  in  prosperous,  or  even  normal  times.  The  output  of  Mon- 
tana copper  decreased  from  323,174,850  pounds  in  1918  to  180,246,000 
pounds  in  1919;  which  represents  a  decrease  of  $45,884,000  in  value. 
The  average  monthly  production  of  the  smelting  plants  of  the  Anaconda 
Copper  Company,  at  Great  Falls  and  Anaconda,  was  nearly  13,000,000 
pounds  of  copper,  as  against  24,500,000  pounds  in  1918.  The  Pittsmont 
plant  of  the  East  Butte  Company  produced  more  than  1,500,000  pounds 
a  month  instead  of  2,000,000  pounds,  as  in  1918.  In  addition  to  the 
mines  of  the  Anaconda  and  East  Butte  companies,  the  North  Butte,  Davis 


380  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Daly,  Butte  Reduction  Works  dump,  Butte  Ramsdall,  Elm  Orlu,  Butte 
Duluth,  Butte  and  Superior,  Tuolumne  and  Bullwhacker  produced  con- 
siderable copper. 

SAMPLING  ORES  FOR  COMMERCIAL  PURPOSES 

One  of  the  most  recent  and  important  advances  made  by  Montana 
mining  experts  is  the  authorized  state  system  of  sampling  its  mineral  pro- 
ductions as  a  basis  for  commercial  dealings.  It  is  under  the  jurisdiction 
of  the  State  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy,  which  was  created  by  the 
Legislative  Assembly  of  Montana  in  1919.  One  of  the  duties  of  the  new 
bureau  was  "to  study  the  mining,  milling  and  smelting  operations  carried 
on  in  the  state  with  special  reference  to  their  improvement;"  also,  "to 
prepare  and  to  publish  bulletins  and  reports,  with  necessary  illustrations 
and  maps,  which  shall  embrace  both  a  general  and  detailed  description  of 
the  natural  resources  and  geology,  mines,  mills  and  reduction  plants  of 
the  state."  In  1920,  the  bureau  therefore  presented,  in  pamphlet  form, 
a  study  of  sampling  and  the  sampling  facilities  of  Montana.  From  this 
report  it  appears  that  whoever  now  mines  ore  in  the  state  sells  it  on  the 
results  of  the  analysis  of  a  sample;  ore  is  purchased  on  its  value  as 
determined  by  sampling ;  the  plants  are  operated  on  a  basis  of  results  from 
sampled  materials;  efficiencies  and  losses  are  all  based  on  results  from 
samplings.  Sampling  is  therefore  one  of  the  most  vital  and  necessary 
operations  of  modern  mining  and  metallurgical  industry." 

*Woodbridge  in  a  recent  paper  published  by  the  United  States  Bureau 
of  Mines  defines  sampling  as  follows :  "The  correct  sampling  of  a  lot  of 
ore  is  the  process  of  obtaining  from  it  a  smaller  quantity  that  contains, 
in  unchanged  percentages,  all  the  constituents  of  the  original  lot."  He 
further  qualifies  and  defines  the  operations  in  his  next  paragraph :  "The 
commercial  object  of  sampling  is  accomplished  when  the  ultimate  sample 
obtained  meets  the  above  conditions  within  an  allowable  limit  of  error, 
and  has  been  obtained  with  reasonable  speed  and  at  a  moderate  cost. 
The  final  sample  should  be  dry  and  of  such  bulk  and  degree  of  fineness 
as  to  be  immediately  available  for  the  determination  by  the  assayer  or 
chemist  of  one  or  more  of  its  constituents." 

Four  wholly  different,  yet  essential,  sorts  of  work  may  be  done  to 
accomplish  the  intended  purpose  of  sampling.  The  four  operations  are : 

1.  Crushing,  or  grinding. 

2.  Selecting — dividing  or  cutting. 

3.  Mixing. 

4.  Drying. 

Sampling  is  now  carried  on  extensively  in  Montana  in  seven  sampling 
mills  and  in  at  least  five  large  and  important  ore-dressing  mills.  The 
largest  is  the  $150,000  steel-concrete  custom  ore  sampling  plant  of  the 
Anaconda  Mining  Company  which  is  known  as  the  Washoe  sampler,  and 
is  situated  on  the  main  line  of  the  Butte,  Anaconda  &  Pacific  Railroad  at 

*Woodbridge,  J.  T.;  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Mines,  Technical  Paper  86  (1916). 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  381 

Butte.  The  main  mill  portion  was  put  in  operation  in  1911,  after  a  fire 
had  destroyed  the  previous  structure. 

The  American  Smelting  &  Refining  Company  provides  extensive 
sampling  facilities  for  the  custom  ores  which  maintains  its  lead  smeltery 
at  East  Helena.  The  smeltery  started  operations  thirty  years  ago,  and 
some  of  the  sampling  mill  construction  dates  from  about  that  time.  The 
plant  maintains  three  distinct  sampling  mills  and  a  steel  sampling  floor. 

The  East  Butte  Copper  Mining  Company  samples  all  of  its  second- 
class  ore  and  custom  ore  in  a  mill  adjacent  to  its  smeltery  at  Butte. 

The  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company  maintains  two  sampling  mills 
in  its  great  smeltery  at  Anaconda.  The  mills  are  almost  exclusively  used 
for  sampling  ores  from  its  own  mines,  since  custom  ores  are  sampled  in 
the  Washoe  sampler  at  Butte.  The  Southern  Cross  sampling  mill  is  a 
plant  addition  made  to  the  smeltery  some  three  years  ago  by  the  company. 

The  paper  issued  by  the  State  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy  has 
this  additional  information  about  the  sampling  facilities  of  Montana: 

"A  great  deal  of  sampling  is  done  as  part  of  the  daily  routine  in  all 
concentrating  and  cyaniding  mills.  In  ore  treatment  plants  conditions  are 
decidedly  favorable  for  cheap  and  accurate  work.  The  greatest  difficulty 
is  unquestionably  in  the  sampling  of  mill  heads  where  hardly  less  than  a 
full  observance  of  all  the  rules  for  crushing  and  dividing  can  be  expected 
to  supply  precise  data. 

"Every  tenth  car  of  ore  for  the  great  Anaconda  i7,ooo-ton  concen- 
trator is  sampled  in  the  Anaconda  sampling  mill  which  has  already  been 
described.  All  the  ore  going  to  the  East  Butte  concentrator  is  sampled 
in  the  East  Butte  sampling  mill,  also  one  of  the  mills  described  in  this 
paper.  The  Butte  and  Superior  concentrator  feed  is  hand  sampled  every 
half  hour;  50  pounds  are  taken  at  each  interval.  The  Timber  Butte 
concentrator  is  equipped  with  a  hand  operated  device  which  cuts  out  sam- 
ples from  the  crushed  feed  as  the  stock  pours  from  one  conveyor  head  to 
another  conveyor.  The  Shannon  mine  of  the  Barnes  King  Company  is 
equipped  with  mechanical  contrivances  which  automatically  cut  out  por- 
tions of  the  ore  at  the  tramway  loading  station;  the  sample  is  worked 
down  to  final  pulp  in  the  customary  way. 

"The  sampling  of  the  different  streams  of  mill  pulp  is  carried  out  in 
different  degrees  by  various  means  in  the  several  mills.  Usually  hand 
samples  are  taken  at  designated  intervals.  Swinging  stream  samplers  are 
built  in  a  variety  of  models  and  frequently  used.  A  complete  automatic 
stream  sampling  system  is  in  use  at  the  Butte  and  Superior  mill ;  an  elec- 
trical timing  and  operating  installation  swings  samplers  across  a  half- 
dozen  streams  at  exactly  8-minute  intervals.  Milling  work  inevitably 
smooths  out  inequalities  in  the  raw  ore ;  the  material  is  abundantly  crushed ; 
mixings  and  dispersions  occur  throughout  the  line  of  pulp  flow.  The 
required  precision  of  the  sampling  operation  is  obtained  with  slight  ex- 
pense for  installation,  upkeep,  or  attendance. 

"Mill  products  can  be  sampled  as  pulps  while  the  concentrates  are 
flowing  to  collecting  bins;  they  can  be  pipe-sampled  as  lots  in  bins  or  in 


382  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

railroad  cars,  or  they  can  be  hand-sampled  by  shovel  and  cone  and  quarter 
methods. 

"As  a  rule,  ordinary  mill  sampling,  except  for  the  sampling  of  the 
heads,  is  far. easier  to  accomplish  than  the  sampling  of  lots  of  custom  ore; 
mill  heads  require  practically  the  same  treatment  that  lots  get  in  the  best 
of  custom  samplers." 

PEACE  BRINGS  STAGNATION 

In  the  quantity  and  value  of  its  output,  zinc  is  third  of  the  mineral 
products  of  Montana.  It  closely  follows  silver  and,  like  that  precious 
metal,  js  a  by-product  of  copper.  After  the  armistice  was  signed  in 
November,  1918,  the  price  of  copper,  lead  and  zinc  declined  at  such  rail- 
road speed  that  by  the  first  of  1919  the  output  of  the  Butte  district  had 
fallen  to  about  sixty  per  cent  of  the  normal.  Production  from  the  mines 
was  not  seriously  affected  by  strikes,  although  there  was  some  labor  trou- 
ble in  February.  Manganese  properties  suffered  with  special  severity, 
as  the  various  chemical  developments  of  manganese  (always  associated 
with  iron)  were  used  both  medicinally  and  surgically,  and  when  the  great 
war  ended  the  chief  demand  was  taken  away.  When  the  armistice  was 
signed,  practically  all  the  manganese  properties  closed  down  but,  as  in  the 
case  of  silver,  there  has  since  been  a  revival  of  the  industries  based  on 
that  product. 

The  extensive  search  of  the  country  for  manganese  to  meet  the  war 
demands  led  to  the  development  of  both  the  Philipsburg  and  Butte  dis- 
tricts, where  large  and  paying  quantities  had  been  found.  Of  the  high 
grade  ore  produced,  that  containing  thirty-five  per  cent  or  more  of  man- 
ganese, the  Philipsburg  district  produced  127,415  tons  and  the  Butte  dis- 
trict 72,381  tons  in  1918— more  than  two-thirds  of  the  total  production  of 
the  United  States. 

THE  MINING  OF  ZINC 

The  mining  of  zinc  is  the  latest  development  in  the  Montana  field. 
The  industry  was  first  placed  on  its  feet  in  1907,  when  the  Butte  & 
Superior  Copper  Company,  Limited,  which  had  been  organized  during  the 
previous  year,  began  active  operations.  The  field  of  its  developments 
embraced  about  ninety  acres  in  the  northern  portion  of  the  Butte  district, 
and  included  the  Black  Rock  mine  among  the  group  of  claims  controlled 
by  the  company.  The  Black  Rock  developments  had  been  merely  surface 
workings,  but  the  new  company  sunk  its  main  shaft  to  a  depth  of  800 
feet  before  any  laterals  were  undertaken.  It  was  then  discovered  that 
instead  of 'the  upper  deposits  of  silver  ore  being  underlaid  by  copper- 
bearing  deposits,  as  had  been  presumed,  the  principal  value  of  the  veins 
under  development  lay  in  the  zinc  contents.  During  the  following  four  or 
five  years  the  workings  were  sunk  deeper  and  deeper,  with  levels  run 
at  200-feet  levels,  until  a  depth  of  1,600  feet  was  reached,  and  a  mill 
built  at  Basin,  twenty-five  miles  northeast  of  Butte,  for  metallurgical  in- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  383 

vestigations.  Additions  to  the  original  claims  were  also  made,  as  the 
company  acquired  ownership  in  the  stock  of  the  Butte-New  York  Copper 
Company  (controlling  the  Butte-Milwaukee  Copper  Company)  and  the 
North  Butte  Extension  Development  Company.  The  additions  thus  made 
to  its  working  claims  covered  ninety-two  acres,  and  by  the  end  of  1912 
the  total  area  owned  and  controlled  by  the  Butte  &  Superior  Copper  Com- 
pany amounted  to  245  acres.  The  principal  developments,  however,  were 
on  the  Black  Rock  claim,  although  in  1912  considerable  work  was  done 
on  the  Butte-Milwaukee  property. 

The  Elm  Orlu,  owned  and  operated  by  the  company  of  that  name,  was 
an  early  and  a  large  producer.  It  is  both  a  zinc  and  a  copper  mine.  As 
a  rule,  the  zinc  and  copper  occur  in  distinct  lenses,  lying  side  by  side  or 
in  segregated  bunches,  alternately  copper  and  zinc.  When  the  copper 
predominates  the  percentage  of  zinc  is  small.  While  the  average  of  the 
ore  is  twenty  per  cent  zinc,  there  are  numerous  localities  where  the  values 
run  as  high  as  thirty-five  per  cent.  Owing  to  the  destruction  by  fire  of 
the  Butte  Reduction  Works  in  1912,  a  concentrator  was  built  at  Timber 
Butte  for  the  testing  of  the  Elm  Orlu  ores. 

Besides  the  Butte  &  Superior  and  Elm  Orlu,  the  principal  zinc  pro- 
ducers of  Montana  have  been  the  Anaconda  and  Butte  Copper  &  Zinc 
mines.  Smaller  producers  were  the  Snow  Storm  mine,  Lincoln  County; 
the  Davis  Daly,  at  Butte,  and  the  Montana  Consolidated,  in  Jefferson 
County.  Most  of  the  zinc  concentrate  was  melted  in  the  East,  but  zinc 
ores  from  the  mines  of  the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company  were 
concentrated  at  Anaconda,  and  the  concentrates  were  leached  at  Great 
Falls.  The  electrolytic  plant  was  active  during  1919,  but  the  output  was 
less  than  that  of  1918,  when  much  custom  material  was  treated. 

The  output  of  recoverable  zinc  in  Montana  decreased  from  209,258,- 
148  pounds,  value  of  $19,042,491,  in  1918,  to  about  176,432,000  pounds, 
value  of  $12,915,000,  in  1919.  In  1908,  the  first  year  in  which  the  metal 
was  produced  in  commercial  quantities,  the  output  of  zinc  was  valued 
at  $77,080.  It  gradually  increased  to  $5,690,000  in  1914,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing year  leaped  to  $14,500,000  and  in  1916,  to  $31,099,000.  In  1917, 
the  year  that  the  United  States  entered  the  World  war,  the  value  of  the 
zinc  product  of  the  Montana  mines  fell  to  $16,506,000. 

THE  OUTPUT  OF  LEAD 

Although  lead  is  the  least  important  in  productive  capacity  of  the 
five  minerals  which  have  made  Montana  a  great  mining  state,  it  is  the 
only  one  which  shows  a  decided  increase  in  the  value  of  its  output,  within 
very  recent  years — since  1916.  Lead  commenced  to  be  shipped  from  the 
Montana  mines  as  early  as  1883;  in  that  year  the  product  was  valued  at 
$226,424.  It  gradually  increased  to  $1,229,027,  in  1891,  suffering  a  gen- 
eral decline,  on  the  whole,  until  1916,  when  the  output  increased  to  $i,- 
151,000,  as  against  $550,000  in  the  previous  year.  In  1917,  it  increased 
to  $1,545,568,  and  in  1918  to  $2,636,649 — the  banner  year  up  to  that 


384  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

time.  A  large  part  of  the  lead  came  from  the  lead-zinc  ores  of  the 
Anaconda  properties  at  Butte,  treated  at  Great  Falls.  The  Butte  & 
Superior  property  at  Butte,  and  the  Snow  Storm  mine  at  Troy,  Lincoln 
County,  were  also  contributors.  Smaller  quantities  came  from  the  Angel- 
ica and  Pilgrim  mines,  in  Jefferson  County,  and  the  Davis  Daly  property, 
at  Butte.  The  usual  increases  in  both  lead  and  silver  are  due  to  the 
marketing  of  by-products  from  the  electrolytic  plant  at  Great  Falls. 

VALUE  AND  QUANTITIES  OF  MINERAL  OUTPUT 

The  latest  accessible  figures,  furnished  by  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey  for  1919,  give  the  following  as  the  value  of  the  output  of  the  five 
principal  sources  of  Montana's  mineral  wealth: 

Copper $33,940,188 

Silver    14,768,000 

Zinc     12,915,000 

Lead    : 2,41 1,787 

Gold    2,272,000 


Total   $66,307,975 

By  counties,  Silver  Bow  is  still  far  in  the  lead,  notwithstanding  the 
depression  in  the  Butte  industries.  Although  there  is  no  comparison  be- 
tween Silver  Bow  County,  with  its  normal  mineral  production  of  more 
than  $100,000,000  and  Jefferson  County,  with  its  output  of  $1,000,000. 
the  latter  leads  the  minor  counties  in  this  regard,  and  is  usually  followed 
by  Lincoln,  Lewis  &  Clark,  Granite  and  Madison,  about  in  the  order 
named.  In  1918,  Silver  Bow  produced  more  than  321,000,000  pounds  of 
copper,  as  against  the  323,000,000  pounds  representing  the  entire  output 
of  the  state;  15,000,000  ounces  of  the  16,797,000  coming  from  the  silver 
mines;  204,963,000  of  the  29,258,000  pounds  of  zinc  mined;  22,746,000 
pounds  of  lead,  the  entire  state  producing  37,135,000;  and  43,638  ounces 
of  gold,  compared  with  the  150,192  produced  by  all  the  gold  deposits  of 
Montana.  After  Silver  Bow,  Broadwater,  Mineral  and  Jefferson  coun- 
ties are  the  leading  copper  producing  sections;  Jefferson,  Granite  and 
Cascade,  the  silver  counties;  Jefferson  and  Lincoln,  producers  of  zinc; 
Lincoln,  Jefferson,  Cascade  and  Beaverhead,  of  lead,  and  Lewis  &  Clark, 
Deer  Lodge,  and  Madison,  of  gold. 

COAL  AND  LIGNITE 

The  coal  fields  of  Montana,  as  traced  by  the  geologist,  have  already 
been  described.  Within  the  past  twenty  years,  the  mining  of  coal  and 
lignite  (a  sort  of  woody  coal)  for  commercial,  industrial  and  domestic 
purposes,  has  become  a  leading  source  of  wealth,  comfort  and  prosperity. 
Throughout  the  state,  there  are  about  fifteen  large  mines  and  forty  smaller 
ones.  Some  of  them  have  been  used  on  a  commercial  scale  for  years, 
while  others  serve  to  supply  the  neighboring  farmers.  The  latter  are 


BUTTE  AND  SURROUNDINGS 


386  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  lignite  deposits,  which  underly  a  large  portion  of  the  eastern  section 
of  the  state  and  have  contributed  much  to  its  settlement. 

In  Carbon,  Musselshell  and  Cascade  counties  there  is  a  good  grade 
of  coal.  The  mines  in  the  southern  and  central  portions  of  the  state  are 
extensive  and  not  only  furnish  employment  for  a  large  number  of  men 
but  provide  markets  for  farm  products.  Much  coal  is  being  mined  on 
land  which  is  leased  from  the  state,  the  proceeds  going  into  the  public 
school  fund. 

With  few  exceptions,  there  has  been  an  increase  in  the  amount  of  coal 
mined  in  Montana,  from  year  to  year,  since  1901.  In  that  year  the  output 
was  1,442,569  tons.  During  the  years  when  the  country  was  pushing 
the  war  industries,  in  which  Montana  largely  participated,  the  production 
of  Montana  coal  reached  its  maximum — 4,227,000  tons  in  1917  and 
4,276,000,  in  1918.  For  the  year  ending  December  31,  1919,  the  output 
was  3,300,000  tons,  valued  at  $10,725,000.  Experts  claim  that  fully 
twenty  per  cent  of  Montana's  area  is  underlain  with  either  coal  or  lignite, 
which,  with  the  wise  conservation  of  her  forest  wealth  by  the  national 
government,  seems  to  make  her  fuel  supply  well  assured. 

The  important  position  of  Montana  in  the  coal  economy  of  the  United 
States  is  recognized  by  the  United  States  Bureau  of  Mines,  which,  with 
the  Canadian  Government,  is  making  a  special  investigation  to  test  the 
feasibility  of  carbonizing  lignite,  so  as  to  bring  it  in  the  class  of  com- 
mercial coal.  Sufficient  progress  has  been  made  to  warrant  the  belief 
that  it  is  feasible,  which,  if  it  should  be  the  fact,  would  bring  the  vast 
deposits  of  lignite  both  in  western  Canada  and  the  northwestern  states 
of  the  Union  into  the  channels  of  commerce  and  trade. 

It  is  an  important  economic  consideration  that  these  lignites  are  found 
in  those  parts  of  the  country  that  have  no  other  solid  fuel.  But  because 
of  the  large  content  of  moisture  in  lignite  and  its  liability  to  spontaneous 
combustion  when  stored,  it  is  not  a  most  desirable  fuel,  and  millions  of 
tons  of  bituminous  and  anthracite  coal  are  shipped  annually  into  lignite- 
bearing  regions.  The  results  are  high  prices  for  both  industrial  and 
domestic  fuel,  the  imposition  of  a  great  handicap  on  the  industrial  devel- 
opment of  these  regions,  the  tying  up  of  much  transportation  equipment 
needed  for  other  service,  and  other  economic  lost  motion. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  nation's  coal  resources  total  3,553,637,100,000 
mineral  tons  of  2,000  pounds.  Of  that  amount,  1,051,290,000,000  tons, 
or  nearly  one-third,  is  lignite,  and  964,424,000,000,  or  more  than  ninety 
per  cent,  are  contained  in  the  Dakota  and  Montana  deposits. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  OIL  FIELDS 

Since  the  fall  of  1919,  when  Montana's  first  well  to  produce  oil  in 
commercial  quantities  was  struck,  the  east-central  part  of  the  state  has 
been  covered  with  a  seething  tide  of  prospectors,  promoters  and  pro- 
ducers. Musselshell,  Fergus  and  Garfield  counties  have  shown  the  greatest 
and  the  steadiest  development.  Their  location  is  on  the  western  border 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  387 

of  the  widely  extended  coal  fields  which  are  coextensive  with  those  of 
the  Dakotas;  and  one  of  the  geological  explanations  of  the  prevalence 
of  the  remarkable  flow  of  oil  found  in  that  section  is  that  the  seepage  of 
the  liquid  gold  from  the  coal  veins  has  been  directed  toward  the  rim  of 
the  vast  coal  basin  which  underlies  the  Dakotas  and  east-central  Montana. 
In  1919  and  1920,  the  United  States  Geological  Survey  made  a  scientific 
investigation  of  about  850  square  miles  in  Central  Montana,  which  in- 
cludes the  greater  part  of  a  plunging  geanticline — a  large  sloping  flexture 
of  the  earth's  crust — which  is  an  eastern  extension  of  the  Big  Snowy  and 
Judith  mountains  uplift.  Along  the  northern  and  southern  flanks  of  this 
geanticline  there  are  two  pronounced  anticlinal  folds,  and  along  the  axes 
of  these  folds  are  several  oval  domes.  The  strata  between  these  two  folds 
are  flexed  into  a  series  of  low-plunging  anticlines  or  spurs,  which  extend 
eastward  from  the  mountain  uplift.  It  was  in  these  two  folds,  thus 
described  by  the  Government  geologist,  known  as  the  Devil's  Basin  and 
the  Cat  Creek  anticline,  that  the  most  important  developments  were  made 
in  1919  and  1920. 

The  history  of  the  oil  and  gas  interests  of  the  state  was  so  well  and 
concisely  written  for  the  1920  publication  of  the  State  Department  of 
Agriculture  and  Publicity,  by  Commissioner  Charles  D.  Greenfield,  that 
it  is  here  republished,  as  follows : 

"After  intermittent  prospecting  for  more  than  thirty  years,  a  pro- 
ducing oil  well  was  discovered  in  Montana  in  November  of  1919.  Three 
more  producing  wells  were  struck  within  the  next  eight  months  and  at 
the  present  time  scores  of  companies  are  busy  drilling  and  testing  out 
various  domes  in  Montana  that  appear  favorable  for  the  discovery  of 
oil.  While  apparently  Montana  has  added  another  industry  to  its  numer- 
ous enterprises,  its  scope  and  value  remain  to  be  demonstrated.  The  oil 
industry  may  assume  big  proportions  but  more  drilling  must  be  done 
before  this  fact  is  determined.  However,  the  prospects  are  most  favor- 
able. The  extension  into  Montana  of  the  Wyoming  fields  that  have  been 
steady  producers  for  years,  the  development  of  valuable  gas  fields  in 
southern  Alberta,  the  drilling  in  of  large  gas  wells  near  Havre,  Glen- 
dive  and  Baker,  and  finally  the  bringing  in  of  high  grade  oil  wells  on 
the  Cat  Creek  anticline  (Fergus  and  Garfield  counties)  in  May,  have 
led  petroleum  engineers  seriously  to  consider  Montana  as  the  next  big 
oil  producing  state. 

"The  first  effort  to  find  oil  in  Montana  was  made  in  1890,  it  is  said, 
in  Blaine  county  in  the  Chinook  field.  A  hole  was  sunk  960  feet  in 
township  3,2  N.,  range  16  E.  Only  gas  was  encountered.  A  few  years 
later  drilling  was  undertaken  by  a  Helena  syndicate  in  the  Kintla  Lakes 
district  of  what  is  now  the  Glacier  National  Park,  but  without  results. 
In  subsequent  years  drilling  was  done  in  Hill,  Wheatland,  Stillwater  and 
Yellowstone  counties.  In  1915  the  first  discovery  of  oil  in  Montana  was 
made  in  the  Elk  Basin  field,  Carbon  county,  just  over  the  Wyoming  line, 
at  a  depth  of  1,245  feet.  Oil  was  struck  in  commercial  quantities  at  a 
depth  of  1,490  feet.  The  same  year  several  wells  were  drilled  in  Mus- 


388  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

selshell  county.  In  1917  the  Foster  well  was  drilled  in  the  west  end  of 
the  Crazy  Woman's  Pocket  in  Musselshell  county.  At  a  depth  of  1,700 
to  2,000  feet  strong  traces  of  oil  and  gas  were  encountered  but  heavy  water 
pressure  and  lack  of  funds  caused  an  abandonment  of  the  enterprise. 

"In  1919  a  well  was  drilled  on  section  29-8-21  in  the  Crazy  Woman's 
Pocket  and  at  a  depth  of  1,870  feet  oil  was  struck.  Drilling  was  con- 
tinued, however,  to  a  depth  of  2,370  feet  when  the  well  was  abandoned 
because  of  the  heavy  pressure  of  water.  In  November  of  1919  the  Van 
Duzen  company,  drilling  on  section  24-11-24  in  the  Devil's  Basin,  twenty- 
three  miles  northwest  of  Roundup,  brought  in  what  is  considered  the  first 
real  Montana  oil  well,  and  the  well  that  brought  in  capital  and  operators 
on  a  big  scale  to  test  the  Montana  field.  At  a  depth  of  1,175  feet  oil  began 
flowing  over  the  top  of  the  casing.  The  oil  is  reported  to  be  of  a  heavy 
grade.  It  is  said  to  be  the  intention  of  the  company  to  drill  to  the  second 
oil  sands,  believing  that  a  larger  flow  and  a  higher  grade  of  oil  will 
be  obtained. 

"The  Frantz  Corporation  brought  in  the  second  well  February  18, 
in  the  Mosby  field  near  the  town  of  Winnett,  Fergus  county.  At  a  depth 
of  1,015  feet  the  bit  cut  into  the  oil-bearing  sands,  a  second  Kootenai 
formation,  and  the  well  is  reported  to  be  producing  about  400  barrels  of 
oil  every  twenty-four  hours.  The  oil  sands  are  said  to  be  seventy  feet  in 
thickness.  The  oil  is  of  a  paraffin  base,  47  degrees  Baume  gravity,  or 
about  50  per  cent  in  gasoline  content  and  of  high  commercial  value.  In 
May  the  same  company  brought  in  a  second  well  in  the  same  field,  but 
east  of  the  Musselshell  river  in  Garfield  county.  In  August  the  Decker- 
Collins  Company  brought  in  a  well  in  the  same  field. 

"Among  other  prospective  fields  where  drilling  is  now  under  way  or 
contemplated  in  Montana  are  the  various  domes  in  Fergus,  Garfield  and 
Musselshell  counties,  the  Porcupine  dome  of  Rosebud  county,  the  Bow- 
doin  dome  of  Phillips  and  Valley  counties,  and  domes  in  Teton,  Lewis  and 
Clark,  Park,  Stillwater,  Sheridan,  Carbon  and  several  eastern  Montana 
counties. 

OIL  FROM  SHALE 

"Besides  prospective  oil  fields,  Montana  has  many  deposits  of  oil 
shales.  Only  one  field,  that  in  Smallhorn  canyon,  Beaverhead  county,  has 
been  developed;  A  plant  producing  200  gallons  of  oil  daily  has  been 
erected  and  is  in  operation.  Two  grades  of  oil  are  produced,  in  addition 
to  a  good  grade  of  gasoline,  and  the  burned  shale  is  said  to  run  so  high 
in  phosphate  that  it  is  valuable  as  a  fertilizer.  The  oil  is  said  to  be  well 
adapted  for  flotation  purposes  in  the  recovery  of  minerals,  and,  with 
additional  filtration,  is  an  excellent  lubricant. 

"Several,  bulletins  have  been  published  by  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey  dealing  with  various  potential  oil  domes  and  oil  shale  deposits  in 
Montana. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  389 

OIL  AND  COAL  LEASES 

"For  many  years  thousands  of  acres  of  land  in  Montana,  believed 
to  be  valuable  for  coal,  oil  or  phosphate,  were  withdrawn  from  entry. 
These  have  now  been  opened  to  entry  and  development  under  the  terms 
of  the  coal  and  oil  leasing  bill  passed  within  the  year  by  congress.  The 
bill  provides  that  government  owned  coal  land  will  be  sub-divided  into 
leasing  tracts  of  40  acres  each  or  multiple  thereof.  No  one  leasing  tract 
can  contain  more  than  2,560  acres.  Leases  are  to  be  awarded  by  com- 
petitive bidding.  Where  prospecting  is  necessary  to  determine  the  exist- 
ence or  workability  of  coal  deposits  the  secretary  of  the  interior  may 
issue  a  prospecting  permit  for  two  years  covering  not  to  exceed  2,560 
acres,  and  if  within  that  time  the  permittee  shows  the  land  contains  coal 
in  commercial  quantities,  he  is  to  be  entitled  to  a  lease.  No  railroad  will 
be  permitted  to  hold  a  lease  to  mine  coal  except  for  its  own  use,  and  no 
railroad  can  receive  more  than  one  lease  for  each  200  miles  of  its  rail- 
road line  within  the  state  in  which  the  coal  land  is  situated. 

"The  bill  provides  that  when  the  government  decides  to  lease  a  tract 
of  coal  land  it  shall  announce  in  advance  of  the  offering  of  the  leases 
the  royalty  that  will  be  charged.  This  royalty  is  to  be  not  less  than  five 
cents  a  ton  of  2,000  pounds,  payable  at  the  end  of  each  third  month  suc- 
ceeding that  of  extraction  of  the  coal  from  the  mine,  and  an  annual 
rental,  payable  at  the  date  of  the  lease  and  annually  thereafter  on  the 
lands  or  coal  deposits  covered  by  the  lease  at  such  rate  as  may  be  fixed 
by  the  secretary  of  the  interior  prior  to  offering  the  lease. 

"The  rental  is  to  be  not  less  than  25  cents  an  acre  for  the  first  year, 
not  less  than  50  cents  an  acre  for  the  second,  third,  fourth  and  fifth 
years,  and  not  less  than  $i  an  acre  for  each  year  thereafter  during  the 
continuance  of  the  lease.  Leases  are  to  be  for  indeterminate  periods  on 
condition  of  diligent  development  and  continuous  operation  of  the  mine 
except  when  operation  shall  be  interrupted  by  strikes.  At  the  end  of 
each  2O-year  period  the  secretary  of  the  interior  may  require  a  readjust- 
ment of  terms  and  conditions. 

OIL  AND  GAS 

"As  to  oil  and  gas,  the  legislation  provides  that  the  secretary  of  the 
interior  may  grant  to  any  qualified  applicant  the  exclusive  right  for  a 
period  not  exceeding  two  years  to  prospect  for  oil  and  gas  upon  not  to 
exceed  2,560  acres  of  government  land.  On  establishing  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  Interior  department  that  he  has  located  valuable  deposits 
of  oil  or  gas  the  permittee  is  to  be  entitled  to  a  lease  for  one- fourth 
of  the  land  embraced  in  his  prospecting  permit.  The  lease  is  to  be  for 
a  term  of  20  years  upon  a  royalty  of  5  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  pro- 
duction and  the  annual  payment  in  advance,  of  a  rental  of  $i  an  acre, 
the  rental  paid  for  any  one  year  to  be  credited  against  the  royalties  as 
they  accrue  for  that  year.  The  permittee  is  to  be  entitled  to  a  preference 


390  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

right  to  a  lease  for  the  remainder  of  the  land  in  his  prospecting  permit 
at  a  royalty  of  not  less  than  12^2  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  production. 
"Phosphates,  oil  shale  and  sodium  are  to  be  taken  from  the  public 
domain  in  the  same  general  terms  that  apply  to  coal,  oil  and  gas.  Each 
lease  is  to  be  for  riot  to  exceed  2,560  acres  and  is  to  run  for  20  years. 
The  person  who  takes  a  phosphate  lease  will  pay  not  less  than  25  cents 
an  acre  for  the  first  year,  50  cents  an  acre  for  the  second,  third,  fourth 
and  fifth  years,  and  $i  an  acre  for  each  year  thereafter." 


CHAPTER  XVII 
THE  GREAT  LIVE  STOCK  INTERESTS 

The  instinct  of  the  buffalo  to  head  for  the  most  plentiful  grazing 
lands,  the  most  permanent  streams,  the  living  springs  or  water  holes,  and 
the  lands  protected  from  the  cold  winds  by  rolling  contours  and  deep 
depressions,  drew  the  primitive  cow  and  bull  to  the  regions  of  the  Yellow- 
stone Valley  and  Eastern  Montana  long  before  any  white  man  found 
his  way  thither.  Both  Indian  and  buffalo  shared  these  favored  lands 
of  Montana  when  the  white  man  invaded  them  and  bore  witness  to  the 
wisdom  of  their  selection.  White  man  and  Indian  expelled  the  buffalo 
from  its  original  home  and  installed  the  domesticated  cattle  in  the  lands 
which  had  been  tested  and  proved  by  the  aboriginal  stock. 

DOMESTICATED  CATTLE  FIRST  ESTABLISHED 

The  industry  of  the  raising  of  beef  cattle  and  dairy  cows  is  almost 
as  old  as  that  of  mining  itself,  but  the  pioneer  attempts  in  that  field  were 
of  small  caliber  and  confined  to  the  valleys  and  gulches  of  Western  Mon- 
tana. John  Grant,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  and 
perhaps  the  first  "professional  landlord"  of  that  section,  established  the 
first  herd  of  cattle  in  Montana  during  1853,  and  ten  years  later,  when  the 
gold  prospectors  and  miners  swarmed  into  Western  Montana,  there  were 
several  herds  in  the  territory.  The  miners  were  hardy  and  hearty  men 
and  had  to  have  beef,  if  not  milk;  and  their  children  were  like  those  of 
other  men  and  women.  The  raising  of  live  stock  in  Montana  was  almost 
contemporaneous  with  the  establishment  of  gold  mining  as  a  stable  asset  of 
the  region.  So  rapidly  did  the  industry  grow  that  one  of  the  first  bills 
to  be  presented  to  the  territorial  assembly  of  1864-65  (the  first  session) 
was  entitled  "an  act  concerning  Marks  and  Brands."  It  was  approved 
on  January  31,  1865. 

MARKS  AND  BRANDS 

A  record  of  the  different  brands,  with  the  names  of  the  owners,  was 
kept  by  the  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Stock  Commissioners.  Similar 
brands  used  by  different  individuals  were  required  to  be  placed  on  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  beast  and  so  designated  in  the  recorder's  book.  A  brand 
book  was  published  by  the  Live  Stock  Association  and  each  member  of  that 
body  was  furnished  with  a  book.  This  made  the  identification  of  animals 
easy  in  the  days  when  they  were  scattered  over  great  stretches  of  territory 

391 


392  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  fenced  ranges  were  unknown.  The  state  law  regulating  marks  and 
brands  also  provided  that  if  an  animal  were  sold,  "the  person  who  sells 
must  vent,  or  counter-brand,  such  animal  upon  the  same  side  as  the 
original  brand,  which  vent  or  counter-brand  must  be  a  fac-simile  of  the 
original  brand,  except  that  it  may  be  reduced  one-half  in  size;  the  venting 
of  the  original  brand  is  prima  facie  evidence  of  the  sale  or  transfer  of 
the  animal." 

It  was  not  long  before  the  small  stock  owner  was  superseded  by  the 
great  cattle  baron,  with  his  company  of  cowboys  and  outfitters.  Each  of 
the  large  ranches  had  its  special  brand,  such  as  Bar  Y,  M-Bar,  Two  Dot 
and  Two  Bar.  There  was  intense  rivalry  between  the  ranches,  and  as  the 
animals  roved  abroad  almost  at  will,  sometimes  summer  and  winter,  if 
there  were  no  bad  droughts  or  f reeze-ups,  bloodshed  was  not  unknown ; 
often  the  only  safeguard  and  peace-maker  was  the  brand,  which,  however, 
was  sometimes  either  altered,  counterfeited  or  ignored.  So,  despite  the 
brand  and  the  law,  quarrels  and  bloodshed  over  the  ownership  of  live 
stock  would  occur. 

ROUND-UP  OF  STEERS  AND  HORSES 

These  disagreements,  rivalries  and  quarrels  were  liable  to  come  to  a 
climax  at  the  time  of  the  general  round-ups,  in  April  or  May.  Often 
seventy-five  cow-punchers  with  from  six  to  ten  horses  to  the  man  took 
part  in  the  spring  round-up  of  one  ranch.  With  the  raising  of  cattle  came 
the  raising  of  horses,  so  the  "cow-puncher"  and  the  "broncho-buster" 
were  one,  and  the  round-up  included  not  only  beef  steers  but  horses. 
Robert  Vaughn,  the  pioneer  and  ranchman  of  the  '6os,  who  afterwards 
moved  to  Great  Falls,  thus  describes  the  round-up  of  the  home  ranges  and 
the  subsequent  branding  of  the  animals :  "One  would  at  first  think  that 
an  army  was  crossing  the  country  when  these  'rough-riders'  turn  out  in 
the  morning.  It  is  a  wonder  the  many  miles  they  cover  in  a  day ;  on  an 
average  they  will  ride  seventy  to  eighty  miles  in  one  day  during  the  round- 
up. Many  of  the  horses  may  have  been  but  partly  broken  the  previous 
winter.  To  see  these  excellent  horsemen,  mounting  their  bronchos,  and 
see  the  bucking  and  capers  of  these  untamed  steeds,  is  a  circus  in 
itself.  *  *  * 

"The  riders  will  gather  several  thousand  cattle  in  one  bunch  at  a 
given  place  on  the  open  prairie  where  a  camp  is  established.  Here,  where 
they  all  meet,  the  cattle  are  driven  into  one  bunch  surrounded  by  the 
riders,  and  this  is  the  round-up  proper.  The  bellowing  of  the  cows  and 
calves  is  pitiful,  for  at  first  they  are  constantly  in  commotion  and  many  of 
them  become  separated  from  each  other ;  the  noise  they  make  is  so  awful 
one  can  hardly  hear  his  own  voice,  but  it  is  not  long  before  each  cow 
discovers  her  calf  and  then  all  is  well.  A  fire  is  built  near  by  and  brand- 
ing irons  of  all  owners  of  cattle  on  the  range  are  heated.  Then  the 
ropers  will  ride  into  the  ring,  lassoo  the 'young  cattle  by  the  hind  feet 
and  pull  them  by  the  horn  of  the  saddle  to  where  the  fire  is,  and  each 
calf  is  branded  the  same  brand  as  the  mother.  An  account  of  all  calves, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  393 

and  of  each  brand  separately,  is  kept,  so  that,  at  the  end  of  the  branding 
season  the  owner  can  tell  the  number  of  calves  branded.  After  getting 
through  in  one  place,  the  camp  is  moved  to  another  part  of  the  range 
and  so  on,  until  the  work  is  finished.  It  is  hard  work,  but  fascinating, 
and  many  seek  to  go  on  the  round-up.  In  the  same  way,  the  beef-cattle 
are  gathered  in  the  fall  and  shipped  East.  The  round-up,  like  the  buffalo, 
will  soon  be  a  thing  of  the  past." 

THE  GREAT  CATTLE  DRIVES 

The  first  beef  driven  out  of  Montana  of  which  there  is  any  record 
was  by  D.  J.  Hagan,  of  Augusta  (now  Lewis  and  Clark  County).  In 
October,  1868,  he  headed  the  animals  for  Salt  Lake,  the  purchasers  hav- 
ing been  Orenstein  &  Popper,  of  Salt  Lake  City.  The  cattle,  as  well  as 
others  of  a  somewhat  later  period  collected  from  the  Beaverhead  coun- 
try, were  used  to  supply  the  Union  Pacific  laborers  with  beef. 

In  the  following  year  (1869)  commenced  the  great  movement  of 
cattle  from  the  South,  as  the  railroad  builders  and  overland  travelers 
could  no  longer  be  supplied  from  the  northern  herds  and  markets.  The 
long  drive  from  Texas,  Mexico  and  California  was  "on,"  and  so  con- 
tinued for  twenty  years,  or  until  the  coming  of  railroads.  The  instinctive 
migration  of  the  beef  "critters"  of  the  South,  directed  by  its  cattle  kings 
into  Arizona,  New  Mexico,  Nevada,  Wyoming,  Montana,  the  Dakotas 
and  even  into  the  British  possessions,  and  promoted  by  the  urging  of 
the  summer  heats  toward  the  fresher  and  cooler  pastures  of  the  North, 
soon  advertised  the  vast  and  unexcelled  grazing  lands  of  the  thinning 
buffalo  herds. 

Along  this  line  are  the  following  suggestions  and  statements:  "It 
has  been  suggested  that  the  northern  migration  occurred  for  the  same 
reason  that  governed  the  movement  of  the  buffalo.  Spring  comes  earlier 
in  the  warm  South  and  the  grass  sprouts  long  before  the  snow  is  off  the 
Northland.  Therefore  at  that  season  the  herds  grazed  in  these  favorable 
pastures.  Later,  as  the  heat  became  more  intense  and  the  grass  withered, 
they  drifted  north  where  the  weather  was  cool  and  the  grass  was  fresh. 
Thus  autumn  found  thousands  upon  thousands  of  cattle  ranging  in 
Wyoming  and  Montana.  The  migration  was  known  as  the  Long  Drive. 

"The  first  Texas  drive  to  Montana  was  made  in  1869,  and  the  last  in 
the  late  '8os ;  and  this  Long  Drive  was  over  a  well  defined  and  estab- 
lished trail.  It  lay  across  the  tablelands  of  western  Texas  into  Kansas  and 
crossed  the  Santa  Fe  trail  at  Dodge.  Thence,  it  continued  past  the  head- 
waters of  the  Salmon,  by  Fort  Hays  and  over  the  Republican  river,  and 
onward  to  the  South  Platte,  where  there  was  an  immense  cow  camp — 
Ogalalla,  the  great  rendezvous  of  the  cowboys  and  the  Texas  rangers. 
From  that  point,  the  Long  Drive  followed  the  Platte,  over  the  Oregon 
trail,  to  Fort  Laramie,  and  onward  along  the  Bozeman  road.  At  times 
it  skirted  the  Black  Hills  and  again  it  veered  westward  to  the  base  of 
the  Big  Horn  range.  The  headwaters  of  the  Powder  and  the  Tongue, 
the  hunting  grounds  of  the  Crows  and  the  Sioux,  the  home  of  the  trap- 


394  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

pers  and  the  scene  of  many  a  conflict  with  the  Indians,  'were  now 
marked  by  the  trail  of  the  cow'  which  followed  close  on  the  retreating 
hoofs  of  the  buffalo.  The  Long  Drive  coursed  along  the  tributaries  of 
the  Yellowstone  to  the  Missouri,  thence  over  the  trail  of  Lewis  and  Clark 
to  Maria's  river  and  the  land  of  the  Blackfeet,  the  ancient  domain  of  the 
buffalo. 

"Here  were  multitudinous  streams;  here  were  rolling  prairie  lands 
and  pastures  of  succulent  bunch  grass.  Here,  also,  were  cool  breezes  and 
snow-encrusted  peaks  shimmering  against  skies  of  burnished  blue. 

"Five  months  were  consumed  in  the  journey  from  Texas  to  Montana. 
In  1871  more  than  half  a  million  cattle  came  over  the  Long  Drive. 
Hough  in  the  'Story  of  the  Cowboy,'  says :  'It  was  a  strong,  tremendous 
movement,  this  migration  of  the  cowmen  and  their  herds,  undoubtedly 
the  greatest  pastoral  movement  in  the  history  of  the  world.  It  came  with 
a  rush  and  a  surge  and  in  ten  years  it  had  subsided.  That  decade  was 
an  epoch  in  the  West.'  " 

With  the  inrush  of  foreign  cattle  added  to  the  home  herds,  the  sup- 
ply of  Montana  cattle  reached  a  great  volume,  and  not  only  were  various 
"bunches"  driven  to  Salt  Lake  City  and  Ogden  for  shipment,  but  minor 
"long  drives"  were  established  to  land  the  animals  in  Eastern  railroad 
points,  on  the  way  to  Chicago.  The  first  shipment  of  Montana  cattle  to 
the  East  was  made  by  James  Forbes  from  Ogden  in  1874.  He  pur- 
chased a  portion  of  Conrad  Kohrs'  Sun  River  herd,  and  the  same  year 
a  large  band  of  steers  was  driven  for  shipment  from  Madison  County 
to  Granger.  In  1876  Mr.  Kohrs  drove  from  his  Sun  River  range  and 
shipped  from  Cheyenne. 

Before  the  coming  of  the  Northern  Pacific  in  1883,  five  routes  or 
drives  were  used  by  the  cattlemen  of  Montana  to  reach  railroad  points 
and  ship  to  the  Chicago  live  stock  market:  First,  from  the  Sun  River 
ranches,  via  Snake  River  to  Granger,  on  the  Union  Pacific  railroad,  650 
miles,  and  thence  per  rail  to  Chicago,  1,376  miles;  second,  from  Sun 
River,  via  Smith  and  Musselshell  rivers,  to  Pine  Bluff,  on  the  Union 
Pacific,  700  miles,  and  thence  per  rail  to  Chicago,  968  miles,  a  total  of 
1,668  miles;  third  (1878),  from  Sun  River  to  Bismarck,  on  the  Mis- 
souri, via  Blackfoot  reservation,  and  thence  per  rail  to  Chicago,  1,579 
miles ;  fourth,  from  Sun  River  across  Maria's  River  to  Fargo,  800  miles, 
-  and  thence  by  rail  to  Chicago,  744  miles ;  fifth,  from  Sun  River  to  Bis- 
marck, via  Camp  Lewis,  the  Great  Bend  of  the  Musselshell,  down  the 
Porcupine,  and  across  the  Yellowstone  and  Tongue  rivers  to  Bismarck, 
via  the  main  trail,  610  miles,  and  thence  to  Chicago,  879  miles,  or  a  total 
of  1,489  miles. 

CATTLE  WEALTH  BY  COUNTIES  (1884) 

On  January  i,  1884,  a  few  months  after  the  eastern  and  western 
sections  of  the  Northern  Pacific  met  in  Western  Montana,  100,000  cattle 
were  driven  into  the  territory,  which,  with  the  natural  increase  of  the 
home  herds,  brought  the  total  to  850,000,  valued  at  $30,000,000.  The 
county  division  of  this  imposing  source  of  wealth  was  as  follows: 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  395 

County  Number  Value 

Beaverhead  39,3°7  $i, 375.745 

Chouteau 1 19,860  4,195,100 

Custer    189,769  6,642,860 

Dawson   5I»992  1,819,720 

Deer  Lodge    32>83O  1,149,050 

Gallatin    59,I25  2»o69,375 

Jefferson    26,554  829,390 

Lewis  and  Clark 47,^55  1,674,925 

Madison    24,Q5o  841,750 

Meagher    193,171  6,760,985 

Missoula    I9,i52  670,420 

Silver  Bow  4,2H  147,490 

Yellowstone    53,084  1,857,940 


Total    850.000      $30,000,000 

GREAT  CATTLE  SALES 

When  the  Northern  Pacific  was  made  available  as  a  receiving  and  ship- 
ping medium  for  Montana  live  stock  growers  and  dealers,  the  industry 
and  business  enjoyed  a  strong  impetus.  In  July,  1883,  a  month  before 
the  golden  spike  was  driven  near  Garrison,  now  Powell  County,  which 
marked  the  juncture  of  the  two  sections,  occurred  one  of  the  most  import- 
ant sales  of  cattle  in  Montana  history.  At  the  time  mentioned,  Conrad 
Kohrs,  for  Kohrs  &  Bielenberg,  and  Granville  Stuart,  representing  Stuart 
&  Anderson,  bought  of  A.  J.  Davis,  of  Davis,  Hauser  &  Company,  12,000 
head  of  cattle  for  $400,000.  It  is  said  that  "Stuart  and  Anderson  were 
former  owners  of  the  herd,  the  sale  being  in  fact  a  purchase  of  the  two- 
thirds  interest  of  Judge  Davis  by  Mr.  Kohrs  for  $226,667.  This  is  the 
heaviest  transaction  in  cattle  that  has  ever  taken  place  in  the  territory 
(written  before  the  advent  of  statehood),  the  next  highest  being  made  a 
few  weeks  previous,  when  the  Montana  Company  bought  of  Downs  & 
Allen  the  old  7,000  head  of  Clark  &  Xllm  for  $235,000.  By  this  trans- 
action Conrad  Kohrs  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  Montana  cattle 
business." 

MILES  CITY,  GREAT  CENTER  OF  RANGE  CATTLE 

The  Montana  Stock  Growers'  Association,  of  which  Granville  Stuart 
was  elected  president  in  1884,  represented  an  ownership  of  500,000  head 
of  cattle,  and  a  strong  second  to  it  has  been  the  Eastern  Montana  Stock 
Growers'  Association.  The  especial  Elysium  of  the  ranging  cow  and  the 
cowman  has  long  been  recognized  as  Eastern  Montana  and  Miles  City  as 
its  urban  center.  As  stated  by  Colonel  Gorden,  editor  of  the  Yellowstone 
Journal :  "Miles  City  became  the  center  for  this  new  business,  and  in  a 
day  almost,  we  began  to  talk  knowingly  of  range  prospects  and  conditions 
and  to  be  interested  in  the  genus  cowboy,  simon-pure  specimens  of  which 


396  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

began  to  drop  in  on  us  from  Texas  and  the  Southwest.  The  change 
wrought  was  sudden  and  complete;  all  business  interests  now  catered  to 
the  new  element,  and  well  they  might,  for  from  1881  to  1885  the  wealth 
that  was  dumped  in  Custer  county' in  the  shape  of  range  cattle  requires  no 
exaggeration  to  make  it  an  interesting  statement.  It  was  not  only  the 
experienced  cowmen  of  the  Southwest  who  had  found  and  were  eagerly 
taking  advantage  of  a  rich,  virgin  range,  but  eastern  capitalists  of  the 
class  who  are  always  willing  to  take  long  chances  for  big  returns,  were 
falling  over  each  other  in  their  rush  to  get  into  the  business.  They  had 
figured  it  out  on  a  basis  of  one  hundred  per  cent  of  calves  each  year,  all 
heifers,  and  reproduction  on  the  same  scope  from  these  calves — not  the 
first  year;  they  did  give  them  one  year  of  maidenhood,  and  a  'turn-off' 
each  year  of  'threes'  and  'fours'  at  fancy  prices,  of  stock  that  had  cost 
nothing  but  the  ranch  expenses.  It  was  the  same  principle  of  arithmetical 
progression  that  the  blacksmith  proposed  in  his  horse-shoeing  operations 
and  was  a  'cinch'  from  the  beginning.  So  alluring  was  the  'prospectus' 
that  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  years  there  must  have  been  half  a 
million  head  of  range  stock  in  Custer  county  alone. 

"As  a  majority  of  the  companies  and  individuals  knew  nothing  of  the 
business,  it  was  essential  that  there  should  be  at  the  head  of  each  outfit 
a  manager  or  superintendent  to  take  charge  of  the  technical  part  of  it. 
These  managers  were  usually  cowboys  who  had  become  'tophands'  on  the 
southwestern  ranges  and  were  abundantly  competent  to  run  the  herds, 
but  were  rarely  good  financial  managers.  Then  there  were  other  outfits 
that  had  for  managers  men  who  were  interested  in  the  ventures;  men  of 
good  business  repute  at  home  and  fully  competent  to  run  a  store  or  a 
factory  or  an  enterprise  fitted  to  well  established  groves,  but  as  much 
out  of  place  running  a  cow  outfit  as  they  would  have  been  commanding 
an  army ;  more  so,  probably.  Looking  backward,  it  is  a  hard  guess  which 
method  was  most  disastrous;  the. manager  with  'cow  sense,'  but  no  idea 
of  the  value  of  money,  or  the  thrifty  financier  who  didn't  know  a  brand- 
ing iron  from  a  poker." 

The  hard  winter  of  1886-87  played  havoc  with  range  cattle — it  is  esti- 
mated that  the  loss  was  from  30  to  50  per  cent.  The  large  owners  and 
speculators  suffered  most  and  there  was  a  general  wiping-out  and  weed- 
ing-out  of  the  "foreign"  element  to  the  advantage  of  those  who  were  set- 
tlers and  were  making  the  live  stock  interests  their  regular  business  and 
not  a  side  line. 

PROGRESS  OF  CATTLE  INDUSTRY 

For  the  past  twenty  years,  the  number  of  head  of  cattle  in  Montana 
has  hovered  around  the  1,000,000  mark,  although  the  valuation  has  greatly 
varied,  ranging  from  over  $17,000,000  in  1907  to  nearly  $69,000,000  in 
1919.  According  to  the  census  figures  of  1920,  the  beef  cattle  of  Mon- 
tana numbered  1,057,418  and  the  dairy  cattle,  211,098,  valued  respectively 
at  $60,118,952  and  $13,819,301. 

Since  1885,  the  beef  cattle  shipped  to  market  from  Montana  have,  on 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  397 

the  whole  steadily  increased.    That  year  the  number  of  head  was  70,089 ; 
in  1895,  206,460;  1905,  267,966;  1915,  173,936;  1919,  449,964. 

THE  RAISING  OF  SHEEP 

Sheep  will  live  and  often  thrive  in  a  country  where  cattle  and  horses 
would  die  of  thirst  and  starvation.  There  has  always  been  a  dispute  as  to 
whether  they  injure  the  pasturage  over  which  they  move,  or  benefit  it  by 
cropping  weeds  as  well  as  grass.  The  side  of  the  argument  is  largely 
determined  as  to  whether  the  participant  has  interests  in  the  cattle  or 
sheep  line.  An  old  sheep  man  puts  it  thus :  "It  is  often  said  by  those 
interested  in  the  range  cattle  industry  that  sheep  eat  the  grass  so  closely 
that  the  ranges  are  destroyed  or  badly  impaired.  Now,  if  sheep  were 
confined  to  a  comparatively  small  pasture  this  would  be  true,  as  eat  they 
must  and,  if  necessary,  they  would  eat  the  grass  to  the  roots,  but  in  the 
manner  that  sheep  are  herded  on  these  ranges  the  charge  is  without 
foundation.  They  are  not  herded  on  the  same  range  long.  Indeed,  it  is 
not  easy  to  see  by  the  appearance  of  the  grass  where  they  have  fed.  They 
are  dainty  feeders,  picking  out  just  what  they  prefer,  nipping  the  seeds  off 
the  tips  of  the  grasses,  cropping  the  various  weeds  and  then  passing  on  to 
new  pastures.  I  have  seen  sheep  leave  rich  pasturage  to  feed  on  sage 
brush.  The  successful  sheepman  here  is  one  who  herds  his  sheep  over 
wide  ranges,  constantly  moving  them  that  they  may  select  just  what  they 
desire." 

The  raising  of  sheep  is  a  later  industry  than  the  cattle  and  horse 
business,  and.  it  attained  no  considerable  importance  until  the  advent  of 
the  railroads  in  the  '8os.  Then,  as  in  the  farther  West  and  Southwest, 
commenced  the  bitter  feud  between  the  cow  and  the  sheepmen — each  party 
to  the  controversy  claiming  that  it  was  a  war  for  self-preservation.  But 
the  days  of  the  great  range,  either  for  cattle  or  sheep,  are  of  the  past,  and 
the  tariff  and  other  causes  have  made  the  production  of  wool  so  uncertain 
a  business  venture  that  there  has  been  a  steady  decrease  in  the  number  of 
sheep.  For  years  raisers  of  sheep  gave  no  attention  to  the  "mutton  end 
of  the  proposition,"  but  of  late  years  it  is  the  mutton  breeds  which  have 
been  most  cultivated. 

"Ten  years  ago,"  writes  A.  S.  Wiley,  president  of  the  Custer  County 
Wool  Growers'  Association,  in  1900,  "flocks  in  Montana  were  chiefly 
composed  of  strong  crosses  of  Spanish-merino  blood,  yielding  a  fine  fleece 
of  very  greasy  wool.  At  that  time  every  effort  was  directed  to  the  pro- 
duction of  wool,  wholly  ignoring  the  mutton  product,  and  the  same  was 
true,  in  a  measure,  throughout  the  country.  As  a  result  the  mutton  pro- 
duced was  hardly  fit  to  eat.  Small  wonder,  then,  that  the  American  people 
ate  but  little  mutton. 

"Great  impetus  was  given  to  the  culture  of  the  mutton  breeds  by  the 
removal  of  the  tariff  on  wool.  It  then  became  no  longer  profitable  to  keep 
sheep  for  wool  raising,  many  went  out  of  the  sheep  business,  while  those 
who  remained  began  breeding  the  larger  English  strains,  such  as  Cotswold, 
Lincoln  and  various  Downs,  with  the  result  that  shortly  mutton  became  a 


A  MOUNTAIN  SHEEP  RANCH 


RANGE  HORSES 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  399 

palatable  and  satisfactory  food ;  whereupon  the  American  people  at  once 
discovered  that  they  liked  mutton,  and  the  sales  thereof  mightily  increased. 
Some  seven  years  ago  a  band  of  fine  Vermont  Spanish-merinos  registered 
bucks  that  had  cost  $30  or  more  each  went  begging  and  vainly  sought  a 
market  here  at  $5  each.  Since  that  time,  the  mutton  breeds  with  larger 
bodies,  but  coarser  fleeces  of  lighter  wool,  have  found  acceptance.  Each 
of  these  breeds  has  its  advocates.  Some  will  have  Cotswold  and  no  other ; 
others  prefer  Lincolns ;  some  breed  Oxford  Downs,  while  some  would 
just  as  soon  breed  coyotes  as  sheep  with  black  face  and  legs;  but  nearly- 
all  have  been  breeding  to  these  mutton  sheep,  and  this  trend  has  become 
so  strongly  that  in  some  cases  the  fleeces  have  become  too  light  and  open, 
and  a  tendency  to  hark  back  to  some  form  of  merino  is  in  evidence ;  not, 
however,  to  the  wrinkly  type. 

"The  improved  merinos,  Ramboullet  or  Delaine,  nearly  without 
wrinkles,  are  the  strains  which  now  find  favor.  This  turning  again  to 
merino  types  is  the  result  to  some  extent  of  the  present  higher  prices  of 
wool.  The  loss  (estimated)  of  sixty  million  sheep  in  Australia  during 
the  past  two  years,  a  number  one-half  larger  than  all  the  sheep  in  the 
United  States,  with  other  causes — the  tariff  undoubtedly  among  them — 
has  raised  the  price  of  wool  to  a  paying  basis,  and  it  is  hard  to  see  what 
can  prevent  this  advance  from  continuing  for  some  years  to  come.  Pure 
blooded  sheep  are  not  to  be  desired  on  the  range." 

Besides  the  tendency  of  flockmasters  to  favor  the  mutton  breeds  and 
convert  their  lambs  into  meat,  the  winter  fattening  of  lambs  is  becoming 
an  important  industry  in  the  state.  Billings  is  quite  a  center  for  this,  as 
the  region  furnishes  for  feed  an  abundance  of  sugar  beet  pulp,  alfalfa 
and  small  grains. 

For  the  past  twenty  years,  the  number  of  sheep  and  the  wool  product 
have  been  steadily  declining.  During  that  period,  the  most  productive  year 
was  1904,  wKen  the  5,576,000  sheep  of  Montana  yielded  37,700,000  pounds 
of  washed  and  unwashed  wool  and  12,818,000  pounds  of  scoured  wool. 
In  1919,  there  were  2,790,000  sheep  of  shearing  age,  which  produced  22,- 
878,000  pounds  of  washed  and  unwashed  wool  and  8,465,042  pounds  of 
scoured  wool.  The  census  figures  for  1920  indicate  that  the  state  has  now 
2,082,919  sheep  valued  at  $25,775,607. 

DECLINE  IN  HORSE  RAISING 

During  the  World's  war,  Montana,  in  common  with  all  the  other  horse- 
producing  states  reaped  a  harvest  of  profits.  For  the  past  year  or  two,  an 
effort  has  been  made  to  rid  the  ranges  of  light  weight  stuff  and  inferior 
grades ;  a  desire  for  good  quality  has  replaced  an  ambition  for  large  num- 
bers ;  which  accounts  chiefly  for  the  decline  in  the  number  of  head.  Miles 
City  is  the  largest  horse  market  in  the  state,  and  a  number  of  years  ago 
was  the  largest  primary  horse  market  in  the  world.  Sales  were  held  at 
regular  intervals  throughout  the  year  and  buyers  from  all  parts  of  the 
country  attended.  Dillon,  in  Southern  Montana,  is  the  only  other  place 
in  the  state  that  has  featured  horse  auctions. 


400  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

According  to  the  figures  published  by  the  State  Board  of  Agriculture, 
there  has  been  a  decline  in  both  the  number  and  value  of  the  horses  raised 
on  Montana  farms  and  ranges,  in  1919  as  compared  with  1920,  as  follows : 
575,000  valued  at  $48,300,000,  against  518,000  valued  at  $31,180,000. 
The  banner  year  for  high  priced  horses  was  1918,  when  the  506,000 
animals  of  the  state  were  valued  at  $49,588,000. 

Montana  farmers  have  never  become  much  interested  in  raising  mules 
although  within  the  past  two  years  a  considerable  number  of  farmers  have 
disposed  of  stallions  and  replaced  them  with  jacks.  The  result  of  this 
policy  will  not  be  apparent  for  several  years.  The  1920  census  indicates 
that  there  are  more  than  9,000  mules  in  the  state  valued  at  nearly 
$1,120,000. 

MONTANA  FAVORS  SWINE 

On  the  whole,  there  is  no  variety  of  live  stock  which  has  a  more  stable 
promise  than  the  hogs  of  Montana.  Although  the  drought  of  several  late 
seasons  have  delayed  the  development  of  the  industry,  the  extension  of  the 
irrigated  alfalfa  pastures,  supplemented  by  natural  feeding  fields  well 
watered,  are  making  the  state  lands  ideal  for  the  fattening  of  hardy  pork- 
ers. With  the  addition  of  peas  or  barley  and  a  little  grain,  the  swine 
become  thrifty  and  fast-growing.  Barley  and  skim  milk,  in  the  dairy 
sections,  are  also  used  as  feed  and  produce  the  same  finely  flavored 
pork  for  which  Denmark  is  famous,  the  hog  raisers  of  which  country 
largely  use  this  combination.  In  Eastern  Montana,  where  more  and  more 
attention  is  being  given  to  corn  growing,  the  crop  is  harvested  by  the 
hogs,  which  bring  financial  returns  more  quickly  than  by  any  other  plan. 
Feeders  in  the  corn  belt  assert  that  the  irrigated  districts  of  the  West  can 
raise  pigs  to  a  feeder  age  far  more  quickly  than  in  their  country.  Many 
of  them  therefore  buy  feeder  pigs  by  the  carload  in  the  West  and  ship 
them  East  to  be  finished  for  market  in  the  corn  belt. 

The  swine  in  Montana  have  been  growing  in  numbers  and  value  of 
product.  In  1902,  the  21,745  head  of  swine  on  the  farms  were  valued  at 
$560,916;  in  1911,  124,000  head  and  $1,290,000;  in  1916  (the  star  year 
in  numbers)  298,000  and  $2,682,000  respectively,  and  1919  (the  leading 
year  in  valuation),  200,000  head  valued  at  $4,400,000.  According  to  the 
latest  census  statistics  the  Montana  swine,  in  1920,  numbered  167,000  and 
were  valued  at  $2,888,694. 

DAIRYING  IN  MONTANA 

Dairying  is  a  comparatively  new  industry  in  Montana,  but  the  climatic 
and  topographic  conditions  are  so  favorable  for  its  prosecution  that  it 
has  rapidly  developed  within  the  past  five  years.  The  agricultural  depart- 
ment sets  forth  these  conditions  and  other  advantages.  In  its  1920  year 
book  is  the  following:  "A  more  favorable  climate  for  dairying  could 
hardly  be  found  than  that  of  Montana.  The  cool  nights  make  the  keeping 
and  handling  of  dairy  products  possible  and  afford  fine  conditions  for  pas- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


401 


turage.  The  long  days  for  grazing  in  summer  are  almost  ideal.  The  in- 
dustry is  a  paying  one  in  the  winter  if  adequate  shelter  is  provided  and 
winter  feeding  is  properly  carried  on.  In  the  more  favored  sections  in  the 
southern  and  western  districts  the  winter  weather  does  not  affect  the 
dairyman  to  any  extent.  The  higher  price  of  the  products  in  the  winter 
months  compensates  for  the  increased  cost  of  production  at  that  time. 

"Montana  has  long  been  noted  as  a  hay  producing  state.  Vast  quan- 
tities of  clover,  alfalfa  and  other  grasses  are  grown.  The  State  Dairy 
Commission  is  encouraging  the  growing  of  the  legumes,  including  cow 
peas,  soy  beans  and  vetches  in  increased  amount.  With  water  for  irriga- 
tion, pastures — one  of  the  most  essential  items  for  the  successful  dairy- 


SECOND  CROP  OF  ALFALFA  IN  VALLEY  COUNTY 

man — are  kept  in  good  condition  through  the  summer  months  and  late  in 
the  fall.  Alfalfa  is  now  being  raised  in  practically  all  sections  of  the  state 
and  dairymen  have  found  that  this  is  a  most  valuable  roughage  feed.  The 
number  of  flour  and  grist  mills  is  rapidly  increasing,  and  the  by-product 
of  these,  together  with  the  by-products  of  the  sugar  factories,  such  as  are 
used  for  the  dairy  cow,  are  much  easier  to  obtain  than  formerly." 

The  dairy  industry  is  under  the  supervision  of  the  State  Dairy  Com- 
mission, and  under  the  Jaw,  dairies  and  creameries  are  inspected  for 
sanitary  purposes  and  both  farmer  and  consumer  are  protected  in  the 
marketing  of  the  products.  The  commission  also  conducts  an  educational 
campaign,  directed  both  to  the  child  and  the  adult.  The  boys'  and  girls' 
calf  clubs  have  proven  quite  influential. 

The  last  report  of  the  State  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Publicity 
conveys  the  further  information :  "While  dairying  has  been  longer  estab- 
lished and  has  made  greater  strides  in  western  and  central  Montana  than 

Vol.  1—26 


402  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

in  the  eastern  portion,  the  last  year  or  two  has  witnessed  a  change  in  the 
non-irrigated  farming  areas  of  the  state.  Farmers  have  begun  to  realize 
that  in  years  of  sub-normal  rainfall  a  small  herd  of  milch  cows  is  the  best 
kind  of  drouth  insurance,  the  weekly  or  monthly  cream  checks  furnishing 
a  living  for  the  family.  Forage  for  live  stock  on  the  non-irrigated  farms 
has  been  a  problem  in  dry  years,  but  the  remarkable  success  had  with 
Russian  sunflowers,  yielding  from  eight  to  ten  tons  of  forage  in  dry  years 
and  upwards  of  20  to  30  tons  in  wet  years,  has  solved  this  difficulty. 
The  Montana  Agricultural  College  has  determined  that  sunflower  silage 
has  practically  the  same  feeding  value  as  corn  silage.  Many  silos  have 
been  built  in  the  state  in  the  past  two  years,  and  there  is  every  reason 
to  believe  that  it  will  not  be  many  years  before  they  will  be  regarded  as 
essential  as  is  a  plow.  The  pit  silo  is  the  most  inexpensive  form  and  they 
have  given  good  results  wherever  tried. 

"Dairying  is  further  advanced  in  the  irrigated  districts,  and  substantial 
improvement  is  being  made  in  the  class  of  stock.  The  non-irrigated 
farmer  is  more  likely  to  keep  a  dual  purpose  animal,  the  steer  calves 
being  turned  out  on  the  ranges  to  mature  as  beef,  but  in  the  irrigated 
districts  farmers  incline  more  to  the  straight  dairy  type.  Campaigns 
are  being  waged  in  parts  of  Montana  to  induce  men  on  irrigated  farms 
to  maintain  irrigated  pastures,  in  the  past  most  farmers  considering 
irrigated  land  too  good  to  be  used  for  pasture.  Experts  contend,  how- 
ever, that  the  carrying  capacity  of  an  irrigated  pasture  is  so  much  greater 
than  the  capacity  of  the  ordinary  pasture,  that  under  the  proper  care 
the  irrigated  pasture  will  return  as  large  if  not  larger  returns  than  would 
the  same  ground  in  crop. 

"That  part  of  Montana  west  of  the  main  range  is  especially  adapted 
to  dairying.  The  grass  is  more  lush  than  east  of  the  range,  and  clovers 
do  especially  well  on  the  logged-off  lands.  Dairy  cows  in  these  districts 
will  furnish  a  living  income  while  the  farm  is  being  cleared.  Stevens- 
ville,  in  the  irrigated  district  of  the  Bitter  Root  valley,  boasts  one  of  the 
largest  and  most  successful  co-operative  creameries  in  the  Northwest." 

Montana  had  four  times  as  many  milch  cows  in  1920  as  in  1902.  In 
the  former  year  the  number  was  52,380,  in  1914  it  passed  the  100,000 
mark  and,  as  reported  by  the  United  States  census,  in  1920,  the  number 
of  dairy  cattle  was  211,098.  In  1902,  they  were  valued  at  $2,101,486;  in 
1920,  $13,819,301. 

POULTRY  AND  BEES 

Many  farmers  of  Montana  have  turned  to  the  raising  of  poultry  not 
only  as  a  means  of  lowering  the  high  cost  of  living,  but  as  a  most  profit- 
able side  industry.  The  Bitter  Root  Valley,  the  Flathead  and  the  coun- 
try farther  west,  are  ideal  for  poultry  raising.  The  natural  protection 
of  the  country  in  Western  Montana,  with  its  numerous  streams,  is  a 
decided  advantage  over  most  of  the  open  sections  of  Eastern  Montana; 
but  even  in  the  more,  exposed  regions,  poultry  is  raised  to  advantage 
when  properly  housed  in  cold  weather.  Chickens  and  turkeys,  both 
producers  of  eggs  and  meat  and  fancy  breeds,  have  brought  Montana 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


403 


to  the  front  at  not  a  few  poultry  shows  held  in  New  York,  Chicago  and 
other  large  cities.  Much  encouragement  is  given  to  the  development 
of  the  industry  by  the  state.  The  State  College  at  Bozeman  has  a 
poultry  department,  the  exhibits  of  poultry  have  ]z>een  a  leading  feature 
for  a  number  of  years,  and,  since  1911,  the  State  Board  of  Poultry 
Husbandry  has  been  active  in  promotional  work.  The  State  Poultry 
Breeders'  Association  is  a  strong  organization  largely  concerned  in  raising 
the  breeds  of  the  Montana  birds. 

With  the  growth  of  transportation  facilities  throughout  the  state, 
especially  in  Western  Montana,  the  conditions  of  the  poultry  market  are 
rapidly  improving.  Another  factor  which  is  making  the  prospects  of 
poultry  raisers  brighter  is  the  handling  of  poultry  and  eggs  by  the  cream- 


TURKEYS    AT    THE    EXPERIMENT    STATION,    BOZEMAN 

eries.  Perhaps  the  best  example  of  this  co-operation  is  found  in  the 
Stevenson  Co-operative  Creamery  in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley. 

The  United  States  census  for  1920  gives  the  following  figures  illus- 
trative of  the  present-day  importance  of  the  poultry  industry:  Eggs 
produced,  11,238,256  dozens;  eggs  sold,  4,387,077  dozens;  chickens 
raised,  2,659,630;  chickens  sold,  604,435;  value  of  chickens  and  eggs  pro- 
duced, $46,260,526;  receipts  from  sale  of  chickens  and  eggs,  $42,160,209. 

The  keeping  of  bees  has  grown  rapidly  in  favor  within  the  past  few 
years.  The  portions  of  the  state  which  have  made  most  advancement  in 
the  industry  are  Stillwater,  Yellowstone  and  Big  Horn  counties,  in  the 
Yellowstone  Valley,  and  in  the  Bitter  Root  and  Flathead  valleys  of  West- 
ern Montana.  In  Eastern  Montana,  the  chief  honey  crops  are  clover  and 
alfalfa,  and  in  Western  Montana,  alfalfa  and  fruit  blossoms.  In  1920, 
the  bees  of  the  state  produced  630,608  pounds  of  honey  and  7,682  pounds 
of  wax,  valued  at  $160,270. 


CHAPTER  XVIII 
LAST  EPOCH  OF  TERRITORIAL  GOVERNMENT 

The  ninth  session  of  the  legislative  Assembly  of  the  territory  con- 
vened at  Helena,  which  the  people  had  pronounced  its  permanent  capital, 
on  the  3rd  of  January,  1876,  and  the  thirteen  years  which  followed  con- 
cluded the  last  epoch  of  territorial  government.  Benjamin  F.  Potts  was 
still  chief  executive;  James  E.  Callaway  was  secretary  of  the  territory; 
Solomon  Star  was  just  concluding  his  term  as  auditor,  and  D.  H.  Cuth- 
bert  about  to  assume  office ;  D.  H.  Weston  had  served  about  six  months 
of  his  long  term  as  treasurer;  Cornelius  Hedges  was  superintendent  of 
public  instruction,  and  Decius  S.  Wade  was  chief  justice  of  the  State 
Supreme  Court.  Maj.  Martin  Maginnis  was  the  delegate  in  Congress  and 
the  United  States  attorney  was  Merritt  C.  Page. 

MAJ.  MARTIN  MAGINNIS 

Major  Maginnis,  who  had  been  a  delegate  to  Congress  since  1872, 
was  one  of  the  coming  public  men  of  Montana.  Still  only  in  his  thirty- 
fifth  year,  he  had  made  a  military  record  as  a  Union  soldier  from  New 
York  and  a  newspaper  man  of  Helena.  In  1874,  he  had  succeeded  him- 
self by  defeating  Cornelius  Hedges,  a  leading  republican,  lawyer  and 
United  States  attorney,  and  was  not  displaced  in  his  congressional  seat 
until  March,  1885.  As  congressional  delegate,  Major  Maginnis  made  a 
reputation  for  successful  and  practical  legislation  which  has  not  been  sur- 
passed in  the  history  of  that  office.  Through  his  efforts  many  of  the 
Indian  reservations  which  covered  a  large  portion  of  the  territory  were 
either  abolished  or  reduced  in  area,  and  such  frontier  army  posts  were 
established  at  Forts  Logan,  Keogh,  Custer,  Maginnis,  Assiniboine  and 
Missoula.  Through  him  were  also  founded  the  assay  office  at  Helena  and 
the  United  States  penitentiary  at  Deer  Lodge,  afterward  turned  over  to 
the  state.  Major  Maginnis  was  active  in  the  passage  of  land  and  timber 
laws  particularly  affecting  the  interests  of  Montana.  One  of  the  laws 
especially  contributory  to  the  development  of  the  West  was  that  giving 
railroads  the  right-of-way  across  the  public  lands.  The  bill  granting 
that  great  privilege  was  drafted  by  Major  Maginnis  and  carried  through 
Congress,  and  under  it  all  the  railways  in  the  West,  except  the  three 
chartered  by  Congress,  have  been  constructed.  He  procured  the  grant  of 
lands  for  the  University  of  Montana  and  other  state  institutions,  and  was 
active  in  the  state  constitutional  convention  of  1889.  Subsequently  as 
land  commissioner  of  the  state  he  stoutly  defended  the  interests  of  his 
commonwealth  against  the  aggressions  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad. 

404 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  405 

Major  Maginnis's  last  election  to  Congress,  in  November,  1882,  was 
contested  by  his  republican  opponent  Alexander  C.  Botkin,  a  popular  Wis- 
consin lawyer  and  editor,  who  had  served  as  United  States  marshal  for 
Montana,  and  was  afterward  lieutenant  governor  and  a  leading  member 
of  the  commission  for  the  revision  of  the  criminal  laws  of  the  United 
States.  But  Major  Maginnis  retained  his  seat  as  Montana's  territorial 
delegate  and  continued  his  fine  record  in  that  office.  What  he  accom- 
plished for  the  railroads  of  Montana  cannot  be  overestimated.  His  work 
and  accomplishment  in  that  regard  has  been  well  reviewed  in  these  words : 
"He  believed  that  Montana  was  the  natural  highway  through  the  moun- 
tains to  the  northwestern  coast;  that  every  railroad  in  the  Mississippi 
Valley  would  have  to  find  its  way  across  it,  and  it  was  his  conception  that 
finally  led  Congress  to  pass  a  bill  drafted  by  him  granting  all  railroads  a 
general  right-of-way  over  the  public  lands  of  the  United  States  without 
special  charter,  land  grant  or  other  subsidy,  except  a  perpetual  easement. 
The  committee  of  territorial  delegates  gave  the  bill  their  united  support. 
Major  Maginnis  was  the  chairman  of  this  association  of  delegates  or- 
ganized for  the  purpose  of  procuring  legislation  beneficial  to  the  terri- 
tories. They  were  able  men  who  afterward,  as  their  territories  came  into 
the  Union  as  states,  became  nationally  prominent.  Among  them  were 
Chafee,  Elkins,  McCormick,  Cannon,  McFadden  and  Armstrong. 

"The  bill  was  opposed  by  the  chartered  roads  on  the  ground  that  it 
destroyed  their  privileges,  but  the  delegates  fought  it  through  both  houses, 
and  it  was  signed  on  the  5th  of  March,  1873.  Under  this  law  all  the 
railroads  of  the  new  West  have  been  built,  except  those  previously  char- 
tered by  Congress.  In  our  own  state,  the  Great  Northern,  the  Milwaukee, 
and  all  their  branches,  as  well  as  all  the  branch  roads  of  the  Northern 
Pacific,  outside  of  the  main  line,  have  been  constructed  pursuant  to  the 
provisions  of  this  act. 

"Major  Maginnis  had  a  large  part  in  the  building  of  railroads.  He 
drafted  the  charter  and  right-of-way  of  the  Oregon  Short  Line,  which 
took  over  and  now  operates  the  old  Utah  Northern.  It  was  under  the 
provisions  of  this  act  that  Harriman  consolidated  the  Southern  Pacific 
system,  a  consummation  never  anticipated  by  the  author  of  the  bill,  who 
was  opposed  to  such  consolidations.  An  effort  was  made  in  Congress 
to  repeal  the  charter  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  and  the  speeches  and  letters 
of  Major  Maginnis  had  much  influence  in  overcoming  the  hostile  clamor 
over  Jay  Cooke's  failure.  General  Hazen,  then  commanding  the  district, 
had  made  a  drastic  report  to  the  war  department,  condemning  the  coun- 
try and  the  entire  project  as  an  imposition  and  a  fraud  on  the  public, 
which  had  a  great  effect  at  that  time  and  which  was  successfully  answered 
by  Major  Maginnis  in  public  addresses  and  in  the  press.  He  cham- 
pioned the  entrance  of  the  Great  Northern  and  carried  through  Congress 
a  bill  for  its  right-of-way  through  the  Indian  reservations.  He  opposed 
the  claims  of  the  Northern  Pacific  to  mineral  lands  within  its  land  grant 
and  Congress  sustained  his  position,  as  did  also  the  Supreme  Court  in 
an  action  which  he  had  brought  before  it  on  behalf  of  the  prospectors 
and  miners  of  Montana." 


406  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

NINTH,  TENTH  AND  ELEVENTH  SESSIONS 

Much  of  the  home  legislation  of  the  ninth  session  of  the  territorial 
Assembly  had  to  do  with  the  encouragement  of  the  railroads,  especially 
the  Northern  Pacific.  It  was  proposed  to  construct  a  line  from  Franklin, 
Idaho,  into  Montana,  by  way  of  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Hole  River.  To 
aid  that  project,  an  act  was  passed  to  issue  territorial  bonds  in  the  sum 
of  $1,500,000  and  another  authorizing  the  different  counties  which  would 
be  benefited  thereby  to  issue  additional  bonds.  The  Legislative  Assem- 
bly adjourned  February  n,  1876. 

The  tenth  session  convened  January  8th  and  adjourned  February  16, 
1877,  and  more  railroad  legislation  was  enacted  indicative  of  the  public 
favor.  By  the  new  apportionment  bill,  the  Council  membership  of  thir- 
teen and  the  House  membership  of  twenty-six  were  redistributed  among 
the  several  counties.  A  new  code  of  Civil  Procedure  was  enacted,  al- 
though it  differed  little  from  that  of  1872  which  it  purported  to  repeal. 
The  Probate  Practice  act  of  559  sections,  which  was  passed  into  law, 
was  far  more  radical,  and  the  entire  subject  of  probate  laws  was  ar- 
ranged, revised  and  codified. 

An  historic  resolution,  in  memory  of  Custer,  was  passed  by  the  As- 
sembly to  the  effect  that  "in  commemoration  of  the  dauntless  courage, 
the  disciplined  valor  and  the  heroic  death  of  Col.  George  A.  Custer  and 
his  men  of  the  Seventh  Regiment  of  the  United  States  Cavalry  who  fell 
with  him  in  the  battle  with  the  Sioux  Indians,  on  the  Little  Big  Horn 
River,  in  the  territory  of  Montana,  on  the  35th  day  of  June,  A.  D..  1876, 
the  name  of  said  Little  Big  Horn  River  be  changed  to  Custer's  River, 
and  the  same  shall  be  forever  hereafter  known  as  Custer's  River." 
This  impressively  worded  resolution  did  not  change  the  name  of  the 
river  and  it  still  appears  upon  all  the  maps  at  Little  Big  Horn  River. 
In  commemoration  of  the  event,  however,  the  Assembly,  by  act  of  Feb- 
ruary 1 6,  1877,  did  change  the  name  of  Big  Horn  County*  to  that  of 
Custer;  and  that  legislation  accomplished  its  purpose.. 

At  the  eleventh  regular  session  of  the  Montana  Assembly — sitting 
from  January  I3th  to  February  21,  1879,  an  act  was  passed  exempting 
from  taxation,  for  a  period  of  six  years,  all  improvements  designed 
to  forward  the  manufacture  of  sugar  from  beets,  such  as  factories  or 
refineries.  This,  in  the  way  of  protection  for  an  infant  industry,  which, 
in  portions  of  Eastern  Montana,  has  since  become  quite  lusty.  An  act 
was  passed  providing  for  the  recodification  of  the  general  laws  of  the 
territory  and  Harry  B.  Comly  was  appointed  to  conduct  the  work.  A 
bill  was  passed  to  enable  Butte  to  be  incorporated,  and  until  its  Board 
of  Aldermen  could  be  elected  Messrs.  W.  A.  Clark,  Jeremiah  Roach, 
Henry  Jacobs  and  James  Mussigbrod  were  to  act  in  that  capacity.  A 
House  joint  memorial  was  addressed  to  Congress  to  pass  an  enabling 
act  permitting  the  people  of  the  territory  to  take  the  necessary  prelimi- 
nary steps  to  enter  the  Union  as  a  state — a  forecast  of  the  actual  event 
which  occurred  a  decade  later. 

*  Present  Big  Horn  County  organized  from  parts  of  Rosebud  and  Yellowstonr 
in  1913. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  407 

The  extraordinary  session  of  1879  lasted  July  1-22  and  was  largely 
devoted  to  the  finances  of  the  territory.  Its  indebtedness  was  funded 
and  outstanding  bonds  redeemed.  A  law  was  passed  defining  the  con- 
ditions under  which  foreign  corporations  could  do  business  in  Montana. 
Authority  had  repeatedly  been  given  the  people  of  Helena,  on  petition, 
to  incorporate  as  a  city,  but  they  had  taken  no  steps  to  assume  a  municipal 
form  of  government.  At  this  extraordinary  session,  the  Assembly 
passed  a  bill  to  enforce  the  existing  act  of  incorporation,  and  providing 
that  if  certain  designated  commissioners  did  not  proceed  to  comply  there- 
with within  a  specified  time,  the  probate  judge  of  Lewis  and  Clark  County 
should  carry  out  its  provisions. 

THE  UTAH  NORTHERN  PENETRATES  MONTANA 

A  great  event  for  Montana  was  about  to  come  to  a  head.  The 
railroads  were  gradually  pushing  into  its  territory.  Such  commissioners 
from  the  East  as  Oliver  Ames  and  Jay  Gould  had  been  pushing  along  the 
Northern  Pacific,  and,  as  noted  by  Joaquin  Miller  in  his  early  history 
of  Montana,  "the  hearts,  of  the  people  went -out  to  the  road  that  was  com- 
ing up  the  path  trodden  by  Lewis  and  Clark  in  their  search* for  the 
overland  commercial  way  to  India  lured  by  the  old  Northwest  Passage 
idea,  and  the  credit  of  the  territory  to  the  extent  of  $300,000  was  pledged 
toward  its  support.  There  was  also  the  other  road  coming  in  from 
Corinne  on  the  Central  Pacific. 

"The  'president  of  the  Utah  Northern  (Sidney  Dillon)  now  pro- 
posed to  Governor  Potts  to  extend  his  railroad  lines  to  the  Montana 
line  in  the  year  1879,  and  to  pierce  Montana  to  the  extent  of  125  miles 
in  the  year  following,  conditioned  only  by  the  stipulation  that  his  road 
should  not  be  taxed  for  fifteen  years.  The  governor  called  an  extra 
session  in  July  (noted  in  the  foregoing  paragraph)  and  in  a  lengthy 
message  laid  the  proposition  before  his  Legislature.  It  was  not  accepted. 
It  was  not  entertained  because  it  was  clear  that  the  small  consideration 
asked  by  President  Sidney  Dillon,  of  the  Utah  Northern,  would  have 
very  little  weight,  whether  given  by  Montana  or  withheld.  If  it  was  to 
be  built,  it  would  be  done  nearly  as  well  without  this  little  exemption 
from  taxation  as  with  it.  The  only  possible  advantage  to  the  territory 
attainable  would  be  brevity  of  time.  But  as  the  Northern  Pacific  was 
pushing  its  way  across  the  plains  of  Dakota  with  incredible  speed,  the 
Utah  Northern  must,  and  would,  and  did  push  on  for  the  heart  of  Mon- 
tana as  well.  This,  the  first  railroad  in  Montana,  crossed  the  line  in 
1880,  and  in  1881  entered  the  capital. 

"At  the  meeting  of  the  twelfth  Legislature,  there  seems  to  have 
been  a  sort  of  'taking  of  stock,'  if  the  expression  may  be  allowed.  It 
was  a  cause  of  great  rejoicing  all  over  the  land,  this  railroad  to  the 
capital.  Old  men  had  long  waited  for  it,  young  men  were  made  glad. 
Now  and  for  the  first  time  too,  they  could  see  The  States.  The  popula- 
tion was  tipping  the  beam  at  50,000.  The  Northern  Pacific  road  was 
almost  within  hearing;  the  schools  were  prosperous,  having  the  California 


408  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

school  system  and  laws,  and  coming  to  be  second  only  to  that  great 
state,  so  celebrated  for  its  schools.  The  counties  were  still  in  debt,  it 
is  true,  some  of  them  heavily,  but  the  credit  of  the  Territory  was  almost 
at  par;  the  debt  had  almost  entirely  disappeared." 

CODE  OF  LAWS  ADOPTED 

Perhaps  the  most  important  development  of  the  Twelfth  Assembly 
was  the  report  of  Commissioner  Comly,  who  had  been  appointed  to 
codify  the  territorial  laws.  He  presented  a  code  comprising  1,239  sec- 
tions and  covering  Civil  Procedure,  Probate  and  Criminal  Practice  and 
General  Laws.  The  code  became  a  law  without  the  governor's  approval. 
Additional  legislation  was  enacted  authorizing  the  funding  of  the  in- 
debtedness of  counties.  Silver  Bow  was  created  from  Deer  Lodge 
County,  and  the  boundaries  of  a  number  of  counties  more  specifically 
defined. 

GOVERNOR  JOHN  S.  CROSBY 

Governor  Potts  was  removed,  or  resigned  from  office,  on  January  14, 
1883,  knd  John  Schuyler  Crosby,  succeeded  him  in  the  governorship. 
He  was  a  native  of  New  York,  of  liberal  education;  when  a  young  man 
was  one  of  the  pioneers  in  the  transcontinental  trip  from  Valparaiso, 
Chile,  to  Montevideo,  Uurguay.  During  the  Civil  war  he  received  re- 
peated promotion  to  the  grade  of  brevet  lieutenant-colonel,  and  after- 
ward served  on  the  staff  of  General  Sheridan  and  Custer  in  the  West. 
In  1876-82  he  was  consul  to  Florence,  Italy,  and  while  there  was  deco- 
rated by  the  king  for  capturing  a  band  of  criminals  in  Tuscany.  His 
service  as  governor  of  Montana  extended  from  January  14,  1883,  to 
December  15,  1884,  and  for  a  number  of  years  afterward  was  assistant 
postmaster-general  and  New  York  school  commissioner. 

ANOTHER  FRUITLESS  CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTION  (1884) 

Governor  Crosby  assumed  office  a  week  after  the  meeting  of  the 
thirteenth  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  which  lasted  sixty  days. 
A  general  law  was  passed  during  that  period  empowering  school  trus- 
tees to  issue  bonds  to  build  or  provide  schoolhouses,  and  the  members 
of  the  Assembly  were  again  reapportioned.  On  February  26,  1883, 
the  county  of  Yellowstone  was  created,  and  the  boundaries  of  Gallatin 
and  Custer  counties  were  altered  to  conform  to  the  limits  of  the  new 
county.  Additional  legislation  was  provided  permitting  counties  to 
fund  their  debts,  and  acts  were  passed  for  the  incorporation  of  the  city 
of  Bozeman,  of  Fort  Benton  and  Missoula.  A  House  joint  resolution 
was  passed  providing  for  the  election  of  delegates  by  counties,  in  No- 
vember, 1883,  for  a  convention  to  form  a  state  constitution  which  should 
assemble  on  the  second  Monday  in  January,  1884. 

This  was  the  second  constitutional  convention  which  failed  to  bear 
fruit.  The  first  called  by  Governor  Meagher,  had  met  at  Helena,  April 
9,  1866,  and  its  six  days  session,  now  recognized  to  be  illegal  (as  was 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  409 

generally  held  at  the  time),  accomplished  nothing;  for  although  a  consti- 
tution was  hastily  thrown  together  by  an  incompetent  gathering  of  dele- 
gates, the  document  dropped  out  of  sight  after  being  taken  to  St.  Louis 
for  publication.  The  second  constitution  created  at  the  convention  of 
January  14-February  9,  1884,  held  at  Helena,  under  the  presidency  of 
William  A.  Clark,  was  never  put  in  operation.  It  was  presented  to 
Congress  by  Hon.  Joseph  K.  Toole,  then  a  delegate  to  the  national  House 
of  Representatives,  but  the  admittance  of  the  territory  under  its  pro- 
visions was  never  secured.  During  the  four  years  of  his  service  in  that 
body,  however,  Mr.  Toole  kept  the  subject  constantly  before  it,  and  his 
labors  were  rewarded  during  the  closing  days  of  his  term  by  the  passage 
of  the  congressional  act  enabling  Montana  to  become  a  state. 

GOVERNOR  B.  PLATT  CARPENTER 

B.  Platt  Carpenter,  another  New  York  gentleman  of  thorough  edu- 
cation and  legal  training,  was  appointed  governor  of  the  territory  to 
succeed  Mr.  Crosby,  and  went  into  office  December  16,  1884,  although 
he  did  not  arrive  in  Montana  until  January,  1885.  He  was  a  prominent 
Grant  republican  and  President  Arthur  appointed  him  to  the  governor- 
ship. Unlike  his  predecessor,  Governor  Carpenter  remained  in  Montana 
after  his  term  as  chief  executive  was  concluded,  and  was  a  leader  in 
founding  the  state.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Constitutional  Convention 
of  1889,  and  ably  served  as  one  of  the  commissioners  who  prepared 
the  code  of  state  laws  which  became  effective  July  I,  1895.  His  recog- 
nized legal  learning  and  long  familiarity  with  the  codes  of  the  state  of 
New  York  were  eminently  valuable  in  the  codification  of  the  laws  of 
Montana. 

The  Fourteenth  Assembly  which  was  in  session  sixty  days  from 
January  12,  1885,  created  the  county  of  Fergus  and  passed  laws  incorpo- 
rating the  cities  of  Billings,  Dillon  and  Missoula,  amending  the  act  incor- 
porating Helena  (July  14,  1885). 

GOVERNOR  HAUSER,  OF  MONTANA  BREED 

Samuel  T.  Hauser,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Carpenter  as  governor  of 
Montana,  on  July  14,  1885,  was  a  great  contrast  in  experience  and  char- 
acter, to  his  two  predecessors.  In  a  sense,  they  were  "foreigners,"  or, 
as  such  appointees  from  outside  states  were  often  called,  "carpet  bag- 
gers," a  term  borrowed  from  the  post-war  period  of  the  South,  during 
which  politicians  from  the  North  were  sent  into  the  states  "lately  in  re- 
bellion." Mr.  Hauser,  on  the  contrary,  although  a  native  Kentuckian, 
was  in  his  early  manhood  a  Missouri  railroad  man,  and  in  the  early 
'6os  was  one  of  the  roving,  hardy  and  brave  pioneers  of  Montana,  who 
traveled  its  historic  trails  and  fought  its  Indians.  For  years  he  had 
been  one  of  its  democratic  leaders,  and  received  his  appointment  from 
President  Cleveland. 

As  early  as  1865,  Mr.  Hauser  organized  a  bank  in  the  city  of  Vir- 
ginia and  in  the  following  year  established  the  First  National  Bank  at 


GOVERNORS  POTTS,  HAUSER  AND  ASHLEY 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  411 

Helena.  He  also  assisted  in  the  founding  of  other  banks  in  Butte  and 
Missoula ;  organized  the  Helena  and  Livingston  Smelting  and  Reduction 
Company,  and  applied  his  industry,  ability  and  money  to  the  construction 
of  railroads  within  the  state.  After  his  retirement  from  the  active  man- 
agement of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Helena,  with  other  capitalists 
he  began  the  development  of  the  vast  water  power  of  the  Missouri 
River  north  of  Helena  and  was  thus  engaged  during  the  later  years  of 
his  life. 

THE  CODE  OF  1887 

Governor  Hauser's  administration  therefore  had  the  advantage  of 
being  headed  by  an  old-time  Montanian,  thoroughly  understanding  the 
people  and  their  institutions.  During  his  term  the  only  assembly  which 
performed  its  legislative  functions  was  the  fifteenth,  which  sat  at  Helena 
in  January  lO-March  10,  1887.  It  was  during  that  period  that  the  com- 
piled statutes  of  1887  were  put  forth,  which  replaced  a  chaotic  "code," 
or  "hodge-podge,"  inherited  from  several  preceding  assemblies.  The 
code  of  1887  was  passed  at  the  last  day  of  the  session  and,  although  a 
creditable  piece  of  legal  revision  and  collaboration,  was  further  improved 
by  the  state  codes  of  1895.  The  only  other  law  of  importance  enacted 
at  the  fifteenth  session  was  that  creating  the  County  of  Park,  which  was 
carved  out  of  Gallatin  County. 

GOVERNOR   PRESTON   H.   LESLIE 

About  the  middle  of  the  session,  February  7,  1887,  Governor  Hauser 
resigned,  being  succeeded  the  following  day  by  Preston  H.  Leslie,  also 
a  Kentuckian.  He  had  already  served  as  governor  of  Kentucky,  first 
by  death  and  resignation  of  intervening  state  officials,  and  then  by  elec- 
tion, the  popular  verdict  spelling  the  defeat  of  the  distinguished  jurist, 
John  M.  Harlan.  Afterward,  he  served  as  a  circuit  judge  in  Ken- 
tucky and  in  1887,  on  the  recommendation  of  his  old  political  opponent, 
Justice  Harlan,  President  Cleveland  appointed  him  governor  of  Mon- 
tana. Governor  Leslie  was  accompanied  to  Montana  by  his  family,  and 
at  the  end  of  his  term  as  governor  resumed  the  practice  of  law  at  Helena. 
Later,  he  was  United  States  district  attorney  four  years,  and  died  at  the 
state  capital  on  February  7,  1907.  One  of  his  sons,  Hon.  Jere  B.  Leslie, 
at  one  time  served  as  judge  of  the  District  Court,  residing  at  Great 
Falls. 

Although  there  was  an  extraordinary  session  of  the  Fifteenth  Legis- 
lative Assembly,  extending  from  August  29th  to  September  14,  1887,  no 
laws  of  moment  appear  to  have  been  enacted  except  the  creation  of  the 
County  of  Cascade  from  Meagher,  Chouteau,  Fergus  and  Lewis  and 
Clark. 

CREATION  OF  A  CODE   COMMISSION 

The  last  territorial  legislative  Assembly  (the  sixteenth),  covered  the 
period  from  January  T4th  to  March  14,  1889 — sixty  days — and  its  great 


412  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

work  was  to  lay  the  foundation  for  a  thorough,  systematic  and  profes- 
sional codification  of  the  territorial  laws  pending  Montana's  statehood. 
The  stupendous  task  was  no  longer  left  to  legislators  or  politicians,  but 
to  men  learned  and  experienced  in  the  law.  Backed  by  a  solid  public 
sentiment,  Governor  Leslie,  under  the  law,  appointed  a  commission  "to 
codify  the  criminal  and  civil  law  and  procedure  and  to  revise,  compile 
and  arrange  the  statute  laws  of  Montana."  He  selected  for  that  work 
Decius  S.  Wade,  who  had  been  chief  justice  of  the  state  Supreme  Court 
from  1871  to  1887;  B.  Pratt  Carpenter,  formerly  governor  and  then 
a  distinguished  lawyer  of  New  York  state,  and  F.  W.  Cole,  another 
learned  lawyer  who  had  long  resided  in  the  territory.  Under  the  act, 
approved  March  14,  1889  (the  last  day  of  the  session),  the  commission 
was  directed  to  prepare  civil,  penal  and  civil  procedure  codes  and  to 
present  them  to  the  first  session  of  the  state  Legislature  and  a  political 
code  to  its  second  session. 

Besides  the  creation  of  the  code  commission,  the  sixteenth  session 
enacted  a  number  of  important  measures.  A  general  election  law  was 
passed,  and  a  board  of  medical  inspectors,  as  well  as  the  office  of  in- 
spector of  mines,  was  established,  and  an  act  was  made  law  by  which 
the  National  Guard  of  Montana  was  fairly  placed  on  its  feet. 

On  February  22,  1889,  Congress  had  passed  the  act  enabling  the 
Dakotas,  Washington  and  Montana  to  assemble  constitutional  conventions 
and  lay  the  foundations  of  new  states,  preparatory  to  their  reception 
into  the  Union. 

PASSING  FROM  TERRITORY  TO  STATE 

The  last  territorial  governor  of  Montana  was  Benjamin  Franklin 
White,  a  Massachusetts  Yankee  early  transplanted  to  California  and 
Idaho.  While  still  a  young  man,  he  was  engaged  in  the  salt  business 
in  the  latter  territory,  and  a  few  years  afterwards,  when  the  Utah 
Northern  came  into  Montana  he  founded  a  freight  forwarding  com- 
pany, with  headquarters  at  Dillon,  which  became  the  largest  concern  of 
the  kind  in  the  West.  He  was  especially  identified  with  the  growth  of 
that  place  in  many  ways.  His  term  as  territorial  governor,  under 
appointment  of  President  Harrison,  dates  from  April  9,  1889,  and  he 
served  until  November  8th  of  that  year,  or  until  the  organization  of 
the  state  government. 

As  the  holding  of  the  State  Constitutional  Convention  at  Helena, 
in  July  and  August  of  that  year,  was  an  event  which  ushered  in  the 
life  of  the  commonwealth,  the  consideration  of  it  is  reserved  for  another 
chapter.  A  few  touches  of  this  transition  period  have  been  given  by 
Joaquin  Miller,  for  many  years  a  gifted  writer  of  the  West,  and  are 
reproduced:  "S.  T.  Hauser,  the  first  Montana  governor  of  Montana, 
resigned  from  office  in  1887,  H.  P.  Leslie,  of  Kentucky,  succeeding. 
But  it  is  idle  to  dwell  on  a  list  of  officers  when  peace  and  prosperity 
attended  the  growing  commonwealth.  It  would  be  wrong,  however, 
even  by  inference,  to  say  that  these  imported  men  at  the  head  of  affairs, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  413 

as  a  rule,  failed  in  duty  when  on  the  ground.  They  may  be  likened  to 
officers  of  the  army,  only  wanting  opportunity.  The  next  Montana  gov- 
ernor was  B.  F.  White,  of  Dillon,  appointed  by  Harrison. 

"Meanwhile,  population,  of  a  solid,  cultured  class,  from  the  maple 
woods  of  the  Miami  Reserve,  largely;  Yankees,  who  had  lodged  a  gen- 
eration or  so  in  Ohio  and  Indiana  on  their  way  West,  came  pouring  in 
by  way  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  The  Indian  troubles  had  entirely 
passed  into  history,  so  far  as  the  daily  massacre  went  at  least,  and  so 
the  remote  little  nooks  and  crooks  along  the  mountain  creeks  soon  be- 
gan to  blossom  with  happy  homes  as  never  before.  There  was  talk  of  a 
state.  A  convention  was  held,  a  constitution  was  framed,  a  vote  taken; 
the  constitution  adopted  and  a  state  formed,  and  without  the  least 
friction,  in  brief  space.  This  constitution  is  replete  with  cold  caution 
and  jealous  guard  over  the  liberties  of  Montana,  and  is  severely  econom- 
ical for  a  state  that  has  mountains  of  gold  for  its  corner-stones  and 
silver  ways  and  gateways." 


CHAPTER  XIX 
BENCH  AND  BAR  OF  MONTANA 

During  the  few  years  prior  to  the  creation  of  Montana  as  an  inde- 
pendent territory,  law  and  order  and  stern  justice  were  represented 
by  the  preponderance  of  physical  force,  directed  by  the  rugged  and  un- 
deviating  honesty  of  the  vigilantes  and  their  tribunals — the  miners' 
courts.  When  the  territorial  courts  were  organized,  under  the  organic 
act  of  1864,  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  miners'  courts  were  en- 
forced and  most  of  the  lawyers  who  practiced  during  that  seething 
period  continued  their  professional  labors  with  honor  under  the  consti- 
tutional bodies.  As  has  been  fitly  observed:  "Never  were  any  courts 
organized  by  Congress,  or  by  any  state  government,  that  had  so  extensive 
jurisdiction  as  the  territorial  courts.  They  possessed  at  once  the  juris- 
diction of  the  State  and  United  States  courts." 

BASIC  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  JUDICIARY 

Under  the  organic  act,  the  judicial  power  of  the  territory  was 
vested  in  a  Supreme  Court,  consisting  of  a  chief  justice  and  two  asso- 
ciate justices;  in  District  and  Probate  courts  and  justices  of  the  peace. 
It  also  provided  that  the  territory  should  be  divided  into  three  judicial 
districts,  in  which  District  Court  should  be  held,  at  stated  times,  by 
one  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court.  These  District  courts  were 
of  general  jurisdiction  and  their  functions  were  coextensive  with  the 
Circuit  and  District  courts  of  the  United  States.  Appeals  were  taken 
from  the  District  courts  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  territory,  and 
thence  to  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in  all  cases  involving 
the  sum  of  $5,000.  Although  the  criticism  was  made  that  the  territorial 
Supreme  Court  could  thus  confirm  its  own  errors  as  rendered  by  the 
District  Court,  the  Reports  showed  that  the  decisions  of  the  lower 
court  were  often  reversed,  and  that  the  judgments  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  territory  were  usually  affirmed  on  appeal  to  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  United  States. 

As  already  stated.  President  Lincoln  appointed  H.  L.  Hosmer  chief 
justice,  his  associates  being  L.  P.  Williston,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  Lyman 
E.  Munson,  of  Connecticut.  Justice  Hosmer  lived  in  Virginia  City 
and  presided  in  the  District  Court  of  the  First,  Williston  at  Deer  Lodge, 
as  district  judge  of  the  Second,  and  Munson  at  Helena  had  jurisdiction 
over  the  Third  judicial  district.  Probate  courts  were  established  in  each 
county  and  every  settlement  and  mining  camp  was  provided  with  a 
justice  of  the  peace  and  a  constable. 

414 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  415 

PIONEER  LAWYERS  OF  MONTANA 

William  Chumasero,  Thomas  Thoroughman,  James  G.  Spratt,  R.  B. 
Parrott,  William  Y.  Lovell,  Thomas  Muffly,  Cornelius  Hedges,  Sidney 
Egerton,  Elanson  C.  Moore,  John  P.  Bruce,  R.  H.  Robertson,  Edward 
Sheffield,  Jerry  Cook,  John  C.  Turk  and  William  L.  McMath  are  among 
the  lawyers  who  arrived  in  Montana  about  the  time  of  its  organization 
as  a  territory  and  commenced  practice.  "And  so,"  comments  an  appre- 
ciative author  of  those  times,  "Montana  came  to  be  well  supplied  with 
judges,  courts  and  lawyers;  the  miners'  courts  gradually  fade  away  and 
disappear,  their  thrilling  scenes  and  incidents  pass  into  history,  their 
rules  and  regulations  enter  into  the  structure  and  body  of  the  law,  their 
judges  and  presidents  lose  their  authority  and  jurisdiction,  but  retain 
their  titles;  the  period  of  government  without  law  has  passed  away.  It 
has  been  a  period  of  peril  and  hardship,  of  unconquerable  energy  and 
courage,  but  during  its  existence  the  seeds  of  an  imperishable  common- 
wealth had  taken  root. 

REIGX   OF  BENCH   AND  BAR   BEGINS 

"The  organic  act  did  not  do  much  more  than  to  furnish  the  frame- 
work for  a  territorial  government,  and  from  its  date  until  the  enact- 
ment of  what  are  known  as  the  Bannack  Statutes  in  January,  1865,  by 
the  first  Legislative  Assembly,  though  there  were  judges  and  courts, 
there  was  no  law  to  set  the  machinery  in  motion.  Upon  the  enactment 
of  the  Bannack  Statutes  the  legitimate  reign  of  the  Bench  and  Bar 
begins." 

The  so-called  Bannack  Statutes,  with  a  congressional  act  passed  in 
the  following  year,  extended  the  old  pre-territorial  doctrine  (rigidly 
enforced  by  the  miners'  courts)  by  which  the  first  to  discover  running 
water  for  placer  mining  was  entitled  to  its  control;  the  Assembly  and 
Congress  extended  that  doctrine  so  as  to  apply  it  to  water  used  for 
agricultural  purposes.  The  older  principle  of  riparian  rights,  as  known 
to  the  common  law,  was  thereby  overturned,  and  the  early  justices  of 
Montana  were  soon  crowded  with  cases  growing  out  of  this  conflict. 

Among  the  lawyers  who  handled  such  cases  and  others  of  this  period 
were  Henry  N.  Blake,  Alex  M.  Woolfolk,  Thomas  R.  Edwards,  Green 
Clay  Smith,  L.  G.  Sharpe,  John  H.  Shoper,  John  C.  Robinson,  R.  E. 
Arick,  Henry  Burdick,  Joseph  J.  Williams,  Thomas  J.  Lowry,  Walter  F. 
Chadwick,  Sample  Orr  and  A.  G.  P.  George. 

The  Bannack  Statutes,  however,  were  crude  and  obscure,  and  in 
1867  the  Legislative  Asserribly  enacted  what  has  been  known  as  the 
California  Practice  act,  as  well  as  other  statutes.  But  none  of  them 
were  published  until  some  time  after  they  were  enacted,  and  everything 
legal  was  still  in  such  confusion  and  the  permanency  of  the  territory 
was  so  uncertain  that  there  are  few  records  of  either  the  Supreme  or 
the  lower  courts  which  are  of  any  value.  The  dearth  of  statutes  during 
the  first  judicial  period,  the  lack  of  court  houses  and  places  for  keeping 


416  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

records,  the  widely  scattered  population  and  the  distances  for  the  judges, 
litigants,  lawyers,  jurors  and  witnesses  to  travel  to  the  county  seats 
and  to  the  capital,  made  the  courts  expensive  and  surrounded  the  ad- 
ministration of  justice  with  great  difficulties  and  delays.  Perhaps  the 
justices  of  the  first  period,  as  most  of  the  people  of  that  time  did,  thought 
that  the  occupation  of  Montana  by  white  people  would  only  continue 
while  the  placers  were  being  worked  out,  and  that  records  and  decisions 
were  hardly  worth  preserving  in  a  country  so  soon  to  again  be  a  wilder- 
ness. At  that  time,  the  stock  and  agricultural  industries  had  not  been 
considered  as  valuable  assets  to  the  country  and  gold  only  was  viewed  in 
the  light  of  a  precious  metal. 

JUSTICES  OF  FIRST  SUPREME  COURT  RETIRE 

The  first  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court  were  now  near  the  end  of 
their  terms.  Soon  after  he  retired  in  July,  1868,  the  chief  justice  moved 
with  his  family  to  California.  Of  Judge  Hosmer's  associates,  Willis- 
ton  retired  with  his  chief  and  resumed  the  practice  of  his  profession  in 
Pennsylvania,  while  Munson  continued  to  serve  until  April,  1869,  when 
he  returned  to  his  native  Connecticut. 

JUDGE  AND  GOVERNOR  CLASH 

It  was  Judge  Munson  who  stood  so  firmly  for  law  under  the  con- 
stitution as  opposed  to  law  by  force,  albeit  wielded  by  honest  men;  and 
in  taking  his  judicial  stand  he  was  obliged  to  clash  with  Acting  Governor 
Meagher.  During  the  absence  of  Chief  Justice  Hosmer  and  Associate 
Justice  Williston  for  nearly  a  year  after  the  arrival  of  Judge  Munson, 
judicial  supervision  of  the  territory  devolved  upon  the  latter.  A  typical 
New  England  lawyer  and  judge,  he  opened  court  in  August,  1865,  and 
in  his  charge  to  the  grand  jury,  at  Helena,  significantly  announced  that 
courts  had  been  organized  "for  the  trial  of  both  civil  and  criminal  causes, 
with  ample  facilities  to  secure  the  ends  of  justice — especially  with  such 
auxiliary  help  as  they  have  reason  to  believe  will  be  tendered  in  time  of 
need,  and  which  it  is  the  duty  of  every  good  citizen  at  all  times  to  ren- 
der." Citizens  of  the  territory  were  ready  to  admit  that  the  courts 
could  handle,  but  were  in  doubt  as  to  its  criminal  affairs.  Judge  Mun- 
son asserted  that  criminal  causes  could  no  longer  be  tried  outside  the 
courts  established  under  the  constitution.  The  first  criminal  case 
brought  before  him  and  the  first  trial  for  murder  in  any  Montana  court 
was  that  of  James  B.  Daniels  for  the  killing  of  one  Gartley.  The  details 
of  the  crime  are  immaterial,  but  Daniels  was  convicted  of  manslaughter 
at  the  December  term  of  the  District  Court,  in  1865,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing February  reprieved  by  Acting  Governor  Meagher. 

On  being  released  from  the  Madison  county  jail  (then  the  terri- 
torial prison)  under  this  reprieve,  Daniels  immediately  returned  to 
Helena  and  swore  revenge  upon  the  witnesses  who  had  testified  against 
him.  He  arrived  there  about  9  o'clock  in  the  evening  and  was  almost 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  417 

immediately  surrounded  by  a  mob,  which  hanged  him  about  an  hour 
afterward.  At  the  time  he  was  executed,  Daniels  had  in  his  pocket 
the  reprieve,  or  pardon,  which  had  been  issued  a  few  days  before  by 
General  Meagher. 

The  incident  drew  from  Judge  Munson  the  following  letter  to  the 
acting  governor,  which  is  characteristic  of  the  writer,  and  refers  bluntly, 
if  not  bravely,  to  the  controversy  then  blazing  between  the  judiciary  and 
the  Legislative  Assembly,  headed  by  the  chief  executive  of  the  territory : 

"Virginia  City,  M.  T.,  March   i,  1866. 

"Gen.  T.  F.  Meagher,  Secretary  and  Acting  Governor  of  Montana: — 
Dear  Sir:  Noticing  in  the  paper  (the  Montana  Radiator)  your  proclam- 
ation setting  at  liberty  James  Daniels,  convicted  of  manslaughter  and 
serving  out  his  sentence  in  Madison  county  jail,  I  came  from  Helena  on 
the  return  coach  to  respectfully  ask  that  you  revoke  that  order  and  have 
the  sheriff  remand  him  to  prison  until  the  will  of  the  President  could  be 
made  known  concerning  him.*  This  you  declined  to  do.  I  therefore 
desire  to  state  that  you  have  assumed  the  exercise  of  a  power  not  dele- 
gated to  the  executive,  unwarranted  by  law,  and  the  sheriff  should  have 
disregarded  the  order  until  further  advised.  Had  Daniels  been  con- 
victed of  murder  and  sentenced  to  be  hanged,  you  then  could  have  re- 
prieved him  from  the  execution  of  the  sentence  until  the  will  of  the  Presi- 
dent could  be  known;  but  not  even  then  could  you  have  set  him  at  lib- 
erty. I  have  therefore  ordered  the  marshal  to  rearrest  him,  if  he  be 
found  (the  sheriff  says  he  has  escaped  out  of  his  precinct),  and  confine 
him  in  the  jail  and  hold  him  at  all  hazards  until  otherwise  ordered  by 
the  President,  and  I  am  happy  to  assure  you  that  he  will  obey  the  order 
and  defend  his  action.  I  hope  you  will  render  him  all  needed  assistance 
in  the  discharge  of  his  duty,  in  maintaining  the  supremacy  of  the  law. 

"One  word  further:  I  notice  in  the  city  papers  a  published  speech 
said  to  have  been  delivered  by  you  in  a  democratic  convention,  recently 
held  in  this  city,  in  which  you  say  that  you  shall  compel  the  judges  of 
the  territory  to  recognize  the  legality  of  the  legislature  soon  to  assem- 
ble under  your  call,  and  the  validity  of  the  laws  it  may  pass.  Had  you 
spoken  simply  as  a  politician  I  should  take  no  notice  of  the  speech — 
probably  never  should  have  read  it ;  but  you  gave  to  it  significance  by 
adding  weight  of  your  official  position,  which  brings  it  to  notice.  That 
there  may  be  no  misunderstanding  between  us,  or  misapprehension  in 
the  minds  of  those  who  heard  or  have  read  it,  I  deem  it  proper  as  one  of 
the  judges  alluded  to  (the  others  being  absent)  to  state  that  the  judges  of 
Montana  will  pursue  a  straightforward,  honest,  independent  course  in  the 
discharge  of  their  official  duties,  regardless  of  fear  or  favor.  They  will  not 
be  bought  by  promises  of  reward,  nor  bullied  or  intimidated  by  threats 
from  any  source.  They  claim  the  right  and  will  exercise  the  duty  of 
not  only  construing,  but  of  passing  upon  the  validity  of  any  law  the  legis- 


*  Daniels  had  heen  sentenced  to  three  years'  imprisonment  and  $1,000  fine,  and, 
notwithstanding  the  light  sentence,  which  the  community  generally  accepted,  be- 
fore he  had  served  three  months  of  his  term  thirty-two  persons  had  applied  to  the 
governor  for  his  reprieve  and  to  the  President  for  his  pardon. 

Vol.      1—27 


418  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

lature  may  pass,  or  even  the  legality  of  the  session  itself,  whenever  they 
may  come  legitimately  before  them,  in  the  discharge  of  their  official 
duties,  and  their  judgments,  orders  and  decrees  will  be  observed  and 
enforced  until  overruled  and  set  aside  by  a  higher  tribunal  than  the  edict 
of  an  executive.  The  judiciary  will  aim  to  do  their  whole  duty  and  it 
is  hoped  their  decisions  will  be  just,  equitable  and  satisfactory.  May 
peace,  order  and  prosperity  be  the  happy  lot  of  us  all,  and  the  law,  with 
its  protective  shield,  at  all  times  be  over  these  mountain  homes  of  ours. 

"I  have  the  honor  to  subscribe  myself 

"Yours,  etc.,  L.  E.  Munson 

"U.    S.   Judge,    Montana    Territory." 

The  records  show  no  opinion  in  writing  delivered  by  any  of  the 
judges  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  territory  as  it  was  first  constituted. 
Several  of  their  opinions  and  charges  to  the  juries  were  printed  by  the 
newspapers  of  Virginia  City  and  Helena,  at  the  time  they  were  delivered, 
but  the  first  printed  volume  of  Reports  begins  with  the  December  term, 
1868,  and  ends  with  the  January  term,  1873. 

BEGINNING  OF  SYSTEMATIC  JUDICATURE 

The  coming  of  Henry  L.  Warren  as  chief  justice,  appointed  from 
the  State  of  Illinois,  in  July,  1868,  to  succeed  Judge  Hosmer,  and  of 
Hiram  Knowles,  of  Iowa,  as  associate  justice,  successor  to  Judge  Willis- 
ton,  at  the  same  time,  was  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  the  judicial 
history  of  the  territory.  They  were  experienced  lawyers  of  unusual 
ability,  in  the  prime  of  life,  energetic  and  ambitious,  and  of  high  charac- 
ter, at  once  commanding  the  respect  and  confidence  of  the  people  and  the 
bar.  Judge  Knowles  had  known  something  of  life  in  the  mining  camps 
of  the  far  West,  having  previously  lived  in  Nevada,  where  he  had  prac- 
ticed law  and  been  prosecuting  attorney.  They  organized  order  out  of 
the  chaos  of  the  courts.  By  an  amendment  to  the  organic  act,  the  justices 
of  the  Supreme  Court  were  clothed  with  authority  to  define  the  judicial 
districts  of  the  territory,  to  assign  the  justices  to  their  respective  districts 
and  to  fix  the  time  and  place  for  holding  the  courts.  They  adopted 
rules  for  the  Territorial  Supreme  Court  similar  to  those  of  the  Supreme 
courts  of  the  States,  pointed  out  how  transcripts  on  appeal  should  be 
made,  provided  for  the  filing  and  service  of  briefs,  and  required  every 
decision  of  the  court  to  be  in  writing  and  filed  with  the  clerk. 

The  first  volume  of  the  Montana  Supreme  Court  Reports  therefore 
begins  with  the  first  term  of  that  court  after  the  advent  of  Justices 
Warren  and  Knowles,  which  convened  in  December,  1868.  Eighteen 
decisions  rendered  in  important  cases  and  reduced  to  writing  by  them 
at  that  term  bespeak  their  learning  and  energy. 

In  April,  1869,  George  G.  Symes,  of  Kentucky,  and  formerly  of 
Iowa,  succeeded  Lyman  E.  Munson  as  associate  justice.  Symes  had 
served  with  distinction  in  the  Union  army  and  though  not  a  lawyer  of 
large  experience  was  a  thorough  student  and  very  ambitious.  He  resided 
at  Helena,  Knowles  at  Deer  Lodge,  and  Warren,  at  Virginia  City. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  419 

NEW  CODIFICATION  OF  THE  LAWS 

The  Legislative  Assembly  of  1869  named  the  judges  of  the  Supreme 
Court  as  a  commission  to  codify  the  territorial  statutes.  The  work,  as 
arranged  among  themselves,  assigned  the  Civil  Practice  act  to  Chief 
Justice  Warren,  who  substantially  followed  the  California  act  and  made 
few  amendments  to  the  'Montana  codification  of  1867.  The  Assembly  of 
1871-72  attempted  such  radical  changes  in  Judge  Symes's  codification  of 
the  General  laws  as  to  throw  it  into  confusion,  from  which  it  has  not 
entirely  recovered.  On  the  whole,  Judge  Knowles's  work  on  the  Crim- 
inal Laws  and  Procedure  seemed  to  give  the  most  general  satisfaction, 
and  his  codification  remained  substantially  unchanged  for  many  years. 
The  entire  work  of  the  commission,  after  having  been  passed  upon  by 
the  Legislative  Assembly  of  1871-72,  was  published  in  the  volume  of  laws 
entitled  "Codified  Statutes,  7th  Session,  1871-2." 

At  this  period  (the  early  '703),  the  leading  lawyers  of  the  territory, 
besides  those  already  named,  were  W.  E.  Cullen,  George  May,  W.  W. 
Dixon,  W.  H.  Clagett,  James  H.  Brown,  Joseph  K.  Toole,  Thomas  L. 
Napton,  James  E.  Galloway,  W.  F.  Kirkwood,  Massena  Bullard  and 
Henry  F.  Williams. 

After  the  adjournment  of  the  Supreme  Court  in  January,  1871,  Chief 
Justice  Warren  and  Associate  Justice  Symes  resigned,  and  on  March 
I7th  of  that  year  President  Grant  appointed  Decius  S.  Wade  of  Ohio  as 
Judge  Warren's  successor,  John  L.  Murphy  of  Tennessee  having  suc- 
ceeded Judge  Symes  soon  after  his  resignation  in  January.  Warren  re- 
sumed the  practice  at  Virginia  City  and  Symes  at  Helena.  Subsequently 
they  both  left  Montana,  Warren  to  practice  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
later  in  New  Mexico,  where  he  was  successful,  and  Symes  at  Denver, 
Colorado,  where  he  amassed  a  fortune,  was  elected  to  Congress  and 
was  otherwise  honored. 

CHIEF  JUSTICE  WADE'S  SERVICE 

Decius  S.  Wade  was  in  his  thirty-sixth  year  when  President  Grant 
appointed  him  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.  He  was  a  nephew 
of  the  widely  known  statesman  from  Ohio,  Benjamin  F.  Wade,  under 
whom  he  pursued  his  legal  studies.  Before  ascending  the  Montana 
bench,  he  had  held  judicial  position  in  Ashtabula  County,  Ohio,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  State  Senate  from  that  district  when  appointed  to  the 
chief  justiceship.  Through  his  service  for  four  consecutive  terms  as 
head  of  the  territorial  Supreme  Court  and  his  great  work  in  the  early 
'905, .as  chairman  of  the  commission  which  re-codified  the  laws  of  Mon- 
tana into  a  closely-knit  and  consistent  system,  Judge  Wade,  without 
disparagement  to  any  other  great  brother  of  the  bench,  has  been  justly 
named  the  Father  of  Montana  jurisprudence.  Further,  his  work  on  the 
"Bench  and  Bar"  of  Montana  is  a  rich  mine  of  information,  from  which 
much  has  been  gleaned  by  every  writer  on  the  topic  who  desires  to  be 
well  posted  regarding  it. 

The   most   important   developments   in   territorial   jurisprudence   oc- 


420  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

curred  during  the  periods  of  Justice  Wade's  service,  from  March,  1871, 
to  May,  1887,  and  of  his  able  associate,  Hiram  Knowles,  from  July,  1868, 
to  July,  1879.  In  his  reminiscences  of  that  period,  Judge  Wade  writes: 
"The  business  of  holding  District  courts  in  the  counties  of  the  three 
judicial  districts  of  the  territory,  besides  two  terms  per  year  in  each 
district  for  the  trial  of  causes  arising  under  the  constitution  and  laws 
of  the  United  States,  and  two  terms  of  the  Supreme  Court  at  the  capi- 
tal, had  become  laborious  and  exacting.  The  only  means  of  travel  was 
by  stage  coach,  the  counties  were  larger  than  many  of  the  states  and  the 
distances  to  places  for  holding  court  were  very  great.  It  is  estimated 
that  Judge  Wade,  before  the  advent  of  railroads  in  1883,  traveled  25,000 
miles  by  stage  coach  in  attending  to  the  holding  of  courts  in  Montana, 
and  it  is  probable  that  Judge  Knowles  in  his  eleven  years'  service  as 
associate  justice  accomplished  an  equal  task.  The  centers  of  population 
and  business  at  the  time  were  Virginia  City,  the  capital  of  the  terri- 
tory ;  Bozeman,  in  Gallatin  County ;  Helena  and  Diamond  City,  in  Lewis 
and  Clark  County;  Deer  Lodge  City,  in  Deer  Lodge  County,  and  Mis- 
soula,  in  Missoula  County.  These  places  were  county  seats,  and  the 
lawyers  traveled  from  court  to  court,  many  of  them  having  cases  in 
every  court  in  the  territory. 

CRUDE  LEGAL  AND  JUDICIAL  SURROUNDINGS 

"The  court  houses,  like  those  of  most  new  countries,  were  not  im- 
posing temples  of  justice.  Many  important  cases,  involving  large  sums 
of  money  or  valuable  property,  or  perhaps  pioneer  cases  without  prece- 
dents for  guides,  and  whose  decision  would  become  foundations  in  the 
systems  of  law  for  this  Western  world,  were  fought  out  in  log  cabins, 
or  in  crude  wooden  structures  whose  walls  and  ceilings  were  lined  with 
cheese  capping  for  plaster,  whose  carpets  were  sawdust  or  sand,  whose 
chairs  were  backless  boards  and  whose  jury  seats  were  bare  benches. 

"The  accommodations  at  the  hotels,  if  the  stopping  places  could  be 
so  dignified,  for  jurors,  witnesses,  lawyers  and  judges,  were  of  like 
character ;  but  for  many  the  dance  houses,  the  saloons  and  the  gambling 
places  running  all  night  with  music  in  full  blast,  rendered  sleeping 
apartments  quite  unnecessary.  To  these  isolated  places,  the  coming  of 
court  was  the  event  of  the  year,  the  harvest  time ;  and  with  beer  or  whisky 
at  twenty-five  cents  per  drink,  and  other  things  in  proportion,  the  ex- 
pectations were  never  disappointed.  Everything  was  carried  on  at  high 
pressure  and  with  lavish  hand.  Perhaps  this  resulted  from  the  ease  with 
which  gold  was  washed  from  the  ground,  or  it  may  have  been  the  isola- 
tion of  the  country  and  the  difficulties  in  reaching  it,  and  the  absence  of 
other  diversions  and  pleasure ;  but  whatever  the  cause,  it  is  certain  never 
was  there  a  more  generous  or  hospitable  people  of  Montana  at  that 
period.  The  latchstring  hung  on  the  outside,  and  there  was  nothing  too 
good  to  be  shared,  even  with  strangers.  Every  place  of  business  had 
its  scales  for  weighing  out  gold  dust,  and  every  lawyer  carried  a  buck- 
skin pouch  for  the  reception  of  fees — which,  in  amount,  would  have 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  421 

astonished  an  Eastern  lawyer  and  dazed  an  Eastern  client — in  the1  same 
material.  But  though  the  fees  were  large,  the  lawyers,  like  the  other 
people,  seemed  to  think  the  supply  inexhaustible,  and  like  them,  were 
reckless  and  extravagant.  This  characteristic,  however,  did  not  dis- 
qualify them  as  lawyers.  For  the  number  of  people  in  the  territory  the 
litigation  was  very  large,  owing  to  the  disputes  and  conflicts  concerning 
mining  claims  and  the  appropriation  of  water ;  and  it  is  not  too  much  to 
say  that  the  bar  of  this  period  was  equal  to  that  of  any  other  country. 
Notwithstanding  the  expense  and  difficulties  of  transportation,  they  had 
fine  libraries,  and  when  occasion  required  would  ship  large  numbers  of 
books  at  the  rate  of  twenty-five  cents  per  pound  to  remote  countries, 
to  be  used  there  in  the  trial  of  cases." 

PLACER  MINING  AND  WATER  RIGHTS 

At  the  August  term  (1871)  of  the  Supreme  Court,  which  was  the 
first  over  which  Chief  Justice  Wade  presided,  an  opinion  was  handed 
down  by  Justice  Knowles  which  became  a  precedent  for  all  the  mining 
regions  of  the  West.  It  was  entitled  Robertson  et  al.  vs.  Smith  et  al.  and 
involved  questions  entirely  foreign  to  the  learning  or  experience  of  such 
an  "Eastern  lawyer"  as  the  chief  justice  then  considered  himself.  The 
case  had  been  tried  at  the  July  term  of  the  Meagher  County  District 
Court,  and,  in  affirming  its  judgment,  Judge  Knowles  held  that  under 
the  act  of  July  26,  1866,  where  a  citizen  or  a  person  who  had  declared  his 
intention  to  become  a  citizen,  takes  up  and  holds  a  placer  mining  claim, 
in  pursuance  of  the  local  rules  and  regulations  of  the  miners  of  the  dis- 
trict in  which  the  claim  is  situated,  the  act  aforesaid  confers  upon  such 
person  a  title  equivalent  to  a  patent  from  the  United  States,  so  long 
as  such  rules  and  regulations  are  complied  with ;  and  so,  that  the  appel- 
lants, who  were  the  county  commissioners  of  Meagher  County  and  a 
road  supervisor,  who  were  attempting  to  construct  a  road  over  and 
across  the  placer  claims  of  respondent,  as  over  and  across  the  public 
domain,  which  they  were  authorized  to  do  by  said  act  of  Congress, 
should  be  perpetually  enjoined  and  restrained  from  so  doing.  This  deci- 
sion, giving,  as  it  did  to  the  local  rules  and  regulations  of  miners  the  full 
force  and  effect  of  law,  did  much  to  strengthen  and  uphold  the  title  to 
mining  claims,  and  placed  that  kind  of  property  on  a  solid  foundation. 

At  the  August,  1872,  term  important  cases  were  decided  involving 
water  rights  for  mining  and  agriculture,  defining  the  rights  of  married 
women  to  their  separate  property,  and  pronouncing  Montana  to  be  "In- 
dian country  under  the  laws  of  the  United  States  regulating  intercourse 
with  the  Indian  tribes." 

It  is  said  that  "the  briefs  and  arguments  of'  counsel  at  that  term, 
for  learning  and  ability,  have  never  been  surpassed  in  the  territory  or 
State  of  Montana,  and  would  have  added  dignity  and  strength  to  any 
bar  in  the  country;  and  if  the  opinions  and  decisions  of  the  judges  were 
not  sound  and  able,  the  fault  was  not  with  such  lawyers  as  E.  W.  Toole, 
W.  F.  Sanders,  Claggett  and  Dixon,  Sharpe  and  Napton,  Chumasero  and 


422  '  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Chadwick,  Joseph  K.  Toole,  Shoper  and  Lowry,  Henry  N.  Blake,  Sam- 
uel Word,  James  G.  Spratt,  Henry  L.  Warren,  George  G.  Symes,  W.  E. 
Cullen,  W.  J.  Stephens  and  United  States  District  Attorney  Cornelius 
Hedges." 

Another  case  belonging  to  the  early  '705  attracted  much  attention. 
Not  a  few  Chinamen  had  acquired  placer  diggings  and  some  were  be- 
coming rich.  Fan  Lee  had  come  into  possession  of  3,000  feet  of  placer 
mining  ground,  and  to  cover  his  case  and  others  of  like  nature  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly  had  passed  an  act  "to  provide  for  the  forfeiture  to  the 
territory  of  placer  mines  held  by  aliens."  The  District  Court  therefore 
declared  Lee's  claims  forfeited  to  the  territory.  On  appeal  to  the  Su- 
preme Court  Chief  Justice  Wade  reversed  the  decision.  He  discussed 
the  general  powers  of  a  territorial  legislature  and  held  that  alienage  is 
a  disability  that  can  only  be  taken  advantage  of  by  the  sovereign  power, 
the  United  States  Government;  in  other  words,  that  the  territory  by  its 
legislature  could  not  forfeit  the  property  of  an  alien  and  thereby  become 
the  owner  of  property,  which,  if  forfeited  at  all,  must  belong  to  the 
United  States. 

In  September,  1872,  John  L.  Murphy,  associate  justice  of  the  Su- 
preme Court,  resigned  from  the  bench,  and  Francis  G.  Servis,  of  Ohio, 
succeeded  him.  Judge  Murphy  opened  a  law  office  at  Bozeman,  but 
afterward  moved  to  San  Francisco. 

ON  "FIXING"  THE  TERRITORIAL  CAPITAL 

The  year  1875  is  important  in  the  annals  of  the  territorial  judiciary. 
The  most  interest  is  perhaps  attached  to  the  proceedings  in  the  Supreme 
Court  which  fixed  the  permanent  capital  of  the  territory  at  Helena.  The 
Helena  lawyers  and  citizens  claimed  that  the  popular  vote  taken  in  1869 
upon  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  government  from  Virginia  City  to  the 
former  place  showed  a  majority  in  favor  of  the  present  capital;  but  as 
the  returns  were  burned  after  reaching  Virginia  City,  and  before  they 
had  been  canvassed,  there  was  no  means  of  determining  officially  how 
the  vote  stood.  So  Virginia  City  retained  the  capital. 

The  act  of  February  n,  1874,  authorized  another  election  upon  the 
question;  which  election  took  place  the  following  August.  The  canvass 
of  the  ballots  by  the  commissioners  and  clerks  of  the  several  counties 
indicated  a  majority  in  favor  of  Helena  of  912.  These  officials  of 
Meagher  County  had  certified  that  561  votes  had  been  cast  for  Helena 
as  the  capital  and  29  ballots  for  Virginia  City.  Thirty  days  after  the, 
election  as  required  by  law,  the  abstract  of  returns  from  that  county, 
when  laid  before  the  governor  by  the  secretary  of  the  territory  and 
United  States  marshal,  was  found  to  contain  a  transposition  by  which 
it  appeared  that  Virginia  City  had  been  favored  with  561  ballots  for  the 
capital  and  Helena  with  the  29,  originally  certified  as  the  vote  for  Vir- 
ginia City. 

On  the  face  of  the  abstracts,  therefore,  Helena  had  lost  the  contest. 
The  Virginia  City  contingent  claimed  that  the  only  power  possessed  by 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  423 

the  territorial  canvassing  board  was  to  count  the  votes  as  shown  by  the 
abstracts,  even  though  they  were  known  to  be  faulty  or  false.  A  num- 
ber of  citizens  therefore  commenced  suit  in  the  Supreme  Court,  under 
a  statute  of  the  territory  giving  to  that  body  jurisdiction  in  mandamus 
proceedings,  to  determine  whether  or  not  the  Canvassing  Board  could  be 
required  to  ascertain  the  correct  vote  at  the  election,  or  whether  the 
court,  ascertaining  from  the  proof  the  correct  vote,  could  require  the 
governor  to  declare  the  result  by  proclamation.  The  cases  were  there- 
fore directed  against  the  governor,  the  auditor  and  the  treasurer,  the 
official  canvassing  board,  who  had  their  offices  in  Virginia  City. 

W.  F.  Sanders,  Johnston  &  Toole  and  Chumasero  &  Chadwick  repre- 
sented Helena,  and  Samuel  Word,  J.  G.  Spratt,  H.  F.  Williams,  H.  N. 
Blake  and  C.  W.  Turner,  Virginia  City.  It  is  unfortunate  that  the  briefs 
and  arguments  of  these  able,  lawyers  do  not  appear  in  the  Reports; 
"for,"  asserts  Judge  Wade,  "not  in  the  judicial  history  of  Montana  is 
there  anything  more  learned  or  able.  Every  authority  within  reach  or 
that  could  be  obtained  on  either  side  was  presented."  After  hearing  the 
learned  arguments,  pro  and  con,  and  consulting  a  day,  the  Supreme  Court 
delivered  its  opinion.  It  was  written  by  Chief  Justice  Wade,  with  the 
concurrence  of  Judge  Knowles  and  the  dissent  of  Judge  Servis,  and 
held  that  the  Supreme  Court,  under  legislative  enactment,  had  original 
jurisdiction  in  mandamus,  and  authority  to  compel  the  chief  executive  to 
"perform  a  ministerial  act,  and  that  the  Legislative  Assembly  had  author- 
ity to  require  the  secretary  and  marshal,  in  the  presence  of  the  governor, 
to  canvass  the  returns  of  a  general  election." 

Thereupon,  the  causes  came  on  for  trial  before  the  court  upon  the 
evidence,  and  having  ascertained  therefrom  the  correct  vote  of  the  people 
upon  the  question  of  the  removal  of  the  seat  of  government,  rendered 
a  decree  accordingly  and  required  the  governor  to  issue  a  proclamation 
removing  the  capital  of  the  territory  from  Virginia  City  to  the  town  of 
Helena;  which  was  done.  And  thus  ended  one  of  the  most  important 
and  ably-conducted  legal  contests  of  either  territory  or  state. 

HENRY  N.  BLAKE  ASCENDS  SUPREME  BENCH 

In  the  fall  of  1875,  Francis  G.  Servis  resigned  as  associate  justice, 
and  returned  to  Ohio,  subsequently  adorning  the  tench  and  bar  of 
Mahoning  County.  He  was  succeeded  on  the  Montana  bench  by  Hon. 
Henry  N.  Blake,  of  Virginia  City,  a  Boston  and  Harvard  University 
man,  who  had  successfully  practiced  in  the  territory  since  1866,  and 
was  for  about  forty-five  years  thereafter  one  of  the  most  conspicuous 
figures  in  the  legal  and  judicial  life  of  Montana.  He  passed  the  last 
years  of  his  life  in  his  native  state.  Before  ascending  the  bench  of  the 
Supreme  Court  as  associate  justice,  Judge  Blake  had  served  as  United 
States  attorney  and  district  attorney  for  the  First  Judicial  District,  con- 
sisting of  Madison,  Beaverhead  and  Yellowstone  counties.  In  the  early 
'705  he  prepared  the  first  volume  of  Montana  Reports  and  assisted  in 
the  collaboration  of  the  second  and  third  volumes.  He  was  a  member  of 


424  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  Legislative  Assembly  when  appointed  associate  justice,  which  office 
he  held  until  March,  1880.  Judge  Blake  served  as  the  last  chief  justice 
of  the  territorial  Supreme  Court  and  the  first  chief  justice  of  the  State 
Supreme  Court.  He  also  held  the  judgeship  of  the  First  District  (Lewis 
and  Clark  County)  in  1895-96.  Consequently,  there  were  few  of  his 
profession  in  Montana  who  enjoyed  such  a  varied  and  honorable  judi- 
cial career  as  Judge  Blake. 

A  STRONG  SUPREME  BENCH 

The  addition  of  Judge  Blake's  learning  and  practical  knowledge  of 
Montana's  laws  made  the  Supreme  bench  remarkably  strong.  It  is 
questionable  whether  it  was  ever  stronger,  either  in  territorial  or  state 
times,  than  when  Chief  Justice  Wade  presided,  with  Judge  Knowles 
and  Blake  as  associates. 

QUARTZ   MINING   LITIGATION 

Up  to  1870,  the  litigations  over  placer  claims  occupied  a  large  share 
of  its  attention,  with  legal  complications  over  the  discovery  and  location 
of  quartz-lode  claims  holding  a  secondary  position.  Quartz  mining  re- 
quired more  cumbersome  and  expensive  operations  and  machinery  than 
those  required  in  the  development  of  the  placer  diggings  but  with  the 
realization  of  the  far  greater  possibilities  of  quartz  mining  and  the  intro- 
duction of  capital,  the  courts  were  invaded  with  disputes  over  the  loca- 
tions of  lodes  and  veins  and  demands  for  the  legal  pronouncement  of 
individual  rights.  But  though  the  conditions  for  the  practical  develop- 
ment of  quartz  mining  continued  unfavorable  in  Montana  for  some 
years,  the  new  system  concerning  the  location,  representation  and  patent- 
ing of  quartz-lode  mining  claims,  inaugurated  by  the  act  of  Congress  of 
May  10,  1872,  gave  an  impetus  to  that  kind  of  mining  before  unknown. 
It  was  an  untried  system  and  the  lawyers  and  judges  of  the  mining 
regions,  in  the  very  center  of  which  was  Montana,  had  to  interpret 
and  expound  an  act  which  was  entirely  experimental,  keeping  only  one 
end  before  them — to  carry  out  the  stimulating  intent  of  Congress.  But 
within  a  few  years,  the  mining  laws  of  the  territory  expanded  into  a 
system,  and  this  complicated  underground  mining  was,  with  the  deci- 
sion of  case  after  case,  regulated,  in  a  way,  and  brought  within  the  un- 
derstanding of  those  really  engaged  in  it. 

Joaquin  Miller,  himself  a  miner  as  well  as  an  author,  sets  forth  some 
of  the  legal  difficulties,  in  that  field,  partially  overcome  by  the  courts  of 
Montana.  "On  a  mountain  side,"  he  writes,  "or  in  a  tract  of  country 
filled  with  quartz  veins  and  lodes,  running  parallel,  crossing,  intersecting, 
how  are  the  rights  of  adjoining  owners  of  these  mining  claims  to  be 
adjusted  and  determined,  when  there  is  nothing  on  the  surface  to  indi- 
cate the  apex  of  the  vein  or  its  pitch  or  course?  There  is  nothing  more 
difficult  or  requiring  more  skill  and  knowledge  of  law,  geology  and  en- 
gineering to  properly  determine  and  adjudicate  than  these  underground 
suits. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  425 

"There  is  no  such  thing  as  learning  the  habits  of  quartz  veins,  lodes 
or  ledges.  Their  language  admits  of  no  absolute  interpretations;  they 
exist  only  where  they  can  be  actually  seen;  each  one  has  its  own  dip 
and  angle,  its  own  foot  and  hanging  walls;  some  are  true  fissure  veins 
and  some  pinch  out  and  disappear;  some  are  rich  in  places  without 
cause  or  provocation,  and  in  other  places  barren  and  worthless,  with 
as  little  reason;  and  with  none  of  them  can  anything  be  granted. 

"This  is  the  kind  of  property,  having  the  same  elements  of  doubt 
and  uncertainty  as  a  game  of  chance,  upon  which  and  for  the  adjudica- 
tion of  rights  concerning  which,  the  system  of  mining  law  was  con- 
structed. 

"It  is  sufficiently  difficult  to  settle  rights  on  top  of  the  earth  and  in 
broad  daylight,  but  when  we  go  down  into  the  earth,  into  shafts,  tunnels 
and  slopes,  and  one  set  of  skilled  experts  and  engineers  make  beautiful 
and  elaborate  maps  and  diagrams  of  the  underground  workings  and 
geography,  and  testify  that  the  apex  of  a  vein  is  in  the  claim  of  the 
plaintiff;  and  another  set  of  engineers  and  geologists,  equally  expert  and 
skilled,  testify  exactly  the  contrary,  and  that  the  apex  is  in  the  claim  of 
the  defendant,  is  it  any  wonder  that  the  jury,  after  groping  in  the  dark 
for  perhaps  a  month,  following  the  witnesses  through  the  tunnels,  down 
shafts  and  into  slopes,  and  listening  to  learned  contradictory  theories 
concerning  geology,  fissures,  the  various  kinds  of  rocks,  their  ages  and 
what  they  are  supposed  to  signify,  is  utterly  bewildered  and  still  in  the 
dark? 

"This  kind  of  cases  involves  only  questions  of  fact ;  but  the  perplex- 
ing, difficult  thing  is  to  get  at  the  real  truth.  Other  cases  involve  ques- 
tions of  law  arising  upon  the  mining  statute ;  and  these  at  least  have  the 
benefit  of  daylight." 

Until  the  late  '/os,  it  may  be  said  that  the  cases  brought  before  the 
Supreme  Court  established  such  principles  in  mining  law  as  these :  That 
unpatented  mining  claims  does  not  exempt  the  product  of  the  mine  from 
taxation;  that  a  verbal  contract  of  copartnership  entered  into  "for  the 
purpose  of  prospecting  for,  locating,  recording,  preempting,  developing 
and  mining  quartz  lodes  and  other  mining  property"  is  valid;  that  the 
valid  location  of  a  mining  claim  under  the  act  of  May,  1872,  carried 
with  it  a  grant  of  the  claim  located  from  the  Government  to  the  person 
making  the  location,  together  with  exclusive  possession  of  the  same; 
that  if  there  is  a  failure  to  represent  the  claim,  the  title  is  gone,  and  the 
claim  again  becomes  subject  to  location;  that  a  person  making  a  loca- 
tion has  one  whole  year  in  which  to  do  the  representation  work  and  that 
there  can  be  no  forfeiture  until  the  full  time  has  expired ;  that  a  party 
in  possession  of  mining  ground  under  a  title  subsequently  determined  in 
court  to  be  invalid,  might,  without  fraud,  relocate  such  ground  and  there- 
after perfect  such  title  in  accordance  with  law ;  that  the  valid  location 
of  a  quartz-lode  mining  claim  could  not  be  made  until  the  claimant  had 
marked  the  boundaries  so  that  they  could  be  readily  traced  by  means 
of  stakes,  natural  objects,  or  other  certain  means. 

The  first  three  volumes  of  the  Montana  Supreme  Court  Reports  con- 


426  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

tain  many  important  decisions  aside  from  those  relating  to  mining  claims 
and  water  rights;  and  they  are  of  great  interest  and  importance,  because 
they  cover  the  period  of  the  foundation  and  the  first  growth  of  Montana 
jurisprudence.  By  1880  many  precedents  had  been  established  espe- 
cially in  the  new  field  of  quartz  mining  litigation,  and  the  bewilderment 
of  novel  questions  in  a  new  country  was  disappearing. 

RETIREMENT  OF  JUSTICE  KNOWLES 

In  July,  1879,  Justice  Knowles,  whose  leadership  in  such  statutory 
developments  had  been  marked,  resigned  from  the  bench  of  the  Supreme 
Court  for  the  purpose  of  resuming  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Eleven 
years  in  that  high  office  had  brought  him  continuous  and  increasing 
honor,  and  after  practicing  at  the  bar  for  a  decade  he  completed  his 
judicial  career  on  the  bench  of  the  Federal  Court  during  the  first  of 
four  years  of  statehood.  '  Judge  Knowles  was  succeeded  as  associate 
justice  by  William  J.  Galbraith,  of  Iowa. 

There  was  another  change  among  Chief  Justice  Wade's  associates, 
in  March,  1880,  when  Justice  Blake  was  succeeded  by  Everton  J.  Conger, 
of  Illinois,  who  held  office  for  nearly  four  years. 

LAWYERS  OF  1879-80 

At  the  date  of  the  succession  of  Justices  Galbraith  and  Conger  in 
1879-80,  the  population  of  the  territory  had  greatly  increased,  and  with 
it  the  number  of  the  lawyers  and  the  business  of  the  courts.  Besides 
those  already  named,  the  lawyers  in  active  practice  at  this  time  were 
Robert  P.  Vivion,  George  F.  Cowan,  J.  A.  Kanouse,  H.  M.  Porter,  I.  R. 
Porter,  Benjamin  T.  Porter,  H.  R.  Comly;  Merritt  C.  Paige,  United 
States  attorney,  from  1872  to  1877,  being  drowned  in  the  Madison 
River  in  May  of  the  latter  year;  Thomas  M.  Pomeroy,  Frank  H.  Woody, 
John  J.  Donnelly,  Patrick  Talent,  John  F.  Forbis,  H.  P.  Rolfe,  Ira  H. 
Pierce,  W.  H.  DeWitt,  Stephen  DeWolf,  Hiram  Blaisdell,  Arthur  S. 
Higgins,  F.  K.  Armstrong,  James  H.  Garlock;  J.  W.  Andrews,  Jr., 
United  States  attorney;  J.  W.  Tattan,  William  H.  Hunt,  Horace  R. 
Buck,  F.  J.  McBride,  George  C.  Randolph;  James  S,  Dryden,  United 
States  attorney ;  J.  W.  Strevell,  John  T.  Baldwin,  William  O.  Speer  and 
W.  T.  Piggott. 

After  the  retirement  of  Justices  Knowles  and  Blake,  as  for  several 
years  before,  mining  litigation  continued  to  occupy  a  large  share  of  the 
attention  of  the  courts,  and  little  by  little  the  system  of  the  mining  law 
developed.  The  Supreme  Court  decided  about  this  time  that  "posses- 
sion of  the  surface  of  a  lode  claim  is  possession  of  all  veins,  lodes  and 
ledges  whose  tops  or  apexes  are  within  the  surface  lines,"  which,  with 
its  logical  and  detailed  applications  straightened  out  many  a  legal  tangle. 
It  was  also  decided  that  actual  possession  of  mining  ground  could  not 
hold  the  claim  against  a  valid  location.  The  purchase  and  title  to  min- 
eral lands  were  again  barred  to  Chinamen  or  other  aliens.  Chief  Justice 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  427 

Wade  opined  that  possessory  title  to  a  placer  claim  was  made  the  prop- 
erty real  estate  and  must  be  conveyed  by  deed ;  that  a  mere  verbal  trans- 
fer would  not  hold  as  against  a  valid  quartz-claim  location. 

In  February,  1884,  Justice  Conger  retired  from  the  bench  on  account 
of  ill  health,  as  a  result  both  of  old  wounds  received  in  the  Civil  war 
and  of  his  strenuous  labors  on  the  bench.  He  resumed  the  practice  at 
Dillon,  Beaverhead  County,  and  was  succeeded  as  associate  justice  by 
John  Coburn,  of  Indiana. 

QUARTZ  CLAIMS  OVERSHADOW  PLACER 

But  changes  of  judges  did  not  alter  the  character  of  litigation.  One 
of  the  most  noted  decisions  rendered  was  in  a  contest  between  the 
owners  of  a  patent  to  placer  mining  ground  and  the  claimants  of  a 
quartz-lode  mining  claim  within  the  same  bounds,  and  it  was  a  judicial 
demonstration  of  the  preeminence  which  the  quartz  claims  and  mining 
had  attained  over  the  placer.  The  court,  by  Chief  Justice  Wade,  held 
that  a  patent  to  a  placer  claim  issued  under  the  congressional  act  of 
May,  1872,  passes  no  title  to  a  previously  located  quartz  vein  or  lode 
claim  included  within  its  boundaries,  and  whether  or  not  the  placer  ap- 
plicant knew  of  the  existence  of  such  lode  or  quartz  claim  was  immaterial ; 
and  this  upon  the  theory  that  the  valid  location  of  a  quartz-lode  mining 
claim  carries  with  it  a  grant  from  the  government  to  the  locator. 

TOWN  SITE  PATENTS  DISPLACED  BY  QUARTZ  LODE  CLAIMS 

Of  great  interest,  legally,  and  of  far-reaching  consequences  as  in- 
volving title  to  valuable  mining  properties,  was  the  contest  waged  in 
the  Supreme  Court  between  the  claimants  of  a  quartz  lode  location 
(Silver  Bow  Mining  Company)  and  parties  who  claimed  the  same 
ground  under  the  Butte  town  site  patent.  The  mining  claim  patent  won 
over  the  town  site  patent. 

In  the  autumn  of  1885,  Charles  R.  Pollard  of  Indiana,  was  appointed 
associate  justice  to  succeed  Justice  Coburn,  who  returned  to  Indianapolis 
to  continue  practice.  Pollard  failed  to  be  confirmed  by  the  Senate,  and 
on  August  6,  1886,  James  H.  McLeary  of  Texas,  came  into  office.  On  the 
same  day,  under  an  act  of  Congress  giving  an  additional  judge  to  Mon- 
tana, Thomas  C.  Bach,  of  Butte  City,  Montana,  was  appointed  associate 
justice. 

Litigation  over  mining  claims  still  crowded  the  docket  of  the  Supreme 
Court.  Thirty-two  cases  involving  contentions  between  lot  claimants 
under  the  Butte  town  site  patent  and  those  under  the  Smokehouse  lode 
location,  and  involving  property  in  the  city  of  great  value,  were  covered 
by  one  opinion  rendered  by  the  chief  justice,  who  reaffirmed  the  doc- 
trines laid  down  in  the  Silver  Bow  case  and  concluded  that  "there  is 
no  law  authorizing  the  United  States  Land  Office  to  exclude  from  a 
mining  claim  patent  The  right  to  surface  ground,  and  a  reservation  in 
such  a  patent  excluding  therefrom  the  right  to  all  lots,  blocks,  streets, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  429 

alleys,  houses  and  municipal  improvements  on  the  surface  of  the  claim, 
is  void ;  and  that  the  issuance  of  a  patent  to  a  quartz-lode  mining  claim 
is  conclusive,  in  an  action  at  law,  as  to  the  title  to  the  land  within  its 
limits." 

Chief  Justice  Wade's  decisions  were  upheld  by  the  United  States 
Supreme  Court,  which,  however,  made  an  exception  to  an  opinion  handed 
down  by  Judge  Bach,  in  the  case  of  Weibold  vs.  Davis.  The  United 
States  Court,  by  Justice  Field,  held  that  the  facts  in  the  case  upon  which 
Judge  Bach  passed  were  not  identical  with  those  in  the  suits  decided  by 
Chief  Justice  Wade  and  to  meet  the  dissimilarity  held  that  "a  town  site 
patent  of  an  earlier  date  covering  the  same  premises  embraced  in  a  junior 
mining  patent  carries  the  title  in  absence  of  proof  establishing  the  known 
existence  of  the  mine  at  the  date  of  such  town  site  patent." 

The  foregoing  are  some  of  the  leading  cases  that  found  their  way 
to  the  Supreme  Court  of  Montana  during  the  territorial  period,  arising 
under  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  miners  and  under  the  acts  of 
Congress.  After  the  admission  of  the  territory  as  a  state,  the  litigation 
concerning  mines  and  mining  claims  was  mostly  transferred  to  the 
United  States  courts,  and  thereby  the  State  Supreme  and  District  courts 
were  relieved  of  much  labor. 

RAILROAD  CASES 

Not  long  after  the  arrival  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  in  the 
territory,  in  1883,  a  fertile  source  of  litigation  was  also  introduced  to 
the  courts  of  Montana.  The  land  grant  obtained  by  the  company  from 
Congress  was  equivalent  to  a  tract  of  land  forty  miles  wide  by  800 
miles  long,  being  every  alternate  section  of  the  public  lands,  not  mineral, 
designated  by  odd  numbers,  to  the  extent  of  forty  miles  on  either  side  of 
said  company's  road.  Without  specifying  the  particular  cases  which 
drew  forth  the  opinions  and  decisions  of  the  various  members  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  Montana  Territory,  that  tribunal  adjudicated  that 
the  title  of  the  Northern  Pacific  to  the  lands  included  within  its  great 
grant  took  effect  at  the  date  of  the  approval  of  the  act  of  Congress  in- 
corporating the  company;  that  as  Congress  chartered  the  company  and 
granted  it  public  lands,  it  is  competent  to  exempt  the  right-of-way  of 
the  railroad  from  taxation.  The  question  as  to  what,  if  any,  mineral 
lands  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company  might  hold  under  the 
Government's  land  grant,  became  a  serious  problem  soon  after  the  ad- 
vent of  the  line  to  Montana,  and  finally,  in  consequence  of  the  quantity 
of  the  mineral  land  included  in  the  grant,  an  issue  of  almost  national 
importance.  If  the  company  could  hold,  and  if  the  grant  covered  all 
lands  not  known  to  be  mineral  at  the  date  of  the  grant,  or  at  the  time  of 
the  location  of  the  route  of  the  road,  it  would  give  to  the  Northern  Pacific 
some  of  the  richest  mines  in  the  world.  Cases  more  or  less  involving 
this  question  were  tried  in  Montana  and  decisions  rendered  in  favor  of 
operators  who  had  demonstrated  the  existence  of  ore  on  lands  falling 
within  the  land  grant  of  the  railroad  company.  But  the  decisive  case 


430  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

grew  out  of  the  suit  brought  by  the  Northern  Pacific  against  Harden, 
who  had  located  a  quartz-lode  mining  claim  in  August,  1888.  The  deci- 
sion of  the  case  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States  in  May, 
1894,  settled  forever  the  contentions  of  the  railroad  company  that  it 
was  entitled  to  the  mineral  lands  included  within  its  grant;  so  that  al- 
though the  narrative  is  somewhat  projected,  the  final  disposition  of  the 
question  is  noted  here.  It  was  a  case  which  attracted  wide  attention 
even  among  the  great  issues  brought  before  the  supreme  judiciary  of 
the  nation,  and  was  presented  and  argued  by  eminent  counsel.  James 
McNaught  and  James  C.  Carter  represented  the  plaintiff  (the  Northern 
Pacific)  and  W.  W.  Dixon  and  Warren  Toole,  employed  by  the  State  of 
Montana,  W.  H.  H.  Miller,  attorney  general  of  the  United  States,  George 
H.  Shields  and  Martin  F.  Morris,  the  individual  defendant,  the  com- 
monwealth and  the  national  Government. 

It  is  said  that  the  argument  of  Mr.  Dixon  and  the  written  brief  and 
contention  of  Mr.  Toole  have  not  been  surpassed  by  such  procedures  in 
the  annals  of  the  United  States  Supreme  Court.  Attorney  General  Mil- 
ler incorporated  the  speech  of  Senator  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  delivered  in 
the  upper  house  of  Congress,  on  the  same  subject,  which  attracted  the 
attention  of  the  nation,  in  his  brief  and  argument  on  behalf  of  the  de- 
fendant. 

The  opinion  of  the  court,  by  Justice  Field,  held  that  the  Northern 
Railroad  Company  could  not  recover  under  the  grant  to  it  by  the  act  of 
Congress,  any  mineral  lands  from  the  persons  in  possession  thereof  who 
had  made  locations,  although  the  mineral  character  of  the  land  was  not 
known  until  the  year  1888,  no  patent  having  been  issued  to  said  com- 
pany; that  there  was  no  merit  in  any  of  the  positions  advanced  by  the 
plaintiff  in  support  of  its  claim  to  the  mineral  lands  in  controversy. 
The  language  of  the  land  grant  to  the  plaintiff  was  free  from  ambiguity. 
The  exclusion  from  its  operation  of  all  mineral  lands  was  entirely  clear, 
and  whether  the  mineral  character  of  the  lands  was  known  at  the  date 
of  the  grant  or  afterward  was  of  no  importance. 


The  fourth  term  of  Chief  Justice  Wade  expired  on  May  2,  1887,  and 
he  was  succeeded  by  N.  W.  McConnell,  of  Tennessee.  The  second  term 
of  William  J.  Galbraith  as  associate  justice  expired  in  January,  1888,  and 
Judge  Galbraith  gave  place  to  Stephen  DeWolfe,  the  third  citizen  of 
Montana  to  be  appointed  to  its  Supreme  bench.  When  Justice  Galbraith 
retired  from  the  bench,  after  eight  and  a  half  years  of  fine  service,  his 
Scotch  aggressiveness,  honesty  and  learning,  had  contributed  much  to  the 
already  high  standing  of  the  court.  He  resumed  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  the  territory  of  Washington. 

Justice  DeWolfe  was  an  old  and  tried  practitioner  before  the  courts 
of  Montana,  and  continued  his  good  services  to  the  Supreme  Court  until 
the  territory  became  a  state.  He  the'n  retired  to  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession in  Butte.  The  services  of  Justice  McLeary,  although  only  extend- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  431 

ing  from  August,  1886,  to  April,  1888,  were  of  fine  quality,  and  when 
he  resigned  to  resume  his  Texas  practice  he  cut  short  a  promising  career 
in  Mpntana.  Moses  J.  Liddell,  who  succeeded  Justice  McLeary,  was 
from  Louisiana,  creditably  served  on  the  Supreme  bench  so  long  as  Mon- 
tana was  a  territory  and  when  statehood  came  commenced  practice  at 
Bozeman,  but  lived  only  two  years  afterward. 

Chief  Justice  McConnell  retired  from  the  bench  in  March,  1889,  after 
having  served  less  than  two  years.  He  made  a  good  judge,  but  pre- 
ferred the  more  active  work  of  a  lawyer,  and  left  the  bench  to  practice 
in  Helena. 

Associate  Justice  Bach  reached  the  Supreme  bench  while  yet  a  young 
man  and  before  he  had  had  much  experience  at  the  bar,  but  his  three 
years  of  judicial  labors,  which  concluded  with  the  territorial  era,  were 
most  creditable  to  his  abilities  and  an  addition  to  the  character  of  the 
court. 

THE  BAR  AT  CLOSE  OF  TERRITORIAL  PERIOD 

This  period  and  phase  of  territorial  life  cannot  be  better  closed  from 
a  literary  and  historic  point  of  view  than  by  a  mention  of  some  of  the 
leading  members  of  the  bar  who  were  then  in  the  public  eye  and  mind. 
Massena  Bullard  had  a  large  and  important  practice.  Joseph  K.  Toole, 
who  was  prosecuting  attorney,  and  delegate  in  Congress  and  governor 
of  the  state,  was  a  leader  at  the  bar  and  was  to  earn  a  broader  reputation 
as  a  public  man  of  the  state  to-be.  Then  there  were  John  J.  Donnelly, 
pioneer  lawyer  and  member  of  the  legislative  Assembly,  of  Choteau 
County;  John  W.  Tattan,  clerk  of  the  court  and  prosecuting  attorney  of 
the  same  county;  J.  C.  Robinson,  of  Deer  Lodge,  member  of  the  legis- 
lative Assembly  and  constitutional  convention;  William  H.  Hunt,  who 
was  prosecuting  attorney,  attorney  general  of  the  territory  and  after- 
ward judge  of  the  First  Judicial  District;  W.  E.  Cullen,  who  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Assembly,  attorney  general  of  the  territory  and  subsequently 
attorney  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company  in  Montana ;  W.  H. 
Claggett,  the  "silver  tongued  orator,"  a  delegate  in  Congress;  W.  H. 
DeWitt,  prosecuting  attorney  and  afterward  associate  justice  of  the 
State  Supreme  Court;  E.  N.  Harwood,  who  was  also  to  be  elevated  to 
the  bench  of  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  state;  Thomas  J.  Lowry  and 
John  H.  Shober,  both  of  whom  were  prosecuting  attorneys  for  the  Third 
Judicial  District  of  the  territory,  and  for  a  long  time  partners  in  prac- 
tice; R.  P.  Vivion,  lately  prosecuting  attorney  and  member  of  the  legis- 
lative assembly  for  Gallatin  County;  Thomas  C.  Bach,  associate  justice 
of  the  territorial  Supreme  Court;  Henri  J.  Haskell,  later,  attorney  gen- 
eral of  the  state;  Elbert  D.  Weed  and  Robert  B.  Smith,  both  United 
States  attorneys  for  Montana;  I.  D.  McCutcheon,  late  secretary  of 
Montana  territory;  Frank  H.  Woody,  judge  of  the  Fourth  Judicial 
District  Court;  Thomas  C.  Marshall,  late  member  of  the  legislative  As- 
sembly and  leading  lawyer  of  Missoula ;  John  F.  Forbis,  member  of 
the  legislative  Assembly  and  leader  of  the  Butte  bar;  N.  B.  Smith,  prose- 


FRANK  H.  WOODY,  JUDGE  AND  PIONEER  LAWYER 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  433 

cuting  attorney  of  Meagher  County;  Frank  K.  Armstrong,  judge  of  the 
Ninth  Judicial  District,  late  prosecuting  attorney  and  member  of  the 
legislative  Assembly;  John  J.  McHatton  and  J.  M.  Spear,  judges  of 
the  Second  Judicial  District;  Max  Waterman,  a  leading  lawyer  of 
Meagher  County;  Thomas  H.  Carter,  late  delegate  in  Congress  for 
Montana  and  commissioner  of  the  General  Land  Office  at  Washington; 
Alex.  C.  Botkin,  for  several  years  United  States  marshal  for  Montana 
and  afterward  lieutenant  governor  of  the  state;  John  B.  Clayberg,  late 
attorney  general;  R.  E.  Howey,  probate  judge  of  Lewis  and  Clark  Coun- 
ty; O.  F.  Goddard,  a  leading  lawyer  of  Yellowstone  County;  A.  R.  Joy. 
of  Park  County.  All  of  the  foregoing  were  admitted  to  practice  for 
the  first  time  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  Montana,  or  soon  after  their  ad- 
mission elsewhere,  commenced  practice  before  the  territorial  courts  dur- 
ing the  official  period  of  Chief  Justice  Wade.  Even  Warren  Toole,  Wil- 
bur F.  Sanders  and  William  Dixon,  the  three  foremost  lawyers  of  the 
great  Northwest,  earned  their  greatest  reputation  in  the  Montana  Su- 
preme Court  while  Chief  Justice  Wade  presided  over  it.  Of  these,  San- 
ders was  for  ten  years  attorney  for  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Com- 
pany in  Montana,  and  upon  the  admission  of  Montana  as  a  state  was 
elected  United  States  senator.  Dixon  was  elected  to  the  first  state  House 
of  Representatives  and  served  as  its  second  member  of  the  national 
House,  but  Toole  "wedded  to  his  profession,  having  no  political  ambi- 
tion, with  marvelous  memory  and  profound  judgment  and  reasoning  with 
mathematical  precision,"  long  stood  peerless  at  the  Montana  bar. 

Walter  F.  Chadwick,  the  learned  code  practitioner  and  great  trial 
lawyer;  J.  W.  Strevell,  the  father  of  law  in  Eastern  Montana,  and 
William  Chumasero,  learned  in  the  form  and  practice  of  the  common 
law  and  an  eminent  counselor,  under  the  name  of  Chumasero  &  Chad- 
wick,  constituted  one  of  the  strong  firms  of  Montana  during  the  official 
life  of  Judge  Wade — as  well  as  J.  W.  Strevell,  the  father  of  the  law  in 
Eastern  Montana;  L.  A.  Luce,  member  of  the  constitutional  convention; 
Charles  S.  Hartman,  subsequently  member  of  Congress;  J.  J.  Davis, 
Bozeman,  and  F.  W.  Cole,  Silver  Bow  County ;  James  A.  Calloway,  late 
territorial  secretary  and  member  of  the  legislative  Assembly  from  Mad- 
ison County;  George  F.  Cowan  and  M.  H.  Parker,  of  Jefferson  County; 
W.  J.  Stephens  and  Thomas  M.  Pomeroy,  of  Missoula  County;  James 
H.  Garlock,  of  Miles  City ;  Walter  M.  Bickford  and  George  W.  Reeves, 
of  Missoula;  William  Scanlan,  of  Butte;  George  F.  Shelton,  A.  K. 
Barbour,  J.  W.  Kinsley,  H.  B.  Smith,  James  U.  Sanders,  of  Helena; 
Thomas  J.  Galbraith,  of  Dillon;  H.  R.  Whitehill,  of  Deer  Lodge; 
Thompson  Campbell  and  J.  H.  Duffy,  of  Butte ;  George  W.  Taylor,  of 
Great  Falls;  George  D.  Greene,  of  Jefferson  County,  and  C.  B.  Nolan, 
prosecuting  attorney  of  Lewis  and  Clark  County. 

MONTANA  BAR  ASSOCIATION  FORMED 

The  Montana  Bar  Association  was  organized  at  Helena,  on  January 
8,  1885,  and  at  the  meeting  held  that  day  in  the  court  house,  Col.  Wilbur 

Vol.  1—28 


434  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

F.  Sanders  was  chosen  chairman  and  Horace  R.  Buck,  secretary.  Wil- 
liam H.  Hunt,  afterward  one  of  the  circuit  judges  of  the  United  States 
Court,  offered  the  resolution  calling  for  such  an  organization  to  pro- 
mote better  legislation  and  more  efficiency  in  every  department  of  the 
territorial  government.  A  constitution  was  adopted  looking  to  these  ends, 
four  days  later,  and  Colonel  Sanders  was  elected  president  of  the  asso- 
ciation; W.  H.  Hunt,  corresponding  secretary;  A.  K.  Barbour,  record- 
ing secretary;  and  W.  E.  Cullen,  treasurer,  with  a  vice  president  for 
each  of  the  thirteen  counties.  As  these  names,  in  addition  to  those  given, 
are  representative  of  the  profession  at  this  time,  they  are  reproduced, 
as  follows :  Hiram  Knowles,  Silver  Bow  County ;  Thomas  C.  Marshall, 
Missoula  County;  Robert  B.  Smith,  Beaverhead  County;  Henry  N. 
Blake,  Madison  County;  Mack  J.  Learning,  Choteau  County;  J.  C.  Rob- 
inson, Deer  Lodge  County;  Fletcher  N.  Maddox,  Meagher  County; 
George  F.  Cowan,  Jefferson  County;  Andrew  F.  Burleigh,  Custer  Coun- 
ty; S.  H.  Wilde,  Yellowstone  County;  F.  K.  Armstrong,  Gallatin  Coun- 
ty; W.  E.  Lonergin,  Dawson  County;  and  William  Chumasero,  Lewis 
and  Clark  County.  It  was  largely  through  the  influence  of  this  body 
of  strong  lawyers  that  the  codification  of  the  common  law  was  brought 
about,  or  rather  the  adoption  of  the  four  codes  of  1895.  It  has  per- 
formed other  good  offices,  although  of  late  years  it  has  been  rather  in- 
operative and  has  hardly  lived  up  to  its  territorial  constitution  and 
promises. 

BENCH  AND  BAR  UNDER  STATEHOOD 

Under  the  constitution  of  the  state,  Montana  was  provided  with  a 
Supreme  Court  consisting  of  three  members,  whose  duties  were  confined 
to  the  highest  judiciary  of  the  commonwealth.  The  state  was  divided  into 
eight  judicial  districts  and  a  federal  district  judge  was  also  appointed. 
When  Montana  became  a  state,  also,  under  a  territorial  act  passed  in  1889, 
a  code  commission  had  been  authorized  to  prepare  for  submission  to  the 
State  Legislative  Assembly  four  codes  covering  the  civil,  penal,  political 
and  civil  procedure  statutes  in  force,  and  now  embodied  as  a  part  of  the 
fundamental  law  of  the  state. 

The  code  commission  selected  comprised  Judge  F.  W.  Cole,  of  Butte, 
whose  experience  as  a  lawyer  and  a  judge  had  made  him  familiar  with 
the  civil  codes  of  New  York,  Nevada,  California  and  Montana;  ex-Gov- 
ernor B.  Platt  Carpenter,  of  Helena,  also  a  New  York  lawyer  and  judge, 
who  had  settled  in  Montana  five  years  previously  as  its  territorial  chief 
executive,  and  ex-Chief  Justice  Decius  S.  Wade,  also  of  Helena,  whose 
record  is  already  known  to  the  reader  of  these  pages.  Although  the  com- 
mission expended  two  and  a  half  years  in  the  preparation  of  these  codes, 
they  were  not  finally  adopted  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  until  1895.  It 
was  largely  through  the  persistency  and  influence  of  the  Montana  Bar 
Association,  organized  a  decade  before,  that  this  fine  consolidation  of  the 
statutes  was  made  law  by  the  legislators  of  the  state. 

Henry  N.  Blake,  of  Virginia  City,  who  was  the  last  chief  justice  of 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  435 

the  territory  (from  March  to  November,  1889),  was  also  elected  as  first 
chief  justice  of  the  state,  serving  as  such  from  November  8,  1889,  to 
January  2,  1893,  inclusive. 

Justice  Blake's  associates  were  Edgar  N.  Harwood,  of  Billings,  who 
served  from  November  8,  1889,  to  January  7,  1895,  when  he  was  suc- 
ceeded by  William  H.  Hunt,  and  William  H.  DeWitt,  of  Butte  City,  who 
served  until  January  4,  1897.  The  latter's  successor,  Horace  R.  Buck, 
died  on  December  24th  of  that  year,  and  was  followed  by  W.  T.  Pigott. 

JUDGE  WILLIAM  T.  PEMUERTON 

Chief  Justice  Blake  served  until  January  2,  1893,  when  William  Young 
Pemberton  ascended  the  bench.  Justice  Pemberton  is  one  of  the  most 
widely  known  and  honored  of  Montana's  citizens.  He  was  born  in  Ten- 
nessee, largely  educated  in  Missouri,  and  reached  Virginia  City  in  1863, 
two  years  after  graduating  from  the  Cumberland  Law  School  at  Lebanon, 
Tennessee.  In  1865  he  moved  to  Helena,  lived  in  Missouri  and  Texas 
from  1868  to  1880,  but  returned  to  Montana  in  the  latter  year  and  located 
at  Butte.  He  served  for  two  terms  as  district  attorney 'of  the  western 
district,  in  1882-86;  was  judge  of  the  second  district  in  1891-93,  when,  as 
stated,  he  was  elevated  to  the  chief  justiceship  of  the  state  supreme  bench. 
He  completed  his  term  of  six  years,  and  on  January  3,  1899,  was  suc~ 
ceeded  by  the  present  incumbent,  Theodore  Brantly. 

Judge  Pemberton  has  always  taken  keen  interest  in  the  preservation 
of  all  things  and  events  historical  relating  to  Montana.  In  view  of  this 
pronounced  trait,  and  in  deference  to  his  standing  as  a  judge  and  a  citizen, 
in  1909  he  was  appointed  librarian  of  the  State  Historical  Society.  He 
has  accomplished  much  to  promote  its  interests,  but  because  of  his  years 
and  impaired  health  has  been  absent  from  his  duties  for  some  time  (July, 
1921). 

THE  CODE  OF  1895 

It  was  during  Judge  Pemberton's  term,  in  1895,  that  the  judicial  dis- 
tricts of  Montana  were  reapportioned  so  as  to  number  eleven,  and  the  new 
Code  was  adopted.  On  January  14,  1896,  the  late  Col.  Wilbur  F.  San- 
ders made  the  work  of  the  Code  Commission  the  subject  of  a  learned 
address  which  he  delivered  before  the  Montana  Bar  Association.  Ex- 
tracts from  it  are  taken  which  bear  intimately  upon  the  Montana  Code  of 
1895.  "Had  the  Bar  Association  of  Montana,"  he  said,  "accomplished 
nothing  else  in  all  the  years  of  its  existence  from  that  time  (1885,  the 
year  of  its  organization)  until  the  present,  it  would  still  be  entitled  to  the 
lasting  gratitude  of  the  people  of  Montana  for  bringing  about  the  codifica- 
tion of  the  common  law.  The  question  was  agitated  by  members  of  the 
Bar  Association  at  its  meetings  during  several  years.  At  an  adjourned 
meeting  of  the  association  held  at  Helena,  January  6,  1887,  the  Com- 
mittee on  Jurisprudence  and  Law  Reform  presented  the  following  resolu- 
tions which  were  adopted:  'Resolved,  that  it  is  the  sense  of  the  Montana 


436  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Bar  Association  that  the  principles  and  rules  of  the  common  law,  so  fat 
as  possible,  should  be  reduced  to  the  form  of  a  statute,  thereby  settling 
disputed  principles,  bringing  the  great  body  of  the  law  into  a  smaller 
compass,  and  placing  it  within  the  reach  of  all. 

"  'Resolved,  that,  whereas  the  enactment  of  a  code  presupposes  the 
existence  of  one  synthetic,  current  and  logical  system  of  laws,  this  asso- 
ciation recommends  the  fusion  of  common  law  and  equity  into  one  single, 
systematic  and  harmonious  body  of  laws,  both  as  to  principles  and  prac- 
tice, upon  the  following  basis,  to-wit :  that  in  case  of  conflict  the  rules  of 
equity  prevail;  that  the  remedies  be  made  cumulative  and  concurrent; 
that  the  rules  and  spirit  of  interpretation  and  application  of  the  new  system 
be  the  same  as  now  prevail  in  equity;  and  that  this  be  done  at  the  time 
of  the  enactment  of  the  general  statutes  recommended  by  the  Committee 
on  Jurisprudence  and  Law  Reform,  or  as  a  preliminary  step  thereto/  ' 

Different  members  of  the  Bar  Association  continued  to  keep  the  mat- 
ter alive,  even  after  the  Code  Commission  had  been  appointed  and  made 
its  first  report,  and  they  never  rested  until  the  codes  were  finally  adopted 
in  1895. 

During  the  long  service  of  Theodore  Brantly  as  chief  justice  of  the 
State  Supreme  Court,  he  has  had  a  number  of  associates.  W.  T.  Pigott 
was  appointed  to  succeed  Horace  R.  Buck,  who  died  December  24,  1897, 
and  he  served  until  January  5,  1903.  When  Justice  Hunt  resigned  in 
1900  to  accept  the  secretaryship  of  Porto  Rico,  R.  Lee  Word  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  vacancy  and  continued  on  the  bench  until  January  7,  1901. 
He  was  followed  by  G.  R.  Milburn,  who  served  the  full  term  of  six  years. 
W.  L.  Holloway,  who  succeeded  Judge  Pigott  on  January  5,  1903,  is  still 
one  of  Justice  Brantly's  associates.  Henry  C.  Smith  was  on  the  bench 
from  January  7,  1907,  until  January  6,  1913,  and  Sidney  Sanner  from  the 
latter  date  until  January,  1919. 

CHIEF  JUSTICE  THEODORE  BRANTLY  AND  ASSOCIATES 

Hon.  Theodore  Brantly  has  been  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court 
since  January  i,  1899.  He  was  born  and  educated  in  Tennessee,  receiving 
his  degree  of  LL.  B.  from  Cumberland  University,  Lebanon,  in  1881. 
Judge  Brantly  settled  in  Montana  in  September,  1887,  and  was  admitted 
to  the  territorial  bar  in  the  following  year.  For  several  years  he  was 
teacher  of  languages  in  the  College  of  Montana,  and  in  1892  commenced 
a  service  of  six  years  as  judge  of  the  Third  district.  As  stated,  he  became 
chief  justice  on  the  first  of  the  following  year. 

Justice  Brantly's  associates  are  W.  L.  Holloway,  Charles  H.  Cooper, 
Albert  J.  Galen  and  F.  B.  Reynolds.  Of  the  foregoing,  Judge  Holloway 
has  been  longest  on  the  bench,  having  served  since  1903.  He  is  a  Mis- 
sourian,  who  received  his  professional  degree  from  the  University  of 
Michigan,  in  1892,  and  soon  after  located  in  Montana.  For  several  years 
he  served  as  county  attorney  of  Gallatin  County  and  as  judge  of  the  Ninth 
district  from  1900  to  the  time  of  his  selection  as  associated  justice  in  1902. 

Judge  Albert  J.  Galen  is  the  only  native  of  Montana  on  the  State 


437 

Supreme  bench.  He  was  born  on  a  ranch  near  Three  Forks,  and  was 
admitted  to  the  state  bar  soon  after  his  graduation  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  the  University  of  Michigan  in  1897.  He  was  attorney  general 
of  Montana  in  1905-12,  and  during  that  period  served  on  the  Montana 
Capitol  Commission  until  the  new  building  was  finished  in  1912.  Justice 
Galen  made  a  fine  record  in  the  World's  war.  In  January,  1918,  he  was 
commissioned  major  and  judge  advocate,  U.  S.  A.,  and,  as  such,  presided 
over  the  Eighth  Division,  Camp  Fremont,  California.  From  August, 
1918,  to  June,  1919,  he  served  as  judge  advocate  general  of  the  American 
Expeditionary  Forces  in  Siberia.  In  March,  1919,  he  was  advanced  to 
the  military  rank  of  lieutenant  colonel  and  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service  July  25,  1919.  His  appointment  to  the  Supreme  bench  fol- 
lowed not  long  afterward. 

U.  S.  DISTRICT  JUDGES 

The  successive  judges  of  the  Federal  Court  have  been:  Hiram 
Knowles,  February  23,  1890,  to  April  15,  1904;  William  H.  Hunt,  Sept- 
ember i,  1904,  to  April  4,  1910;  Carl  Rasch  from  May  2,  1910,  to  his 
resignation  in  October,  1911;  and  George  M.  Bourquin,  from  March  8, 
1912,  to  the  present  time  (July,  1921).  Of  these  four  federal  judges,  a 
state  historian  of  reliability  has  this  to  say :  "Judge  Knowles  was  ap- 
pointed judge  of  the  United  States  District  Court  for  the  district  of  Mon- 
tana, February  21,  1890.  He  had  previously  served  about  eleven  years  on 
the  territorial  Supreme  bench.  His  services  as  judge  of  the  Federal 
Court  continued  about  fifteen  years,  when  he  voluntarily  retired  because 
of  his  advanced  age.  Altogether,  his  judicial  service,  on  the  territorial 
and  the  federal  bench,  covered  about  twenty-six  years.  During  that  time, 
Judge  Knowles  delivered  some  memorable  opinions  in  mining  law  and 
some  of  his  decisions  have  become  leading  ones. 

JUDGE  HIRAM  KNOWLES 

"Hiram  Knowles  was  born  at  Hamden,  Maine.  He  was  educated  at 
Antioch  College,  Ohio,  and  afterward  graduated  from  the  law  depart- 
ment of  Harvard  University.  Judge  Knowles  came  to  Montana  from 
Iowa  in  1866,  immediately  after  his  appointment  to  the  territorial  Supreme 
bench.  He  had  previously  crossed  the  plains  to  California  and  Nevada. 
In  the  latter  state  he  practiced  law  for  about  three  years,  then  moved  to 
Idaho,  where  he  remained  another  year.  This  was  before  he  came  to  Mon- 
tana, and  he  lived  therein  continuously  after  his  arrival  in  1866.  After 
his  retirement  from  the  territorial  Supreme  court  bench,  he  practiced  law 
eleven  years.  The  judicial  services  of  Judge  Knowles  covered  a  longer 
period  than  that  of  any  other  man  in  the  territory  or  state  of  Montana, 
and  none  of  its  judges  commanded  greater  respect  of  the  people. 

"Upon  the  retirement  of  Judge  Knowles  from  the  Federal  District 
bench,  in  1904,  he  was  succeeded  by  William  H.  Hunt,  whose  judicial 
services  have  been  elsewhere  noted. 


438  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

"In  1910,  Judge  Hunt  was  succeeded  in  office  by  Carl  Rasch,  whose 
resignation  took  effect  October  15,  1911.  Judge  Rasch  resigned  because 
he  preferred  the  practice  of  law.  After  his  retirement  he  formed  a  part- 
nership with  M.  S.  Gunn,  at  Helena,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  his  profession. 

"Judge  George  M.  Bourquin  was  appointed  United  States  judge  for 
Montana  in  March,  1912,  and  is  the  present  incumbent  of  that  office.  He 
had  previously  (1905-09)  served  a  term  of  four  years  as  judge  of  the 
district  court  of  the  second  judicial  district  of  the  state  of  Montana. 
Judge  Bourquin  possesses,  in  a  very  high  degree,  every  qualification  for 
the  judicial  office." 

STATE  DISTRICT  JUDICIARY 

The  first  eight  district  judges,  under  the  state  constitution,  were:  Wil- 
liam H.  Hunt,  first  district,  consisting  of  Lewis  and  Clark  counties ;  John 
J.  McHatton,  second  district,  Silver  Bow  County ;  David  M.  Durfee,  third 
district,  Deer  Lodge  County;  C.  S.  Marshall,  fourth  district,  Missoula 
County;  Thomas  J.  Galbraith,  fifth  district,  Beaverhead,  Jefferson  and 
Madison  counties ;  Frank  Henry,  sixth  district,  Gallatin,  Park  and  Meagher 
counties;  George  R.  Milburn,  seventh  district,  Yellowstone,  Custer  and 
Dawson;  C.  H.  Benton,  eighth  district,  Chouteau,  Cascade  and  Fergus 
counties.  Judge  Milburn,  who  had  practiced  his  profession  for  a  number 
of  years  in  Miles  City  after  leaving  the  district  bench  served  a  term  as 
associate  justice  of  the  State  Supreme  Court.  William  H.  Hunt  suc- 
ceeded Judge  Harwood  as  associate  justice  in  1895,  and  resigned  from  the 
bench  in  1900  to  accept  the  office  of  secretary  of  Porto  Rico. 

From  time  to  time,  with  the  creation  of  new  counties,  the  judicial  dis- 
tricts have  been  changed,  the  thirteenth  Legislative  Assembly  defining 
them  as  follows :  First,  Lewis  and  Clark  counties ;  second,  Silver  Bow 
County;  third,  Deer  Lodge,  Granite  and  Powell  counties;  fourth,  Mis- 
soula, Ravalli  and  Sanders;  fifth,  Beaverhead,  Jefferson  and  Madison; 
sixth,  Park,  Sweet  Grass  and  Stillwater;  seventh,  Custer  and  Dawson; 
eighth,  Cascade  and  Teton ;  ninth,  Gallatin ;  tenth,  Fergus ;  eleventh,  Flat- 
head  and  Lincoln;  twelfth,  Chouteau,  Valley,  Blaine,  Hill  and  Sheridan; 
thirteenth,  Yellowstone,  Rosebud,  Carbon,  Musselshell  and  Big  Horn; 
fourteenth,  Broadwater  and  Meagher.  The  term  of  the  district  judge  is 
four  years,  beginning  on  the  first  Monday  of  January  succeeding  his  elec- 
tion. 


CHAPTER  XX 
FIRST  DECADE  OF  STATEHOOD 

Like  all  other  commonwealths  of  the  Union,  the  three  basic  events 
which  constitutionally  created  Montana  were  the  adoption  of  a  state  con- 
stitution, her  admission  into  the  association  of  states  by  congressional 
enactment  and  presidential  sanction,  and  the  election  and  installation  of  the 
representatives  of  her  legislative,  executive  and  judicial  functionaries. 

THE  STATE  CONSTITUTION  OF  1889 

The  adoption  of  the  state  constitution  by  the  convention  which  delib- 
erated and  acted  at  Helena  from  July  4th  to  August  17,  1889,  was  the 
realization  of  many  years  of  thought  and  experimentation.  Although  the 
territorial  conventions  of  1866  and  1884  accomplished  nothing  definite, 
they  demonstrated  the  importance  of  changes  in  the  old  constitution  and 
pointed  the  way  to  not  a  few  necessary  reforms  in  the  fundamental  in- 
strument of  government. 

William  A.  Clark,  that  dominating  personality  in  Montana's  govern- 
mental and  industrial  life,  presided  over  the  deliberations  of  the  1889  con- 
vention, as  he  had  over  those  of  the  preceding  body.  There  were 
seventy-five  delegates  in  the  convention  elected  from  twenty-five  districts 
into  which  the  sixteen  counties  of  the  territory  were  divided.  The  dele- 
gates were  so  apportioned  that  the  more  populous  counties — Lewis  and 
Clark,  Silver  Bow,  Missoula  and  Deer  Lodge — were  represented,  in  total, 
by  about  the  same  number  as  all  the  other  counties  combined  sent  to  the 
deliberative  body.  To  the  less  populous  counties  (with  the  exception  of 
Dawson  and  Yellowstone  counties,  which  combined  their  delegation),  were 
apportioned  three  delegates  each,  and  to  the  more  influential  counties  the 
following:  Silver  Bow  and  Lewis  and  Clark,  twelve  each;  Deer  Lodge, 
nine;  and  Missoula,  six.  Total,  thirty-nine  delegates  for  the  more  popu- 
lous and  influential  counties,  and  thirty-six  for  the  remainder  of  the  ter- 
ritory. 

A  fair  general  estimate  of  the  personnel  of  the  convention  and  its 
results  is  this :  The  membership  of  the  assembly  was  generally  considered 
as  composed  of  able  and  patriotic  citizens  desirous  of  drafting  an  organic 
act  at  once  just  and  suitable  to  the  needs  of  the  new  commonwealth. 
Politically,  it  was  divided  about  evenly,  there  being  thirty-nine  democrats 
and  thirty-six  republicans  in  the  convention.  Many  subjects  of  legislation 
were  introduced  into  the  deliberations,  and  those  who  had  an  appreciation 
of  the  high  duties  of  the  body,  leaders  and  lawyers  and  members  with 
legislative  experience  who  sought  to  confine  the  labors  of  the  convention 

439 


440  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

to  essential  constitutional  provisions,  were  in  many  instances  overridden, 
while  many  members  who  believed  that  the  interests  of  the  people  de- 
manded that  their  ideas  should  be  crystallized  into  the  constitution  of  the 
state,  on  occasions  controlled  the  body.  As  result,  there  were  incorpo- 
rated in  this  state  document,  in  adamantine  form,  many  provisions,  then 
apparently  proper,  but  which,  with  the  development  of  the  state,  will 
demand  alteration  through  the  cumbersome  method  of  constitutional 
amendment. 

The  delegates  chosen,  by  name,  were  as  follows:  Fielding  L.  Graves, 
Henry  Knippenberg  and  Aaron  C.  Witter,  Beaver  Head  County;  David 
G.  Browne,  Charles  E.  Conrad  and  Samuel  Mitchell,  Chouteau  County; 
Walter  A.  Burleigh,  Charles  H.  Loud  and  Charles  R.  Middleton,  Custer 
County;  Timothy  E.  Collins,  Paris  Gibson  and  Charles  M.  Webster,  Cas- 
cade County;  O.  F.  Goddard,  Henri  J.  Haskell  and  Alfred  Meyers,  Daw- 
son  and  Yellowstone  counties ;  John  R.  Toole,  Henry  R.  Whitehill,  George 
B.  Winston,  J.  F.  Brazelton,  David  M.  Durfee,  George  J.  Reek,  Edward 
Burns,  John  C.  Robinson  and  Conrad  Kohrs,  Deer  Lodge  County;  S.  S. 
Hobson,  Perry  W.  McAdow  and  William  H.  Watson,  Fergus  County; 
William  Cooper,  Charles  S.  Hartman  and  Llewellyn  A.  Luce,  Gallatin 
County ;  Edward  Cardwell,  Robert  E.  Hammond  and  Thomas  Joyes,  Jef- 
ferson County;  Andrew  J.  Burns,  Warren  C.  Gillette,  William  Mayger, 
B.  Platt  Carpenter,  William  A.  Chessman,  William  Muth,  Lewis  H.  Hersh- 
field,  Martin  Maginnis,  Joseph  K.  Toole,  Alexander  F.  Burns,  Milton 
Cauby  and  Arthur  J.  Craven,  Lewis  and  Clark  County;  Simeon  R. 
Buford,  James  E.  Callaway  and  Richard  O.  Hickman,  Madison  County; 
J.  E.  Kanouse,  William  Parberry  and  Louis  Rotwitt,  Meagher  County ; 
Walter  M.  Bickford,  Charles  S.  Marshall,  William  R.  Ramsdell,  Luke  D. 
Hatch,  William  J.  Kennedy,  and  Joseph  E.  Marion,  Missoula  County; 
George  O.  Eaton,  William  T.  Field  and  Allen  R.  Joy,  Park  County ;  Peter 
Breen,  William  Mason  Bullard  and  J.  E.  Gaylord,  Jefferson  County; 
Hiram  Knowles,  John  E.  Rickards,  George  W.  Stapleton,  Joseph  Hogan, 
Leopold  F.  Schmidt,  Francis*  E.  Sargeant,  Edward  D.  Aiken,  Thomas 
Courtenay,  William  Dyer,  William  A.  Clark,  William  W.  Dixon  and 
Charles  S.  Warren,  Silver  Bow  County.  William  H.  Todd  was  chief 
clerk  of  the  convention  and  Rev.  H.  E.  Clowes,  chaplain. 

With  the  organization  of  the  convention,  the  rules  adopted  for  its 
guidance  provided  for  the  appointment  of  twenty-three  standing  com- 
mittees to  supervise  the  drafting  of  articles,  sections,  schedules  and  ordi- 
nances on  various  subjects.  These  committees  were  announced  by 
President  Clark  on  the  fifth  day  of  the  session.  Forms  of  the  preamble  to 
the  proposed  constitution  were  submitted  and,  after  considerable  discus- 
sion, the  convention  adopted  therein  the  recognition  of  a  Supreme  Being. 
Laws  giving  preference  to  any  form  of  religion  were  prohibited.  The 
funds  of  the  state  institutions  were  properly  safeguarded,  but  legislation 
was  later  enacted  authorizing  the  issuance  of  bonds  against  the  various  land 
grants  for  the  benefit  of  educational  institutions.  Abundant  protection 
against  bribery  and  the  trading  in  votes  to  secure  legislation  was  provided 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  441 

by  the  constitution.  An  effort  was  made  to  limit  the  right  of  franchise  to 
those  who  could  read  and  write  the  English  language;  but  it  failed,  as 
well  as  the  proposal  for  equal  suffrage,  the  latter  being  rejected  by  a  vote 
of  forty-three  to  twenty-five.  A  resolution  was  also  lost  seeking  to  incor- 
porate a  prohibition  against  the  employment  of  convict  labor  by  the  state. 
The  construction  of  an  irrigating  system  under  state  ownership  and  con- 
trol met  with  no  favor.  Largely  through  the  decided  opposition  of  Presi- 
dent Clark,  who  took  the  floor  to  voice  his  views,  a  provision  proposing 
to  abolish  the  grand  jury  as  a  part  of  the  judicial  system  was  killed  as 
first  presented.  In  its  stead,  an  amended  provision  was  adopted  providing 
for  the  prosecution  of  offenses  by  information,  but  retaining  the  grand 
jury  at  the  discretion  of  the  courts.  Perhaps  the  resolution  which  aroused 
the  most  discussion  was  that  proposing  to  constitutionally  exempt  mines 
from  taxation.  All  recognized  the  importance  of  encouraging  those  in- 
dustries so  vital  to  the  prosperity  of  the  coming  state — but  how  far  should 
they  be  protected?  Some  argued,  to  the  limit.  The  more  conservative 
and,  as  time  proved,  the  wiser  course  prevailed.  The  final  provision  taxed 
mines  at  the  price  paid  the  United  States,  $5  per  acre;  also  the  net  pro- 
ceeds of  all  mining  properties  were  made  subject  to  taxation  and  if  the 
surface  ground  was  used  for  other  purposes  than  those  of  mining,  such 
contingency  was  met. 

CAPITAL  TO  REMAIN  AT  HELENA 

Much  of  the  later  portion  of  the  session  was  devoted  to  the  permanent 
location  of  the  state  capital  and  the  division  of  legislative  representation. 
Butte,  Missoula,  Anaconda,  Great  Falls,  Bozeman  and  even  Livingston 
were  mentioned  and  championed  by  local  and  sectional  representatives, 
without  any  strong  expectations  of  displacing  Helena.  On  July  I9th,  the 
chairman  of  the  Committee  on  State  Institutions  and  Public  Buildings 
made  a  report  recommending  that  the  capital  remain  at  Helena  until  per- 
manently located;  that  a  change  of  location  should  not  be  made  except 
upon  a  two-thirds  vote  of  the  people,  and  that  there  should  be  no  expendi- 
ture for  buildings  until  the  state  capital  be  permanently  determined.  It 
was  finally  agreed  that  Helena  remain  the  state  capital  until  the  question 
should  be  decided  at  the  general  election  of  1892,  and  in  case  no  city 
received  a  majority  of  the  votes,  the  location  should  be  determined  at  the 
succeeding  election,  between  the  two  cities  receiving  the  highest  vote. 

APPORTIONMENT  OF  SENATORS  AND  REPRESENTATIVES 

It  was  also  on  July  iQth  that  Joseph  K.  Toole,  chairman  of  the  Com- 
mittee on  the  Legislative  Department,  reported  a  section  providing  that 
the  Senate  should  consist  of  sixteen  members,  one  from  each  county,  which 
was  to  constitute  a  senatorial  district  regardless  of  population,  and  that 
the  House  of  Representatives  should  consist  of  fifty  members  from  the 
various  counties,  apportioned  according  to  population.  A  motion  that  the 


442  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Senate  consist  of  twenty-six  members  was  defeated.    The  division  finally 
adopted  consisted  of  sixteen  senators  and  fifty-five  representatives. 

It  was  provided  that  the  senatorial  district  should  be  numbered  and 
that  when  new  counties  (senatorial  districts)  were  created,  the  class  to 
which  its  members  belonged  should  be  determined  by  lot.  "However," 
says  a  well  known  commentator  on  this  feature  of  the  state  constitution, 
"this  has  never  been  done,  the  exigencies  of  politics  forbidding.  The 
first  new  counties  created  after  the  admission  of  the  state  were  Flathead, 
Valley,  Teton,  Ravalli  and  Granite,  by  the  third  Legislative  Assembly  in 
1893,  and  at  the  succeeding  session  three  democrats  and  two  republicans 
appeared  to  represent  these  counties  in  the  Senate.  The  democrats  claimed 
to  have  been  elected  for  the  full  senatorial  term  of  four  years,  and  as 
three  of  the  new  members  would  have  fallen  into  odd-numbered  districts, 
making  their  terms  expire  at  the  next  election,  they  took  no  chances  and 
declined  to  draw  lots  to  determine  whether  they  belonged  to  the  odd  or  the 
even  class.  The  newly  elected  republican  members,  with  the  refusal  of 
the  others  to  join  with  them,  apparently  acquiesced  in  the  situation.  Dur- 
ing the  succeeding  sixteen  years  ten  new  counties  were  created  and  repre- 
sentatives sent  to  the  Senate  but  no  action  has  been  taken  to  cure  the 
failure  to  divide  them  into  classes,  with  the  result  that  alternately  about 
two-thirds  of  the  body  are  holdovers." 

MONTANA  BECOMES  A  STATE 

On  the  i6th  of  August,  1889,  the  final  draft  of  the  constitution  was 
prepared  and  on  the  next  day  it  was  adopted  and  signed  by  the  members 
of  the  convention,  which  then  adjourned.  The  state  constitution  was  rati- 
fied at  the  election  held  October  I,  1889,  and  the  first  state  officers  were 
chosen,  their  terms  to  commence  on  the  8th  of  November,  the  date  that 
the  president  of  the  United  States  issued  his  proclamation  announcing  the 
result  of  the  election.  Thereby,  Montana  automatically  became  a  state  of 
the  Union. 

PROVISIONS  OF  THE  ENABLING  ACT 

The  enabling  act  passed  by  Congress  in  February,  1889,  contained  a 
number  of  provisions  which  were  necessarily  incorporated  into  her  body 
politic  when  Montana  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  state.  They  had 
especially  to  do  with  the  establishment  of  her  systems  of  public  education, 
charities  and  reformatories.  Sections  16  and  36,  if  remaining  intact,  were 
granted  to  the  state  for  the  support  of  the  common  schools,  with  few 
exceptions — such  as  being  included  in  an  Indian  or  military  reservation — 
provision  being  made  for  such  exceptions.  The  proceeds  of  such  sales  of 
public  lands  as  had  been  donated  by  Congress  to  the  territory,  in  1881 
(also  for  educational  purposes),  were  to  be  set  aside  as  a  permanent 
school  fund,  the  interest  of  which  should  be  expended  for  the  maintenance 
of  the  educational  system  of  the  state.  Fifty  sections  of  the  unappro- 
priated public  lands  of  Montana  were  also  granted  to  the  state  for  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  443 

erection  of  public  buildings  at  the  capital.  Seventy-two  sections  of  the 
lands  granted  to  the  territory,  in  1881,  were  also,  by  the  enabling  act, 
passed  over  to  the  state  for  the  support  of  a  university.  They  could  not 
be  sold  for  less  than  $10  per  acre.  One  hundred  acres  were  granted  for 
the  establishment  and  maintenance  of  a  School  of  Mines ;  a  like  quantity 
for  State  Normal  schools;  50,000  acres  each  for  the  support  of  an  Agri- 
cultural College,  a  State  Reform  School,  and  a  State  Deaf  and  Dumb 
Asylum.  All  mineral  lands  were  excluded  from  these  grants,  but  the 
enabling  act  provided  that  if  sections  16  and  36,  or  any  portion  thereof „ 
should  contain  minerals,  the  state  could  select  an  equal  quantity  of  other 
unappropriated  lands  for  the  benefit  of  the  common  schools. 

The  enabling  act  not  only  authorized  the  assembling  of  the  constitu- 
tional convention  and  the  election  of  officers  for  a  full  state  government 
and  representatives  in  Congress,  but  two  United  States  senators.  It  also 
provided  that  all  territorial  laws  in  force  at  the  time  of  the  admittance  of 
Montana  into  the  Union  should  remain  in  force,  except  as  modified  or 
changed  by  the  constitution  finally  ratified  by  the  people  of  the  state. 

The  enabling  act  further  made  provision  for  the  establishment  of  Fed- 
eral courts,  Montana  being  attached  to  the  Ninth  Circuit  for  judicial  pur- 
poses, and,  under  the  constitution,  the  state  was  divided  into  eight  judicial 
districts.  The  Supreme  Court  comprised  the  chief  justice  and  two  asso- 
ciates, who  had  no  other  duties  than  those  which  attached  to  the  highest 
judiciary  in  the  state.  A  great  improvement  over  the  territorial  judicial 
system,  when  the  functions  of  the  Supreme  Court  were  so  involved  with 
those  of  the  District  judiciary. 

Thus,  through  the  enabling  act  and  the  state  constitution,  the  common- 
wealth was  well  under  way. 

FIRST  STATE  OFFICERS 

The  first  state  officers  chosen  at  the  election  of  October  i,  1889,  were 
as  follows:  Joseph  K.  Toole,  governor;  John  E.  Rickards,  lieutenant 
governor ;  Louis  Rotwitt,  secretary  of  state ;  E.  A.  Kenney,  auditor ;  R.  O. 
Hickman,  treasurer;  John  Gannon,  superintendent  of  public  instruction; 
Henri  J.  Haskell,  attorney  general. 

GOVERNOR  JOSEPH  K.  TOOLE 

Joseph  Kemp  Toole,  first  governor  of  the  state  of  Montana,  is  one  of 
the  strongest  men  produced  by  the  bar  and  public  affairs  of  the  common- 
wealth. A  Missourian  by  birth,  he  was  educated  mostly  in  Kentucky, 
completing  his  legal  training  in  the  office  of  his  brother,  E.  Warren  Toole, 
in  1870.  The  fourteen  years  which  followed  made  the  firm  of  Toole  & 
Toole  famous  in  the  later  legal  annals  of  Montana,  its  junior  member, 
Joseph  K.,  also  steadily  advancing  in  the  public  affairs  of  the  state.  In 
1872-76,  he  served  as  district  attorney  for  the  Third  judicial  district,  and 
in  1881  was  chosen  to  represent  Lewis  and  Clark  County  in  the  Legisla- 


444 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


tive  Assembly,  being  during  that  period  president  of  the  Council.  ,  Mr. 
Toole  was  a  member  of  the  1884  constitutional  convention,  and  imme- 
diately preceding  his  return  to  the  convention  of  1889  had  ably  served 
two  terms  in  Congress.  His  opponent  at  the  first  congressional  contest 
was  the  able  judge,  Hiram  Knowles,  and  at  the  second,  Wilbur  F.  Sanders, 
one  of  the  most  popular  pioneer  lawyers  and  public  men  in  Montana.  As 


JOSEPH  K.  TOOLE 

perhaps  the  leading  democrat  in  the  territory  he  defeated  those  prominent 
republicans,  and  was  the  only  representative  of  his  political  party  to  be 
chosen  on  the  gubernatorial  ticket.  As  he  was  in  Congress  when  the 
Enabling  Act  was  in  process  of  formulation  and  enactment  he  was  closely 
identified  with  each.  After  completing  his  second  term  as  governor,  he 
partially  retired  from  active  professional  practice  and,  although  retaining 
his  residence  in  Montana,  resided  much  of  the  time  in  California.  Gov- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  445 

ernor  Toole  has  held  a  number  of  public  positions  other  than  those  men- 
tioned, but  is  best  known  for  his  stalwart  services  in  Congress  and  as 
Montana's  chief  executive. 

The  congressional  election  of  1889  resulted  in  the  popular  choice  of 
Thomas  H.  Carter  over  Martin  Maginnis,  democrat.  As  Mr.  Carter  had 
been  returned  to  the  national  House  of  Representatives  in  November, 
1888,  by  defeating  William  A.  Clark,  he  served  as  the  last  territorial  dele- 
gate to  Congress  and  the  first  of  the  state  representatives  to  that  body. 

CONTEST  OVER  THE  UNITED  STATES  SENATORSHIP 

In  this  election,  however,  the  all-important  issue  was  the  choice  of  the 
United  States  senator,  and,  unfortunately,  there  arose  a  complication 
which,  for  a  time,  brought  a  dual  government,  and  which  eventually  threw 
the  choice  of  the  national  senatorships  into  the  Congress  of  the  United 
States.  The  complications  of  the  entire  situation  centered  in  the  returns 
from  Silver  Bow  County.  On  the  3ist  of  October,  1889,  when  the  State 
Board  of  Canvassers  met  to  examine  the  returns  from  the  various  coun- 
ties in  the  state,  it  was  found  that  there  were  none  from  Silver  Bow.  A 
messenger  was  at  once  sent  to  Butte,  the  county  seat,  to  obtain  a  certified 
abstract  of  the  votes  cast  in  that  county.  Information  from  the  county 
clerk  of  Silver  Bow  to  the  special  messenger  sent  by  the  state  board  was 
to  the  effect  that  the  County  Canvassing  Board  had  met,  as  provided  by 
law,  on  the  I4th  of  October,  and  that  in  making  a  canvass  of  the  ballots 
the  vote  of  Precinct  34  had  been  rejected  as  fraudulent.  Thereupon,  the 
State  Board  of  Canvassers  was  obliged  to  declare  the  results  of  the  elec- 
tion, minus  the  vote  of  Precinct  34  which  was  in  dispute. 

The  rejection  of  Precinct  34  gave  the  entire  republican  legislative 
ticket  of  Silver  Bow  County  a  majority,  whereas  the  counting  of  the  alleged 
returns  would  have  giv^n  five  members  of  the  delegation  to  the  democrats 
by  majorities  ranging  from  nineteen  to  twenty-one  votes,  in  addition  to  the 
five  democratic  candidates  whose  election  was  not  disputed,  thus  giving 
that  party  the  entire  delegation  from  Silver  Bow  County  and  control  of 
the  Legislative  Assembly  on  joint  ballot. 

Without  going  into  the  merits  of  the  political  imbroglio,  it  is  sufficient 
to  state  the  facts  that  the  State  Supreme  Court,-  in  the  contest  between 
Lloyd  and  Sullivan  for  the  office  of  sheriff  of  Silver  Bow  County,  rejected 
the  vote  of  Precinct  34  for  nineteen  specified  reasons,  having  to  do  with 
various  irregularities  of  judges  and  clerks  of  election  and  the  voters  them- 
selves. But  party  spirit  ran  high  and  the  democrats,  led  by  Governor 
Toole,  proceeded  to  organize  the  House  of  Representatives  after  receiv- 
ing into  that  body  the  five  democratic  members  ruled  out  by  the  Supreme 
Court,  on  the  constitutional  ground  that  the  House  was  the  judge  as  to 
the  qualification  of  its  own  members.  On  the  22d  of  November,  the 
governor  issued  a  proclamation  opening  the  House  of  Representatives  in 
its  appointed  chamber  and,  according  to  law,  State  Auditor  E.  A.  Kenny 
(republican)  issued  a  call  for  that  body  to  meet  at  Iron  Hall,  Helena, 


446  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

over  which  he  was  authorized  to  preside  until  a  temporary  organization 
could  be  effected. 

The  day  following  the  issuance  of  the  governor's  proclamation,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1889,  the  first  Legislature  of  the  state  of  Montana  convened. 
The  Senate  met  at  the  place  designated  by  the  governor,  which  had  been 
rented  from  E.  W.  Knight,  democratic  chairman  of  the  Board  of  County 
Commissioners.  There  being  no  contested  seats  in  that  body,  the  mem- 
bers of  both  parties  came  together  physically  although  not  harmonious  in 
spirit.  Under  the  state  auditor's  call,  the  republican  members  of  the 
House  met  at  Iron  Hall  and  effected  a  temporary  organization,  while  the 
democratic  members  met  at  the  hall  in  the  courthouse  designated  by  the 
governor,  admitted  to  their  seats  the  five  democratic  claimants  from  Sil- 
ver Bow  County,  and  then  effected  a  temporary  organization.  Thus  was 
inaugurated  the  dead-lock  which  was  maintained  until  the  session  of  the 
First  Legislature  expired  by  limitation  and  which  extended  into  the  second 
session  of  that  body  in  the  following  legislative  year. 

The  Senate,  with  its  sixteen  members,  was  equally  divided  as  to  politics 
and  no  seat  was  in  dispute.  Its  presiding  officer,  who  had  a  casting  and 
therefore  a  deciding  vote,  was  the  lieutenant  governor,  J.  E.  Rickards,  a 
republican.  The  eight  democratic  members  refused  to  meet  with  the 
republican  senators,  under  these  circumstances,  and  on  the  igth  day  of  the 
session,  the  proceedings  of  which  had  been  confined  to  roll  calls  and  ad- 
journments, Senator  Cornelius  Hedges  introduced  a  resolution,  which 
was  adopted  by  the  republicans  to  compel  the  democratic  senators  to  attend 
the  session.  Three  days  afterward,  the  latter  took  the  oath  of  office  before 
Chief  Justice  Henry  N.  Blake,  and  on  December  19,  1889,  the  27th  day 
of  the  session,  an  organization  of  the  State  Senate  was  finally  effected.  The 
democratic  senators,  however,  refused  to  vote  in  such  organization,  and 
in  the  regular  legislative  proceedings  attempted  by  the  Senate.  Their 
policy  of  absenteeism  was  at  once  adopted  and  steadfastly  maintained,  upon 
the  advice  of  various  democratic  leaders  of  national  repute. 

On  the  3  ist  of  December,  the  thirty-ninth  day  of  the  session,  com- 
menced the  proceedings  in  both  houses  of  the  Assembly  for  the  election 
of  the  two  United  States  senators.  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  received  the  vote 
of  the  eight  state  senators,  and  on  the  following  day  they  proceeded  in  a 
body  to  the  House  of  Representatives  to  ballot  in  joint  assembly.  Mr. 
Sanders  received  the  votes  of  all  those  present,  thirty-eight,  and  was  duly 
declared  elected  to  represent  the  state  of  Montana  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States.  On  the  following  day,  January  2d,  T.  C.  Power,  late 
republican  candidate  for  governor,  was  elected  the  second  United  States 
senator,  the  vote  of  the  previous  day  having  been  much  scattered  and 
divided  between  Lee  Mantle,  John  E.  Rickards  (lieutenant  governor)  and 
Doctor  Leavitt,  of  Silver  Bow  County,  and  B.  Platt  Carpenter,  L.  H. 
Hershfield  and  Mr.  Power,  of  Lewis  and  Clark  County.  As  Colonel  San- 
ders was  from  the  latter,  Lewis  and  Clark  County  was  to  wield  a  specially 
strong  influence  in  the  United  States  Senate. 

On  February  6,  1890,  the  seventy-sixth  day  of  the  session,  every  demo- 
cratic senator  was  absent,  and  a  resolution  was  adopted  by  the  republicans 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  447 

to  fine  the  absentees  as  follows:  For  the  first  day  absent  after  the  day 
named,  $50;  second  day,  $100;  third  day,  $200;  fourth  day,  $400;  fifth 
day,  $800;  sixth  day,  $1,000.  "Upon  each  succeeding  day  before  the  ad- 
journment of  the  Senate  for  the  day,"  concludes  the  resolution,  "the  roll 
shall  be  called  and  a  resolution  levying  and  confirming  the  foregoing  fines 
against  the  absent  members  severally  by  name,  who  are  not  excused,  shall 
be  passed  and  placed  on  record  by  the  secretary  of  the  Senate."  A  sup- 
plementary resolution  provided  for  the  arrest  of  democratic  absentees, 
who  scattered  to  Spokane,  St.  Paul  and  Canada.  One  only,  Senator 
Becker,  was  captured  and  brought  into  the  Senate  chamber,  after  several 
attempts  had  been  made  to  rescue  him,  and  even  he  escaped  to  Idaho.  With- 
out further  incident  of  interest,  the  session  adjourned  February  20,  1890. 

RICKARDS  ANTICIPATES  SPEAKER  REED 

Lieutenant  Governor  Rickards  was  highly  commended  by  the  repub- 
licans of  the  Senate  for  his  rulings  and  general  conduct  in  holding  that 
body  together  for  purposes  of  legislation.  He  acquired  the  most  fame  by 
his  ruling  that  senators  present  and  not  voting  should  not  be  regarded  as 
absentees,  whereby  the  organization  of  the  Senate  was  effected.  In  that 
ruling  he  anticipated  the  celebrated  decision  of  Speaker  Thomas  B.  Reed, 
of  the  Federal  House  of  Representatives.  Mr.  Rickards  had  been  a  suc- 
cessful merchant  in  Pueblo,  Colorado,  San  Francisco,  California,  and 
Butte,  Montana,  had  served  in  the  territorial  Assembly  and  the  last  con- 
stitutional convention,  and  his  record  as  lieutenant  governor  was  such  as 
to  make  him  a  candidate  for  the  United  States  Senate  and  at  the  end 
of  his  term  as  presiding  officer  of  the  State  Senate  to  place  him  in  the 
governor's  chair. 

CONGRESS  SEATS  REPUBLICAN  CANDIDATES 

In  the  meantime,  W.  A.  Clark,  of  Butte,  and  Martin  Maginnis,  of 
Helena,  had  been  named  as  United  States  senators,  by  the  eight  recal- 
citrant democratic  members  of  the  State  Senate  and  the  democratic  House, 
including  the  five  contested  representatives  from  Silver  Bow  County,  all 
meeting  in  joint  session.  The  contest  over  the  United  States  senatorship 
was  now  transferred  to  Congress  and  referred  to  its  Committee  on  Priv- 
ileges and  Elections.  On  March  24,  1890,  that  body  submitted  its  report 
recommending  that  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  and  Thomas  C.  Power  be  admitted 
to  seats  in  the  United  States  Senate  from  the  state  of  Montana.  Senator 
Power  drew  the  long  term,  expiring  March  4,  1895,  and  Senator  Sanders 
that  which  expired  March  4,  1893. 

W.  W.  DIXON  ELECTED  TO  CONGRESS 

At  the  general  election  held  November  4,  1890,  the  democrats  elected      / 
William  W.  Dixon  to  Congress  and  Thomas  H.  Carter  was  defeated.    The 
new  congressman  had  practiced  law  in  Iowa,  Tennessee,  Arkansas,  Califor- 


448  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

nia  and  Nevada,  before  arriving-  at  Helena  in  1866.  After  practicing  sev- 
eral years  with  W.  H.  Claggett,  a  pioneer  lawyer  of  Montana,  he  moved 
to  Deer  Lodge,  next  to  the  Black  Hills  for  a  time  and  finally  to  Butte, 
where  he  achieved  fame  and  fortune  as  a  mining  attorney.  He  served  in 
the  territorial  Assembly  and  as  a  member  of  the  constitutional  conven- 
tions of  1884  and  1889  before  he  entered  Congress.  When  he  retired  from 
practice  at  Butte,  he  moved  to  Los  Angeles,  California,  where  he  died  on 
November  13,  1910. 

DEADLOCK  BROKEN 

Now  that  the  contest  over  the  United  States  senatorship  was  at  an  end, 
it  was  easier  to  break  the  deadlock  which  had  barred  legislation  so  long. 
Furthermore,  the  state  must  have  money,  and  necessary  appropriations  to 
keep  the  government  in  motion  cried  aloud  for  recognition.  So,  notwith- 
standing that  the  Supreme  Court  had  decided  that  the  republican  House 
was  the  legal  one,  the  State  Administration  recognized  the  democratic 
House.  A  compromise  was  finally  effected  by  which  three  of  the  repub- 
licans and  two  of  the  democrats  whose  seats  had  been  contested  were  to 
be  recognized  in  the  House  of  Representatives  and  the  democrats  were  to 
name  the  officers  of  the  lower  body.  On  January  28,  1891,  pursuant  to 
that  plan,  the  two  houses  assembled  for  business  and  the  deadlock  was 
at  an  end. 

The  republicans  were  generally  successful  in  the  November  election 
of  1892,  although  Mr.  Dixon  was  only  defeated  by  C.  S.  Hartman  by 
less  than  200  plurality. 

SECOND  LEGISLATIVE  ASSEMBLY 

The  reunited  Assembly  hastened  to  enact  needed  appropriation  bills, 
approximating  $825,000  for  the  compensation  of  state  officials,  to  pay 
other  indebtedness  incurred  by  the  state  since  the  last  territorial  Assembly 
of  1889,  and  to  provide  funds  for  like  purposes  until  the  third  session 
should  convene.  The  next  step  of  the  legislators  was  to  make  provisions 
for  the  raising  of  funds  to  cover  such  appropriations.  A  tax  was  voted 
of  two  and  a  half  mills  on  each  dollar  of  property  valuation  throughout 
the  state,  except  such  as  was  constitutionally  exempt.  A  law  was  also 
enacted  providing  for  the  election  of  presidential  electors,  and  the  neces- 
sary measures  were  put  through  the  Assembly  to  make  effective  the  Fed- 
eral donations  of  land,  under  the  enabling  act,  for  the  development  of  the 
educational  system  of  the  state  and  its  higher  institutions  of  learning,  and 
various  charitable  and  reformatory  institutions.  The  governor,  superin- 
tendent of  public  instruction,  secretary  of  state  and  attorney-general,  were 
constituted  the  State  Board  of  Land  Commissioners  to  manage  the  public 
lands  granted  by  the  Federal  government  to  the  state.  Among  other  laws 
enacted  by  the  second  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  which  closed 
March  5,  1891,  were  those  creating  a  State  Board  of  Examiners,  a  State 
Board  of  Pardons  and  the  Historical  Society  of  Montana  (originally  or- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  449 

ganized  under  territorial  laws  in  1865).  Some  changes  were  made  in  the 
judicial  districts ;  a  law  against  "blacklisting"  was  passed  and  the  first 
Monday  of  September  designated  Labor  Day.  Another  measure  of  im- 
portance enacted  at  this  session  was  one  regulating  coal  mining  and  pro- 
viding for  the  protection  of  employees.  The  first  proposed  amendment 
to  the  state  constitution  was  embodied  in  an  act  approved  February  23, 

1891,  prescribing  that  the  number  of  county  commissioners  in  each  county 
should  be  three  and  that  one  should  be  elected  at  each  general  election. 
An  act  providing  that  a  representative  in  Congress  should  be  chosen  at 
the  general  election  to  be  held  every  two  years  thereafter  was  approved 
on  March  4,  1891. 

CHIEF  JUSTICE  BLAKE  DEFEATED 

The  republicans  were  generally  successful  in  the  November  election  of 

1892,  although  Mr.  Dixon  was  defeated  by  C.  S.  Hartman  by  less  than 
200  plurality.     Former  Lieutenant  Governor  Rickards,  who  headed  the 
state  ticket,  was  elected  governor.     During  this  campaign  the  populist 
party  first  appeared  as  a  strong  factor  in  Montana  politics,  and  its  com- 
bination  with   the    democratic   organization  resulted   in   the   defeat    of 
Henry  N.  Blake  for  chief  justice  of  the  Supreme  Court.     Justice  Blake 
served  as  master  in  chancery  in  the  United  States  Court  for  many  years 
after  1897,  but,  as  stated  elsewhere,  passed  the  last  period  of  his  life  in 
his  native  Massachusetts. 

ANOTHER  U.  S.  SENATORSHIP  FIGHT 

The  third  Legislative  Assembly  comprised  twenty-six  democrats, 
twenty-six  republicans  and  three  populists,  and  the  Senate,  nine  democrats 
and  seven  republicans.  On  joint  ballot,  with  the  aid  of  the  populists,  the 
democrats  might  have  controlled  the  situation  and  elected  a  successor  to 
Senator  Sanders  had  not  the  old  political  feud  between  Marcus  Daly  and 
and  W.  A.  Clark  broken  out  afresh.  The  republican  caucus  named 
Colonel  Sanders  to  succeed  himself ;  the  democrats  selected  W.  A.  Clark, 
and  the  populists,  Samuel  Mulville.  Through  the  influence  of  Mr.  Daly 
ten  of  the  democrats  refused  to  abide  by  the  decision  of  the  party  caucus 
and  support  Mr.  Clark.  Two  of  the  populists  also  joined  the  Daly  forces, 
who  (twelve  in  number)  persistently  voted  for  W.  W.  Dixon.  The 
republicans  transferred  their  votes  before  the  end  of  the  session  to  Lee 
Mantle,  but  they  rather  lost  than  gained  thereby,  and  the  joint  session 
adjourned  without  electing  a  successor  to  Mr.  Sanders. 

This  session,  which  convened  January  2nd  and  ended  March  2,  1893, 
accomplished  much  in  the  way  of  useful  legislation.  Numerous  appropria- 
tion bills  were  passed. 

LEE  MANTLE  REJECTED  FROM  U.  S.  SENATE 

Two  days  after  the  adjournment  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  the 
term  of  Senator  Sanders  expired,  throwing  upon  Governor  Riekards  the 

Vol.  1—29 


450  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

responsibility  of  appointing  an  ad-interim  senator.  In  deference  to  the 
will  of  the  republican  party,  expressed  in  the  final  action  of  its  members 
in  senatorial  caucus,  and  in  response  to  letters  and  petitions  of  similar 
import  from  prominent  republicans  in  all  sections  of  the  state,  Governor 
Rickards  appointed  Lee  Mantle  a  senator  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by 
the  failure  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  to  name  a  successor  to  Colonel 
Sanders.  "Upon  technical  grounds,"  says  a  political  writer  of  the 
period,  "which  reversed  the  precedents  established  by  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  Mr.  Mantle  was  denied  a  seat  in  that  body.  Two  causes 
operated  to  bring  about  this  rejection.  First,  his  pronounced  views  in 
favor  of  the  free  coinage  of  silver,  which  was  distasteful  to  the  reigning 
influences  in  the  Senate;  and  secondly,  to  the  belief  entertained  by  some 
of  the  democratic  members  of  that  body  that  his  rejection  would  impel 
the  governor  of  Montana  to  reconvene  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  this 
state  to  elect  a  senator,  and  that  such  action  would  eventuate  in  the  selec- 
tion of  a  democrat  who  would  strengthen  the  party  in  the  forthcoming 
contest  on  the  tariff."  But  Governor  Rickards  refused  to  convene  the 
Legislature  in  extraordinary  session,  although  pressed  to  do  so  by  the 
democratic  leaders. 

The  third  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  which,  was  held  from 
January  2nd  to  March  2,  1893,  accomplished  far  more  than  to  wrangle 
over  the  United  States  senatorship.  Numerous  appropriation  bills  were 
passed,  including  $50,000  to  provide  for  Montana's  representation  at  the 
World's  Columbian  Exposition,  Chicago,  and  minor  amounts  to  be 
applied  to  the  properties  of  the  Deaf  and  Dumb  School,  the  Agricultural 
College,  School  of  Mines  and  the  State  University  proper.  All  of  these 
were  definitely  located  at  this  important  session,  with  other  state  institu- 
tions, as  follows :  Deaf  and  Dumb  School,  at  Boulder,  Jefferson  County ; 
State  Reform  School,  Miles  City,  Custer  County;  State  Orphans'  Home, 
Twin  Bridges,  Madison  County;  Eastern  State  Prison,  Billings,  Yellow- 
stone County ;  old  State  Penitentiary  at  Deer  Lodge,  Powell  County,  to  be 
known,  as  the  Western  State  Prison,*  University  of  Montana,  Missoula ; 
Agricultural  College,  with  experiment  station,  Bozeman,  Gallatin  County; 
School  of  Mines,  Butte,  Silver  Bow  County;  State  Normal  School,  Dillon, 
Beaverhead  County.  The  distribution  of  the  educational  institutions  of  the 
state  among  the  places  mentioned  was  one  of  the  results  of  the  contro- 
versy then  waging  over  the  permanent  location  of  the  state  capital.  In 
the  political  bartering  incident  to  that  conflict  Montana  sacrificed  the  oppor- 
tunity of  possessing  a  centralized  state  institution  of  learning. 

MANY  NEW  COUNTIES  CREATED 

The  third  session  was  also  noteworthy  for  the  number  of  new  counties 
created.  Flathead  County  was  created  from  parts  of  Chouteau  and  Mis- 
soula counties,  and  since  1893  the  following  changes  have  occurred  to 

*  Provisions  of  the  law  establishing  Eastern  and  Western  State  prisons  never 
carried  out.  The  State  Prison  afterward  established  at  Deer  Lodge. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  451 

make  it  conform  to  its  present  bounds :  Part  of  Deer  Lodge  annexed  and 
territory  taken  from  it,  in  1909,  to  form  Lincoln.  At  the  same  session 
Valley  County  was  created  from  part  of  Dawson,  and  it  was  reduced  to 
its  present  area  by  yielding  portions  of  its  own  territory  to  form  Sheridan, 
in  1913,  and  a  part  of  Phillips  in  1915.  Teton  County  was  organized 
from  part  of  Chouteau,  and  in  1914  and  1919  portions  of  it  were  annexed 
to  Toole  and  Pondera  and  used  in  the  creation  of  Glacier.  At  this  county- 
creating  session,  Ravalli  was  organized  from  Missoula  County  and  Granite 
from  a  part  of  Deer  Lodge.  Provision  was  made  for  the  government  of 
each  of  the  new  counties  named;  so  that  the  Montana  map  and  its  political 
body  underwent  several  radical  changes. 

In  the  general  election  of  November,  1894,  the  republican  nominee 
for  representative  in  Congress,  C.  S.  Hartman,  was  elected  by  a  decisive 
majority  over  Hal  S.  Corbett,  democrat ;  in  fact,  the  better  statement  may 
be  that  Mr.  Hartman  was  chosen  over  Robert  B.  Smith,  the  populist, 
who  polled  more  votes  than  the  democratic  nominee.  The  respective  figures 
were:  Republican  candidate,  23,140;  populist,  15,  240;  democratic,  10,369. 
The  prohibition  vote  was  a  negligible  number,  519. 

FINAL  CONTEST  FOR  LOCATION  OF  STATE  CAPITAL 

The  excitement  of  the  campaign  of  1894,  however,  centered  in  the 
final  contest  between  Helena  and  Anaconda  for  the  permanent  location  of 
the  state  capital,  and  the  respective  interests  were  led  by  two  of  the  ablest 
managers  who  ever  participated  in  Montana  politics — Marcus  Daly  for 
Anaconda  and  William  A.  Clark  for  Helena.  The  vote  stood:  Helena, 
27,024;  Anaconda,  25,118.  So  narrow  was  the  margin  in  Helena's  favor 
that  it  was  many  days  after  the  election  before  the  result  was  known  so 
definitely  as  to  be  beyond  the  peradventure  of  a  contest  in  the  courts. 

LEE  MANTLE  AND  THOMAS  H.  CARTER,  U.  S.  SENATORS 

Politically,  the  Legislature  of  1895  was  overwhelmingly  republican, 
and  its  members  polled  more  votes  than  the  populists  and  democrats  com- 
bined, and  Lee  Mantle  was  an  easy  winner  for  the  United  States  senator- 
ship,  to  fill  the  existing  vacancy,  with  four  years  to  serve,  March  4,  1895, 
to  March  3,  1899.  For  the  full  term  to  succeed  Senator  Power,  Thomas 
H.  Carter  was  the  leading  candidate,  although  it  required  three  caucuses 
and  twenty  ballots  to  elect  him.  He  was  finally  chosen  to  fill  the  six 
years'  term  from  March  4,  1895,  to  March  3,  1901. 

CODE  OF  189^  ADOPTED 

The  fourth  session  of  the  Montana  Legislature,  which  convened  at 
Helena,  January  7th  and  adjourned  March  7,  1895,  is  memorable  as  the 
one  adopting  the  political,  penal  and  civil  codes  prepared  by  the  com- 
mission appointed  to  prepare  them  from  all  which  had  gone  before.  As 
well  stated:  "As  a  result  of  the  labors  of  this  Assembly,  Montana  was 


452  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

furnished  with  a  system  of  laws,  transferred  from  decisions  of  courts  into 
statutory  enactments,  embodying  the  familiar  rules  of  human  action  and 
rendering  secure  that  which  had  theretofore  had  been  uncertain.  The  in- 
coherent and  contradictory  provisions  of  the.  Compiled  Statutes  of  1887 
were  at  last  superseded  by  an  orderly,  perspicuous  and  systematical  com- 
pendium of  law." 

STATE  CAPITOL  AND  ARID  LAND  GRANT  COMMISSIONS 

Further:  A  State  Capitol  Commission  was  established  to  supervise 
the  erection  of  a  State  House  not  to  exceed  $1,000,000  in  cost,  and  a  Sol- 
diers' Home  was  located  at  Columbia  Falls,  Flathead  County.  To  enable 
the  state  to  accept  the  offer  of  the  Government  made  under  an  act  of 
Congress  in  1894  for  the  purpose  of  reclaiming  the  arid  lands  of  the 
United  States,  a  State  Arid  Land  Grant  Commission  was  created.  Two 
new  counties  also  came  into  political  being — Carbon  and  Sweet  Grass. 
Carbon  County  was  carved  out  of  Park  and  Yellowstone  counties;  in  1913 
and  1919  parts  of  it  were  annexed  to  Stillwater  and  Yellowstone  counties 
and  in  the  latter  year  Carbon  County  received  an  accession  from  Yellow- 
stone. Sweet  Grass  was  organized  from  parts  of  Meagher,  Park  and 
Yellowstone;  in  turn,  parts  of  it  were  annexed  to  Stillwater  and  Wheat- 
land  in  1913  and  1917,  respectively.  In  the  matter  of  the  creation  of  the 
counties  of  Montana,  as  of  every  other  state  and  territory  in  the  Union, 
it  was  a  ceaseless  process  of  "give  and  take."  The  fourth  Assembly  was 
noted  for  both  its  positive  and  negative  legislation,  in  the  latter  class  being 
its  defeat  of  the  first  bill  introduced  to  give  the  right  of  -suffrage  to  women. 

THE  SILVER  ISSUE 

The  free  coinage  of  silver  at  the  ratio  of  16  to  I  was  the  great  issue 
of  the  campaign  of  November,  1896;  an  issue  not  only  of  national  import, 
but}  of  practical  interest  to  the  .State  of  Montana.  Should  the  issue  be 
carried  through  Congress,  it  meant  renewed  and  increased  activity  of  the 
silver  mines  of  the  state  which  had  been  almost  abandoned  on  account  of 
the  drop  in  the  price  of  silver.  The  democrats,  populists  and  many  repub- 
licans of  Montana  united  in  an  organization  called  Silver-Republican,  which 
was  headed  by  Charles  S.  Hartman,  and  they  carried  their  ticket  through 
with  an  overwhelming  vote  of  33,942,  while  the  regular  republican  candi- 
date for  Congress,  O.  F.  Stoddard,  received  only  9,492  votes.  W.  F. 
Sanders,  who  took  such  a  determined  stand  against  "free  silver,"  lost 
much  prestige  with  his  party  thereby,  although  no  one  doubted  for  a 
moment  the  honesty  of  his  position.  In  fact,  it  required  much  moral 
bravery  to  so  oppose  a  public  sentiment  which  was  overwhelmingly 
against  his  contentions. 

i 
GOVERNOR  ROBERT  B.  SMITH 

The  general  election  of  1896  placed  Robert  B.  Smith  in  the  governor's 
chair.  He  was  a  Kentucky  lawyer,  who  settled  at  Dillon,  in  1882  and  at 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  453 

Helena  in  1887,  where  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Samuel  and  Robert 
L.  Word,  father  and  son.  The  firm  had  a  large  practice  until  the  senior 
member,  as  governor,  appointed  his  partner  associate  justice  of  the  State 
Supreme  Court.  Governor  Smith  had  served  as  a  member  of  the  Constitu- 
tional Convention  of  1884,  as  district  attorney  for  Montana,  and  city 
attorney  of  Helena  before  he  was  elevated  to  the  gubernatorial  chair.  He 
was  in  office,  of  course,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish-American  war  and 
the  Filipino  insurrection,  and  refused  to  allow  politics  to  play  any  part 
in  the  selection  of  officers  to  command  the  First  Montana  Infantry,  which 
was  so  prominent  in  Philippine  warfare. 

FIFTH  LEGISLATIVE  SESSION 

The  fifth  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  commenced  January  4, 
1897,  and  ended  sixty  days  thereafter,  according  to  law.  Measures  were 
taken  to  determine  the  boundary  between  Idaho  and  Montana,  and  the  lines 
of  various  counties  were  redefined  and  established.  Several  bills  were 
passed  for  the  protection  of  underground  miners-;  a  drastic  gambling  law 
was  enacted  and  the  inheritance  tax  was  incorporated  into  the  statutes. 
The  State  Capitol  Commission  was  authorized  to  negotiate  bonds  to  the 
amount  of  $350,000  for  the  erection  of  a  state  building,  and  additional 
authority  was  given  the  State  Arid  Land  Grant  Commission  to  enable 
it  to  issue  bonds  and  accept  the  benefits  of  the  congressional  act  passed 
June  n,  1896.  The  existing  legislative  powers  of  cities  were  extended 
so  as  to  enable  them  to  acquire  by  purchase,  construction  or  condemna- 
tion proceedings,  water  plants,  water  supplies,  franchises,  public  buildings 
and  sewers.  The  Board  of  State  Prison  Commissioners  was  directed  to 
transfer  the  unused  material  designed  for  the  Eastern  Prison  and  apply 
it  to  the  pending  enlargement  of  the  penitentiary  at  Deer  Lodge.  A  protest 
was  sent  by  the  Assembly  to  Montana's  senators  in  Congress  against  a 
recent  order  of  the  President  of  the  United  States  setting  apart  large 
timber  reserves  in  the  state,  on  the  ground  that  its  enforcement  would 
seriously  retard  its  development. 

CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTION  OF  1898 

The  election  for  representative  in  Congress,  held  November  8,  1898, 
resulted  in  the  election  of  A.  J.  Campbell,  democrat,  over  the  republican 
nominee,  Thomas  C.  Marshall.  T.  S.  Hogan,  the  populist,  came  within 
about  3,000  votes  of  the  number  cast  for  the  republican  nominee. 

SIXTH   SESSION  OF  LEGISLATIVE  ASSEMBLY 

A  second  attempt  to  enact  a  suffrage  bill  for  women  failed  at  the  sixth 
session,  in  January-March,  1899.  Among  the  important  measures  passed 
was  the  creation  of  a  State  Board  of  Agriculture,  comprising  six  members 
representing  as  many  districts  and  who  served  under  appointment  from  the 
governor.  The  special  intent  of  the  creative  act  was  to  prevent  the  spread 


454  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  contagious  diseases  among  fruit-bearing  shrubs  and  trees  and  to  ex- 
tirpate fruit  pests  which  infested  fruits  and  orchards.  The  act  creating  the 
State  Arid  Land  Grant  Commission  was  amended  by  which  that  body  was 
granted  authority  to  issue  bonds  for  the  construction  of  irrigation  systems. 
Counties  were  empowered  to  establish  free  high  schools,  and  for  their 
maintenance  any  of  them  could  issue  bonds  up  to  the  $100,000  limit.  Free 
kindergartens  were  also  authorized.  An  act  was  passed  providing  for  the 
organization  and  control  of  fire  departments  and  the  legal  rate  of  interest 
was  reduced  from  10  to  8  per  cent,  as  at  present.  On  February  4,  1899, 
the  Filipinos  had  attacked  the  United  States  Volunteers  in  the  Philippines. 
The  First  Montana  Infantry  was  among  the  commands  thus  involved 
in  the  insurrection,  and  the  sixth  Assembly,  then  in  session,  passed  a  reso- 
lution commending  its  military  actions.  Col.  Robert  B.  Wallace  *  was  also 
recommended  to  Congress  for  a  brigadiership  in  the  service. 

CORNER-STONE  OF  CAPITOL  LAID 

The  year  1899  is  also  epochal  as  witnessing  the  laying  of  the  corner- 
stone of  the  capitol,  which  occurred  on  the  Fourth  of  July  with  impres- 
sive ceremonies.  Addresses  were  delivered  by  Governor  Toole,  Wilbur 
F.  Sanders,  and  E.  D.  Peck  and  E.  B.  Kennedy,  member  and  secretary, 
respectively,  of  the  Capitol  Commission.  Mr.  Kennedy,  especially,  went 
into  the  history  of  the  building  of  the  capitol  in  detail. 

W.  A.  CLARK  AND  THE  U.  S.  SENATORSHIP  AGAIN 

On  February  25,  1899,  when  the  sixth  session  was  nearing  its  close, 
twenty-seven  members  of  the  Senate  and  House  signed  a  memorial 
addressed  to  the  Senate  of  the  United  States,  alleging  corruption  in  the 
election  of  W.  A.  Clark  to  the  upper  house  of  Congress  and  remonstrating 
against  his  admission  thereto.  A  later  protest  was  signed  by  Robert  A. 
Smith,  governor;  T.  E.  Collins,  state  treasurer;  Henry  C.  Stiff,  speaker  of 
the  House  of  Representatives ;  A.  J.  Campbell,  member  of  Congress ;  and 
C.  S.  Hartman,  ex-representative.  It  was  duly  presented  to  the  United 
States  Senate,  and  on  December  4,  1899,  the  case  was  referred  to  the 
Committee  on  Privileges  and  Elections.  After  a  prolonged  investigation, 
during  which  many  witnesses  were  examined,  majority  and  minority  re- 
ports'were  presented  to  the  Senate;  but  both  recommended  the  adoption 
of  a  resolution  that  Mr.  Clark  was  not  legally  elected  to  a  seat  in  the  Senate 
of  the  United  States  by  the  Legislature  of  Montana,  by  reasons  of  unlaw- 
ful acts  "on  the  part  of  his  agents  and  of  violation  of  the  laws  of  Montana 
defining  and  punishing  crimes  against  the  elective  franchise." 

The  details  of  the  testimony  are  easily  accessible  to  anyone  who  desires 
them,  but  the  tendency  of  the  testimony  of  the  witnesses  and  of  Senator 
Clark  himself  is  to  the  effect  that  such  large  sums  of  money  were  spent 


*Died  in  March,  1900,  from  effects  of  wound  received  in  the  Philippines  in 
February,  1899. 


n 

o 


H 
ffi 
W 

n 


456  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

by  his  friends  and  agents  that  the  principal  knew  little  or  nothing  about 
their  disposal.  The  majority  report  was  to  the  effect  that  "if  by  bribery 
or  corrupt  practices  on  the  part  of  friends  of  a  candidate  who  were  con- 
ducting his  canvass,  votes  were  obtained  for  him  without  which  he  would 
not  have  had  a  majority,  his  election  should  be  annulled  although  proof 
was  lacking  that  he  knew  of  the  bribery  or  corrupt  practices.  Hence, 
regardless  of  his  lack  of  knowledge  of  what  his  adherents  had  done  to 
secure  his  election,  and  of  his  belief  that  his  campaign  was  lawfully  con- 
ducted, he  was  held  to  be  disqualified  to  sit  in  the  United  States  Senate. 

The  minority  report  agreed  with  that  recommendation,  but  severely 
criticised  the  agents  and  friends  of  Senator  Clark,  charging,  from  the  evi- 
dence, "that  the  friends  of  Senator  Clark  illegally  and  improperly  used 
large  sums  of  money  and  thereby  caused  his  election,  and  that  this  election 
is  not  valid,  but,  under  the  law  of  the  land,  is  void." 

Before  the  formal  consideration  of  the  report  of  the  Committee  on 
Privileges  and  Election  by  the  United  States  Senate,  Mr.  Clark  addressed 
that  body,  reviewing  his  political  career  in  Montana,  declaring  that  he  had 
in  no  way  been  a  party  to  any  action  deserving  censure,  but  announcing 
that  he  had  delivered  the  resignation  of  his  seat  in  the  Senate  to  the  gov- 
ernor of  Montana.  For  this  reason  it  was  unnecessary  to  call  up  the 
resolution  for  action.  This  was  May  n,  1900,  and  on  the  following  day, 
in  the  absence  of  Governor  Smith  from  the  state,  Lieutenant  and  Acting- 
Governor  A.  E.  Spriggs  appointed  him  to  fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  his 
own  resignation.  Governor  Smith  at  once  returned  from  California,  de- 
clared the  action  of  Lieutenant,  Governor  Spriggs  invalid,  and  tendered 
the  appointment  of  the  United  States  senatorship  to  Maj.  Martin  Maginnis, 
who  at  once  accepted  the  same  and  left  for  Washington  with  his  credentials. 
But  neither  sets  of  credentials  were  considered,  and  the  seat  in  the  United 
States  Senate  for  the  State  of  Montana  remained  vacant  for  about  a  year. 

U.  S.  SENATOR  LEE  MANTLE 

Lee  Mantle,  whose  term  expired  on  March  3,  1899,  was  one  of  the 
leading  republicans  and  public  men  of  the  territory  and  state.  A  native 
of  England,  his  father  died  before  he  was  born  and  his  varied  experience 
in  the  West  always  enabled  him  to  meet  its  people  with,  appreciation  and 
strong  influence.  He  was  a  farmer  in  Utah,  a  telegraph  operator  in  Idaho, 
and  an  express  agent  (for  Wells,  Fargo  &  Company)  and  a  newspaper  man 
in  Montana.  He  settled  at  Butte  and  there,  for  twenty  years  he  con- 
ducted the  Daily  Inter-Mountain,  which  he  had  established  in  1881.  Mr. 
Mantle  had  also  been  mayor  of  Butte  and  speaker  of  the  territorial  House 
of  Representatives  before  being  appointed  United  States  senator,  in  1893. 
As  has  been  noted,  he  was  denied  a  seat  in  the  national  Senate,  but  was 
elected  in  1895  for  the  term  ending  March  3,  1899.  Mr.  Mantle  was  chair- 
man of  the  Republican  State  Central  Committee  in  1892,  1894  and  1904, 
and  served  as  president  of  the  Montana  Commission  to  the  St.  Louis  Ex- 
position in  1904  and  of  the  State  Commission  to  the  Portland  Exposition 
in  1905.  Such  facts  as  these  indicate  what  manner  of  man  is  ex-Senator 
Lee  Mantle. 


CHAPTER  XXI 
TWENTY  YEARS  MORE  OF  STATEHOOD 

Joseph  K.  Toole  succeeded  Robert  B.  Smith  as  governor  of  Montana 
on  January  7,  1901,  and  during  the  last  few  months  of  Smith's  term  and 
the  early  period  of  Toole's  administration  was  fought  out  one  of  the 
exciting  campaigns  between  two  of  the  mining  potentates  of  Montana. 
Mines  and  politics  became  so  mixed  in  the  contentions  between  William  A. 
Clark  and  F.  Augustus  Heinze  as  to  be  at  times  indistinguishable.  In  the 
campaign  of  1900  for  the  United  States  senatorship  continuing  the  full 
term  of  Thomas  H.  Carter,  Mr.  Heinze  manipulated  a  portion  of  the 
Legislature  in  the  interest  of  Mr.  Clark,  and  the  two  had  succeeded  in 
securing  a  fusion  majority  for  the  latter.  But  before  the  time  came  for 
the  assembling  of  the  caucus  which  was  to  nominate  Mr.  Clark,  Heinze 
heard  that  his  associate  had  made  peace  with  the  Amalgamated  interests  and 
promptly  turned  his  batteries  against  him  politically.  At  first,  he  pre- 
vented Clark  from  getting  the  necessary  number  of1  votes  in  the  caucus 
and  on  the  first  formal  ballot  prevented  his  election.  ,  On  the  following 
day,  however,  the  members  who  had  refused  to  vote  for  Clark,  came  to  his 
aid  and  he  was  elected  to  succeed  Carter. 

PARIS  GIBSON  ELECTED  U.  S.  SENATOR 

The  short  term  was  settled  in  open  session  without  the  intervention 
of  a  caucus,  but  it  was  not  decided  until  the  early  morning  hours  following 
midnight  of  the  last  day  of  the  session,  March  7,  1901.  The  result  was 
the  election  of  Paris  Gibson,  the  pioneer  and  founder  of  the  City  of  Great 
Falls.  Although  not  of  the  first  generation  of.  pioneers,  Mr.  Gibson  was 
a  great  force  in  the  establishment  of  modern  Montana.  He  was  of  Eng- 
lish descent,  a  Maine  man  by  birth,  and  aggressive  by  inheritance  of  an- 
cestors who  had  fought  in  the  Revolutionary  and  French  and  Indian  wars. 
But  Mr.  Gibson's  bravery  and  triumphs  were  identified  with  the  determined 
assaults  upon  frontier  conditions  and  the  wrestling  therefrom  of  splendid 
industrial  developments.  A  college  graduate  and  a  member  of  the  Maine 
Legislature  before  he  went  West,  he  was  twenty-eight  years  of  age  when 
he  settled  in  Minneapolis,  where,  with  William  W.  Eastman,  he  built  the 
first  merchant  flour  mill  at  that  place,  and  one  of  the  pioneer  woolen  mills 
of  the  Northwest,  the  North  Star.  He  was  active  in  all  the  developing 
agencies  of  that  city,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1879,  when  he 
moved  to  Montana.  With  clear  business  and  commercial  vision,  he  found 
his  ideal  center  of  industry,  agriculture  and  trade  at  the  great  falls  of  the 
Missouri.  There  he  secured  a  town  site  and  platted  Great  Falls,  and 
shortly  afterward  interested  James  J.  Hill,  the  great  railroad  builder,  in  the 

457 


458 


enterprise  which  he  had  advanced  thus  far.  Mr.  Hill  became  associated 
with  Paris  Gibson  in  the  founding  and  growth  of  the  infant  city,  and 
while  the  railroad  king  continued  through  many  years  of  continental 
developments  to  support  iti  from  afar,  it  was  Mr.  Gibson  who  never  left 
its  side  and  worked  for  it  and  nourished  it  with  all  his  strength  and  means 
like  both  father  and  mother  in  one. 

Mr.  Gibson,  however,  was  too  broad  and  active  a  man  to  even  confine 
himself  to  the  province  of  the  founding  of  a  city.    He  served  as  a  member 


THE  COMPLETED  CAPITOL  OF  MONTANA 

of  the  Constitutional  Convention  of  1889,  was  elected  to  the  State  Senate 
two  years  later,  and  his  service  in  the  United  States  Senate  covered  the 
years  1901-5.  He  then  resigned  to  devote  himself  to  his  real  estate  and 
farming  interests,  and  passed  from  his  busy  and  productive  life  on  Decem- 
ber n,  1920. 

CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTIONS 

The  populistic  element  in  politics  created  much  party  confusion  in  the 
campaign  and  general  election  of  1900.    That  fact  was  well  illustrated  in 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  459 

the  election  for  representative  to  Congress,  for  which  there  were  four 
candidates.  Caldwell  Edwards,  running  on  the  democratic-populist  ticket 
was  elected,  having  received  28,170  votes ;  S.  G.  Murray,  republican,  23,207 ; 
C.  F.  Kelley,  independent  democratic,  9,443;  socialistic  democratic,  613. 
The  independent  democrats  were  those  who  refused  fusion  with  the 
populists,  and  the  socialists  of  the  democratic  party  hardly  influenced  the 
general  result. 

In  the  congressional  election  held  November  4,  1902,  the  following 
votes  were  cast  for  the  respective  candidates:  Joseph  M.  Dixon,  repub- 
lican, 24,626;  John  M.  Evans,  democrat,  19,560;  Martin  Dee,  labor  party, 
6,005;  G.  B.  Sproule,  socialist,  3,131. 

HEINZE  OVERWHELMS  THE  COURTS 

The  eighth  Legislative  Assembly,  in  session  from  January  5th  to  March 
5,  1903,  endeavored  to  relieve  the  surging  tide  of  litigation  which  threat- 
ened to  overwhelm  the  Supreme  Court  as  a  result  of  the  numerous  and 
prodigious  suits  brought  by  Heinze  against  the  Amalgamated  interests 
to  determine  the  titles  to  vast  mining  properties  in  the  Butte  district.  The 
legal)  phases  of  this  litigation  have  been  fully  explained,  the  suits  having 
been  fought  out  before  Judge  William  Clancy  and  Judge  Edward  W. 
Harney,  who  presided  in  the  court  of  the  Second  Judicial  District  of  the 
state  for  the  County  of  Silver  Bow.  Judge  Clancy  served  from  1896  to 
1905  and  was  a  populist  supported  by  Heinze;  while  Judge  Harney  came 
to  the  bench  as  a  democrat  in  January,  1901,  his  term  also  expiring  in  1905. 
In  June,  1901,  he  handed  down  a  decision  in  favor  of  Heinze,  an  unsuccess- 
ful effort  was  made  to  impeach  him,  and  in  October  Judge  Clancy  opined 
that  the  Amalgamated  Copper  Company  was  an  "outlaw"  in  Montana. 
Then  came  the  historic  shut-down  and  the  efforts  of  Governor  Toole  to 
relieve  the  situation  which  was  bringing  such  poignant  distress  to  the 
mining  interests  and  the  miners  of  the  state. 

The  measure  which  was  passed  by  the  eighth  Legislative  Assembly  to 
relieve  the  congestion  of  the  Supreme  Court,  and  probably  to  counteract 
the  public  apprehension  that  the  district  judges  of  Silver  Bow  County  were 
unduly  influenced  by  Mr.  Heinze,  provided  for  the  appointment  by  the 
Supreme  Court  of  three  commissioners  to  act  as  its  assistants  in  the  dis- 
posal of  the  stress  of  business  which  crowded  its  dockets.  Under  the  act, 
Henry  N.  Blake,  John  B.  Clayberg,  Lew  I.  Callaway  and  W.  H.  Poorman, 
at  different  times,  acted  in  that  capacity  until  the  law  ceased  to  be  opera- 
tive. 

MEASURES  OF  THE  EIGHTH  ASSEMBLY 

Other  important  legislation  enacted  during  the  regular  session  were 
the  passage  of  acts  to  enable,  cities  which  had  incurred  an  indebtedness 
in  excess  of  the  constitutional  limit,  to  levy  a  yearly  tax  not  exceeding 
three  mills  on  the  dollar  until  such  indebtedness  was  paid;  a  compulsory 
educational  bill  applying  to  children  between  eight  and  sixteen  years  of  age 


460  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  a  measure  to  establish  industrial  schools ;  also  provisions  for  the  pro- 
tection of  miners  (safety-cage  law  amended),  prohibiting  the  location  of 
blacksmith  shops  or  drying  rooms  within  fifty  feet  of  the  mouth  of  a  mine, 
unless  the  buildings  were  fire-proof ;  and  making  mining  corporations  and 
railroad  companies  liable  in  damages  for  injuries  sustained  by  their  agents. 
The  Montana  State  Humane  Society  was  created  for  the  protection  of 
both  children  and  dumb  animals.  Agricultural  fair  commissions  were 
provided  for  in  every  county  of  the  state  and  $1,000  appropriated  annually 
for  the  holding  of  the  various  fairs ;  the  Montana  State  Fair  was  established 
at  Helena  and  $10,000  appropriated  to  encourage  it.  The  last  Friday  in 
May  of  each  year  was  set  apart  as  Pioneer  Day.  The  Arid  Land  Grant 
Commission  was  replaced  by  the  Carey  Land  Act  Board,  thereby  con- 
forming to  the  Federal  law  known  as  the  Carey  Act.  Under  its  provisions 
and  this  legislative  action  the  state  acquired  title  to  1,000,000  acres  of  arid 
land,  which  irrigation  is  reclaiming  to  productiveness.  The  appropriations 
made  to  support  the  state  government  and  its  institutions  approximated 
$2,000,000,  and  for  the  fifth  time  the  Assembly  memorialized  Congress  to 
amend  the  Federal  Constitution  and  provide  for  the  election  of  United 
States  senators  by  the  direct  vote  of  the  people. 

Also  at  this  session,  an  act  was  passed  proposing  to  submit  amendments 
to  the  State  Constitution,  at  the  general  election  in  November,  1904,  with 
respect  to  the  employment  of  children  under  sixteen  years  of  age  in  under- 
ground mines,  and  making  eight  hours  a  day's  labor  on  public  works  of  city, 
county  or  state,  or  in  mills,  smelters  or  underground  mines.  The  proposed 
amendments  were  ratified  by  the  people,,  as  proclaimed  by  the  governor 
December  8,  1904. 

THE  FAIR  TRIAL. LAW  PASSED 

The  extraordinary  session  of  the  eighth  Legislative  Assembly  was 
called  by  Governor  Toole  in  December,  1903,  to  endeavor  to  provide  means 
through  which  litigants  in  the  mining  cases  could  be  assured  of  impartial 
trials.  In  his  proclamation  convening  the  Assembly,  the  governor  deplored 
the  industrial  conditions  prevailing  in  Butte,  Anaconda  and  Great  Falls, 
consequent  upon  the  stagnation  caused  by  the  frequent  issuance  of  injunc- 
tions by  the  courts  of  Silver  Bow  County.  He  called  attention  to  a  popular 
demand  for  the  passage  of  general  legislation  by  which  the  prejudice  of 
district  judges  might  be  made  sufficient  ground  to  disqualify  them  from  act- 
ing, and  also  the  widespread  sentiment  in  favor  of  a  law  conferring  upon 
the  Supreme  Court  power  on  appeal  to  review  the  facts  in  equity  cases. 
Disclaiming  reflection  upon  the  integrity  of  the  judiciary  of  the  state,  he 
announced  his  belief  that  with  the  enactment  of  laws  within  the  purview 
of  the  call,  the  mines  would  be  promptly  reopened  and  the  unemployed  pro- 
vided with  work;  and  he  summoned  the  Assembly  to  consider  the  ad- 
visability of  passing  laws  to  meet  the  exigencies  of  the  hour. 

The  Fair  Trial  bill,  which  became  law,  was  the  result.  The  Assembly 
promptly  passed  a  measure  granting  to  the  Supreme  Court  the  right  of 
review  of  facts  in  suits  of  an  equitable  nature,  and  the  Code  of  Civil  Pro- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


461 


cedure  was  amended  so  as  to  change  the  place  of  trial  in  civil  cases.  It 
was  provided  that  when  a  judge  was  disqualified  from  acting,  he  must 
change  the  place  of  trial  in  cases  mentioned  by  the  act,  but  if  the  parties 
to  the  suit  agreed  in  writing  upon  another  judge,  or  a  member  of  the  bar  as 
judge  pro  tempore,  or  if  a  qualified  district  judge  should  be  called  in  and 
should  within  thirty  days  after  such  motion  was  made,  assume  jurisdiction 
of  the  case,  then  no  change  of  place  of  trial  should  be  had.  In  addition  to 
the  existing  grounds  of  disqualification  of  district  judges,  the  Assembly 
passed  an  act  providing  that  when  either  party  to  the  suit  should  make  an 


MONTANA  BUILDING,  LOUISIANA  EXPOSITION 

affidavit  that  he  had  reason  to  believe  that  he  could  not  have  an  impartial 
trial  before  the  judge  sitting  in  such  case,  such  judge  should  not  have 
authority  to  further  act,  except  in  such  minor  matters  as  transferring  the 
action  to  another  court,  or  of  calling  in  another  district  judge.  Plaintiff  or 
defendant  had  the  right  to  disqualify  five  judges.  In  substance,  this  law  has 
remained  upon  the  statutes  of  Montana. 

But  the  Fair  Trial  law  did  not  terminate  the  mining  war;  it  did  not 
entirely  cease  until  1906,  when  by  the  purchase  of  the  Heinze  interests  by 
Amalgamated,  the  promoter  of  the  litigation  was  removed  from  the  field. 

CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTION  OF  1904 

Joseph  M.  Dixon  was  re-elected  to  Congress  at  the  general  election  of 
November,  1904,  receiving  32,957  votes,  as  against  26,728  cast  for  A.  C. 
Gormley,  the  democratic  candidate,  and  4,025  for  J.  A.  Walsh,  the  nominee 
of  the  socialists. 


462  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

LEGISLATION  OF  THE*  NINTH  ASSEMBLY 

The  ninth  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  sitting  from  January 
2nd  to  March  2,  1905,  is  marked  by  the  passage  of  150  laws  of  various 
kinds,  a  number  of  which  related  to  the  liability  of  railroad  and  mining 
companies,  or  individual  operators,  for  damages  sustained  by  any  employee 
in  consequence  of  the  neglect  or  mismanagement  of  any  other  employee.  It 
repealed  the  law  of  1903  and  called  the  principals  to  the  strictest  account- 
ability for  any  acts  committed  by  their  servants  which  might  cause  damage 
to  said  employees.  The  act  also  provided  that  in  case  of  death  of  any 
such  employee,  in  consequence  of  injury  so  sustained,  his  heirs  or  repre- 
sentatives might  prosecute  an  action  to  recover  damages. 

The  County  of  Sanders  was  created  by  an  act  approved  February  7, 
1905.  It  was  carved  from  Missoula.  The  Assembly  also  placed  its  au- 
thoritative stamp  upon  the  spelling  of  Lewis  and  Qark  County,  for  all 
time  eliminating  the  "e"  from  "Clarke."  The  flag  borne  in  the  Spanish- 
American  war  by  the  First  Montana  Infantry  (with  the  designation  of 
the  regiment  omitted)  was  adopted  as  the  State  Flag.  The  salaries  of  the 
Supreme  Court  judges  were  increased  from  $4,000  to  $6,000  and  of  the 
district  judges  from  $3,500  to  $4,000.  An  act  was  passed  to  provide  for 
the  nomination  of  candidates  by  direct  vote  at  a  primary  election.  An 
automobile  speed  law  was  adopted ;  outside  corporate  limits,  twenty  miles 
per  hour,  and  within,  eight  miles. 

DEATH  OF  COL.  WILBUR  F.  SANDERS 

On  July  7,  1905,  five  months  after  the  County  of  Sanders  had  been 
created  by  the  Legislative  Assembly,  the  able  and  fearless  pioneer  lawyer 
and  the'law-giver  of  state  and  nation  in  whose  honor  it  was  named,  rested 
from  his  long  and  faithful  labors.  His  special  public  services,  as  well  as 
his  brave  work  as  a  lawyer  when  Montana  had  no  regularly  constituted 
courts,  have  been  noted,  but  his  connection  with  the  State  Historical  So- 
ciety requires  further  mention  at  this  point.  "An  Act  to  incorporate  the 
Historical  Society  of  Montana"  was  approved  February  2,  1865.  The 
first  meeting  of  the  corporators  was  held  at  Virginia  City,  on  the  25th  of 
the  month,  and  Mr.  Sanders  was  elected  president  pro  tern.  On  March  25, 
1865,  a  permanent  organization  was  effected.  Mr.  Sanders  was  then  elected 
president  and  held  the  office  continuously  until  February  i,  1890,  or  a  period 
of  nearly  thirty-five  years,  when  he  resigned.  His  interest  in  the  society 
and  its  objects  never  abated,  and  he  cheerfully  devoted  much  of  his  valu- 
able time  to  the  furthering  of  its  interests,  both  by  personal  solicitations 
and  an  extensive  correspondence.  He  is  considered  the  founder  of  the 
State  Historical  Society,  if  any  one  man  may  be  thus  honored. 

Colonel  Sanders  was  far  more  than  a  keen  lawyer  and  a  useful  public 
man.  As  stated  by  one  of  his  friends :  "The  favorite  abode  of  Senator 
Sanders  was  his  library;  his  reading  embraced  the  best  authors  of  Eng- 
land and  America;  knowledge  was  his  treasure  house;  his  memory  of 
everything  was  wonderful;  and  his  vocabulary  was  unsurpassed  by  any 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  463 

person  in  the  state.  His  style  was  unique,  the  meaning  of  every  sentence 
was  clear,  and  his  ideas  and  illustrations  were  clothed  in  felicitous  phrases. 
He  handled  the  keen  weapons  of  logic  and  satire  with  dexterity."  The 
latter  traits  of  his  character  once  drew  from  the  noted  Robert  G.  Ingersoll, 
who  once  clashed  with  him  in  law,  the  remark  "Sanders  was  the  keenest 
blade  he  had  ever  crossed." 

THE  INITIATIVE  AND  REFERENDUM  PASSED 

But  undoubtedly  the  most  important  law  passed  at  the  ninth  session 
was  that  which  submitted  to  popular  vote  at  the  general  election  of  1906  the 
proposed  amendment  to  the  State  Constitution  providing  for  the  initiative 
(or  direct  legislation  by  popular  petition)  and  the  referendum,  or  the  refer- 
ence of  a  measure  passed  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  to  the  people  them- 
selves for  final  judgment.  Except  in  the  case  of  certain  laws,  the  people 
were  thereby  made  paramount  to  the  Legislature  and  the  governor.  The 
veto  power  of  the  chief  executive  did  not  extend  to  measures  referred  to  the 
people  by  the  Legislative  Assembly,  or  by  initiative  and  referendum  peti- 
tions. The  initiative  and  referendum  amendment  was  submitted  at  the 
general  election  of  1906,  and  by  the  proclamation  of  December  7th,  of  that 
year,  Governor  Toole  declared  it  to  be  in  force.  Specifically,  the  initiative 
requires  8  per  cent  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  state  to  propose  any  measure 
to  the  Assembly  by  petition,  provided  that  two-fifths  of  the  counties  of  the 
state  shall  each  furnish  as  signers  of  the  petition  8  per  cent  of  its  legal 
voters;  such  initiative  petitions  must  be  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state 
not  less  than  four  months  before  the  election  at  which  they  were  to,  be 
voted  upon.  The  referendum  may  be  exercised  either  by  petition  signed  by 
5  per  cent  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  state,  with  a  similar  provision  as  to 
two-fifths  of  the  counties;  or  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  as  other  bills 
are  enacted.  Referendum  petitions  were  to  be  filed  with  the  secretary  of 
state  not  later  than  six  months  after  the  final  adjournment  of  the  session 
of  the  Legislative  Assembly  which  passed  the  bill  on  which  the  referendum 
was  demanded. 

CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTION  OF  1906 

At  the  general  election  held  in  November,  1906,  Charles  L.  Pray  was 
elected  to  Congress  by  the  republicans,  polling  28,268  votes,  against  22,874 
for  T.  J.  Walsh,  4,638  for  John  Hudson,  the  socialist  candidate,  and  261 
for  J.  H.  Calderhead,  the  populist.  Evidently  the  life  of  the  populist  move- 
ment was  flickering,  as  the  issues  upon  which  it  was  founded  were  virtu- 
ally dead. 

TENTH  LEGISLATIVE  SESSION 

The  tenth  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly,  holding  from  January 
7th  to  March  7,  1907,  was  even  more  marked  than  the  ninth,  by  the 
large  number  of  laws  passed  protecting  the  lives  of  those  engaged  in 


464  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

hazardous  occupations  and  safeguarding  the  general  health  of  the  state. 
Except  in  case  of  emergency,  no  railroad  man  was  permitted  to  be  on 
duty  more  than  sixteen  hours  daily.  By  the  provisions  of  another  law, 
railroads  were  directed  to  equip  cabooses  with  specified  appliances  for  the 
safety  of  employees,  and  corporations,  or  persons,  operating  street  railways 
were  compelled  to  provide  cars  with  enclosed  vestibules  to  protect  employees 
from  inclement  weather.  Those  responsible  for  the  care  and  support  of 
dependent  children  were  placed  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  district  courts 
which  were  authorized  to  punish  them  for  neglect  of  their  duties.  Another 
law  was  adopted  at  the  same  session  forbidding  the  employment  of  chil- 
dren under  sixteen  years  of  age  in  certain  employments,  and  the  eight-hour 
law  was  extended  to,  prison  guards  in  the  state  penitentiary  and  others 
employed  in  the  coal  mines.  An  act  was  promulgated  into  law  governing 
the  manner  of  locating,  recording  and  holding  mining  claims  on  the  public 
lands  of  the  United)  States;  also  for  the  location  of  mill  sites.  County 
boards  of  education  were  created  to  co-operate  with  the  county  superin- 
tendents of  schools  in  conducting  the  examinations  of  teachers,  and  a 
Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners  was  established  and  its  functions  de- 
fined. Irrigation  districts  were  established  under  the  supervision  of  boards 
of  directors,  who  were  authorized  to  locate  canals  and  irrigation  works  and 
generally  to  co-operate  with  owners  of  arid  lands  for  the  purpose  of  bring- 
ing them  under  cultivation.  The  districts  were  authorized  to  issue  bonds 
in  order  to  construct  the  necessary  irrigation  works.  The  primary  election 
law  of  1905  was  repealed,  and  the  initiative  and  referendum  law  was 
extended  to  cities  and  towns.  Incompatibility  of  temperament  was  added 
to  the  statutory  grounds  of  divorce.  Measures  were  adopted  establishing  a 
State  Live  Stock  Sanitary  Board,  provdiing  for  special  veterinary  surgeons, 
for  the  eradication  of  disease  in  domestic  animals  and  to  promote  the  sheep 
industry.  The  Metropolitan  Police  Law  was  enacted  and  a  State  Fire 
Warden  created,  who,  with  his  deputies,  was  delegated  to  protect  the  forests 
of  Montana  against  destruction  by  fire,  particularly  those  owned  by  the 
state. 

To  redeem  the  state  bonds  previously  issued  for  the  benefit  of  the 
various  educational  institutions,  a  law  was  passed  at  this  (the  tenth) 
session,  authorizing  the  state  of  Montana  to  become  indebted  in  excess 
of  the  constitutional  limitation  of  $100,000,  and  the  State  Board  of  Ex- 
aminers was  authorized  to  issue  bonds  for  such  purpose  not  exceeding 
$500,000.  The  act  was  to  be  submitted  to  the  voters  at  the  next  general 
election.  An  act  was  also  passed  for  the  appointment  of  a  commissioner  to 
revise  the  codes  of  1895  and  embody  the  laws  passed  since  that  year.  E.  C. 
Day,  a  lawyer  of  Helena,  accomplished  the  work  known  to  state  history  as 
the  Revised  Codes  of  Montana  of  1907. 

GOVERNOR  EDWIN  L.  NORRIS 

Edwin  L.  Norris  commenced  his  service  as  governor  of  Montana, 
April  i,  1908,  and  thus  continued  until  January  i,  1913.  Governor  Norris, 
a  Kentuckian  and  a  lawyer,  had  been  in  the  State  Senate  and  lieutenant 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  465 

governor  previous  to  the  commencement  of  his  creditable  record  as  chief 
executive  of  the  state. 

CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTION  OF  1908 

At  the  November  election,  1908,  Charles  N.  Pray,  a  Fort  Benton  law- 
yer, who  had  been  prosecuting  attorney  of  the  Twelfth  Judicial  District  for 
a  number  of  years,  and  a  leading  republican,  was  re-elected  to  Congress 
over  Thomas  D.  Long,  democrat,  and  Lewis  J.  Duncan,  socialist,  and  in  the 
1910  election  defeated  C.  S.  Hartman,  the  democratic  nominee.  Mr.  Pray 
therefore  served  continuously  from  March  4,  1907,  to  March  3,  1913, 
inclusive.  He  was  defeated  for  Congress  in  the  latter  year  and  resumed 
his  practice  at  Fort  Benton. 

LAWS  ENACTED  BY  THE  ELEVENTH  ASSEMBLY 

The  eleventh  Legislative  Assembly  was  in  session  from  January  4th 
to  March  4,  1909,  and  politics  cut  little  figure  in  it.  The  creation  of  a 
State  Accident  Insurance  and  Disability  Fund,  by  which  injured  coal  miners 
and  coal  washers  were  to  receive  the  benefits  of  such  fund,  or  in  the  case 
of  death,  their  relatives,  was  a  rather  radical  measure.  It  taxed  the  em- 
ployer i  per  cent  per  ton  on  the  output  of  his  mine  and  the  employee  i  per 
cent  of  his  gross  monthly  earnings.  But  the  Supreme  Court  declared  the 
act  unconstitutional  on  the  ground  that  it  deprived  the  employer  of  the 
equal  protection  of  the  laws,  the  act,  as  passed,  permitting  him  to  be  sued 
and  thus  compelled  to  pay  twice  for  the  same  injury.  A  day's  work  for 
telephone  operators  in  cities  and  towns  of  at  least  3,000  people  was  fixed 
at  a  maximum  of  nine  hours.  Other  acts  were  passed  to  protect  the  life 
and  limb  of  workmen.  A  railroad  employee  injured  in  pursuance  of  his 
duties  became  lawfully  entitled  to  the  necessary  services  of  a  physician  or 
surgeon,  and  an  act  was  passed  compelling  those  in  charge  of  the  erection 
or  the  remodeling  of  any  building  having  more  than  three  stories  to  place 
protecting  scaffolds  on  the  outside  of  such  structures  to  ensure  the  safety 
both  of  the  workers  and  persons  employed  and  passing  beneath.  Safety 
appliances  in  the  equipment  of  trains  were  made  obligatory,  the  Railroad 
Commission  being  given  authority  to  enforce  the  law  in  all  particulars.  A 
law  against  trusts  was  enacted,  and  two  legal  holidays  were  created — 
Lincoln's  birthday,  February  I2th,  and  Columbus  day,  October  I2th. 
Pioneer  day  was  changed  from  the  last  Friday  in  May  to  the  last  Friday  in 
November,  and  Arbor  day  from  the  third  Tuesday  in  April  to  the  second 
Tuesday  in  May.  Upon  Arbor  day  were  prescribed  such  exercises  in  the 
public  schools  as  should  tend  to  encourage  the  planting  and  protection  of 
trees  and  shrubs  and  to  stimulate  the  minds  of  the  school  children  of  the 
state  towards  the  preservation  of  forests  and  the  growing  of  timber.  All 
marriages  between  a  white  person  and  a  negro,  Chinese  or  Japanese  were 
pronounced  misdemeanors  both  on  the  part  of  those  who  contracted  them 
and  those  who  solemnized,  them.  Other  changes  were  made  in  the  law 
governing  the  debt-contracting  power  of  cities  and  towns  by  which  their 


THE  MEAGHER  MONUMENT  FRONTING  THE  CAPITOL 


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468  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

indebtedness  was  not  to  exceed  3  per  cent  of  the  assessed  valuation  of  their 
taxable  property. 

CAPITOL  WINGS  COMMENCED 

The  capitol  at  Helena  had  been  recently  completed,  but  the  pressing 
need  of  additional  accommodations  called  forth  the  law,  passed  at  the 
eleventh  session,  by  which  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  were  to  issue 
bonds  amounting  to  $500,000  for  the  erection  of  east  and  west  wings  of 
the  edifice  already  constructed.  Work  was  soon  commenced,  the  chief 
constructive  material  used  being  native  granite  of  grayish  tint  and  attrac- 
tive appearance. 

RESOURCES  OF  MONTANA  TO  BE  SET  FORTH 

The  eleventh  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  imposed  upon  the 
Bureau  of  Agriculture,  Labor  and  Industry  the  important  duty  of  collating 
for  publication  statistics  and  practical  information  relating  to  the  resources 
and  growth  of  Montana  for  the  enlightenment  of  both  the  home  and  the 
foreign  public.  Such  data  was  to  be  collected  from  the  commercial  bodies, 
farmers'  institutes  and  similar  organizations  of  the  state,  and  since  1912, 
when  the  first  publication  was  issued  under  the  editorship  of  J.  H.  Hall, 
no  agency  has  been  more  potent  in  placing  Montana  justly  before  the 
world  than  that  wielded  through  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture,  Labor  and 
Industry  and  its  successor,  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Publicity. 
The  literature  issued  by  the  latter,  through  Charles  D.  Greenfield,  the 
editorial  commissioner,  has  not  been  exceeded  in  reliability,  value  and 
literary  excellence,  by  any  of  the  official  manuals  issued  by  the  older 
states  of  the  country.  The  publication  of  each  succeeding  year  has  been 
an  improvement  on  the  preceding. 

LEGISLATION  OF  THE  ELEVENTH  ASSEMBLY 

The  State  Board  of  Education,  in  order  to  solidify,  as  much  as  possible, 
the  management  of  the  charitable,  reformatory  and  higher  institutions  of 
learning,  was  authorized  to  appoint  a  president  and  faculty  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Montana,  located  at  Missoula;  the  State  Normal  College  at 
Dillon;  the  Agricultural  College,  at  Bozeman;  State  Orphans'  Home  at 
Twin  Bridges;  the  State  School  of  Mines,  at  Butte;  School  for  Deaf  and 
Blind,  at  Boulder,  and  the  State  Reform  School,  at  Miles  City.  The  act 
of  1907  creating  irrigation  districts  in  the  state  was  repealed  and  a  new 
measure  passed  by  which  the  arid  lands  could  more  readily  be  placed  under 
irrigation.  A  bill  was  passed  by  which  a  state  bank  might  become  a 
^national  and  vice  versa.  The  jurisdiction  of  notaries  public  was  made 
coextensive  with  the  state,  instead  of  the  county  wherein  he  resided. 
Judicial  nominations  were  taken  from  the  primaries  and  were  authorized 
to  be  made  by  petition  signed  by  a  designated  number  of  elector's  residing 
in  the  state,  and,  when  filed  with  the  secretary  of  state  had  the  effect  of  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  469 

certificate  of  nomination.  The  number  of  judges  who  could  be  disqualified 
in  any  action  was  limited  to  two,  instead  of  five.  The  office  of  road  super- 
visor was  abolished  in  counties  of  the  first  class  and  his  duties  turned  over 
to  the  county  surveyor.  To  carry  out  the  constitutional  amendment  creat- 
ing a  State  Depository  Board,  a  law  was  enacted  empowering  such  board  to 
designate  the  banks  within  the  state  in  which  public  funds  in  the  hands  of 
the  state  treasurer  should  be  deposited.  Interest  on  such  deposits  was  re- 
quired to  be  paid  and  they  were  to  be  secured  by  approved  bonds.  The 
State  Board  of  Examiners  was  authorized  to  issue  bonds  to  the  amount 
of  $542,000,  the  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  which  were  to  be  applied  to  the 
maintenance  of  the  various  state  educational  institutions.  Further,  the 
eleventh  session  created  the  State  Board  of  Land  Commissioners,  com- 
prising the  governor,  superintendent  of  public  instruction,  secretary  of 
state  and  attorney  general,  who  were  to  have  control  of  the  timber,  coal, 
oil  and  mineral  lands  of  the  state.  The  ad  valorem  tax  for  state  purposes, 
for  the  years  1909  and  1910,  was  fixed  at  two  and  a  half  mills  per  dollar 
of  taxable  property,  and  the  county  of  Lincoln  was  created  from  a  portion 
of  Flathead. 

TWELFTH  SESSION  OF  ASSEMBLY 

From  January  2nd  to  March  2,  1911,  the  twelfth  session  of  the  Legisla- 
tive Assembly  labored  over  a  mountain  of  legislation  and  produced  the 
most  abundant  crop  harvested  up  to  that  period.  In  this  review,  it  is  im- 
possible to  more  than  touch  the  "high  places,"  and  even  some  of  them  may 
be  missed,  so  that  one  especially  interested  in  the  work  of  the  twelfth 
session  may  have  to  dig  among  the  details  of  the  official  records.  The 
White  Slave  law  which  passed  was  particularly  championed  by  Edward 
Donlan,  of  Missoula  County.  The  commission  form  of  government  was 
adopted.  The  most  radical  measure  of  the  session,  however,  was  that 
upon  which  half  a  dozen  successive  assemblies  had  voiced  its  favorable 
opinion — that  by  which  the  people  voted  directly  for  the  United  States 
senatorship,  the  result  of  which  acts  as  a  substantial  mandatory  upon  the 
action  of  the  Legislative  Assembly.  The  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Mon- 
tana State  Fair  was  empowered  to  acquire  135  acres  of  land  adjoining  the 
existing  grounds.  The  session  also  appropriated  $5,000  toward  the  erection 
of  a  monument  within  the  capitol  to  perpetuate  the  memory  of  the  late 
Wilbur  F.  Sanders.  Through  the  additional  thoughtfulness  and  generosity 
of  William  A.  Clark,  the  memorial  was  finally  finished  and  dedicated 
September  24,  1913.  The  County  of  Musselshell  was  organized  from 
parts  of  Fergus,  Meagher  and  Yellowstone,  thus  reviving  the  old  territorial 
County  of  Musselshell,  created  by  the  second  territorial  Assembly  of  1866, 
and  afterward  known,  for  a  short  time,  as  Vivion  County.  The  law  school 
of  Montana,  at  Missoula,  was  established,  and  all  except  civil  jurisdiction 
over  Glacier  National  Park,  created  by  Congress  on  May  n,  1910,  was 
granted  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  to  the  Federal  authorities.  The  state 
was  reapportioned  and  the  new  county  bill  was  passed  (March  6,  1911)  by 
which  one-half  of  the  voters  of  a  proposed  new  county  were  required  to 


470  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

present  a  petition  for  such  formation  to  the  county  commissioners  of  the 
county  from  which  it  was  to  be  carved.  The  proposal  was  to  be  pre- 
sented to  the  voters  of  the  territory  in  the  proposed  county  and  it  required 
sixty-five  per  cent  of  the  vote  cast  to  carry  the  proposition.  No  new 
county  could  be  established  which  would  reduce  any  other  county  to  an 
assessed  valuation  of  less  than  $5,000,000,  nor  could  any  be  formed,  the 
assessed  valuation  of  which  was  less  than  $4,000,000.  The  most  vol- 
uminous act  passed  by  the  twelfth  session  was  one  regulating  the  operation 
of  coal  mines  in  Montana.  It  was,  in  effect,  a  codification  of  all  pre- 
existing laws  relating  to  that  subject.  The  Montana  State  Tuberculosis 
Sanitarium  was  located  at  Warm  Springs,  Deer  Lodge  County,  $20,000 
being  appropriated  for  a  building  site.  In  that  connection,  Congress  was 
also1  memorialized  to  donate  50,000  acres  of  public  lands  for  the  support 
of  the  institution.  Through  legislative  action,  the  state  also  acquired  from 
Messrs.  Mitchell  and  Mussigbrod  the  property  of  the  Insane  Asylum  at 
Warm  Springs,  which  had  been  privately  owned  since  early  territorial 
days.  To  cover  the  purchase  price,  the  State  Board  of  Examiners  were 
authorized  to  issue  bonds  amounting  to  $650,000,  the  interest  on  which 
was  to  be  met  by  an  annual  tax  levy  of  one-fourth  of  a  mill  on  the  dollar 
on  all  taxable  property  in  the  state.  The  entire  proposition  was  to  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  people  at  the  general  election  of  1912;  by  which  the  question 
was  decided  "Aye."  The  office  of  state  fire  marshal  was  created,  and 
chiefs  of  local  departments  were  directed  to  render  him  every  assistance 
in  the  determination  of  the  origin  of  fires  occurring  within  the  state.  A 
pure  food  law  was  passed,  which  extended  over  both  adulterations  and 
diseased  animal  products.  Tuberculin  tests  of  all  dairy  cattle  were  re- 
quired and  all  persons  conducting  any  business  in  which  food  products 
were  handled  were  required  to  procure  licenses  from  the  State  Board  of 
Health. 

It  was  made  compulsory  that  all  school  districts  having  a  population 
of  more  than  5,000  should  maintain  at  least  one  manual  training  school. 
Reduced  or  free  transportation  by  common  carriers  (railroads,  especially) 
was  made  unlawful,  with  the  exception  of  certain  classes  among  whom 
were  those  engaged  in  philanthropic  or  humanitarian  enterprises. 

REFERENDUM  BILLS  BECOME  LAWS 

During  the  interval  between  the  adjournment  of  the  Twelfth  and  the 
convening  of  the  Thirteenth  Assembly,  there  were  initiated  under  the 
provisions  of  the  Initiative  and  Referendum  four  bills,  upon  which  the 
people  passed  favorably  at  the  November  election  of  1912.  They  all 
became  laws.  The  Corrupt  Practice  Act  contained  provisions  guarding 
the  purity  of  the  ballot  whether  cast  for  nominations  or  elections.  Another 
law  provided  for  the  nomination  of  presidential  electors  by  direct  vote; 
another  instructed  the  Legislative  Assemblies  to  follow  the  will  of  the 
people  in  selecting  United  States  senators,  and  a  fourth  provided  for  party 
nominations  by  the  direct  vote  of  the  electors  of  the  state. 

The  Legislative  Assembly  which  convened  January  6th,  and  adjourned 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  471 

March  7,  1913,  occupied  for  the  first  time  its  new  hall  in  the  enlarged 
capitol  at  Helena.  It  was  also  the  last  Legislature  called  upon  to  elect  a 
United  States  senator,  as  a  body  independent  of  the  will  of  the  people  as 
expressed  by  their  formal  vote.  The  Thirteenth  Assembly  ratified  the 
federal  amendment,  for  which  the  public  sentiment  of  Montana  as  ex- 
pressed by  the  Legislative  Assembly  had  long  contended,  but  it  was  not 
formally  proclaimed  as  a  law  of  the  state  until  shortly  after  the  session 
had  been  completed.  By  the  law  of  Montana  all  members  of  the  Assembly 
who  had  taken  the  oath  upon  their  nomination  to  vote  for  the  candidate 
receiving  the  highest  vote  were  supposed  to  support  Thomas  J.  Walsh. 
Although  the '"hold-overs"  were  not  bound  by  that  pledge,  they  followed 
the  obvious  bent  of  the  new  legislation  and  voted  for  Mr.  Walsh,  who  was 
declared  the  unanimous  choice  of  the  republicans,  democrats,  progressives 
and  socialist  (one  member)  for  United  States  senator  from  Montana. 
He  succeeded  Joseph  M.  Dixon  and  his  term  covered  March  4,  1913,  to 
March  3,  1919.  Mr.  Dixon  had  become  so  prominent  as  a  progressive 
that  he  had  been  chosen  by  Theodore  Roosevelt  to  lead  the  national  cam- 
paign of  1912.  After  the  expiration  of  his  term  as  a  United  States  sen- 
ator, he  resumed  his  practice  as  a  lawyer  at,  Missoula. 

CONGRESSIONAL  ELECTION  OF  1910 

By  the  census  of  1910,  Montana  became  entitled  to  another  representa- 
tive in  Congress,  and  the  two  democratic  candidates,  Thomas  Stout  and 
John  M.  Evans,  were  successful.  The  original  republican  nominees  were 
Charles  N.  Pray,  who  had  already  served  three  terms,  and  W.  F.  Meyer. 
Mr.  Meyer  died  during  the  campaign  and  was  replaced  by  Lieutenant- 
Governor  W.  R.  Allen.  The  newly  organized  Progressive  party  placed 
T.  M.  Everett  and  George  A.  Horkan  on  its  ticket,  and  the  socialists 
nominated  Henri  LaBeau  and  J.  F.  Mabie.  Mr.  Stout  received  the  highest 
number  of  votes  cast,  25,857,  and  his  democratic  associate,  Mr.  Evans, 
24,582. 

HON.  TOM  STOUT 

Hon.  Tom  Stout,  former  member  of  Congress,  widely  known  in  news- 
paper circles  and  the  supervising  editor  of  this  history,  is  a  Missourian 
by  birth,  having  been  born  in  New  London,  May  20,  1879.  He  pursued 
courses  in  the  Warrensburg  State  Normal  School  and  the  Missouri  State 
University,  but  instinctively  turned  to  journalism  as  a  preferred  profes- 
sion. In  1904  he  assisted  in  the  establishment  of  the  Fergus  County  Demo- 
crat, of  Lewistown,  and  in  the  following  year  purchased  his  partner's 
interest  in  the  publication  and  the  business.  An  incorporation  was  after- 
ward effected  as  the  Democrat  Publishing  Company  and  the  Democrat- 
News  Publishing  Company,  of  which  Mr.  Stout  has  remained  president. 
He  is  a  lawyer,  as  well  as  a  newspaper  man,  having  been  admitted  to  the 
Montana  bar  in  1913.  In  November,  1910,  Mr.  Stout  was  elected  to  the 
State  Senate,  and  served  in  that  body  until  his  resignation  in  March,  1913. 


472  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

He  then  entered  the  Sixty-third  Congress  as  a  representative-at-large,  and 
was  re-elected  to  the  Sixty-fourth  Congress,  completing  his  two  terms*  in 
the  national  House  of  Representatives  in  1917.  Since  that  period  he  has 
been  active  in  the  conduct  of  his  newspaper. 

GOVERNOR  SAMUEL  V.  STEWART 

The  term  of  Governor  Edwin  L.  Norris.  expired  on  January  6,  1913, 
and  he  was  succeeded  by  Samuel  V.  Stewart,  whose  term  expired  with 
the  year  1920.  Albeit  an  Ohioan,  Governor  Stewart  was  educated  in  Kan- 
sas, taking  courses  both  in  the  State  Normal  School,  at  Emporia,  and  the 
law  department  of  the  University  at  Topeka.  From  the  latter  he  received 
his  degree  of  LL.  B.  in  1898,  and  at  once  located  in  Virginia  City,  Mon- 
tana, for  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  served  for  about  a  decade  as 
either  city  attorney  of  Virginia  or  county  attorney  of  Madison  County, 
and  in  1910-12  was  chairman  of  the  Democratic  State  Central  Committee, 
a  stepping  stone  to  the  governorship. 

ATTEMPTS  TO  CARRY  OUT  PARTY  PLATFORM 

Governor  Stewart  was  therefore  at  the  head  of  the  state  administra- 
tion when  the  Thirteenth  Assembly  assumed  the  task  of  attempting  to 
carry  out  the  legislation  projected  by  the  democratic  party  platform.  The 
passage  of  a  compulsory  compensation  measure  was  made  difficult  from 
the  fact  that  most  of  the  bills  presented  placed  the  entire  burden  of  any 
negligence  for  which  damages  were  claimed  upon  the  employer  and  took 
no  account  of  such  negligence  of  an  employe  whose  death  or  injury  might 
be  caused  by  his  own  carelessness.  The  state  insurance  feature  was  also 
open  to  argument,  and  one  bill  was  introduced  to  impose  a  penalty  directly 
upon  the  employer  whose  negligence  had  caused  the  injuries  or  death, 
without  compelling  contribution  from  other  employers  free  from  negli- 
gence. Some  of  the  measures  were  supported  by  the  labor  unions ;  others, 
by  employers;  but  all  efforts  at  compromise  failed.  A  Public  Service 
Commission  was  created  and  approved  by  Governor  Stewart.  It  absorbed 
the  Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners,  as  extending  its  jurisdiction  not 
only  over  public  carriers,  but  all  other  public  utilities  whether  concerned 
with  heat,  light,  powei,  water,  telephone  or  telegraph.  The  regulation  of 
rates,  investigation  as  to  injury  or  death,  and  a  general  and  a  detailed 
supervision  over  all  the  acts  and  functions  of  public  corporations  were 
included  in  the  scope  of  the  power  exercised  by  the  Public  Service  Com- 
mission. In  effect,  the  body  was  a  large  expansion  of  the  Board  of  Rail- 
road Commissioners,  and  additional  duties  were  imposed  upon  that  ex- 
officio  body.  The  railroads  were  compelled  to  install  and  maintain  safe 
crossings  at  all  places  where  their  tracks  crossed  public  highways,  and  to 
maintain  them  at  one  place  when  one-half  the  business  men  of  cities  or 
towns  of  more  than  300  people  petitioned  for  such.  The  roads  were  also 
required  to  construct  suitable  platforms  and  depots,  connections  with 
industrial  plants  and  stock  yards,  and  other  means  looking  to  the  safety 


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474  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  convenience  of  the  public.  Through  the  new  office  of  inspector  of 
navigation,  the  Railroad  Commission  was  also  granted  control  over  marine 
navigation.  A  State  Tax  Commission  was  created,  to  be  composed  of  the 
governor,  the  secretary  of  state,  the  state  treasurer,  the  attorney-general 
and  a  new  official,  known  as  the  state  tax  commissioner.  In  the  work  of 
appraisals  the  state  official  was  empowered  to  appoint  three  citizens  in  each 
county  and  who  were  to  act  with  him  as  boards  of  appraisers,  and  all  were 
to  cooperate  with  the  county  boards  of  equalization.  The  office  of  chief 
grain  inspector  was  created,  who  was  not  only  to  manipulate  the  grain  and 
establish  rules  for  its  inspection,  weighing  and  storage,  but  to  investigate 
complaints  of  fraud  or  discriminations.  He  had  under  him  local  inspectors, 
weight  masters  and  other  employes.  A  grain  grading  commission  was 
also  created.  The  County  Organization  (Leighton)  bill,  passed  in  1911, 
was  so  amended  as  to  reduce  the  required  vote  for  county  division  from 
sixty-five  to  fifty-one  per  cent;  the  valuation  of  the  parent  county  after 
division  ($5,000,000)  remained  the  same,  while  that  of  the  newly  created 
county  was  reduced  from  $4,000,000  to  $3,000,000. 

Four  bills  were  introduced  to  create  Wibaux,  Wheatland,  Richland 
and  Clay  counties,  but  were  vetoed  by  Governor  Stewart  on  the  ground 
that  since  the  passage  of  the  County  Organization  bill  it  was  unconstitu- 
tional to  create  counties  by  special  act.  Under  the  general  law,  however, 
Hill  County  was  created  out  of  Chouteau,  with  Havre  as  its  seat  of  justice, 
and  acquired  its  present  form  by  annexations  from  Toole  and  Liberty,  in 
1914  and  1919  respectively.  Elaine  County  was  also  carved  from  Chou- 
teau and  yielded  a  portion  of  its  area  to  Phillips  in  1915.  These  new  coun- 
ties appeared  in  February  and  March,  1912,  and  in  January,  1913,  Big 
Horn  County  of  territorial  times  was  revived,  in  miniature,  from  portions 
of  Yellowstone  and  Rosebud  counties.  In  the  following  March,  two  other 
counties  were  also  created  under  the  general  law — Sheridan,  from  Dawson 
and  Valley  (part  taken  to  form  Roosevelt  in  1919),  and  Stillwater,  organ- 
ized from  parts  of  Carbon,  Sweet  Grass  and  Yellowstone. 

During  this  prolific  thirteenth  session,  the  Assembly  passed  a  measure 
to  submit  to  popular  vote  at  the  succeeding  general  election  a  proposition 
to  fix  the  rate  of  taxation,  for  a  period  of  ten  years,  on  real  and  personal 
property  which  should  be  levied  for  the  support  of  state  educational  insti- 
tutions. An  investment  commissioner  was  created  from  whom  a  permit 
must  be  obtained  by  any  person  or  body  for  the  sale  of  securities,  except 
such  as  government,  state  or  municipal  and  others  approved  by  govern- 
ment or  secured  by  Montana  real  estate.  An  appeal  from  the  decision  of 
the  investment  commissioner  could  be  taken  to  the  State  Board  of  Ex- 
aminers. 

OTHER  MEASURES  PASSED 

Other  measures  passed  not  strictly  designed  to  carry  out  the  pledges 
of  the  democratic  party  was  the  adoption  of  the  codified  school  laws  as 
prepared  by  a  special  commission  appointed  for  that  purpose  and  the  pas- 
sage of  a  general  Highway  law.  The  public  highways  of  the  state  were 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  475 

classified,  and  the  county  commissioners  of  the  various  counties  were 
directed  to  collect  taxes  of  between  two  and  five  mills  on  the  dollar  and 
$2  per  annum  on  each  male  between  twenty-one  and  fifty  years  of  age,  to 
construct,  maintain  and  improve  such  highways.  The  details  of  raising 
the  supporting  and  constructing  revenue  were  left  to  the  boards  of  county 
commissioners,  who,  in  turn,  were  to  divide  their  respective  counties  into 
road  districts,  placing  over  each,  a  road  supervisor.  The  General  High- 
way law  laid  down  the  "laws  of  the  road,"  with  penalties  for  violating 
them.  The  automobile  speed  limit  was  fixed  at  thirty  miles  an  hour  out- 
side municipal  limits,  or  thickly  settled  town  districts,  and  twelve  miles 
within.  To  facilitate  the  operations  of  the  act,  there  was  created  a  State 
Highway  Commission,  comprising  the  state  engineer,  a  professor  of  civil 
engineering  of  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  arid 
a  civil  engineer  experienced  in  road  building  to  be  appointed  by  the  gov- 
ernor. The  state  board  was  to  cooperate  with  the  Boards  of  County 
Commissioners,  furnishing  data  for  a  general  state  road  map,  "to  the  end 
that  systematic  and  intelligent  general  road  construction  and  improvement 
could  be  made."  To  supply  funds  for  such  purposes,  a  State1  Highway 
fund  was  created,  and  the  Highway  Commission  was  authorized  to  appor- 
tion among  the  several  counties  such  amounts  of  money  as  were  estimated 
necessary  to  carry  on  the  work.  Under  the  Largey  Act,  known  as  the 
Montana  State  Motor  Vehicle  Law,  and  fashioned  after  the,  New  York 
law,  the  moneys  collected  from  licences  (required  to  be  obtained  both  by 
owners  and  chauffeurs  of  vehicles)  were  applied  to  the  maintenance  and 
extension  of  the  public  roads  of  the  state. 

A  law  was  passed  providing  that  nine  hours  out  of  every  twenty-four 
should  constitute  a  day's  work  for  all  females  employed  in  manufactories, 
business  houses,  laundries,  hotels  and  restaurants,  and  the  employers  of 
labor  in  such  establishments  were  compelled  to  furnish  suitable  seats  for 
such  employes.  The  act  by  which  the  state  parole  commissioner  was 
created  (appointed  by  the  governor)  made  it  the  duty  of  the  new  official 
to  cooperate  with  the  warden  of  the  State  Penitentiary  and  the  super- 
intendent of  the  State  Reform  School  in  recommending  paroles  and  in 
assisting  such  prisoners  to  secure  employment.  Important  changes  were 
made  in  former  laws  by  which,  after  a  trial  of  one  year,  those  cities  which 
had  adopted  the  commission  form  of  government  might  return  to  the  old 
municipal  way,  and  the  newly  created  fire  marshal  was  vested  with  the 
authority  to  remove  dangerous  structures  which  were  a  fire  menace  to 
other  buildings  or  property.  The  age  of  consent  of  females  was  raised 
to  eighteen  years  and  the  crime  of  rape  newly  defined. 

In  line  with  the  gathering  sentiment  toward  consolidation  of  the  higher 
educational  institutions  of  the  state,  so  widely  distributed,  was  the  Leighton 
bill,  which  passed  into  law,  providing  that  the  State  University  at  Mis- 
soula,  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  at  Bozeman,  the 
School  of  Mines  at  Butte,  the  State  Normal  School  at  Dillon,  and  such 
departments  as  might  thereafter  be  organized,  should  constitute  the  Uni- 
versity of  Montana.  As  such,  the  control  and  supervision  thereof  should 
be  under  the  State  Board  of  Education,  which  was  empowered  to  employ 


476  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

a  chancellor  of  the  university  who  should  reside  in  Helena.  A  forestry 
school  was  added  to  the  departments  of  the  State  University  at  Missoula, 
and  the  Northern  Montana  Agricultural  and  Manual  Training  College  and 
Agricultural  Experiment  Station  were  established  upon  the  site  of  old 
Fort  Assinniboine,  in  the  eastern  part  of  Hill  County.  This  was  accom- 
plished in  pursuance  with  the  agreement  made  with  the  general  govern- 
ment prior  to  the  abandonment  of  the  fort  as  am  army  post.  In  connec- 
tion with  the  Experiment  Station,  a  State  Grain  Laboratory  was  estab- 
lished for  the  purpose  of  scientifically  studying  the  milling  and  baking 
quality  of  wheat  raised  in  the  state,  and  of  the  germinating  capacity,  quality 
and  purity  of  field  crop-seeds  grown  in  Montana. 

The  thirteenth  session  is  somewhat  memorable  because  of  the  expansion 
of  the  state  government  through  the  creation  of  various  offices  and  de- 
partments, other  than  those  already  mentioned.  A  State  Board  of  Veter- 
inary Medical  Examiners  was  established,  the  title  of  which  is  a  sufficient 
explanation  of  its  purposes;  also  authorizing  the  governor  to  appoint  a 
Board  of  Examination  for  Nurses ;  the  Bureau  of  Agriculture,  Labor  and 
Industry  abolished,  and  two  independent  departments  substituted  for  it, 
known  as  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Publicity  and  the  Depart- 
ment of  Labor  and  Industry;  State  Board  of  Entomology  created  com- 
posed of  the  state  entomologist,  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Health 
and  the  state  veterinarian,  the  special  duties  of  which  were  to  prevent  the 
introduction  or  spread  of  such  diseases  as  were  communicable  by  insects 
as  spotted  fever  and  infantile  paralysis ;  creation  of  State  Board  of  Com- 
missioners for  the  Insane,  consisting  of  the  governor,  secretary  of  state 
and  the  attorney  general,  who  were  to  appoint  a  superintendent  and  an 
assistant  superintendent  of  the  asylum  recently  acquired  by  the  state  at 
Deer  Lodge;  the  new  State  Dairy  Commission  was  given  a  wide  range  of 
duties  in  connection  with  the  inspection  of  creameries  and  dairies  and  their 
products,  and  in  the  regulation  of  their  manipulation  and  sale ;  the  secre- 
tary of  state  constituted  the  state  sealer  of  weights  and  measures,  and  a 
State  Athletic  Commission  called  into  being,  specially  directed  toward  the 
regulation  of  sparring  matches  and  other  athletic  exhibitions  held  within 
the  state.  Boxing  exhibitions  were  limited  to  twelve  rounds;  contestants 
were  required  to  undergo  a  physical  examination  to  determine  their  fitness 
to  engage  in  the  proposed  encounter,  and  ten  per  cent  of  the  gross  re- 
ceipts from  each  exhibition  were  payable  into  the  office  of  the  state 
treasurer. 

U.  S.  SENATORIAL  ELECTION  MADE  POPULAR 

Midway  of  the  thirteenth  session  (February  7,  1913),  the  Legislative 
Assembly  and  the  governor  approved  of  the  amendment  to  the  federal 
constitution  authorizing  the  election  of  United  States  senators  by  direct 
vote  of  the  people.  In  order  to  make  the  amendment  constitutional,  the 
ratification  of  at  least  thirty-six  states  was  necessary.  Connecticut,  the 
last  of  the  required  states  to  thus  act,  ratified  the  proposed  amendment  on 
April  8,  1913. 


477 


As  stated,  the  thirteenth  Legislative  Assembly  of  1913  first  occupied 
its  new  hall  in  the  enlarged  capitol.  As  it  stands,  the  capitol  of  Montana 
is  majestically  located  on  a  fine  rise  of  ground  in  the  southern  outskirts 
of  the  city,  the;  buildings  of  the  State  Live  Stock  Commission  and  the 
State  Board  of  Health,  of  a  more  recent  date,  being  on  the  same  grounds. 
The  interior  decorations  of  the  capitol  walls  and  ceilings  are  artistic 
and  appropriate,  while  the  accommodations  provided  for  the  various  de- 
partments and  bureaus  are  modern  but,  with  the  growth  of  the  state  and 
its  governmental  activities  again  threatening  to  become  inadequate.  The 
State  Historical  Library,  with  its  cabinets  representative  of  the  fauna, 
birds,  minerals,  Indians  and  vigilantee  curios;  with  its  fine  galleries  of 
paintings  and  photos,  placing  before  the  visitor  the  pioneers  and  public  men 
of  the  territory  and  state,  and  its  remarkably  complete  files  of  newspapers 
and  other  material  relating  to  Montana's  history,  occupies  the  larger  sec- 
tion of  the  basement  of  the  capitol.  The  Agricultural  Department,  the 
state  engineer's  office,  and  minor  bureaus  have  also  quarters  in  this  por- 
tion of  the  building.  On  the  floor  above  are  the  governor's  office,  richly 
furnished,  the  offices  of  the  secretary  of  state  and  the  superintendent  of 
public  instruction,  the  adjutant  general's  office,  and  the  headquarters  of 
other  departments,  while  the  second  floor  is  given  over  to  the  courts,  the 
law  library  and  the  Assembly  chambers.  Altogether,  Montana's  capitol 
is  worthy  of  a  progressive,  energetic  and  cultured  people. 

ASSEMBLY  MEASURES  OF  THE  FOURTEENTH  SESSION 

The  fourteenth  Legislative  Assembly  convened  January  4,  1915,  and 
adjourned  March  4th  of  that  year — the  constitutional  sixty  days.  Gov- 
ernor Stewart  approved  an  act  for  a  commission  form  of  government  un- 
der the  provisions  of  which  a  petition  to  the  City  Council  signed  by  not 
less  than  twenty- five  per  cent  of  the  voters  of  the  municipality  would 
require  the  question  to  be  submitted  to  the  electors.  If  a  majority  voted 
in  favor  of  an  election,  then  the  City  Council  was  to  call  a  special  election 
to  determine  the  will  of  the  people  for  or  against  the  commission  form. 
For  the  relief  of  numerous  farmers  of  the  state  an  act  was  approved  in 
February  authorizing  counties  to  issue  bonds  or  warrants  to  procure  seed 
for  needy  farmers,  and  provision  was  made  for  such  purchase  by  levying 
a  tax,  to  act  as  a  lien,  against  the  property  of  the  persons  to  whom  said 
grain  was  to  be  distributed.  Later,  an  act  was  passed  to  provide  a  lien 
against  growing  crops  and  grains  threshed  to  apply  to  the  purchase  price 
of  the  seed  furnished.  Another  important  measure  approved  by  Governor 
Stewart  during  the  month  of  February  was  the  act  to  provide  for  the 
indeterminate  sentences  of  criminals.  Another,  which  aimed  at  the  eleva- 
tion of  the  bar,  provided  that  every  applicant  for  admission  must  produce 
satisfactory  testimonials  of  good  moral  character  and  a  certificate  of  one  or 
more  reputable 'counselors  of  law  that  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  study 
of  law  for  two  successive  years  prior  to  the  making  of  such  application 


478  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  undergo  a  strict  examination  as  to  his  qualifications  by  any  one  or 
more  of  the  justices  of  the  Supreme  Court;  "provided,  however,  that  a 
diploma  from  the  department  of  law  of  the  University  of  Montana  at 
Missoula,  or  evidence  of  having  completed  the  course  in  law  of  three  years 
in  said  department,  shall  entitle  the  holder  to  a  license  to  practice  law  in 
all  the  courts  of  the  state,  subject  to  the  right  of  the  chief  justice  of  the 
Supreme  Court  of  the  state  to  order  an  examination  as  in  ordinary  cases 
of  applicants  without  such  diploma  or  evidence." 

The  state,  through  its  assembly,  accepted  the  terms  of  the  congressional 
act  approved  May  8,  1914,  relating  to  cooperative  extension  work,  and 
authorized  the  president  of  the  State  Agricultural  College  to  cooperate  to 
that  end  with  the  secretary  of  agriculture  of  the  United  States.  Good 
Roads  day  was  designated  as  the  third  Tuesday  in  June.  The  Department 
of  Farm  Loans  was  created  and  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  at 
Bozeman  was  established. 

On  the  26th  of  February,  a  financial  act  of  far-reaching  effects  to  coun- 
ties was  approved.  It  authorized  any  county  to  issue  twenty-year  bonds 
"to  an  amount  sufficient  to  redeem  all  legal  outstanding  bonds,  warrants 
or  orders,  or  for  the  purchase  of  necessary  public  building  sites,  and  for 
the  construction  of  necessary  public  buildings,  public  highways  and  bridges, 
and  for  the  ordinary  and  necessary  expenses  of  the  county  authorized  by 
the  general  laws  of  the  state,  and  also  for  the  purpose  of  enabling  any 
county  to  liquidate  its  indebtedness  to  another  county  incident  to  the  crea- 
tion of  a  new  county,  or  the  change  of  any  county  boundary  lines,  not 
exceeding  in  the  aggregate,  including  outstanding  bonded  indebtedness, 
five  (5)  per  cent  of  the  value  of  the  taxable  property  within  such  county, 
to  be  ascertained  by  the  last  assessment  for  state  and  county  taxes  previous 
to  issuing  such  bonds." 

A  referendum  on  prohibition  was  called  for  the  general  election  of 
1916;  should  the  vote  be  favorable  for  the  measure,  it  was  to  go  into  effect 
on  December  31,  1918.  At  the  same  time  an  act  was  passed  to  prohibit  the 
sale  or  giving  of  liquor  to  habitual  drunkards,  minors  or  Indians.  On  the 
same  day  (February  27,  1915),  a  law  was  enacted  forcing  adult  children  to 
support  indigent  parents. 

Legislation  of  a  miscellaneous  nature,  but  of  general  interest  was  en- 
acted during  the  last  month  of  the  session  (March),  as  follows:  To  pro- 
hibit betting  at  horse  races;  entitling  father  and  mother  to  the  custody, 
services  and  earnings  of  legitimate  unmarried  minor  children;  repealing 
the  State  Tax  Commission  Act;  limiting  the  number  of  social  clubs 
wherein  liquor  could  be  distributed  to  one  such  organization  per  3,000 
inhabitants  of  any  incorporated  city  or  town;  providing  financial  aid  to 
dependent  children  in  their  own  homes  under  control  of  mothers,  who  are 
dependent  upon  deceased  or  delinquent  fathers  for  support ;  county  seats 
not  to  be  moved  to  places  which  have  not  been  incorporated  as  a  city  or 
town  for  at  least  a  year ;  prohibiting  the  sale  of  liquor  on  Sundays  on  race 
track,  or  in  pool  room,  dance  hall  or  other  amusement  place ;  neither  hus- 
band nor  wife  was  answerable  for  the  acts  of  the  other,  or  liable  for 
debts,  provided  that  "the  expenses  for  the  necessaries  of  the  family  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  479 

the  education  of  the  children  are  chargeable  upon  the  property  of  both 
husband  and  wife,  or  either  of  them ;  in  the  protection  of  game,  act  passed 
making  it  unlawful  to  use  silencers  or  mufflers  in  hunting,  or  explosives 
or  poisons  in  fishing ;  no  new  county  to  be  formed  if  its  assessed  valuation 
be  less  than  $8,000,000,  or  the  property  of  the  county  from  which  it  is 
taken  be  reduced  to  a  valuation  below  that  limit;  memorial  to,  Congress 
to  throw  the  Crow  Indian  reservation  open  to  settlement,  the  lands  of 
which  are  now  mostly  leased  by  large  cattle  owners  and  flock  masters ;  also 
memorial  to  throw  open  the  1,500,000  acres  of  the  Blackfeet  reservation, 
now  occupied  by  less  than  2,490  Indians,  open  to  settlement,  and  to  con- 
struct an  east  and  west  public  road  through  Glacier  National  Park,  and 
thereby  complete  the  broken  link  of  the  great  national  highway  between 
the  Great  Lakes  and  the  Pacific  coast. 

In  the  last  days  of  the  session,  the  Department  of  Banking  was  created, 
its  object  being  to  regulate  the  business  of  banks  and  other  financial  cor- 
porations. 

An  act  of  much  concern  to  the  public  school  teachers  of  the  state  was 
that  which  established  their  Retirement  Salary  fund  and  Permanent  fund. 
The  latter  was  formed  by  contributions  from  school  teachers,  investments 
from  fund  moneys,  donations,  legacies  and  gifts  and  state  appropriations. 
In  the  formation  of  the  Retirement  fund,  each  public  school  teacher  was 
to  pay  $i  per  month,  and  no  teacher  was  entitled  to  its  benefits  who  had 
not  regularly  contributed  to  it.  The  funds  named  were  established  by  act 
of  March  8,  1915. 

On  the  same  day,  a  measure  was  passed  to  provide  for  the  safety  of 
workmen  engaged  in  hazardous  occupations  and  providing  a  schedule 
of  compensation  for  death  or  injuries.  Total  disability  comprised  the  loss  of 
both  hands  or  arms,  both  feet  or  legs,  or  both  eyes,  and  partial  disability 
ranged  from  the  blindness  of  one  eye  to  the  loss  of  one  arm  near  the 
shoulder,  and  the  amount  of  compensation  (maximum,  $10  per  week)  was 
graduated  according  to  the  average  wages  drawn  and  the  nature  of  the 
injury  sustained.  The  latter  also  determined  the  period  over  which  the 
compensation  should  extend,  from  100  to  200  weeks. 

Legislative  action  was  taken  authorizing  the  state  to  issue  bonds  in 
the  amount  of  $100,000  for  the  State  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  at  Galen 
and  the  State  Insane  Asylum  at  Warm  Springs,  and  $30,000  appropriated 
to  establish  a  twine  factory  at  the  State  Prison.  About  the  same  time,  the 
name  of  the  Montana  State  Reform  School  was  changed  to  the  Montana 
State  Industrial  School. 

The  General  Highway  law  was  passed  at  the  last  day  of  the  session, 
March  9,  1915.  It  divided  the  highways  into  common,  main  and  state. 
All  private  highways  and  by-roads  were  to  be  at  least  twenty  feet  wide. 
The  general  tax  was  not  to  exceed  five  mills  on  the  dollar  and  the  general 
road  tax  $2  per  annum  for  each  male  between  twenty-one  and  sixty  years 
of  age.  A  county  could  not  issue  bonds  for  road  purposes  in  excess  of 
five  per  cent  of  its  taxable  property.  The  duties  of  the  road  supervisors 
were  particularly  defined,  as  were  the  viewers  of  highways.  Rules  and 
regulations  were  formulated  for  the  information  of  drivers ;  such  as  "turn 


480  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

to  the  right,"  "no  drunkenness  allowed,"  etc.  Special  rules  were  laid  down 
for  the  operators  of  threshers,  steam  engines  and  autos,  and  precautions 
taken  against  the  frightening  of  horses.  In  its  entirety,  the  session  of 
1915  (the  fourteenth)  was  busy  and  productive  of  much  practical  legis- 
lation. 

CONGRESSMAN  AND  CONGRESS-WOMAN  OF  1917-19 

The  congressional  elections,  held  in  the  fall  of  1916,  resulted  in  the 
selection  from  Montana  of  John  M.  Evans,  democrat,  and  Miss  Jeannette 
Rankin,  republican,  both  residents  of  Missoula.  As  Miss  Rankin  was  the 
first  woman  to  be  elected  to  the  Congress  of  the  United  States,  the  vigorous 
and  successful  campaign  which  she  conducted  was  a  noteworthy  event. 

Miss  Jeannette  Rankin,  who  served  her  term  (1917-19)  in  the  Sixty- 
fifth  Congress,  as  a  representative-at-large  from  Montana,  had  been  active 
and  prominent  in  woman  suffrage  and  social  work  in  the  West  for  a  num- 
ber of  years.  Born  on  a  ranch  near  Missoula,  she  is  a  graduate  of  the 
State  University,  and  after  studying  at  the  School  of  Philanthropy,  New 
York,  engaged  in  social  work  at  Seattle,  Washington,  where  she  was  also 
prominent  in  the  woman  suffrage  movement.  California  and  Montana 
then  became  the  fields  of  her  endeavors  in  these  lines.  She  became  field 
secretary  of  the  National  American  Woman  Suffrage  Association,  and  in 
1914  was  chosen  chairman  of  the  Montana  State  Suffrage  Committee. 
In  that  capacity  she  accomplished  much  in  bringing  Montana  into  line  as 
the  thirteenth  state  to  ratify  the  nineteenth  amendment  to  the  federal  con- 
stitution conferring  upon  women  equal  suffrage  with  men.  The  Assembly 
took  this  action  on  July  30,  1919,  after  Miss  Rankin  had  completed  her 
term.  Tennessee,  the  thirty-sixth  and  last  state  necessary  to  make  the 
amendment  a  part  of  the  federal  constitution,  ratified  it  on  August  18, 
1920,  nearly  a  year  after  Montana  had  taken  similar  action. 

Previous  to  serving  her  term  in  Congress  (in  1915),  Miss  Rankin 
visited  New  Zealand  and  worked  as  a  seamstress,  in  order  to  become 
familiar  with  woman's  industrial  conditions  in  that  progressive  part  of  the 
world.  Since  retiring  from  Congress,  she  has  been  engaged  in  a  variety 
of  social  and  economic  movements  in  the  West,  Chicago  and  New  York. 

THE  FIFTEENTH  LEGISLATIVE  ASSEMBLY 

The  fifteenth  Assembly  of  January-March,  1917,  early  showed  its  in- 
terest in  the  Indian  reservations  of  Montana  and  its  continuous  sugges- 
tions to  Congress  that  they  be  not  allowed  to  go  to  waste  in  the  supine 
hands  of  the  red  man.  In  January,  the  lower  house  asked  the  United 
States  Senate  that  steps  be  taken  to  develop  the  water  powers  within  the 
limits  of  the  reservations  and  shortly  afterward  memorialized  Congress 
for  $1,000,000  to  forward  the  Flathead  irrigation  project,  which  promised 
to  move  forward  now  that  the  lands  proposing  to  be  benefited  were  no 
longer  monopolized  by  the  original  owners.  In  February,  also,  a  House 
Joint  memorial  was  presented  which  forcibly  illustrates  the  close  identi- 
fication of  the  Yellowstone  Park  with  the  interests  of  Montana. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 
A  PLEA  FOR  THE  DUMB  ANIMALS 


481 


The  Yellowstone  Park  memorial  read  as  follows :  "Resolved,  that  the 
Congress  of  the  United  States  is  hereby  petitioned  to  again  police  the  Yel- 
lowstone National  Park  with  officers  and  soldiers  of  the  regular  army  to 
the  end  that  it  shall  be  well  protected  from  fire,  as  well  as  from  vandals 
who  would  destroy  its  beauty  and  efficiency,  so  that  our  children's  children 
may  have  their  birthright  in  the  rivers  that  will  flow  undisturbed  by 
drought  or  freshet  from  the  cloud-kissed  peaks  of  Mount  Washburn  to 
the  sunny  lands  that  border  the  Gulf  of  Mexico." 

The  Senate  Joint  memorial  of  March  ist  expands  upon  the  House 
document,  thus:  "Whereas,  the  elk,  deer,  Rocky  Mountain  sheep  and 
antelope  have  in  past  years  found  native  pasture  on  the  north  and  west 


ELK  IN  MONTANA  FORESTS 

sides  of  the  Yellowstone  National  Park  sufficient  for  their  use  at  all  times, 
especially  during  the  winter;  and 

"Whereas,  nearly  all  the-  native  pasture  lands  to  the  north  and  west 
of  the  park  are  either  owned  by  farmers,  or  pastured  during  the  summer 
season  by  live  stock  until  there  is  but  little  left  for  wild  animals ;  and 

"Whereas,  during  the  early  autumn  the  park  lines  are  diligently 
patrolled  until  the  hunting  season  is  closed,  and  then  the  game,  especially 
elk,  are  allowed  to  depart  in  large  numbers  from  the  park  upon  the  lands 
north  and  west  thereof,  break  down  and  destroy  fences  of  the  fields  and 
corrals  of  farmers,  eat  the  hay  and  otherwise  damage  the  farm  lands ;  for 
instance,  1,500  elk  at  one  time  were  counted  inside  a  2OO-acre  field,  there 
eating  the  grass  belonging  to  a  farmer  whose  cattle  needed  same;  and 

"Whereas,  after  said  elk  have  destroyed  property  as  above  cited,  they 
wander  over  the  pasture  lands  of  the  Forest  Preserve,  where  formerly 

Vol.  1—31 


482  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

grass  was  in  great  abundance,  and  die  in  large  numbers  for  want  of  feed, 
and  when  the  warm  days  of  the  spring  come  a  few  of  them  wander  back 
to  the  green  vales  of  the  National  Park  and  leave  behind  them,  on  the 
hills  and  in  the  valleys  of  Montana,  the  bleaching  bones  of  thousands  of 
their  comrades  that  have  actually  starved  to  death. 

"Now,  therefore,  be  it  resolved  that  the  Congress  of  the  United  States 
is  hereby  petitioned  to  make  a  full  investigation  of  the  game  question  about 
the  Yellowstone  National  Park  and  that  the  Federal  Government  shall 
provide  in  some  way  to  feed  or  otherwise  care  for  the  vast  number  of  elk 
that  will  surely  starve  each  year  upon  the  farms  and  pastures  of  Montana." 

In  February,  1917,  the  Legislative  Assembly  passed  acts:  To  authorize 
the  investment  of  permanent  funds  of  the  state  in  Federal  Farm  Loan 
bonds;  to  provide  free  text  books  for  the  public  and  high  schools  at  the 
expense  of  the  district  interested  and,  when  desired  by  parents  or  guar- 
dians, to  be  sold  at  cost;  establishing  an  eight-hour  day  for  female  labor, 
with  the  exception  of  the  week  preceding  Christmas  when  retail  stores 
could  extend  the  day  to  ten  hours;  authorizing  cities  of  the  first,  second 
and  third  class  to  provide  popular  band  concerts  during  June,  July,  August 
and  September;  to  establish  and  operate  public  markets  at  county  seats, 
five  per  cent  of  their  gross  sales  to  be  paid  intd  the  county  treasury ;  pro- 
viding punishment  for  employes  of  the  Montana  State  Industrial  School 
who  shall  assist  escaped  inmates ;  to  authorize  towns  and  cities  to  establish 
and  maintain  swimming  pools,  skating  rinks  and  playgrounds  from  Park 
funds;  Boards  of  Stock  Commissioners  and  Sheep  Commissioners  con- 
solidated as  the  Live  Stock  Commision;  the  State  Fish  Hatchery  estab- 
lished at  Anaconda;  course  of  elementary  agriculture  established  in  the 
elementary  schools  of  the  state;  Carter  County  organized  from  part  of 
Fallon,  and  Wheatland  from  parts  of  Meagher  and  Sweet  Grass. 


Granville  Stuart  was  appointed  historian  of  the  state,  and  in  February 
the  Assembly  appropriated  $9,000  to  cover  the  expenses  of  his  work  and 
the  publication  of  the  history.  Unfortunately,  Mr.  Stuart  was  not  destined 
to  complete  his  labors,  which  were  well  advanced  at  the  time  of  his  death, 
on  October  2,  1918. 

The  measures  passed  in  March :  Act  to  create  herd  districts  of  seventy- 
two  square  miles  or  more  for  the  better  control  of  horses,  mules,  cattle, 
sheep  and  goats;  compelling,  by  order  of  trial  court,  the  husband  to  sup- 
port the  wife,  child  or  children,  in  default  of  which,  imprisonment  and 
work  on  the  state  highways;  creation  of  Industrial  Accident  Board  to 
combine  the  duties  of  state  inspector  of  boilers,  inspectors  of  steamboats 
and  state  inspector  of  mines ;  establishment  of  vocational  education  in  the 
high  and  elementary  schools  of  the  state,  the  state  treasurer  to  be  the 
custodian  of  the  fund  provided  for  such  educational  work  by  the  federal 
government;  also,  an  act  to  add  normal  training  and  junior  college  courses 
to  the  high  school  curriculum ;  approval  of  the  proposal  of  the  Society  of 
Pioneers  to  erect  a  bronze  statue  of  Lewis  and  Clark,  appropriating  $5,000 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  483 

contingent  upon  the  raising  of  $15,000  by  that  society  and  the  appointment 
of  a  commission  to  forward  the  project,  comprising  five  members,  two>  to 
be  appointed  by  the  governor  and  three  by  the  president  of  the  Montana 
Pioneers'  Society;  Child  Welfare  division  established  under  the  auspices 
of  the  State  Board  of  Health;  Department  of  Banking  organized;  pas- 
sage of  act  of  search  and  seizure,  also  providing  for  destruction  of  places 
where  liquor  was  sold ;  conferring  police  powers  upon  railway  conductors ; 
in  accord  with  the  public  sentiment,  the  Assembly  enacted  special  legisla- 
tion by  which  the  licenses  of  all  liquor  dealers  within  the  state  were  to 
expire  on  December  31,  1918,  and  calling  upon  county,  town  and  city 
officials  to  act  accordingly;  creation  of  the  State  Board  of  Hail  Insurance. 

Under  the  act  creating  the  State  Highway  Commission,  Montana  was 
divided  into  twelve  districts :  ( I )  Counties  of  Lincoln,  Flathead  and  San- 
ders; (2)  Mineral,  Missoula  and  Ravalli;  (3)  Beaverhead,  Madison  and 
Gallatin;  (4)  Silver  Bow,  Deer  Lodge  and  Granite;  (5)  Lewis  and  Clark, 
Broadwater,  Powell  and  Jefferson;  (6)  Cascade,  Musselshell,  Meagher 
and  Fergus;  (7)  Chouteau,  Teton,  Hill  and  Toole;  (8)  Elaine,  Sheridan, 
Valley  and  Phillips;  (9)  Carbon,  Stillwater,  Sweet  Grass  and  Park;  (10) 
Rosebud,  Yellowstone  and  Big  Horn;  (n)  Custer,  Prairie  and  Fallen; 
(12)  Wibaux,  Dawson  and  Richland.  As  to  the  personnel  of  the  com- 
mission, the  governor  was  to  appoint  one  member  from  each  district  and 
not  more  than  six  from  the  same  political  party,  their  term  of  service  to 
be  four  years  and  their  first  meeting  on  May  i,  1917.  Contracts  for  work 
on  the  state  highways  were  to  be  let  by  the  executive  committee  of  the 
commission,  comprising  three  of  its  members. 

A  general  Fish  and  Game  law  was  also  enacted.  Under  its  provisions 
licenses  to  fish  and  hunt  were  regulated  and  orders  promulgated  for  the 
protection  of  birds  and  against  the  pollution  of  the  waters  of  the  state. 
The  following  game  preserves  were  also  created:  Snow  Creek,  Pryor 
Mountain,  Sun  River,  Gallatin,  Snowy  Mountain,  Highwood  National 
Forest,  Powder  River,  Flathead  Lake  Bird  Preserve,  Twin  Buttes  and 
South  Moccasin  Mountain. 

LAWS  OF  THE  SIXTEENTH  REGULAR  SESSION 

During  the  early  portion  of  the  sixteenth  regular  session  of  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly  (February,  1919)  six  counties  were  created.  Garfield 
was  carved  from  part  of  Dawson,  Treasure  from  Rosebud,  Glacier  from 
Teton,  Pondera  from  parts  of  Chouteau  and  Teton,  Roosevelt  from  Sheri- 
dan, and  McCone  from  Dawson  and  Richland.  A  Senate  joint  memorial 
was  presented  to  Congress  asking  legislation  from  that  body  for  the  pur- 
pose of  issuing  patents  to  all  homesteaders  who  had  served  in  the  World's 
war  and  made  certain  improvements  prior  to  enlistment.  The  state  took 
action,  both  as  an  independent  body  politic  and  by  memorial  to  the  federal 
authorities,  to  crush  anarchism  in  Montana.  The  Assembly  passed  a  law 
that  "no  red  flag  symbolic  of  social  or  industrial  revolution"  was  to  be 
displayed  within  the  bounds  of  Montana,  and  a  Senate  joint  memorial 
was  addressed  to  Hon.  William  B.  Wilson,  secretary  of  labor  of  the 


484  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

United  States,  "to  take  immediate  action  to  punish  and  suppress  the 
anarchists  and  revolutionary  elements  in  Montana." 

In  February  of  the  sixteenth  session  were  also  passed  the  following: 
An  act  by  which  all  live  timber  on  the  state  lands  shall1  be  appraised  by 
the  state  forester  and  approved  by  the  State  Board  of  Land  Commis- 
sioners, no  timber  be  sold  unless  appraised  since  March,  1909,  and  said 
timber  to  be  cut  subject  to  the  regulation  of  the  state  forester;  relating 
to  the  sanitary  condition  of  hotels  and  providing  for  their  inspection ; 
admitting  to  the  Soldiers'  Home,  at  Columbia  Falls,  all  honorably  dis- 
charged and  invalided  men  who  have  participated  in  the  Civil  war,  the 
Mexican  war  or  Mexican  border  troubles,  the  Spanish-American  war  or 
the  Filipino  insurrection,  the  Boxer  troubles  in  China,  the  Sioux  war  of 
1876  or  the  Nez  Perce  war  of  1877,  and  the  World's  war  or  other  service 
with  the  allies ;  prohibiting  the  employment  of  children  under  sixteen,  un- 
less wages  are  necessary  to  support  the  family,  upon  proof  to  the  principal 
of  their  school,  or  the  city  or  county  superintendent. 

The  Assembly  enacted  the  following  in  March,  1919:  That  parties 
may  agree  to  pay  more  than  the  legal  rate  of  interest  (ten  per  cent)  ; 
defining  the  crime  of  sedition  and  providing  as  punishments  for  those  who 
commit  it,  fines  of  from  $200  to  $20,000  and  terms  of  confinement  in  the 
state  prison,  from  one  to  twenty  years;  establishing  a  State  Vocational 
School  for  Girls,  "for  the  care,  education,  training  and  safe  keeping  of 
girls  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  twenty-one  years,  who  are  legally  com- 
mitted thereto,"  and  barring  those  physically  defective;  providing  for 
part-time  schools  to  enable  those  less  than  eighteen  years  of  age,  who  are 
employed,  to  obtain  specified  and  needful  instruction,  such  part-time  schools 
to  be  established  upon  petition  of  any  district  or  county  High  School 
Board  to  the  State  Board  of  Education ;  the  State  Board  of  Health  created, 
as  at  present,  comprising  five  experienced  physicians  for  terms  of  five 
years  and  to  be  selected  from  ten  members  of  the  profession  submitted 
by  the  Montana  Medical  Association;  establishment  of  the  Montana  State 
Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  State  Board 
of  Education;  authorizing  the  state  to  become  indebted  in  the  sum  of 
$15,000,000  above  the  constitutional  limit  to  acquire  funds  for  the  building 
of  state  highways;  creation  of  rural  school  districts  in  each  county  com- 
posed of  third  class  districts  and  parts  thereof ;  creation  of  Grain  Grading, 
Inspection  and  Warehousing  Commission  providing  for  the  appointment 
of  a  code  commissioner  to  revise  the  code  of  1907,  and  the  general  statutes 
passed  by  the  regular  and  extraordinary  session  from  the  eleventh  to  the 
sixteenth  inclusive. 

Upon  call  of  Governor  Stewart,  the  extraordinary  session  of  the  six- 
teenth Legislative  Assembly  convened  on  July  29,  1919,  and  adjourned 
on  the  nth  of  August.  The  Montana  Irrigation  Commission  was  created, 
the  Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners  taking  its  business  in  hand  as  an 
ex-officio  body.  Its  three  members  issued  permits  for  the  sale  of  water 
and  water  rights  and  the  contracting  of  water  for  irrigation.  The  attorney 
general  was  the  legal  adviser  of  the  new  commission  and  the  state  engineer 
its  technical  adviser  and  executive  in  all  matters  connected  with  his  pro- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  485 

fession.  By  another  act,  the  Board  of  Railroad  Commissioners  was  made, 
ex-officio,  the  Montana  Trade  Commission,  established  to  regulate  the 
prices  of  foodstuffs,  merchandise,  implements,  etc.  As  a  post-war  measure 
and  in  line  with  the  governmental  endeavor  to  aid  a  readjustment  of  prices, 
large  power  was  conferred  upon  the  members  of  the  new  commission, 
who  were  authorized  to  act  as  market  investigator  and  to  enter  any  prem- 
ises for  purposes  of  investigation.  Any  information  thus  obtained  was 
deemed  as  secret.  The  justices  of  the  State  Supreme  Court  were  increased 
in  number,  from  three  to  five.  But  perhaps  the  most  important  piece  of 
legislation  of -the  extraordinary  session  was  the  act  by  which  the  Aus- 
tralian ballot  system  was  introduced  into  Montana  politics. 

Of  the  numerous  memorials  presented  to  Congress,  mention  of  a  few 
is  here  made.  Appeals  were  made  for  the  government  to  inaugurate 
public  works ;  to  regulate  the  monopoly  in  the  production  of  farm  imple- 
ments; for  the  general  government  to  assume  control  over  live  stock  and 
dairy  products ; :  asking  Congress  to  get  rights-of-way  over  government 
lands  for  the  construction  of  dams,  reservoirs,  etc. ;  requesting  appropria- 
tions of  $50,000,000  for'  western  irrigation  projects ;  praying  relief  legis- 
lation by  which  periods  of  residence  for  acquiring  public  lands  might  be 
shortened  and  the  amount  of  work  decreased;  request  of  the  Montana 
Council  of  'Defense  directed  to  the  secretary  of  war  that  he  send  troops 
to  Montana  to  help  fight  the  forest  fires. 

Among  the  measures  of  relief  adopted  at  the  extraordinary  session 
which  was  being  held  in  the  midst  of  a  long-extended  and  serious  drought, 
was  the  extension  of  the  interest  payments  due  the  state  on  its  public  lands 
occupied  by  settlers. 

GOVERNOR  JOSEPH  M.  DIXON 

As  successor  to  Samuel  V.  Stewart,  Joseph  M.  Dixon  assumed  the 
governorship  on  January  I,  1921.  The  present  incumbent  of  the  guber- 
natorial chair  is  a  native  of  North  Carolina,  having  graduated  from  Guil- 
ford  College,  of  that  state,  in  1889  and  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1892.  Since 
that  year  his  permanent  home  has  been  in  Missoula.  There  he  practiced 
law,  served  as  assistant  prosecuting  attorney  of  Missoula  County  in  1893- 
95  and  as  state  prosecuting  attorney  in  1895-97.  The  governor  was  a 
member  of  the  lower  house  of  the  state  Assembly  in  1900,  and  in  the 
Fifty-eighth  and  Fifty-ninth  congresses,  1903-07,  was  Montana's  repre- 
sentative-at-large.  His  service  as  United  States  senator  extended  from 
1907  to  1913.  During  that  period  he  affiliated  himself  with  the  repub- 
licanism of  Theodore  Roosevelt  and  in  1912  had  charge  of  the  progres- 
sive campaign  as  chairman  of  the  national  committee  of  that  organization. 
His  election  and  record  as  governor  has  well  completed  an  eminent  public 
career. 


The  term  of  Joseph  M.  Dixon,  the  sixth  governor  of  the  state  of  Mon- 
tana, commenced  on  January  i,  1921,  and  his  inaugural  message  to  the 


486  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

seventeenth  Legislative  Assembly  was  delivered  on  the  4th  of  that  month. 
Among  the  important  subjects  which  he  handled  with  force  were  those 
arguing  for  adequate  taxation  and  fair  inheritance  and  income  taxes ;  ask- 
ing for  a  state  license  fee  on  metal  mines  besides  the  "net  proceeds  tax ;" 
higher  licenses  on  autos  and  a  tax  on  gasoline  sales;  a  permanent  tax 
commission;  creation  of  a  state  sheriff  through  whom  the  entire  police 
system  of  the  commonwealth  could  be  utilized  in  case  of  disorder,  riot  or 
rebellion ;  establishment  of  the  commission  form  of  government  for  coun- 
ties; founding  of  a  real  Department  of  Agriculture,  the  head  of  which 
should  have  the  direction  of  all  the  work  now  being  done  by  the  commis- 
sioner of  Agriculture  and  Publicity,  the  live  stock  commissioners,  the 
Live  Stock  Sanitary  Board,  the  dairy  commissioner,  the  state  veterinarian, 
the  Board  of  Poultry  Husbandry,  the  recorder  of  marks  and  brands,  the 
Board  of  Horticulture,  the  State  Fair,  the  Grain  Grading  Commission, 
and  the  Stallion  Registration  Board ;  changes  in  the  primary  law  to  make 
the  voter  declare  his  party  affiliations ;  reapportionment  of  legislative  and 
congressional  districts  to  make  voting  strength  more  equal,  and  the  enforce- 
ment of  prohibition  along  the  Federal  lines  of  the  Eighteenth  Amendment. 

Governor  Dixon  referred  to  the  four  years  of  trial  through  which  the 
state  had  passed  as  follows : 

"Montana  has  just  passed  through  four  of  the  most  trying  years  in 
her  history.  During  the  great  war  her  young  men  were  drafted  for  the 
national  army  upon  a  population  basis  of  940,000,  while  the  census  returns 
gave  us  only  548,889.  We  sent  overseas  and  into  the  training  camps 
about  40,000  men,  nearly  double  the  quota  demanded  from  any  other  state, 
as  related  to  its  actual  man  power.  Our  excess  quota  of  war  bonds  was 
allotted  on  the  same  fictitious  basis  of  population.  In  contradistinction 
to  these  things,  our  interior  geographical  location  prevented  us  sharing 
in  the  financial  prosperity  that  came  to  communities  more  favorably  sit- 
uated to  the  great  war  industrial  activities. 

"In  addition,  during  these  four  years  we  experienced  the  greatest 
droughts  in  our  whole  history,  which  bore  with  heavy  pressure  on  the 
unirrigated  sections  of  the  state. 

"Despite  these  handicaps,  and  with  an  area  of  territory  approximating 
three  times  that  of  either  Ohio,  Wisconsin,  or  Iowa,  and  with  a  population 
approximating  one-tenth  of  these  states,  in  a  commendable  spirit  of  emula- 
tion and  desire  to  even  excel  the  progressive  legislation  and  accomplish-, 
ments  of  these  older,  richer,  more  densely  populated  states,  Montana  has 
been  pushing  to  the  front  in  the  matters  of  schools,  roads,  municipal  im- 
provements, the  care  of  the  physically  defective,  the  insane,  sanitation, 
relief  for  the  widows  and  orphans,  and  other  humane  movements  for  the 
betterment  of  society.  With  the  forward-looking,  optimistic  spirit  of  the 
West,  we  have  gone  forward,  sometimes,  I  fear,  not  heeding  or  counting 
the  ultimate  financial  cost." 

FINANCES  OF  THE  STATE 

A  review  of  the  state's  finances  indicated  that   Montana's  debt  on 
March  i,  1921,  the  approximate  end  of  the  session,  would  be  $2,044,447 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  487 

with  practically  no  receipts  coming  in  until  taxpaying  time  in  the  follow- 
ing December.  But  the  burden  of  state  government  was  small,  indeed, 
when  compared  with  the  cost  of  the  county,  municipal  and  school  govern- 
ments. The  governor  forcibly  illustrates  this  statement  by  the  diagram 
of  a  dollar,  divided  into  sections  and  indicated  by  the  caption,  "Where 
the  Montana  Tax  Payer's  Dollar  goes."  The  great  sections  are  allotted 
to  the  counties  (39  cents),  and  to  the  public  schools  (44  cents),  and  the 
pigmy  sections,  the  cities  (u  cents),  and  the  state  (6  cents). 

In  1920  the  totals  of  all  taxes  levied  in  Montana  were:  State,  $1,601,- 
005.95;  county,  $10,050,046.78;  school,  $11,073,950.02;  municipal,  $2,848,- 
533.83.  Total,  $25,573,536.58.  Since  1912,  there  has  been  an  increase 
of  125  per  cent.  In  the  year  named,  Montana's  per  capita  tax  of  $26.83 
was  the  largest  of  any  state  in  the  Union,  and  since  then  it  had  increased 
to  $46.70.  This  heavy  taxation  fell  almost  entirely  on  real  estate,  which 
was  almost  threatened  with  confiscation. 

In  view  of  these  alarming  financial  conditions,  the  governor  suggested 
the  opening  of  public  means  of  revenue  by  efficiently  applying  the  so- 
called  Inheritance  Tax  law  in  Montana,  which,  "in  the  light  of  modern 
systems  of  taxation  now  in  use  in  nearly  all  the  states  must  have  been 
intended  as  a  joke."  He  commended  the  Wisconsin  law,  which  brought 
over  $1,000,000  to  the  coffers  of  that  state,  to  the  consideration  of  Mon- 
tana legislators.  Also,  an  income  tax  was  recommended  to  them  founded 
on  the  Wisconsin  law,  which  yielded  $6,242,000  to  the  income  of  that 
state.  The  governor  believed  that  Montana  should  impose  a  tax  of  three 
per  cent  on  the  gross  returns  from  its  oil  fields,  and  that  coal  should  pay 
a  license  fee  of  ten  cents  per  ton  and  that  cement  plants  should  be  sim- 
ilarly taxed.  In  1920,  the  2,741,113  tons  of  coal,  valued  at  $7,757,103,  on 
the  basis  of  two  and  a  half  mills  levy  for  state  purposes  exclusive  of  sur- 
face improvements,  yielded  only  $682  in  taxes.  The  further  fact  that 
most  of  the  coal  mines  in  the  state  "are  owned  and  operated  as  subsidiary 
corporations  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 
and  the  Great  Northern  Railway  companies,  and  as  such  subsidiary  com- 
panies show  little  'net  proceeds,'  leads  many  people  to  believe  that  this 
phase  of  our  industrial  life  is  not  carrying  its  full  proportionate  share  of 
the  burdens  of  government,  as  compared  with  other  forms  of  wealth." 
Taxation  of  the  metalliferous  mines  of  the  state  was  based  on  a  tax  on 
"net  proceeds"  plus  the  regular  property  tax  on  improvements,  and  in  the 
three  years,  1917,  1918  and  1919,  the  six  Silver  Bow  mining  companies^ 
contributed  fifty-seven  per  cent  of  the  total  tax  collected.  In  1919,  the 
total  tax  collected  by  the  state  was  $392,954,  of  which  the  Silver  Bow 
corporations  contributed  $181,389.  Although  Governor  Dixon  did  not 
believe  that  the  "net  proceeds"  of  the  metalliferous  mining  industry  bore 
its  rightful  burden  of  taxation  in  Montana,  he  confessed  that  to  adjust 
the  matter  was  a  difficult  problem.  The  revenue  derived  from  the  taxation 
of  the  "net  proceeds"  totaled  only  $239,158  for  the  preceding  five  years, 
or  an  average  of  only  $47,831.  In  this  connection,  it  was  noted  that  al- 
though over  56  per  cent  of  the  patients  admitted  to  the  Tuberculosis  Sani- 
tarium at  Galen  were  from  the  mines  of  Silver  Bow  County,  that  section 


488  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

contributed  to  its- support  only  $5  of  the  $12.95  Per  week  necessary  for  its 
maintenance,  leaving  a  loss  of  $161,546  to  be  borne  by  the  state  at  large. 
An  additional  license  tax  on  metalliferous  mines  was  therefore  recom- 
mended. The  state  bore  one-half  the  cost  of  constructing  the  permanent 
trunk  roads  of  Montana  and  the  entire  cost  of  their  maintenance.  As, 
primarily,  the  Good  Roads  movement  was  an  automobile  project,  the 
Assembly  should  raise  the  license  fee  on  automobiles  and  trucks,  which 
was  the  lowest  of  any  Northwestern  state.  The  Oregon  tax  on  gasoline 
was  also  suggested. 

The  complex  problem  of  taxation  should  be  delegated  to  a  permanent 
Tax  Commission  of  three  experts,  although  for  the  succeeding  two  years 
the  body  could  only  be  advisory  to  the  existing  State  Board  of  Equaliza- 
tion, or  until  the  constitutional  amendment  proposed  in  the  report  of  the 
Tax  and  License  Commission  in  1918  can  be  submitted  and  adopted. 

The  commission  government  for  counties  was  recommended  because  of 
the  economy  and  efficiency  obtained  in  the  application  of  that  form  of 
government  to  the  municipal  affairs  of  Missoula  for  a  period  of  nine 
years.  The  governor  even  went  a  step  farther,  it  being  his  judgment  "that 
a  very  general  application  of  this  same  plan  to'  our  state  government  in 
Montana  would  be  productive  of  great  good  and  bring  about  tremendous 
economy  in  the  administration  of  state  affairs." 

As  to  the  Workman's  Compensation  Act,  its  main  criticism  was  directed 
at  the  small  allowances  for-medical  and  hospital  services  and  funeral  ex- 
penses. Recommendation  was  made  for  the  creation  of  a  state  purchasing 
agent. 

Governor  Dixon  called  attention  to  a  serious  feature  of  the  financial 
status  in  the  matter  of  "farm  loan  delinquencies."  "On  November  30, 
1920,"  he  says,  "there  was  invested  of  the  Common  School  Permanent 
Fund,  in  farm  loans,  $4,267,470;  school  district  bonds,  $1,892,193.36; 
United  States  Liberty  bonds,  $980,000.  Total,  $7,139,663.36.  The  records 
show  that  on  that  date,  of  the  total  investment  of  $4,267,470  in  farm  loans, 
the  delinquent  loans  amounted  to  $1,334,650,  or  the  equivalent  of  31.29 
per  cent." 

One  of  Governor  Dixon's  concluding  paragraphs  has  to  do  with  the 
Veterans'  Welfare  Commission,  and  the  outstanding  promise  of  the  repub- 
lican party  to  carry  out  its  aims.  He  commended  its  work  in  the  matter 
of  vocational  rehabilitation,  war  risk  insurance  and  compensation,  and 
trusted  that  provision  would  be  made  for  keeping  the  commission  alive 
until  its  work  was  completed. 

Montana  was  still  in  the  grip  of  "hard  times,"  caused  mainly  by  long- 
continued  droughts  and  consequent  failure  of  the  crops  and  deterioration  of 
live  stock.  Among  other  measures  of  relief  was  the  "emergency"  measure 
passed  by  the  State  Senate  remitting  the  penalty  for  delinquent  taxes  of 
1920,  if  paid  before  April  i,  1921,  extending  the  right  of  redemption 
from  the  tax  sales  of  1917,  and  extending  the  time  for  the  payment  of  the 
1920  taxes.  When  four  weeks  of  the  session  had  passed  Governor  Dixon 
had  approved  of  fifty-six  bills  or  resolutions.  Of  the  business  transacted 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  489 

much  referred  to  the  codification  of  the  laws  which  was  progressing  under 
the  supervision  of  the  code  commissioner,  I.  W.  Choate.  Considerable 
excitement  was  introduced  to  the  Assembly  and  politics  of  the  state  by  the 
published  notification  of  Attorney  General  Wellington  D.  Rankin  to  W.  J. 
Swindlehurst  that  his  continuance  in  office  as  state  commissioner  of  labor 
and  industry  was  unconstitutional.  At  the  same  time,  the  attorney  general 
notified  the  state  auditor  to  cut  off  the  salary  of  that  official  after  January 
31,  1921. 

The  public  sentiment  'directed  against  disloyal  utterances — or  pro- 
nouncements deemed  as  such  promulgated  from  the  platform  and  through 
the  press  by  educated  men  and  women — had  caused  the  introduction  of  a 
bill  requiring  teachers,  professors  and  school  people  generally  to  take  the 
oath  of  loyalty  to  the  Government  and  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
As  Governor  Dixon  considered  this  measure  too  sweeping  to  correct  a 
limited  evil,  he  vetoed  it. 

HELENA  BRANCH  OF  FEDERAL  RESERVE  BANK  OPENED 

Although  not  connected  with  the  legislation  of  the  state,  the  formal 
opening  of  the  Helena  branch  of  the  Ninth  District  Federal  Reserve  Bank 
at  Minneapolis  was  an  event  of  vital  import  to  the  financial  stability  of 
Montana.  The  inauguration  of  the  enterprise,  on  Tuesday,  February  i, 
1921,  was  made  the  occasion  of  quite  a  celebration.  Thomas  A.  Marlow, 
chairman  of  the  Helena  board  of  directors,  presided  at  the  meeting  and 
was  one  of  the  speakers.  Governor  Dixon  also  spoke,  as  well  as  Norman 
B.  Holter,  a  director  of  the  bank,  who  had  had  special  charge  of  the 
Liberty  Loan  "drives,"  which  had  proved  so  creditable  to  the  state.  The 
Helena  bank  was  the  twenty-first  branch  to  be  established  in  the  United 
States  under  the  Federal  Reserve  system,  and  its  record  has  been  that  of 
all  other  similar  institutions — to  inspire  public  confidence  and  stabilize  the 
finances  of  the  state,  giving  a  feeling  of  assurance  both  to  interests  already 
established  and  projects  about  to  be  launched. 

In  February,  1921,  the  law  was  repealed  creating  state-owned  terminal 
elevators;  an  income  tax  bill  was  passed,  in  accord  with  the  governor's 
recommendation ;  a  bill  was  introduced  proposing  another  constitutional 
convention,  the  question  to  be  submitted  to  the  voters  at  the  succeeding 
general  election.  The  proposed  Irrigation  Commission  was  shelved  by 
the  House.  There  was  a  lively  discussion  in  the  Senate  over  the  bill  to 
assess  a  poll  tax  of  $3  on  all  male  bachelors,  the  proceeds  to  go  into  the 
Widow's  Pension  Fund.  In  addition,  the  unmarried  males  of  a  certain 
age  and  ability  to  assume  marital  relations,  who  still  "shied,"  had  a  $2-road 
tax  levied  upon  them.  The  measure  finally  passed. 

PROHIBITION  IN  FORCE 

The  governor  vetoed  the  bill  giving  special  agents  the  general  and 
sweeping  authority  to  search  premises  in  the  enforcement  of  prohibition 


490  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

measures,  as  giving  them  powers  too  extraordinary.  "The  bill  in  ques- 
tion," he  says  in  his  veto  message,  "covers  not  only  the  matter  of  illegal 
traffic  in  intoxicating  liquors,  but  the  whole  moral  and  criminal  code.  Not 
only  can  special  agents  without  limit  be  employed,  but  any  other  person 
or  persons  may  be  authorized  and  employed  to  'make  investigations  for 
the  purpose  of  procuring  evidence  of  the  violations  of  all  laws.'  "  Notwith- 
standing this  special  veto,  prohibition  is  in  force  in  Montana. 

There  have  been  several  distinct  steps  taken  by  Congress,  the  states 
and  the  United  States  Supreme  Court  which  have  determined  Montana's 
legislation  as  a  unit  of  the  Union.  All  the  states  of  the  Union  have  pur- 
sued similar  courses,  determined  by  the  Constitution  of  the  United  States. 
The  first  decisive  step  toward  national  prohibition  was  the  joint  resolution 
adopted  by  the  Senate  and  House  of  Representatives,  on  the  i/th  of 
December,  1917,  to  this  effect: 

"Article  — .  Section  i.  After  one  year  from  the  ratification  of  this 
article  the  manufacture,  sale  or  transportation  of  intoxicating  liquors 
within,  the  importation  thereof  into,  or  the  exportation  thereof  from  the 
United  States  and  all  territory  subject  to  the  jurisdiction  thereof  for  bever- 
age purposes,  is  hereby  prohibited. 

"Section  2.  The  Congress  and  several  states  shall  have  concurrent 
power  to  enforce  this  act  by  appropriate  legislation. 

"Section  3.  This  act  shall  be  inoperative,  unless  it  shall  have  been 
ratified  as  an  amendment  to  the  constitution  by  the  legislatures  of  the  sev- 
eral states  as  provided  in  the  constitution,  within  seven  years  from  the  date 
of  the  submission  hereof  to  the  states  by  Congress. 

By  January  16,  1919,  more  than  thirty-six  legislatures  of  the  several 

states  had  ratified  the  amendment  (as  required  by  the  Federal  Constitution). 

Mississippi  was  the  first  to  come  into  line;  Montana  was  the  seventh 

(February  19,  1918),  and  Pennsylvania  was  the  last  (February  25,  1919). 

It  then  became  necessary  to  define  "intoxicating  liquors,"  especially  as 
the  "warfare  prohibition  act"  continued  in  force,  pending  the  year  which 
was  to  elapse  after  the  ratification  of  the  amendment  to  the  Federal  Con- 
stitution before  it  (the  Eighteenth  Amendment)  was  to  go  into  force. 
Andrew  J.  Volstead,  a  Minnesota  lawyer,  therefore  introduced  a  bill, 
which  was  enacted  in  October,  1919,  and  has  since  been  known  by  his 
name.  It  defined  "beer,  wine,  or  other  intoxicating  malt  and  vinous 
liquors  in  the  warfare  prohibition  act  as  meaning  any  such  beverages  con- 
taining one-half  of  one  per  cent  or  more  of  alcohol  by  volume."  The 
Volstead  act,  which  also  provided  for  the  enforcement  of  the  prohibition 
law,  was  declared  constitutional  by  the  Supreme  Court  of  the  United  States 
on  January  5,  1920. 

On  June  7,  1920,  the  Eighteenth  amendment  itself  was  declared  con- 
stitutional by  the  United  States  Supreme  Court ;  and  all  the  legislation  of 
the  Montana  Assembly,  as  well  as  the  official  action  taken  by  the  other 
states  of  the  Union,  was  enacted  to  conform  with  the  pronouncements  of 
the  Congress  of  the  United  States  and  the  decisions  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  the  land. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  491 

MOVIE  CENSORSHIP  BILL  KILLED 

In  February,  1921,  the  Movie  Censorship  bill  was  killed.  William  A. 
Brady,  president  of  the  National  Motion  Picture  Association,  was  on  the 
way  to  the  supposed  field  of  action,  and  had  telegraphed  to  Governor  Dixon 
from  Bismarck,  North  Dakota,  to  hold  the  measure,  pending  his  (Brady's) 
arrival ;  but,  as  stated,  the  bill  was  killed  without  his  opposition. 

THE  SPECIAL  SESSION  OF  1921. 

The  seventeenth  Assembly  was  physically  unable  to  clear  off  the  "un- 
finished business,"  although  bills  not  even  enrolled  were  signed  in  open 
session  by  the  presiding  officers  of  each  house.  Governor  Dixon  therefore 
called  an  extra  session,  which  held  from  March  8th  to  March  22,  1921. 
On  the  last  day  of  the  session  a  bill  was  passed  to  have  Montana's  prohibi- 
tion law  conform  to  the  Federal  Volstead  act,  the  vote  being  48  to  36. 
At  the  same  time,  the  governor  published  an  open  letter  to  the  Helena 
Independent,  Anaconda  Standard,  Billings  Gazette,  Butte  Miner  and  the 
Great  Falls  Tribune,  which  he  had  charged  with  making  prejudiced  reports 
of  the  legislative  proceedings.  The  letter,  which  reviews  the  extraordinary 
session,  had  the  authority  of  a  gubernatorial  message.  It  referred  to  the 
republican  "programme  of  a  more  equitable  system  of  taxation  that  would 
result  in  shifting  some  portion  of  the  burden  from  the  homes,  farms  and 
business  sections  to  forms  of  wealth"  not  carrying  their  just  share.  He 
claimed  that  by  the  passage  of  the  inheritance  tax — the  proceeds  of  which 
would  be  derived  from  foreign  decadents  who  hold  stock  in  four  great 
railroad  lines,  the  Montana  Power  Company  and  the  Anaconda  Copper 
Mining  Company — probably  the  state  would  realize  $250,000  yearly,  or 
six  times  the  cost  of  the  extraordinary  session.  He  had  vetoed  a  bill  passed 
at  the  regular  session  making  oil  pipe  lines  common  carriers.  At  the  special 
session,  a  real  common  carrier  law  for  oil  pipe  lines  had  been  passed  by 
which  "the  money  that  will  be  paid  to  the  state  next  July  (1921)  by  the 
Federal  Government  as  our  share  of  oil  royalties  on  public  lands  will  bring 
many  thousands  of  dollars  of  relief  each  year  to  the  public  schools  and 
roads  of  Montana."  Governor  Dixon  claimed  (through  legislative  enact- 
ment, to  have  saved  the  financial  situation  and  to  have  secured  more  than 
$1,000,000,  which,  without  the  calling  of  the  extraordinary  session,  would 
have  been  lost  to  the  state. 


Thomas  J.  Walsh,  who  was  re-elected  to  the  United  States  Senate 
without  opposition  in  the  fall  of  1918  will  serve  (if  he  concludes  his  second 
term)  until  1925.  He  is  a  Wisconsin  man  by  birth  and  education  and  in 
1884  went  to  South  Dakota,  practicing  law  at  Redfield  with  his  brother, 
Henry,  C.  In  1890  he  located  at  Helena,  established  a  large  practice  and 
soon  became  prominent  in  the  activities  of  the  state  democracy.  Mr. 


492  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Walsh  served  as  a  delegate  to  the  Democratic  National  Convention  in  1906, 
1912  and  1916;  in  1910  was  an  unsuccessful  candidate  for  the  upper  House 
of  Congress;  was  elected  to  the  United  States  Senate  in  1912  and  again,  as 
stated,  in  1918. 

Henry  L.  Myers  is  also  serving  his  second  term  in  the  Senate  of  the 
United  States,  was  born  and  educated  in  Missouri,  and  since  1893  has 
resided  at  Hamilton,  Ravalli  County.  For  sixteen  years  previous  to  enter- 
ing the  national  Senate,  he  served  the  people  of  his  county  and  section  as 
prosecuting  attorney,  state  senator  and  judge  of  the  Fourth  District.  He 
had  been  occupying  the  bench  for  four  years  when  he  commenced  his  first 
term  in  the  upper  House  of  Congress  in  1911.  His  second  term  expires  in 
1923. 


CHAPTER  XXII 
MONTANA'S  EDUCATIONAL  SYSTEM 

Glimpses  of  the  early  schools  and  indications  of  the  birth  and  crude 
development  of  a  system  of  public  education  have  appeared  in  the  earlier 
pages  of  this  work ;  also  in  the  chapters  devoted  to  the  proceedings  of  the 
Legislative  Assembly  and  the  gubernatorial  administrations,  has  been 
noted  the  establishment  of  the  various  departments,  schools  and  colleges, 
which  have  been  consolidated  into  a  working  system  of  higher  education 
under  the  direct  jurisdiction  of  a  chancellor  with  headquarters  at  the  state 
capitol.  The  crude  beginnings  were  accomplished  in  territorial  times ;  the 
modern  system,  with  its  drawbacks  of  scattered  units,  varied  managements 
and  unwieldy  body,  had  its  origin  with  the  founding  of  the  state  govern- 
ment. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOL  AND  GOVERNMENT  COEXTENSIVE 

It  is  a  coincidence  that  the  first  public  school  in  Montana  opened  on 
the  same  day  that  the  first  session  of  the  territorial  Legislative  Assembly 
convened — on  the  5th  of  March,  1866,  at  Virginia  City.  The  first  school 
district  was  then  and  there  organized,  with  Joseph  Millard  chairman,  and 
Samuel  Word,  and  Captain  Rodgers,  members  of  the  Board  of  Trustees. 
A  Mr.  Thrasher  (  ?)  and  Thomas  J.  Dimsdale  appear  to  have  been  pioneer 
school  commissioners,  or  superintendents  of  public  instruction,  and  then 
(1866)  the  place  was  offered  to  Peter  Ronan,  the  old  miner  and  news- 
paper man,  who  declined  it.  Alexander  H.  Barrett  held  it  a  few  months 
and  then  resigned  in  favor  of  A.  M.  S.  Carpenter,  who  managed  to  retain 
the  office  for  about  a  year. 


Mr.  Carpenter  seems  to  have  made  an  effort  to  organize  schools  in 
the  districts  which  had  enough  population  to  warrant  his  efforts,  and  toward 

the  last  of  his  term  made  the  following  report  to  Governor  Smith : 

i 

"Virginia  City,  2Oth  October,  1867. 
"To  His  Excellency,  the  Governor,  Green  Clay  Smith : 

"In  compliance  with  your  request  and  the  intent  of  the  law  creating 
the  office,  I  beg  leave  respectfully  to  submit  the  following  report  of  the 
condition  of  the  common  schools  of  the  territory,  so  far  as  I  have  been 
able  to  obtain  the  statistics. 

"I  was  appointed  to  fill  the  vacancy  created  by  the  resignation  of  the 
late  superintendent,  A.  H.  Barrett,  Esq.,  by  the  late  General  Thomas 

493 


494  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Francis  Meagher,  then  acting  governor,  on  the  4th  of  March,  1867.  I 
found  no  reports  from  county  superintendents  in  the  office  at  that  time, 
nor  have  I  since  received  any  save  a  very  commendably  full  one  from 
Superintendent  Wilkinson,  of  Edgerton  county,  in  response  to  my  request 
issued  on  the  28th  of  September  last,  to  the  county  superintendents,  for 
the  statistics  in  their  possession.  Through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  R.  N. 
Farley,  clerk  of  District  No.  I,  Madison  county,  I  am  able  to  give  you 
some  statistics  concerning  the  schools  in  this  city,  which  you  will  find 
embodied  in  a  tabular  form  accompanying  this  report. 

"In  Beaverhead  county,  I  learn  indirectly,  no  public  schools  have  been 
open  during  the  year.  No  schools  have  ever  been  organized  in  Chouteau 
county.  In  Edgerton  County,  there  are  three  school  districts  organized 
in  which  schools  have  been  taught  some  portion  of  the  year.  Eight  school 
districts  have  been  organized  in  Madison  county ;  but  aside  from  District 
No.  i,  of  this  city,  I  am  uninformed  of  the  fact  of  any  school  having  been 
taught  in  either,  though  I  think  it  fair  to  assume  that  there  have  been  in 
each. 

"I  am,  respectfully,  your  obedient  servant, 

"A.  M.  S.  CARPENTER." 

This  report  is  chiefly  interesting  as  being  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the 
public  records  and  because  of  its  remarkable  lack  of  definite  information. 
Fortunately  for  this  sketch,  Superintendent  Carpenter's  successors  gradu- 
ally improved.  Thomas  F.  Campbell  and  A.  G.  Lathrop  followed  Mr. 
Carpenter,  serving  about  two  years  each. 

SUPERINTENDENT  CORNELIUS  HEDGES 

But  it  remained  for  Cornelius  Hedges,  whom  Governor  Benjamin  F. 
Potts  appointed  superintendent  in  1872,  to  make  the  first  regular  and 
complete  report  of  his  department.  His  five  years  of  service  added  to  his 
reputation  as  one  of  the  able  men  of  the  state.  He  was  a  leading  lawyer, 
had  already  served  as  United  States  district  attorney  and  while  superin- 
tendent of  schools  was  also  sitting  on  the  probate  bench  of  Lewis  and 
Clark  County.  Judge  Hedges  was  one  of  the  founders  of  the  Helena 
Public  Library  and  one  of  the  fathers  of  the  state  and  her  systematized 
laws. 

In  his  school  reports  to  Governor  Potts,  Superintendent  Hedges  covers 
the  nine  counties  of  the  territory  then  existing,  Madison,  Gallatin,  Deer 
Lodge,  Lewis  and  Clark,  Meagher,  Jefferson,  Chouteau,  Missoula  and 
Beaverhead.  He  states  that  the  average  length  of  the  school  term  each 
year  was  eighty  days,  and  that  bookkeeping  was  a  required  subject  in 
the  public  school  course  of  study.  At  first  Deer  Lodge  had  the  only 
frame  schoolhouse  in  the  territory,  Missoula  the  only  brick,  and  Helena 
was  holding  school  in  the  basement  of  a  church,  the  desks  and  benches  of 
which  were  "a  terror  to  behold."  During  his  administration,  however, 
Judge  Hedges  had  the  pleasure  of  seeing  good  buildings  erected  at  Helena 
Virginia  City,  Bannack,  Blackfoot  and  New  Chicago.  Even  in  those  days 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


495 


the  superintendency  had  its  troubles,  for  the  report  says  that  there  was 
too  much  of  a  tendency  for  school  districts  to  divide,  county  superinten- 
dents were  slow  in  making  reports,  and  the  law  provided  that  the  "super- 


CORNELIUS  HEDGES 

intendent  shall  keep  his  office  at  some  place  where  there  is  a  postoffice" 
and  that  "he  shall  receive  a  salary  of  only  $1,200,  with  a  $300  allowance  for 
travelling  expenses."  From  all  cotemporaneous  accounts,  this  was  a  most 
inadequate  compensation,  as  "in  his  devotion  to  the  duties  pertaining  to 


496  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

this  position  Judge  Hedges  traveled  hundreds  of  miles,  under  trying  cir- 
cumstances, to  gather  the  few  teachers  then  in  the  territory,  to  the  different 
centers  of  population,  instructing,  providing  and  devising  methods  and 
improvements  only  possible  with  a  man  of  collegiate  training  and  un- 
selfish enthusiasm." 

FIRST  INSTITUTION  OF  HIGHER  LEARNING 

Superintendent  Clark  Wright,  who  succeeded  Mr.  Hedges,  in  1877, 
reported  improvements  in  all  the  counties  of  the  state  and  new  school- 
houses  at  Bozeman,  Butte  and  Fort  Benton.  He  gave  Deer  Lodge  County 
first  place  for  interest  shown  in  educational  work  and  outlined  the  plans 
for  the  opening  of  the  Montana  Collegiate  Institute,  at  the  county  seat. 
It  was  started  that  year  (1877)  in  hired  rooms  with  twenty-four  students 
in  attendance,  and  was  the  first  institution  of  higher  learning  to  take  root 
in  Montana. 

The  Montana  Collegiate  Institute  was  the  predecessor  of  the  College 
of  Montana,  at  Deer  Lodge,  which  was  chartered  in  1884  and  opened  in 
the  following  year.  The  latter  was  one  of  the  leading  pioneers  in  educa- 
tional work  in  the  Northwest,  had  a  substantial  plant  of  college  buildings 
and  an  endowment  fund  of  $100,000. 

W.  Egbert  Smith  succeeded  Mr.  Wright  as  superintendent  of  public 
instruction  in  1879,  and  it  is  learned  from  his  report  that  there  were  then 
7,049  pupils  in  Montana,  practically  double  the  number  shown  by  the 
census  of  1872.  During  his  administration,  twenty-three  public  school 
buildings  were  constructed  in  the  territory.  At  that  time,  Helena  was 
credited  with  the  best  graded  schools  in  Montana.  Among  other  reforms 
in  the  system  suggested  by  Superintendent  Smith  were  uniform  certificates, 
a  Board  of  Education  and  the  consolidation  of  schools. 

Not  a  few  improvements  were  introduced  to  the  system  of  public  edu- 
cation during  the  administration  of  R.  W.  Howey,  as  superintendent  of 
public  instruction  in  1881-82.  In  1881,  the  average  school  year  was 
lengthened  to  no  days,  a  course  of  study  was  prescribed,  the  county 
superintendents  sent  in  regular  reports  for  the  benefit  of  the  state  superin- 
tendent, the  Legislative  Assembly  adopted  uniform  text  books,  deaf  and 
dumb  children  were  sent  East  at  public  expense,  and  Helena,  Butte,  Boze- 
man, Deer  Lodge  and  Virginia  City  introduced  high  school  work. 

UNIVERSITY  FOUNDATION  LAID 

Under  the  congressional  act  of  February  18,  1881,  the  foundation 
was  laid  for  the  University  of  Montana.  The  measure  was  entitled  "an 
act  to  grant  lands  to  Dakota,  Montana,  Arizona,  Idaho  and  Wyoming  for 
University  purposes,"  and  under  it  the  University  of  Montana  received 
seventy-two  sections,  or  about  46,000  acres  of  land.  That  grant  from 
Congress  was  to  form  an  endowment  fund  that  could  never  be  diminished, 
and  the  income  from  which  should  be  used  exclusively  for  the  support  of 
the  university.  Twelve  years,  however,  were  to  elapse  before  the  state 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  497 

could  take  practical  advantage  of  this  generous  donation.  But  the  initial 
interests  of  Montana  were  well  protected  by  Superintendent  Howey,  who 
saw  to  it  that  the  very  best  land  available  was  allotted  and  set  aside  for  the 
purpose  indicated  in  the  congressional  act. 

In  1882,  Superintendent  Howey  reported  eleven  new  schools  in  Mon- 
tana, one  of  them  a  fine  ten-room  building  in  Butte.  He  also  noted  the 
first  meeting  of  the  Territorial  Teachers'  Association,  the  selection  of 
county  superintendents  solely  for  school  purposes,  and  the  election  of  Miss 
Helen  P.  Clark,  of  Helena,  and  Miss  Alice  Nichols,  of  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  to  the  office.  The  establishment  of  a  reform  school  was  recom- 
mended. 


Cornelius  Hedges  was  again  called  to  the  superintendency,  in  1883, 
and  materially  added  to  his  former  reputation  in  that  capacity.  Many 
improvements  were  made,  yet  the  obstacles  against  which  these  pioneers  in 
Montana  education  worked,  even  in  the  early  '8os,  were  not  realized  by 
the  people  of  those  days  themselves.  Teachers'  institutes  were  held  in 
practically  every  county  in  the  territory,  many  of  the  teachers  paying  a 
full  month's  salary  for  stage  fare  to  take  them  to  the  place  of  meeting. 
Yet  both  men  and  women  did  good  work  and  public  sentiment  and  private 
generosity  were  back  of  them;  for  instance,  at  an  old-fashioned  spelling 
bee  held  at  Billings,  Mr.  Billings  gave  $4,000  toward  a  new  school  build- 
ing, which,  when  completed,  was  the  only  one  in  the  territory  supplied  with 
an  up-to-date  furnace. 

James  H.  Mills,  who  had  served  for  five  years  as  secretary  of  the  terri- 
tory, was  offered  the  superintendency  of  public  instruction,  but  declined 
the  office,  and  W.  W.  Wylie  succeeded  Mr.  Hedges.  Early  in  his  adminis- 
tration he  introduced  the  teaching  of  physiology  into  the  public  schools, 
especially  in  regard  to  the  effects  of  alcohol  and  narcotics  on  the  human 
system.  As  a  means  toward  the  equalization  of  the  salaries  of  school  execu- 
tives, after  showing  that  the  county  superintendent  of  Beaverhead  County, 
with  its  eighteen  districts,  received  only  $500  per  annum  while  the  Yellow- 
stone County  official  with  half  the  number  of  districts  drew  double  the 
salary  of  the  former,  Mr.  Mills  recommended  that  there  be  four  district 
superintendents  instead  of  so  many  county  superintendents.  Superinten- 
dent Wylie  also  caused  the  program  of  the  Territorial  Association  of 
Teachers,  which  had  met  at  Butte  that  year  (1885),  to  be  printed,  and 
induced  the  railroads  to  give  reduced  fares  to  all  who  should  attend  the 
meetings  of  the  association.  He  encouraged  the  general  holding  of  teach- 
ers' institutes  and  authorized  the  county  superintendents  to  use  their 
own  judgment  in  the  selection  of  examination  questions  and  in  marking 
the  answers  to  them. 

When  Arthur  C.  Logan  succeeded  Superintendent  Wylie,  in  1887,  he 
found  that  the  territory  was  divided  into  289  organized  school  districts 
in  which  394  teachers  were  employed.  Meetings  of  the  Territorial  Teach- 
ers' Association  were  held  in  1887  and  1888,  the  latter  being  at  Butte  in 

Vol.  1—32 


498 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


connection  with  the  Teachers'  Institute  of  Silver  Bow  County.  Under 
the  law,  the  superintendent  of  public  instruction  was  obliged  to  travel  three 
months  of  each  year.  That  provision  enabled  Superintendent  Logan  to 
effectually  assist  in  institute  work  and  encourage  the  planting  of  trees  for 
Arbor  day,  which  was  established  during  his  administration. 

INAUGURATION  OF  STATE  SYSTEM 

By  the  presidential  proclamation  of  November  8,  1889,  Montana 
automatically  became  a  state.  The  enabling  act  of  February  22nd  of  that 
year  firmly  laid  the  basis  of  the  common  school  system  still  in  course  of 
development.  It  prescribed  that  upon  her  admission  into  the  Union, 
sections  16  and  36  in  every  township,  or  their  equivalents  if  already  granted 
by  Congress,  should  be  donated  to  the  state  for  the  support  of  its  com- 


OLDEST  SCHOOL  IN  MONTANA — STILL  IN  USE 


mon  schools.  Indian,  military  or  other  reservations  granted  for  national 
purposes  were  exempt  from  the  operations  of  the  act,  until  such  reserva- 
tions should  be  restored  to  the  public  domain. 

Under  an  act  of  Congress  passed  in  1881,  lands  within  Montana  and 
other  territories  had  been  granted  for  educational  purposes,  and  the  en- 
abling act  provided  that  they  should  be  sold  at  public  auction  for  not  less 
than  $10  per  acre.  The  state  was  to  place  the  proceeds  of  such  sales  in  a 
permanent  school  fund,  the  interest  of  which  should  be  expended  for  the 
support  of  the  common  schools.  Congress,  however,  inserted  a  provision  in 
the  enabling  act  whereby  such  lands  could  be  leased,  under  state  control, 
for  a  period  not  exceeding  five  years,  and  in  quantities  not  exceeding  one 
section  to  any  one  person  or  company,  and  such  lands  could  not  be  sub- 
ject to  preemption,  homestead  or  other  entry,  but  should  be  reserved  for 
school  purposes  only. 

Other  provisions  for  the  use  of  public  lands  were  made  by  Congress. 
Fifty  sections  of  the  unappropriated  public  lands  within  Montana,  to  be 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  499 

selected  and  located  in  legal  subdivisions  in  the  same  manner  as  the  school 
lands,  were  granted  to  the  state  for  the  purpose  of  erecting  public  build- 
ings at  the  capital  for  legislative,  executive  and  judicial  purposes.  The 
enabling  act  further  provided  that  5  per  cent  of  the  proceeds  from  the 
sales  of  public  lands  within  Montana  which  should  be  sold  by  the  United 
States  subsequent  to  its  admission  into  the  Union,  after  deducting  all 
expenses  incident  thereto,  should  be  paid  over  to  the  new  state  to  be  used 
as  a  permanent  fund,  the  interest  of  which  only  was  to  be  expended  for 
the  support  of  the  common  schools. 

As  intimated,  the  lands  granted  by  Congress  to  the  territory  in  1881 
were  vested  in  the  state,  and,  by  the  enabling  act,  seventy-two  sections  were 
made  the  basis  for  the  support  of  a  university.  These  lands,  likewise, 
could  not  be  sold  for  less  than  $10  per  acre,  and  the  proceeds  derived  from 
such  sales  were  to  constitute  a  permanent  fund  to  be  safely  invested,  the 
income  to  be  employed  exclusively  for  university  purposes. 

Other  grants  of  public  lands  were  made  by  the  enabling  act.  One 
hundred  thousand  acres  were  granted  for  the  establishment  and  mainte- 
nance of  a  school  of  mines.  A  like  quantity  was  granted  for  state  normal 
schools.  In  addition  to  former  grants,  50,000  acres  were  donated  for 
agricultural  colleges.  A  state  reform  school  was  encouraged  with  50,000 
acres ;  state  deaf  and  dumb  asylum,  a  like  amount,  and  the  public  buildings 
at  the  capital  of  the  state  received  150,000  acres,  in  addition  to  the  grant 
previously  made. 

All  mineral  lands  were  excluded  from  these  grants,  but  the  act  pro- 
vided that  if  sections  16  and  36,  or  any  portion  thereof,  should  contain 
mineral,  the  state  was  authorized  to  select  an  equal  quantity  of  other  un- 
appropriated lands  in  lieu  thereof,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  the  common 
schools. 

When  Montana  was  admitted  into  the  Union  in  November,  1889,  all 
the  provisions  of  the  enabling  act  went  into  effect.  Under  the  head  of 
taxation,  the  state  constitution  provided  that  the  state  levy  should  not 
exceed  three  mills  on  each  dollar  of  valuation,  and  when  the  valuation  of 
property  subject  to  taxation  amounted  to  $100,000,000,  it  should  not  exceed 
two  and  a  half  mills,  and  when  such  valuation  reached  $300,000,000,  the 
tax  should  not  exceed  one  and  a  half  mills  on  each  dollar  of  valuation.  In 
1909,  it  became  apparent  that  the  taxable  valuation  of  the  state  would  go 
beyond  the  $300,000,000  limit  in  that  year,  and  that  the  constitutional  levy 
of  one  and  a  half  mills  would  so  materially  reduce  the  revenue  of  the  state 
as  to  embarrass  several  of  its  departments,  especially  that  which  had  to  do 
with  public  education.  Consequently,  a  strong  lobby  came  to  the  Legislative 
Assembly  in  1909,  led  by  the  friends  of  the  state  educational  institutions, 
and  proposed  a  law  to  submit  to  the  people  at  the  following  general  elec- 
tion providing  for  a  constitutional  amendment  fixing  the  state  tax  levy  at 
two  and  a  half  mills  on  the  dollar  until  the  valuation  should  reach  $600,000,- 
ooo.  The  Assembly  promptly  passed  the  bill  and  the  people  duly  ratified 
the  proposed  amendment  to  the  state  constitution. 

John  Gannon  was  the  first  superintendent  of  public  instruction  for 
the  State  of  Montana,  but  the  two  years  of  his  administration  yield  noth- 


500  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ing  in  the  way  of  a  report  throwing  light  on  the  initial  steps  taken  in  the 
organization  of  the  system  of  public  education. 

UNIVERSITY  SYSTEM  ESTABLISHED 

E.  A.  Steere,  who  served  the  four  years  from  1893  to  l897>  was 
more  considerate  to  the  historian;  and  well  he  might  be,  as  during  the 
first  year  of  his  administrations  the  state  was  enabled  to  take  advantage 
of  the  congressional  land  donations  and  found  its  university  system.  To 
satisfy  various  sectional  jealousies,  mainly  the  result  of  contests  over  the 
location  of  the  capital,  the  following  institutions  were  established : 

The  University  of  Montana  was  located  at  Missoula  and  a  site  of 
forty  acres  was  donated  by  Messrs.  F.  G.  Higgins  and  E.  L.  Bonner. 
The  Montana  State  College  was  founded  at  Bozeman,  February  16,  1893, 
and  Professor  Luther  Foster  and  one  assistant  took  charge  of  the  work 
until  the  following  September,  when  President  James  Reid  and  a  full 
faculty  were  elected.  The  Montana  State  Normal  School  and  College 
was  located  at  Dillon,  May  23,  1893,  Messrs.  Poindexter  and  Orr  donating 
the  site  of  ten  acres.  At  Butte,  the  State  School  of  Mines  was  established, 
on  February  17,  1893,  and  five  trustees  were  appointed  by  the  State 
Board  of  Education  to  look  after  its  interests.  The  State  School  for 
Deaf,  Dumb  and  Blind  was  established  at  Boulder,  March  i,  1893,  and  a 
ten-acre  site  was  selected  for  it  shortly  afterward.  The  State  Reform 
School,  which  had  been  recommended  by  Superintendent  Howey,  was 
opened  April  3,  1894,  at  Miles  City. 

Besides  all  of  the  before-mentioned  state  institutions  noted  in  Profes- 
sor Steere's  report,  the  information  is  conveyed  that  during  his  adminis- 
tration seventy-five  new  districts  had  been  created  in  the  state. 

STATE  TEXT  BOOK  COMMISSION  ESTABLISHED 

Under  Superintendent  Logan,  the  last  of  the  territorial  officials  at  the 
head  of  the  educational  department,  a  text  book  commission  had  been 
appointed  composed  of  Professors  Howey,  of  Helena,  and  Meyers,  of 
Deer  Lodge.  The  work  was  continued  by  E.  A.  Carleton,  the  state  super- 
intendent, who  succeeded  Professor  Steere  in  1897,  and  to  Superintendent 
Carleton  is  due  the  credit  of  organizing  the  State  Text  Book  Commission, 
substantially  as  it  has  since  existed.  He  also  gave  a  report  on  the  work 
of  the  rural  schools  and  their  consolidation,  called  the  county  superintend- 
ents together  for  the  first  time,  on  August  27,  1897,  and  published  the 
first  general  course  of  study.  Superintendent  Carleton  also  held  the  first 
state  eighth-grade  examinations.  He  reported  six  county  high  schools, 
at  Bozeman,  Boulder,  Dillon,  Kalispell,  Lewistown  and  Livingston,  with  a 
total  enrollment  of  386  pupils. 

The  past  twenty  years  has  shown  a  remarkable  expansion  in  all  the 
fields  of  public  education — kindergartens,  primary,  intermediate  and 
grammar  grades,  high  schools,  colleges  and  university.  Much  stress  has 
been  placed  on  the  improvement  of  the  country,  or  rural  schools;  their 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


501 


standard  has  been  steadily  raised,  old  buildings  replaced  by  modern,  the 
curriculum  expanded  and  conveniences  provided  by  which  pupils  residing 
at  a  distance  may  take  advantage  of  all  they  offer.  The  schools  at  the 
centers  of  population,  in  their  turn,  have  been  improved  and  maintained  in 
accord  with  the  educational  and  mechanical  advancement  of  the  times. 

APPORTIONMENT  OF  COMMON  SCHOOL  INCOME  FUND 

The  following  table,  given  in  the  biennial  report  of  the  state  register 
of  lands  for  the  biennium  ending  the  year  1920,  shows  the  annual  distribu- 


OLD  LEWISTOWN  SCHOOL 

tion  of  the  school  income  fund  to  the  several  counties  under  section  819, 
of  the  revised  codes  of  1907,  since  1889,  such  distribution  being  made 
in  February  of  each  year  and  based  upon  the  income  and  school  census  of 
the  preceding  year: 

Number 
of  School 

Year  Children 

1889  to  1896 39,252 

1897 42,218 

1898 46,179 

1899  49,478 

1900 S3,6i9 

1901  57,212 

1902 61,736 

1903  64,623 

1904 66,583 

1905 69,195 

1906  70,814 

1907 72,498 

1908  *. 73,249 

1909 77,040 

1910  81,545 

1911  88,805 

1912 98,687 

1913  104,774 


Amount 

Rate  per 

Distributed 

Capita 

$  51,027.60 

$1.30 

i7,73i-56 

.42 

28,630.98 

.62 

41,561.52 

.84 

80,428.50 

1.50 

105,842.20 

1.85 

138,006.00 

2.25 

168,019.80 

2.60 

169,786.65 

2.55 

183,366.75 

2.65 

205,360.60 

2.90 

217,494.00 

3.00 

227,071.90 

3-io 

250,380.00 

3-25 

305,793.75 

3-75 

266,415.00 

3-00 

345,404.50 

3-50 

419,096.00 

4.00 

502 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Number 

of  School  Amount        Rate  per 

Year                                                    Children  Distributed  Capita 

1914 114,032        $513,144.00        $4.50 

1915 ^  .   126,417  632,085.00  5.00 

1916 135,865  713,291.25  5-25 

1917  H7,453  810,991.50  5.50 

1918  159,552  877,536.00  5.50 

1919  •  •  • i6i,977  800,873.50  5.50 

1920 161,625  969,756.00  6.00 

INCOME  FROM  LEASED  LANDS 

The  total  income  of  the  various  institutions  of  an  educational,  charitable 
and  reformatory  character  derived  from  leased  lands,  rentals,  interest  on 


NEW  POWELL  COUNTY  HIGH  SCHOOL 

deferred  payments  and  income  from  investments  is  as  follows :  Common 
schools,  $1,122,593.57;  Agricultural  College,  $43,517.05;  Deaf  and  Dumb 
Asylum,  $12,521.24;  capitol  building,  $16,222.74;  School  of  Mines,  $36,- 
042.72;  State  Normal  School,  $34,127.33;  State  Reform  School,  $14,- 
741.22;  State  University,  $28,575.92;  Soldiers'  Home,  $531.35. 

LATE  SUPERINTENDENTS 


In  all  of  this  development  which  has  brought  Montana's  public  system 
of  education  to  the  favorable  notice  of  students  and  experts  throughout  the 
country,  Superintendent  W.  W.  Welch,  W.  E.  Harmon,  H.  A.  Davee  and 
the  serving  official  of  the  department,  Miss  May  Trumper,  have  con- 
tributed their  full  share.  Superintendent  Davee  served  until  January  i, 
1917,  having  been  four  years  in  office.  He  was  succeeded  by  Miss  Trump- 
er, who  is  still  superintendent. 

The  direct  administration  or  management  of  the  schools,  conducted 
from  Helena,  comprises  the  following  executives :  May  Trumper,  superin- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  503 

tendent;  Mina  Petrashek,  deputy;  S.  L.  Peterson,  high  school  supervisor; 
Charles  M.  Reinoehl,  rural  school  supervisor;  G.  B.  Edwards,  director  of 
vocational  education ;  Anne  K.  Larson,  clerk. 

EDUCATIONAL  RANK  AMONG  THE  STATES 

As  a  forcible  indication  of  Montana's  remarkable  advancement  in 
educational  efficiency  among  the  sisterhood  of  states,  the  following  is  taken 
from  Superintendent  Trumper's  biennial  report  for  1920: 

"During  1919  Dr.  Leonard  P.  Ayers,  one  of  the  foremost  statisticians 
in  America,  and  director  of  the  Russell  Sage  Foundation,  made  a  study  of 
state  school  systems.  He  applied  to  problems  of  education  some  of 
the  methods  that  have  long  been  in  use  in  the  field  of  economics.  Dr. 
Ayers  says : 

"  'The  result  is  what  has  been  termed  an  'index  number'  for  state 
school  systems.  This  gives  for  every  state  a  numerical  rating  which  is  a 
combination  of  ten  different  measures  of  public  school  accomplishment. 
The  figures  from  which  the  index  is  computed  tell  what  proportion  of  the 
children  of  school  age  ,are  in  school,  how  long  the  school  term  is,  how 
many  children  go  on  to  high  school,  what  amounts  of  money  are  spent  for 
the  support  of  the  schools  and  the  payment  of  teachers,  and  so  on. 

"  'The  different  sets  of  data  are  treated  in  exactly  the  same  way  for 
each  state,  and  we  feel  that  in  their  final  combination  they  reflect  in  a 
somewhat  reliable  manner  that  status  of  public  education  within  the 
commonwealth.  The  figures  of  the  report  make  it  possible  for  each  state 
to  compare  its  own  conditions  with  those  of  the  neighboring  states,  its 
present  status  with  that  which  existed  in  former  years,  and  finally,  to  find 
out  which  educational  factors  account  for  its  present  rating.' 

"During  the  twenty-eight  years  from  1890  to  1918,  Montana  moved 
from  eighth  place  among  the  states  to  first.  This  represents  a  gain  of 
seven  points  since  1890  and  six  points  since  1910. 

"Although  Montana  gained  in  six  factors  that  make  up  the  final  report, 
she  lost  and  still  takes  a  relatively  low  place  in  length  of  school  term, 
proportion  of  children  in  high  school,  per  cent  of  boys  to  girls  in  high 
school,' and  average  salary  per  teacher  employed. 

"In  length  of  school  term  only  two  northern  and  western  states  rank 
lower  than  Montana.  While  Montana  ranks  thirty-third  in  this  factor 
alone,  our  neighboring  states  of  South  Dakota  and  Oregon  rank  third 
and  fifth  respectively.  Montana's  schools  were  open  only  152  days  in 
1917-18,  while  Rhode  Island,  ranking  first,  had  her  schools  open  193  days, 
and  the  average  for  all  the  states  was  160.7  days. 

"In  the  proportion  of  children  in  high  school  only  seven  northern 
states  have  as  low  a  rank  as  given  in  Montana.  With  California  receiving 
first  rank,  Washington  second,  and  Nevada  eleventh  in  this  factor,  it  is 
embarrassing  for  Montana  to  have  so  few  children  in  high  school  as  to 
rank  twenty-third.  About  twice  as  large  a  proportion  of  pupils  go  to 
high  school  in  California  as  in  Montana. 

"Normally  there  should  be  as  many  boys  as  girls  in  the  high  schools  of 


504  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

a  state.  In  Montana  there  are  less  than  two-thirds  as  many  boys  as  girls 
in  high  school,  while  in  New  York,  the  state  ranking  first  on  this  point, 
there  are  nine-tenths  as  many  boys  as  girls.  Only  three  northern  and 
western  states  have  such  a  small  proportion  of  boys  in  high  school  as  are 
found  in  Montana.  Montana  ranked  fortieth  on  this  point. 

"In  average  salary  of  teachers,  Montana's  rank  of  fifteenth  probably 
explains  the  serious  shortage  of  teachers  within  the  past  few  years.  The 
average  monthly  salary  of  teachers  in  California  was  $88.06,  in  Washing- 
ton $78.02,  in  Utah  $64.12  and  in  Colorado  $60.49,  but  in  Montana  it 

was  $57-42- 

"The  combined  efforts  of  all  friends  of  education  are  needed  to  raise 
our  standards  particularly  in 

"Length  of  term, 

"Proportion  of  children  in  high  school, 

"Per  cent  of  boys  to  girls  in  high  school,  and 

"Salary  of  teachers." 

ADVANCEMENT  IN  DETAIL 

The  general  advancement  of  the  public  schools  is  indicated  by  the 
statistics  presented  by  the  superintendents  of  public  instruction  at  inter- 
vals of  five  or  six  years.  According  to  the  report  of  State  Superintendent 
W.  E.  Harmon  for  1908,  the  school  census  for  1907  showed  73,269  chil- 
dren of  school  age,  of  whom  36,895  were  boys  and  36,374  girls.  The 
whole  number  enrolled  during  the  year  was  50,516  and  the  average  daily 
attendance,  34,699.  In  1906,  the  children  of  school  age  numbered  72,498, 
the  enrollment  being  48,744  and  the  daily  attendance,  34,738.  The  value 
of  schoolhouses  and  sites  was  given  at  $3,645,343,  and  501  normal  gradu- 
ates and  154  college  graduates  were  employed  in  the  schools.  The  expenses 
for  all  school  purposes  amounted  to  $1,702,425.  In  1912,  there  were 
104,774  children  of  school  age,  with  an  enrollment  of  68,335  an^  a  daily 
attendance  of  49,330.  In  that  year,  the  expenditures  had  increased  to 
$4,889,070. 

In  1919-20,  as  shown  by  Superintendent  Trumper's  last  biennial  report, 
the  number  of  children  of  school  age,  the  actual  enrollment  and  daily  at- 
tendance of  pupils  in  the  Montana  schools  of  all  grades,  with  the  entire 
cost  of  maintaining  the  system  of  public  instruction,  are  given  in  the 
facts  and  figures  which  follow. 

ENROLLMENT  AND  ATTENDANCE 

According  to  the  school  census  for  September,  1919,  there  were  161,626 
children  of  school  age  in  the  state.  This  includes  all  those  at  least  six 
but  less  than  twenty-one  years  old.  During  the  year  there  were  enrolled 
in  the  public  elementary  and  high  schools  126,238  pupils.  The  children 
of  school  age  not  in  school,  therefore,  number  35,388.  Since  the  number 
attending  parochial  and  private  schools  is  not  known,  the  exact  number 
not  attending  any  school  cannot  be  definitely  ascertained. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


505 


At  the  close  of  the  school  year  1919-20  a  survey  of  the  schools  was 
taken.  The  children  included  in  this  survey  number  116,669.  If  to 
these  were  added  1,609  children  in  the  Lewistown  elementary  schools  and 
the  high  schools  of  Jefferson  County,  from  which  places  survey  data  were 
not  available,  there  would  be  118,278  children  accounted  for  in  the  survey. 
This  leaves  7,960  children  enrolled  in  the  public  schools,  as  given  in  the 
annual  statistical  reports  of  county  superintendents  which  are  not  included 
in  the  survey.  The  difference  is  due  to  the  difficulty  experienced  in  secur- 
ing reports  for  the  survey  from  every  school  in  every  county  in  the 
state. 

There  were  2,606  one-teacher  schools  in  Montana  reported  in  the 
survey  for  last  year.  Of  these  schools  99.9  per  cent  had  from  six  to  forty 


FLORENCE-CARLTON  CONSOLIDATED  SCHOOL — LARGEST  IN  THE  OPEN 

COUNTRY 


pupils  enrolled.  Twenty-four  of  these  schools  had  more  than  forty  pupils 
each,  while  each  of  215  schools  (8.2  per  cent)  had  fewer  than  six  pupils. 
The  average  one-teacher  school  has  approximately  seventeen  pupils. 

One  of  the  most  difficult  problems  for  solution  in  many  rural  districts 
has  been  that  of  providing  schools  for  a  few  children  in  sparsely  settled 
sections. 

Maintaining  school  with  a  small  enrollment  is  partly  an  economic 
problem.  It  costs  approximately  as  much  to  maintain  a  school  for  four 
children  as  for  twenty-four.  If  only  a  teacher's  salary  of  $1,200  a  year  be 
considered,  it  will  be  seen  that  the  one  school  would  cost  $300  per  pupil, 
while  'the  other  would  cost  but  $50  per  pupil.  It  is  also  a  problem  in  a  small 
school  to  maintain  the  interest  necessary  for  profitable  work. 

Various  means  have  been  used  for  solving  this  problem  of  very  small 
schools.  The  number  of  such  schools  has  been  materially  decreased  within 
the  biennium.  Provisions  for  schooling  a  few  children  living  in  isolated 
sections  have  been  made  in  neighboring  or  other  schools.  Where  such 
provisions  are  not  possible  or  advisable  the  small  school  must  continue  to 


506 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


exist  even  at  large  per  capita  cost,  if  all  children  are  to  have  educational 
opportunities. 

Transportation  of  pupils  in  many  parts  of  the  state  has  not  been  found 
feasible.  In  some  localities  where  it  has  been  found  possible,  consolida- 
tion of  schools  has  been  effected.  In  several  sparsely  settled  sections  where 
children  live  a  considerable  distance  from  the  school  the  dormitory  plan 
has  been  provided.  The  one-teacher  school  of  the  dormitory  type  first  to 
develop  is  located  at  Ivanell,  Rosebud  County.  A  dormitory  building  was 
provided  at  a  cost  of  $1,100. 

There  is  probably  no  greater  cause  of  retardation  in  our  public  schools 
than  that  of  irregular  attendance.  There  are  far  more  children  attending 
relatively  few  days  each  year  than  are  enrolled  in  short  term  schools. 
There  are  more  than  three  times  as  many  children  attending  less  than 
eight  months  as  are  enrolled  in  schools  in  session  less  than  eight  months. 
Eighty-two  per  cent  of  the  school  children  are  enrolled  in  relatively  long 
term  schools  (more  than  160  days),  but  only  42  per  cent  of  them  are  in 
attendance  as  many  days.  Because  of  this  failure  to  attend  school  the  full 
session  on  the  part  of  a  majority  of  the  school  children,  retardation  be- 
comes most  appalling. 

The  following  table  shows  the  relation  of  enrollment  and  attendance  to 
length  of  term :  ' 


Days  of 
School 

Schools 

Enrollment 

Attendance 

Number 

Per  Cent 

Number 

Per  Cent 

Number 

Per  Cent 

80  or  less  
81  to  100  
101  to  120.  .  .  . 
121  to  140.  ... 
141  to  160.  .  .  . 
161  to  180..  .. 
181  or  more..  . 

228 
.127 
213 
311 
713 
1,547 
88 

7.1 
4.0 
6.6 
9.6 

22.1 
47.9 
2.7 

3,217 
1,420 
2,565 
3,985 
9,550 
92,374 
12,389 

2.6 
1.2 
2.1 
3.1 
7.6 
73.6 
9.8 

23,603 
6,966 
7,025 
10,235 
18,373 

.   48,881 

* 

20.5 
6.1 
6.1 
8.9 
16.0 
42.4 

Total  

3,227 

100.0 

125,500 

100.0 

tl  15,083 

100.0 

"Included  in  161  to  180  days. 

fNot  all  children  enrolled  were  reported  in  survey  on  attendance, 
is  1,586.     Data  for  Lewistown  elementary  schools  not  available. 


The  difference 


The  fact  that  one-fifth  (23,603)  of  Montana's  school  children  are  in 
attendance  less  than  four  months  a  year  should  not  be  overlooked.  It  re- 
quires a  full  year  for  a  normal  child  to  complete  a  year's  work.  When  a 
child  is  in  school  only  three,  four  or  six  months  a  year  he  cannot  be 
expected  to  advance  a  grade  a  year.  Large  numbers  of  children  whose 
days  of  school  are  cut  short  are  denied  an  opportunity  to  advance  with 
their  classmates,  and  the  result  represents  an  immeasurable  loss  to  the 
future  citizenship  of  our  country. 

Irregular  attendance  is  far  more  common  in  the  grades  than  in  the 
high  schools  and  more  common  in  third  class  districts  than  in  districts 
of  the  first  and  second  class.  Forty-three  per  cent  of  the  elementary 
children  in  third  class  districts  attend  less  than  six  months,  while  26  per 
cent  of  those  in  first  and  second  class  districts  attend  no  longer.  Children 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  507 

have  been  withdrawn  for  work  on  the  farm  in  the  fall  and  again 'in  the 
spring,  just  at  the  time  of  year  when  the  weather  is  fairest  and  the  roads 
most  easily  traveled.  While  there  is  a  certain  amount  of  non-attendance 
due  to  circumstances  that  cannot  easily  be  avoided,  such  as  illness  and  too 
great  distance  from  schoolhouse,  it  is  evident  that  there  is  a  very  large 
amount  of  avoidable  non-attendance  at  schools. 

In  spite  of  the  fact  that  Montana  stands  at  the  head  of  the  list  of 
states  in  the  percentage  of  school  children  of  school  age  enrolled  in  the 
schools,  the  survey  for  1919-20  showed  that  there  were  1,847  children  of 
school  age  whose  homes  were  not  within  reach  of  a  school.  Of  these 
children  1,011  could  not  attend  school  because  of  the  distance,  and  836 
were  obliged  to  leave  home  at  great  expense  to  their  parents  to  have  even 
a  few  months  of  school.  The  only  large  county  in  the  state  which  pro- 
vided schooling  for  all  its  children  last  year  was  Cascade  County  because 


GATHERING  OF  CASCADE  COUNTY  SCHOOL  CHILDREN 

of  the  adoption  of  county  unit.  In  any  county  having  large  numbers  of 
rural  children  it  has  never  been  possible  with  the  district  system  to  send 
every  child  to  school. 

In  1918-19  there  were  in  Montana  1,366  school  districts  without  one 
child  completing  the  eighth  grade.  These  were  all  third  class  districts. 
Only  one  district  in  three  had  pupils  completing  the  eighth  grade  this  year. 
In  one-teacher  schools  there  was  only  one  to  every  forty-five  pupils  en- 
rolled. In  the  larger  schools  of  third  class  districts  there  was  one  to  every 
nineteen  enrolled,  and  in  districts  of  the  first  and  second  class  there  was 
one  to  every  seventeen  enrolled.  A  few  city  schools  did  even  better  than 
this,  having  one  to  every  twelve  pupils  enrolled. 

The  record  for  1919-20  was  not  much  better.  Of  2,246  third  class 
districts  in  the  state  that  year  there  were  1,371,  or  61  per  cent,  which  did 
not  have  one  pupil  finishing  the  eighth  grade.  In  third  class  districts  one 
pupil  in  every  twenty-four  enrolled  completed  the  eighth  grade,  but  in 
first  and  second  class  districts  one  in  every  fifteen  enrolled  satisfactorily 


508 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


completed  his  work.  In  third  class  districts  of  Sanders  County  and  in 
second  class  districts  of  Teton  County  last  year  one  eighth  grade  pupil  to 
every  eight  enrolled  completed  his  work.  This  record  is  the  best  in  the 
state. 

Can  Montana  afford  to  permit  large  numbers  of  her  children  to  get 
ao  farther  than  the  lower  grades  in  school  ?  Can  she  afford  to  let  thousands 
of  her  children  drop  out  of  school  in  the  intermediate  and  upper  grades? 
Will  she  continue  to  permit  seven-eighths  of  her  children  to  enter  life's 
activities  without  a  high  school  education  ? 

There  are  many  factors  responsible  for  such  conditions.  Children  enter 
school  at  various  ages  and  make  different  rates  of  progress.  Some  take 
two  or  even  three  years  to  complete  the  work  of  one  grade,  while  it  is 
reasonable  to  expect,  under  favorable  conditions,  normal  children  to  com- 


FINEST  RURAL  SCHOOL  HOUSE  IN  GALLATIN  COUNTY 


plete  a  grade  each  year.  When  many  children  repeat  grades  and  when 
many  others  are  provided  with  only  short  terms  of  school  or  attend  irregu- 
larly the  membership  of  the  lowest  grades  becomes  greatly  increased. 
When  such  children  spend  several  years  in  repeating  lower  grades  they 
reach  and  pass  the  compulsory  attendance  age  and  drop  out  of  school. 
The  result  is  that  almost  one-half  (48  per  cent)  of  pupils  who  enter  school 
never  reach  the  seventh  grade  and  more  than  one-fourth  (28  per  cent) 
of  them  never  reach  the  high  school. 

Boys  drop  out  of  school  earlier  and  in  larger  numbers  than  girls.  Less 
than  one-tenth  (9.8  per  cent)  of  the  boys  enrolled  are  in  high  school, 
while  13.2  per  cent  of  the  girls  attend  high  school.  Over  one-half  (53.7 
per  cent)  of  the  boys  enrolled  are  in  the  first  four  grades,  while  less  than 
one-half  (49.8  per  cent)  of  the  girls  are  in  these  grades.  By  the  end  of 
the  sixth  grade  three-fourths  (73.8  per  cent)  of  the  boys  and  seven-tenths 
(69.7  per  cent)  of  the  girls  have  left  school.  This  difference  has  limited 
significance  inasmuch  as  it  does  not  disclose  the  underlying  causes  for  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  509 

large  proportion  of  the  boys  dropping  out  of  school  in  grades  earlier  than 
do  the  girls. 

A  number  of  reasons  suggest  themselves  for  the  earlier  withdrawal 
from  school  of  boys  than  girls.  The  opportunities  for  securing  employ- 
ment have  been  especially  attractive  to  boys.  There  is  also  an  indication 
of  the  weakness  of  many  schools  in  failing  to  offer  the  work  which  holds 
the  interest  of  both  boys  and  girls  and  impresses  them  and  their  parents 
as  worth  while. 

"When  the  age  of  adolescence  approaches,  boys  and  girls  alike  rebel 
against  the  maternalistic  atmosphere  of  the  elementary  schools  and  are 
filled  with  the  longing  to  get  out  among  men  and  women  where  they  can 
take  their  place  in  the  work  of  the  world.  To  the  boy  this  longing  is  a 
more  keen  and  compelling  force  than  it  is  to  the  girl.  The  result  is  that 
the  work  of  the  schools  is  not  in  itself  interesting,  if  it  lacks  in  vitality, 
if  it  does  not  appeal  to  the  young  people  as  being  real,  both  boys  and  girls 
drop  out,  but  the  boy  goes  first." — Springfield  Illinois  Survey,  p.  55. 

THE  TRAINING  OF  MONTANA  TEACHERS 

The  question  of  efficiency  of  Montana's  schools  is  very  closely  related 
to  the  training  of  her  teachers.  The  training  of  5,010  elementary  and 
i, 060  high  school  teachers  in  the  state  was  reported  in  the  survey  of  last 
year. 

Most  of  the  northern  and  western  states  have  for  years  required  that 
their  teachers  shall  be  at  least  high  school  graduates.  Although  the  require- 
ments in  Montana  were  raised  July  I,  1920,  to  two  years  of  high  school 
and  twelve  weeks  of  normal  training,  the  requirements  are  still  several 
years  behind  practically  every  northern  and  western  state.  It  is  because 
of  her  low  requirements  that  Montana  certificates  are  not  recognized  in 
neighboring  states.  It  is  also  for  the  same  reason  that  Montana  has  at 
present  among  her  teachers  those  who  cannot  qualify  as  teachers  in  the 
neighboring  states  of  Washington,  Oregon  and  Idaho.  There  is  today  no 
larger  percentage  of  teachers  in  Montana  well  trained  for  their  work  than 
there  was  ten  years  ago.  There  are  more  than  three  times  as  many  nor- 
mal school  graduates  in  the  state  today  as  there  were  in  1910,  but  the 
number  of  such  graduates  proportional  to  the  number  of  teachers  in  the 
state  has  remained  practically  the  same  throughout  the  decade.  So  also 
has  the  proportional  number  of  college  or  university  graduates  remained 
almost  the  same  for  ten  years.  In  fact  it  appears  that  since  about  1916 
or  1917  the  percentage  of  well  trained  teachers  is  slightly  decreasing.  Of 
i, 060  high  school  teachers  reported,  all  but  fifteen  have  had  normal  or  col- 
lege training  beyond  a  four-year  high  school  course.  Almost  seven  teachers 
out  of  every  eight  (86  per  cent)  are  normal  or  college  graduates.  Nearly 
two-thirds  (65  per  cent)  are  college  or  university  graduates.  The  pro- 
portion of  high  school  teachers  who  are  graduates  of  higher  educational 
institutions  is  91  per  cent  for  county  high  schools  and  high  schools  for 
districts  of  the  first  and  second  class,  but  for  high  schools  in  the  third  class 
districts  the  proportion  is  77  per  cent. 


510 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 
TEACHER  SHORTAGE 


During  the  past  two  years  the  people  in  all  parts  of  the  United  States 
have  been  brought  face  to  face  with  a  serious  crisis  in  our  public  schools, 
so  serious  that  the  very  future  of  our  civilization  has  been  threatened. 
In  the  United  States  last  year  39,000  schools  were  vacant,  65,000  teachers 
were  below  standard  and  normal  school  enrollment  in  four  years  decreased 
30  per  cent.  During  1919-20  Montana  was  short  227  teachers.  A  survey 
taken  when  schools  opened  in  September  of  this  year  (1920)  showed  that 
Montana  was  short  513  teachers  in  thirty-five  counties.  This  shortage 
was  found  almost  exclusively  in  rural  sections.  During  the  beautiful  fall 
months  when  country  children  can  reach  the  school  building  without  trudg- 
ing through  deep  snows  or  mud,  many  schools  have  had  to  remain  closed 
for  want  of  teachers. 


NORMAL  TRAINING  OF  TEACHERS 


Numerous  factors  give  rise  to  this  alarming  teacher  shortage.  Unsat- 
isfactory living  conditions  and  lack  of  social  life  are  two  important  ones. 
But  the  most  serious  factor  in  keeping  many  schools  open  is  the  economic 
problem.  The  demand  for  higher  salaries  for  teachers  which  has  slowly 
but  universally  been  taken  up  by  the  general  public  has  been  promoted 
more  by  sympathy  for  the  teacher's  struggle  for  a  comfortable  living,  re- 
gardless of  preparation  and  experience,  than  by  a  regard  for  the  welfare 
of  future  generations.  The  policy  of  parading  before  the  public  the  finan- 
cial woes  of  poorly  paid  teachers  tends  to  give  the  salary  phase  of  our 
present  difficulties  the  importance  which  should  be  attached  only  to  the 
paramount  problem  in  the  educational  crisis.  The  poor  and  unprepared 
teacher  instead  of  being  underpaid  is  now  being  paid  more  than  she  is 
worth.  Thousands  of  children  are  attending  no  school  at  all  or  are  receiv- 
ing instruction,  if  such  it  might  be  termed,  from  teachers  who  can  be 
so  called  only  because  they  hold  emergency  licenses  which  enable  them  to 
draw  pay. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  511 

Teacher  shortage  has  caused  homesteaders  and  others  who  were  teach- 
ing some  years  ago  to  return  to  the  schoolroom  during  the  period  of  emer- 
gency. They  have  increased  the  teacher  supply  for  the  time,  but  many 
of  them  have  brought  into  the  classroom  old  methods  of  instruction  and 
useless  teaching  materials  that  make  for  anything  but  a  modern  school. 
The  law  requiring  normal  training  for  the  issuance  of  certificates  follow- 
ing June,  1920,  has  had  the  effect  of  increasing  the  number  of  teachers 
with  some  recent  training.  There  are,  however,  still  a  large  number  of 
rural  teachers  below  standard. 

It  is  not  at  all  strange  that  the  teacher  shortage  is  greatest  in  rural 
districts  when  one  teacher  in  every  ten  in  these  districts  received  last  year 
a  salary  of  less  than  $600.  When  seven  out  of  every  eight  rural  teachers 
received  less  than  $900,  why  should  young  people  be  expected  to  go  to 
school  several  years  and  pay  out  many  dollars  to  meet  the  unusually  low 
legal  requirements  for  Montana  teachers?  Only  100  rural  teachers  re- 
ceived more  than  $1,000  salary  last  year. 

THE  TEACHERS'  RETIREMENT  LAW 

The  law  providing  for  the  retirement  of  Montana  teachers  after  twenty- 
five  years  of  service,  at  least  fifteen  of  which  have  been  in  this  state  un- 
less the  teacher  was  engaged  in  teaching  in  Montana  when  the  law  was 
passed,  in  which  event  only  ten  years  of  service  in  Montana  is  required, 
is  operating  satisfactorily  for  the  present. 

Forty-three  teachers  have  retired  under  the  provisions  of  the  act.  The 
funds  on  November  i,  1920,  amounted  to  $140,087.79,  of  which  $137,056 
has  been  invested  at  6  per  cent  interest.  The  fund  has  increased  $34,- 
309.58  the  past  year. 

CERTIFICATION  OF  TEACHERS 

In  June,  1919,  the  first  teachers'  examination  was  held  under  the  new 
law  providing  for  state  examination  of  all  teachers  under  the  direction  of 
the  State  Board  of  Educational  Examiners.  The  first  board  has  been 
composed  of  Miss  Elizabeth  Sutherland,  county  superintendent  of  schools, 
Dillon,  Montana;  Professor  Freeman  Daughters,  State  University,  Mis- 
soula;  A.  J.  Roberts,  principal  of  high  school,  Helena,  Montana;  J.  U. 
Williams,  superintendent  of  schools,  Harlowton,  Montana,  and  the  super- 
intendent of  public  instruction,  who  is  ex-officio  chairman  of  the  board. 

COUNTY  SCHOOL  ADMINISTRATION 

In  1919-20  there  was  in  Montana,  on  the  average,  one  schoolhouse  to 
every  forty-six  square  miles.  The  variation  by  counties  was  from  twenty 
square  miles  per  schoolhouse  in  Stillwater  County  to  122  square  miles  per 
schoolhouse  in  Beaverhead  County.  There  are  not  so  many  schoolhouses 
in  the  mountainous  and  stock-raising  sections  of  the  state  as  in  sections 
devoted  largely  to  the  raising  of  grain.  This  may  be  seen  from  the  con- 


512 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


trasting  number  of  square  miles  per  schoolhouse  in  each  of  the  following 
counties : 

Meagher 1 18  Wibaux   2.2. 

Lincoln 107  Fallen 25 

Glacier   101  Musselshell    25 

Mineral    94  Dawson    25 

Flathead 92  Richland    25 


Lewis  and  Clark. 


91   Sheridan 26 


The  great  distances  county  superintendents  or  their  deputies  have  to 
travel  to  visit  schools  represent  one  of  the  chief  difficulties  in  securing 
adequate  supervision  for  rural  schools  of  the  state.  The  number  of  square 
miles  per  schoolhouse  is  an  indication  of  the  range  of  such  distances. 
Schoolhouses  are,  on  the  average,  approximately  ten  miles  apart  in  coun- 


MARTINSDALE,  MEAGHER  COUNTY  SCHOOL — OLD  BOX-CAR  TYPE 

ties  with  one  schoolhouse  to  every  100  square  miles,  but  only  five  miles 
apart  in  counties  with  one  schoolhouse  to  every  twenty-five  square  miles. 
The  cost  of  supervision  and  the  number  of  yearly  visits  easily  possible  to 
schools  vary  with  the  supervisory  areas,  the  number  of  miles  of  travel 
required  to  reach  all  the  schools  and  whether  this  travel  is  by  railroad  or 
automobile. 

County  superintendents'  and  deputies'  salaries  have  been  entirely  in- 
adequate. In  one  county  the  superintendent  has  been  receiving  $25  less 
per  month  than  her  clerk.  Two  deputy  county  superintendents  resigned 
to  become  ward  principals  at  a  salary  of  $1,896  each.  One  county  super- 
intendent with  nearly  200  teachers  scattered  over  an  area  of  over  4,000 
square  miles  received  $1,500  for  twelve  months  of  work.  In  the  same 
county  a  city  superintendent  received  $3,000  for  supervising  seven  teachers 
all  in  one  building.  In  a  second  class  district  an  inexperienced  superin- 
tendent received  $250  a  month  to  supervise  twenty-seven  rural  teachers, 
while  in  the  same  county  the  experienced  and  efficient  county  superin- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  513 

tendent  received  $100  a  month  to  supervise  fifty-six  rural  teachers.  The 
law  taking  effect  January  i,  1921,  increases  the  salary  of  the  superin- 
tendent in  this  county  to  $125  a  month,  or  to  as  much  as  a  stenographer 
in  her  office  or  a  rural  teacher  she  supervises  can  easily  command. 

For  many  years  leading  citizens  throughout  the  nation  have  advocated 
the  removal  of  the  county  superintendent's  office  from  political  influence. 
This  has  been  done  in  ten  of  the  thirty-nine  states  that  have  county  super- 
intendents. In  eight  of  the  ten  states  county  superintendents  are  now 
appointed  by  a  county  board  of  education  or  its  equivalent.  In  Delaware 
the  governor,  and  in  New  Jersey  the  State  Commissioner  of  Education 
appoint  the  county  superintendent. 

Montana  has  been  particularly  fortunate  in  the  qualifications  of  its 
county  superintendents,  in  spite  of  the  unattractive  salaries  that  have  been 
provided  and  the  fact  that  any  voter  is  eligible  to  the  county  superin- 
tendent's office.  With  no  further  qualifications  than  this  it  has  happened, 
and  it  will  continue  to  happen  occasionally,  that  those  who  are  elected  to 
supervise  and  administer  schools  for  the  children  have  never  taught  school, 
do  not  at  the  time  of  election  hold  a  certificate  to  teach,  or  have  not  taught 
for  many  years.  Yet  in  our  neighboring  states  of  Washington,  Oregon, 
South  Dakota,  Idaho  and  Utah  several  years  of  experience  as  well  as  a 
high  grade  of  certificate  are  required  of  the  candidate  for  the  office.  There 
is  perhaps  no  more  vital  point  for  improvement  in  our  school  system  than 
in  the  expert  supervision  and  efficient  administration  of  our  schools. 

HIGH  SCHOOL  NORMIAL  TRAINING  DEPARTMENTS 

Within  the  past  three  years  twenty  high  schools  have  taken  advantage 
of  the  law  providing  for  normal  training  departments.  Seven  of  these 
have  been  established  three  years;  five,  two  years;  and  eight,  one  year. 
During  the  current  year  five  additional  schools  are  organizing  departments. 
The  wisdom  of  this  temporary  expedient  may  be  seen  in  the  number  of 
students  in  training  and  the  number  of  graduates  teaching  in  rural  schools. 
It  is  to  be  hoped  that  it  will  be  only  a  few  years  before  it  will  be  possible 
to  require  courses  beyond  high  school  graduation  for  teachers  of  rural 
schools  as  well  as  of  city  schools. 

It  will  be  necessary  for  Montana  to  equip  herself  with  several  state 
normal  schools  before  she  is  ready  even  to  contemplate  abandoning  the 
training  of  rural  teachers  in  high  schools.  Minnesota,  though  increasing 
the  number  of  her  state  normal  schools  from  five  to  six  in  1915,  still  con- 
tinues her  high  school  training  courses.  Wisconsin  has  ten  normal  schools, 
thirty  county  training  schools  in  addition  to  her  high  school  and  normal 
training  courses.  Nebraska  and  other  states  pursue  the  same  policy. 

The  twenty  departments  in  Montana  in  1919-20  were  training  or  had 
previously  trained  a  total  of  627  students  for  the  teaching  profession. 
Of  these  298  were  in  the  first  and  second  year  of  high  school,  135  were 
in  the  third  year  and  eighty-seven  in  the  fourth.  Four  were  graduate 
students.  Eighty-six  had  been  granted  normal  training  second  grade  cer- 


Vol.  1—33 


514  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

tificates  upon  graduation  and  were  teaching.  Eighty-seven  per  cent  of 
these  graduates  came  from  departments  established  three  years  ago.  Seven- 
teen high  school  graduates  received  only  one  year  of  normal  training,  the 
departments  having  been  established  at  the  time  they  were  in  the  fourth 
year.  The  graduating  class  of  1920  was  large  enough  to  supply  all  the 
rural  schools  in  any  one  of  forty-one  counties.  At  the  present  rate  of 
progress  there  should  soon  be  several  hundred  graduates  a  year,  making 
a  substantial  increase  in  the  number  of  rural  teachers  with  some  special 
preparation  for  their  work. 

Students  enrolled  in  normal  training  departments  are  seventeen  years 
of  age,  on  the  average,  during  the  third  year  of  high  school  and  eighteen 
years  of  age  during  the  fourth  year.  A  majority  of  the  students  graduate 
at  eighteen. 

SALARIES  OF  HIGH-GRADE  TEACHERS 

The  salaries  of  high  school  teachers  for  1919-20  ranged  from  $800 
to  more  than  $1,700.  Cities  paid  higher  salaries  to  a  larger  percentage  of 
their  teachers.  Less  than  one-half  (45  per  cent)  of  the  high  school  teachers 
in  third  class  districts  received  more  than  $1,200,  while  in  the  first  and 
second  class  districts  four-fifths  (80  per  cent)  of  the  teachers  received 
more  than  $1,200.  Third  class  districts  have  had  greater  difficulty  in 
raising  funds  for  their  high  school  teachers  than  have  the  districts  of  a 
higher  class. 

No  large  difference  existed  in  the  salaries  of  teachers  in  high  schools 
and  the  salaries  of  principals  in  such  schools,  except  in  a  few  cases.  In 
third  class  districts  197  high  school  teachers  received  last  year  an  average 
salary  of  $1,223,  while  158  principals  in  such  districts  received  an  average 
of  $1,491- 

There  were  last  year  sixteen  times  as  many  women  (4,218)  as  men 
(264)  teaching  in  elementary  schools.  The  differences  in  the  average 
yearly  salaries  of  men  and  women  with  equal  training  were  not  great. 
College  women  received  $100  more  than  college  men  teaching  in  the 
grades.  Men  who  are  normal  school  graduates  received  $84.26  a  year 
more  than  women  with  the  same  training.  For  teachers  with  less  training 
the  salary  differences  between  men  and  women  teaching  in  elementary 
schools  were  slight,  but  with  the  larger  salaries  generally  in  favor  of 
women. 

In  the  high  schools,  however,  differences  in  average  salaries  of  men 
and  of  women  of  equal  training  were  most  marked.  Among  college  grad- 
uates teaching  in  high  schools  men  received  an  average  of  $358.14  more 
last  year  than  women.  Among  normal  school  graduates  men  received 
an  average  of  $394.82  more  than  women.  This  wide  range  in  salaries 
between  men  and  women  of  equal  training  teaching  in  high  schools  stands 
in  striking  contrast  to  the  national  slogan  of  professionally  minded  teachers 
as  stated  by  President  Coffman  of  the  University  of  Minnesota — "Equal 
pay  for  equal  work  of  equal  worth." 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  515 

SUMMER  SCHOOLS 

No  agency  has  been  of  greater  help  to  Montana  teachers  during  the 
past  two  years  in  their  improvement  in  service  than  the  summer  schools 
maintained  at  the  several  institutions  of  the  University  of  Montana  and 
also  at  several  other  points. 

The  past  summer  the  enrollment  of  teachers  exclusive  of  other  students 
at  the  several  schools  was  as  follows : 

State  University,  Missoula 71 

State  College,  Bozeman 30 

State  Normal  College,  Dillon 361 

Rosebud  Lake,  Alpine 27 

Eastern  Montana,  Glendive 96 

Central   Montana,    Lewistown 238 

The  previous  summer  session  was  held  at  the  same  institutions  with 
the  exception  that  the  Eastern  Montana  school  was  held  at  Terry  instead 
of  Glendive.  These  schools  have  made  it  possible  during  the  last  few 
years  for  teachers  to  meet  the  requirements  which  went  into  effect  the 
first  of  last  July  requiring  twelve  weeks  of  normal  training  of  all  teachers 
to  whom  certificates  are  issued  and  also  have  assisted  many  others  who 
hold  certificates  in  improving  their  methods  and  getting  in  touch  with  most 
progressive  ideas  in  education. 

Fifteen  practice  schools  were  provided  in  connection  with  ten  training 
departments.  Arrangements  are  made  for  practice  teaching  during  the 
latter  part  of  the  senior  year.  Flathead  County  High  School  provided 
four  practice  schools ;  Fergus  County  High  School  provided  three. 

In  a  few  counties  two  or  more  four-year  high  schools  enroll  a  suffi- 
cient number  of  students  to  warrant  the  organization  of  normal  training 
departments.  The  present  law  allows  reimbursement  for  normal  training 
work  to  only  one  high  school  in  a  county.  For  this  reason  some  high 
schools,  where  this  work  could  be  well  done,  have  had  their  applications 
refused.  A  change  in  the  law  to  permit  two  high  schools  in  a  county  to 
take  advantage  of  reimbursement  for  training  work  would  open  the  way 
to  preparation  of  an  increasingly  larger  number  of  high  school  graduates 
as  teachers  for  rural  schools. 

HEALTH  OF  SCHOOL  CHILDREN 

The  report  of  Superintendent  Trumper  is  so  replete  with  the  informa- 
tion which  presents  a  fair  picture  of  the  system  which  she  is  best  adapted 
to  survey  that  the  following  salient  extracts  are  taken  from  her  report : 

The  biennium  has  seen  marked  progress  in  health  education  in  elemen- 
tary schools.  Class  instruction  in  hygiene  and  health  problems  and  in  the 
formation  of  health  habits  has  received  emphasis  and  encouragement 
through  state  publications,  health  talks  and  health  supervision. 

Two  years  ago  a  law  was  passed  providing  for  the  physical  examina- 
tion of  school  children.  Local  and  county  physicians  and  school  nurses 


516  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

have  been  employed  in  various  parts  of  the  state  to  do  this  work.  No 
definite  data  regarding  the  extent  of  such  work  are  available.  But  it  is 
known  that  in  practically  every  county  some  physical  examinations  have 
been  made  and  in  some  counties  there  has  been  very  general  compliance 
with  the  provisions  of  this  law.  While  in  fifteen  counties  there  are  re- 
ported no  expenditures  for  the  promotion  of  health  during  1919-20,  the 
remaining  thirty-six  counties  expended  a  total  of  $31,873.44  for  such  work, 
89  per  cent  of  which  was  expended  in  elementary  schools.  In  each  of  the 
following  counties  these  expenditures  amounted  to  more  than  $2,000: 
Cascade,  Gallatin,  Lewis  and  Clark,  Powell,  Silver  Bow,  and  Yellowstone. 
A  good  beginning  in  the  supervision  of  health  work  has  been  made 
through  the  employment  of  school  nurses.  In  the  fall  of  1920  there  were 
forty-one  nurses  in  the  state  devoting  a  part  (nineteen)  or  all  (twenty- 
two)  of  their  time  to  the  schools.  Some  of  these  have  been  employed  by 
the  Red  Cross  or  the  State  Anti-Tuberculosis  Association  as  demonstra- 
tion nurses.  Most  school  nurses  are  now  employed  by  boards  of  education 
or  by  county  commissioners.  Cities  have  been  first  to  employ  nurses  for 
school  work,  there  being  only  five  nurses  engaged  in  1919-20  by  county 
commissioners  for  work  throughout  rural  sections,  where  the  need  is 
doubtless  greatest. 

VOCATIONAL  WORK 

The  vocational  work  in  agriculture  in  the  high  schools  throughout  the 
state,  under  the  Smith-Hughes  Act,  has  grown  from  a  mere  handful  of 
schools  to  as  high  as  thirty-four  schools  which  have  been  recognized  as 
eligible  for  reimbursement.  Although  these  schools  are  carrying  on  work 
under  the  standards  set  up  by  the  Federal  Board  for  Vocational  Educa- 
tion and  the  State  Board  of  Education,  only  nine  of  them  received  any 
reimbursement,  due  to  the  fact  that  only  a  limited  amount  of  funds  could 
be  spent  for  this  work.  It  is  hoped,  in  the  coming  year,  that  with  an 
increase  in  federal  allotment,  which  will  be  met  by  state  appropriations, 
more  aid  can  be  given  to  schools  which  are  carrying  on  one  of  the  most 
excellent  pieces  of  agricultural  education  in  the  country. 

Requests  for  visits  from  thirty-five  schools  in  the  state  giving  home 
economics  instruction  demonstrates  the  fact  that  interest  in  this  type  of 
work  is  steadily  increasing.  Out  of  thirty-five  schools  making  requests 
for  visits  from  the  superior  of  home  economics,  more  than  thirty  were 
called  on  and  help  given  in  improving  courses  of  study  and  methods  used 
in  these  various  schools.  A  number  of  these  schools  were  assisted  in 
qualifying  for  recognition  under  the  Smith-Hughes  Act.  Four  schools 
were  recognized  and  given  reimbursement  for  the  fiscal  year  ending  June 
30,  1920,  which,  although  a  small  number,  demonstrates  that  even  with  a 
limited  amount  of  funds  it  has  been  found  that  these  schools  have  been 
willing  to  put  up  a  course  of  study  in  compliance  with  the  needs  of  a 
practical  vocational  course.  The  results  throughout  the  state  accomplished 
by  classes  in  vocational  home  economics  were  gratifying  and  the  interest 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  517 

in  home  making  for  girls  is  on  the  increase.     This  is  especially  true  in 
rural  communities. 

The  work  in  trade  and  industrial  education  throughout  Montana  has 
been  gaining  headway  during  the  past  year  and  the  following  types  of 
schools  and  courses  have  been  established :  Two  all  day  unit  trade  schools ; 
three  compulsory  part-time  schools ;  thirteen  evening  trade  extension 
classes.  Both  of  the  day  unit  trade  schools  gave  instruction  in  automobile 
and  gas  engine  repairs,  while  the  compulsory  part-time  schools,  for  the 
most  part,  took  up  general  continuation  work  for  those  boys  and  girls 
between  the  ages  of  fourteen  and  eighteen  who  were  compelled  to  leave 
school  and  go  to  work.  In  one  of  the  part-time  schools  one  class  was 
operated  in  trade  extension  work  in  the  printing  industry.  The  evening 
classes,  for  the  most  part,  throughout  the  state  were  confined  to  trade 


CONTENTED  SCHOOL  CHILDREN  OF  FLATHEAD  COUNTY 

extension  and  the  subjects  taken  up  were  as  follows :    Blueprint  reading, 
sketching,  shop  mathematics  and  electricity  for  miners. 

SCHOOL  DORMITORIES 

The  practicability  of  dormitories  for  housing  public  school  children 
who  live  far  from  school  was  first  demonstrated  in  1914-15  at  the  Flat- 
head  County  high  school  in  Kalispell.  The  first  dormitory  was  for  girls. 
It  was  maintained  in  a  commodious  residence  leased  by  the  county  high 
school  board  and  proved  so  satisfactory  that  in  1915-16,  a  building  which 
had  formerly  been  used  for  business  college  purposes  was  remodeled  for 
a  boys'  dormitory.  Since  that  time  the  growth  of  dormitories  has  been 
rapid,  until  by  the  close  of  the  year  1919-20,  twenty-two  of  them  were  in 
operation  in  various  parts  of  the  state. 

There  are  twenty-four  dormitories  now  in  use.  Five  of  them  are  for 
girls  only  and  accommodate  171  girls.  Four  are  for  boys  with  sixty-eight 
boys  housed.  Six  are  for  both  boys  and  girls  and  accommodate  fifty-seven 


518  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

girls  and  sixty  boys.  In  fifteen  dormitories,  which  are  all  that  have  re- 
ported this  year,  there  are  housed  356  boys  and  girls,  most  of  whom  would 
not  be  in  school  today  were  it  not  for  dormitory  privileges.  In  eight  of 
these  dormitories  the  average  distance  from  which  the  pupils  come  is 
twenty-two  and  one-half  miles.  Distances  range  from  three  miles  for 
one  pupil  at  Browning  to  ninety-five  for  one  in  the  Fergus  County  high 
school.  In  the  latter  dormitory  several  pupils  come  from  outside  of  the 
county,  one  from  a  distance  of  300  miles. 

The  majority  of  these  dormitories  are  for  high  school  students  only. 
A  few  grade  pupils  are  accommodated  at  Whitehall,  Jordan,  Roy,  and 
Dawson  County  high  school  at  Glendive.  The  youngest  child  housed  in 
the  dormitories  reporting  is  eight  years  old  and  attends  school  in  Glendive. 

In  nearly  all  cases  matrons  are  employed  for  nine  or  ten  months,  and 
in  the  majority  of  cases  their  salaries  are  paid  by  the  pupils  housed.  The 
management  on  the  whole  is  efficient  and  practical  economy  is  the  policy. 
Sufficient  and  wholesome  food  is  furnished  at  low  cost  to  pupils  whose 
entire  expenses  vary  from  50  cents  a  day  at  Geraldine,  where  rent  and 
matron's  salary  are  paid  by  the  school,  to  $26  a  month  at  the  Dawson 
County  high  school  where  pupils  bear  all  the  expenses.  There  are  several 
small  dormitories  for  younger  children  in  strictly  rural  communities.  The 
one  at  Ivanell  was  the  first  of  this  kind  to  be  established. 

RURAL  SCHOOLS  IN  CITY  DISTRICTS 

There  are  seventy-two  first  and  second  class  districts  in  Montana. 
There  are  no  rural  teachers  in  thirty  of  these  districts.  In  the  remaining 
forty-two  there  are  238  rural  teachers  and  in  the  schools  taught  by  these 
teachers  there  are  over  3,000  pupils. 

The  amount  of  attention  and  school  support  accorded  the  children  in 
these  rural  sections  varies  greatly.  There  are  second  class  districts  which 
place  rural  children  on  an  equality  with  city  children  in  the  educational 
facilities  and  opportunities  provided.  There  are  other  districts  that  have 
almost  entirely  neglected  their  rural  children  in  the  past,  granting  to  them 
only  such  limited  facilities  for  an  education  as  the  parents  of  these  children 
by  force  and  persuasion  could  secure.  A  study  of  a  few  districts  has 
been  made  to  make  concrete  these  contrasting  conditions. 

A  large  second  class  district  has  twelve  rural  schools  within  its  boun- 
daries. The  twelve  rural  teachers  in  these  schools  last  year  had  less  than 
one  year  of  normal  training  on  the  average,  and  less  than  seventeen 
months  of  teaching  experience.  The  average  rural  teacher  taught  ten 
children  121  days  on  no  higher  than  a  second  grade  certificate  at  a  salary 
of  $510  a  year.  The  rural  children  were  schooled  in  ranch  houses,  log 
cabins  or  old-type  frame  buildings,  heated  with  un jacketed  stoves,  and 
inadequately  equipped  with  maps,  primary  materials,  library  books,  and 
even  textbooks.  The  rural  schools  have  been  made  the  dumping  ground 
for  old  desks,  old  books  and  other  materials  no  longer  useful  in  the  city 
schools.  The  superintendent,  by  direction  of  the  board,  has  not  been 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  519 

granted  the  opportunity  to  supervise  these  schools,  although  such  super- 
vision is  provided  for  by  law. 

STANDARDIZATION  AND  CONSOLIDATION 

Standardization  is  one  method  for  improving  rural  school  conditions. 
It  is  but  a  natural  result  of  the  spirit  of  the  times,  which  seeks  to  apply 
the  principle  of  science  to  education.  A  rating  card  published  by  the  state 
department  contains  minimal  requirements  necessary  to  maintain  a  good 
school.  A  school  that  meets  these  requirements  is  approved  as  a  standard 
school,  rewarded  by  honorable  mention  and  granted  a  plate  for  the  school 
building.  "Superior  School"  name  plates  are  granted  to  schools  taught  by 
teachers  of  superior  qualifications  and  with  the  highest  efficiency,  in  a 
house  that  is  as  nearly  perfect  in  all  the  essentials  as  possible,  and  that  is 
furnished  with  everything  needed  and  located  in  a  community  that  shows 
the  interest  the  claim  of  such  a  school  implies. 

Montana  is  one  of  twenty-seven  states  that  have  some  plan  for  stand- 
ardizing schools.  In  eight  states  the  authority  is  statutory.  In  eighteen 
standardization  is  promoted  as  a  policy  of  the  State  Department  of  Public 
Instruction.  Six  states  provide  a  money  .bonus.  In  this  Minnesota  leads 
with  6,571  schools  standardized.  A  school  that  meets  .the  requirements 
in  Iowa  is  given  $6.00  per  capita  for  each  child  who  has  an  average  at- 
tendance of  six  months  for  the  preceding  year.  Illinois  leads  the  states 
promoting  the  plan  as  a  policy  of  the  State  Department  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion, with  2,965  standard  schools.  Improvements,  have  been  most  rapid 
in  states  providing  aid  to  schools  maintaining  the  requirements. 

Standardization  began  in  Montana  six  years  ago.  Within  the  period 
446  schools  were  standardized.  During  1919-20,  349  of  these  were  still 
standard  schools  and  twenty-three  were  rated  as  superior  schools. 

The  County  Unit  law  makes  it  possible  for  all  third  class  districts  of 
a  county  to  form  one  district  for  purposes  of  equalizing  taxation,  for  im- 
proving one-teacher  schools  generally  and  for  providing  schools  for  all 
children  with  equalized  educational  opportunities.  The  consolidation  of 
schools  is  not  necessarily  a  part  of  the  plan  of  consolidation  of  districts. 
Where  consolidation  of  schools  is  impracticable,  consolidation  of  districts 
may  bring  about  many  advantages,  such  as  closer  supervision,  equal  oppor- 
tunities for  all  children,  special  teachers  for  special  subjects,  better  busi- 
ness management  and  greater  economy  in  purchasing. 

There  can  be  no  good  reason  for  this  general  neglect  of  rural  children. 
The  claim  that  rural  people  have  not  proved  up  on  their  lands  is  no  longer 
tenable.  If  districts  by  reason  of  poverty  cannot  support  good  schools 
for  all  their  children,  including  those  that  may  be  located  in  remoter  sec- 
tions, then  provisions  should  be  made  by  which  aid  might  be  extended  to 
them.  The  state  cannot  afford  to  allow  any  of  its  children  to  be  neglected 
in  their  educational  opportunities.  The  time  has  come  when  every  child 
should  be  accounted  for  and  when  opportunities  for  a  good  eighth  grade 
education  should  be  offered  to  all  children  everywhere. 

Some  of  the  larger  districts  have  achieved  this  equalization  of  educa- 


520  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

tional  opportunities.  Modern  school  buildings  adequately  equipped  are 
found  throughout  the  rural  sections  of  the  Terry,  Hardin,  Worden  and 
Ronan  districts.  Supervision  has  also  been  extended  to  the  rural  schools 
of  these  districts.  Poplar,  Schobey,  Wolf  Point,  Augusta,  Conrad  and 
Opheim  districts  are  known  to  have  arranged  this  year  for  supervision  of 
their  rural  schools  by  their  school  superintendents,  and  at  Lewistown 
special  teachers  also  visit  rural  schools. 

The  consolidated  buildings  are,  on  the  whole;  modern,  convenient  and 
well  equipped,  the  average  cost  of  building  and  equipment  being  $18,- 
041.46.  Eighteen  of  the  buildings  have  auditoriums  for  community  meet- 
ings, fourteen  contain  agricultural  laboratories,  seventeen  have  home 


ARE  THESE  YOUNG  AMERICANS  BEING  FAIRLY  TREATED? 

economics  laboratories  and  twenty-two  have  manual  workshops.  Five  con- 
solidated schools  have  teacherages. 

The  area  of  the  school  grounds  varies  from  five-tenths  acres  to  twelve 
acres;  the  average  is  three  and  eight-tenths  acres.  None  of  the  schools 
has  a  school  farm,  though  several  have  school  gardens  and  experimental 
plots. 

Teachers  of  these  consolidated  schools  are  usually  better  trained  than 
are  teachers  of  small  rural  schools.  Forty  per  cent  of  the  teachers  in 
consolidated  schools  in  1917-18  were  normal  graduates  and  31  per  cent 
were  college  graduates,  in  contrast  with  32  per  cent  of  all  teachers  in  the 
state  that  year  who  were  normal  school  graduates  and  6  per  cent  of  all 
teachers  who  were  college  graduates. 

Thirty  of  the  consolidated  schools  have  an  eight  year  elementary  school 
course  and  six  are  working  toward  the  "six  and  six"  plan.  Twenty-seven 
of  the  schools  maintain  high  school  courses,  sixteen  of  which  are  accredited 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  521 

for  the  entire  four  years.  In  the  grades  there  is  an  average  enrollment 
of  138  children  per  school,  and  in  high  schools  an  average  enrollment  of 
thirty-three  pupils. 

There  has  been  too  strong  a  tendency  in  the  majority  of  the  consol- 
idated schools  to  make  imitation  city  schools  of  these  schools  which  are 
attended  almost  entirely  by  farm  boys  and  girls. 

The  consolidated  movement  appears  to  have  advanced  about  as  rapidly 
as  practicable.  There  are  relatively  very  few  places  where  consolidation 
of  schools  has  been  found  feasible.  Nearly  all  county  superintendents,, 
when  they  first  take  office,  are  enthusiastic  for  consolidation,  but,  by  the 
end  of  their  first  year,  after  they  have  traveled  the  tremendous  distances 
required  to  visit  the  schools,  they  realize  that  there  are  too  many  barriers 
to  urge  consolidation  with  its  attending  transportation  problems.  Until 
these  transportation  problems  become  more  satisfactorily  solved  than  at 
present,  Montana's  greatest  educational  task  is  the  improvement  of  the 
one-teacher  schools  and  schools  in  rural  villages. 

The  problem  of  transportation  is  by  far  the  greatest  hindrance  to  suc- 
cess of  consolidation  of  schools  in  Montana.  In  the  survey  taken  in 
1919  the  average  distance  for  pupils  to  ride  was  found  to  be  three  and  four- 
tenths  miles  one  way,  although  there  were  many  instances  among  the  1,810 
pupils  conveyed  in  which  children  left  home  at  seven  or  even  at  six  o'clock 
in  the  morning  and  reached  home  at  six  or  seven  o'clock  at  night. 

SCHOOL  FUNDS 

Montana's  state  school  funds  are  derived  entirely  from  the  income 
from  funds  received  from  the  sale  of  school  lands  and  from  the  leasing 
of  school  lands.  Montana  has  never  provided  a  state  tax  for  public  schools. 

State  school  funds  are  slowly  increasing.  The  amount  apportioned  by 
the  state  during  1919-20  was  nearly  a  million  dollars  ($969,756).  The 
apportionment  was  $6  to  every  census  child,  or  50  cents  per  child  more 
than  it  was  a  few  years  ago.  In  time  the  state  funds,  by  wise  and  safe 
investments,  should  prove  a  great  heritage  to  the  children  of  Montana. 

The  constitutional  amendment,  secured  at  the  last  general  election  by 
a  large  majority,  shows  that  the  people  of  the  state  desire  to  protect  their 
state  school  funds.  Under  this  amendment  the  jnterest  from  all  funds, 
whether  invested  or  uninvested,  shall  go  to  the  schools,  95  per  cent  to  be 
distributed  annually,  and  5  per  cent  to  the  permanent  funds.  Under  this 
amendment  the  compulsory  school  term  is  lengthened  also  from  three  to 
six  months.  This  amendment  lays  the  foundation  for  a  new  policy  in  the 
handling  of  the  state  school  funds. 

Montana's  second  source  of  revenue  for  her  schools  is  from  the  county 
six  mill  tax  which  is  distributed  to  the  schools  on  the  census  basis. 

This  method  of  apportioning  school  funds  has  been  proven  unfair  to 
children,  since  it  does  not  equalize  educational  opportunities  for  them. 
Under  the  present  provisions  of  the  laws  for  apportioning  state  and  county 
school  funds,  money  does  not  go  to  schools  where  the  need  is  greatest. 


522  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  reason  for  this  is  the  unequal  wealth  and  school  population  in  the 
various  counties  and  school  districts  of  the  state. 

A  method  should  be  sought  by  which  financial  support,  and,  therefore, 
educational  opportunities,  would  be  equalized.  County  unit  in  three  coun- 
ties affords  a  large  measure  of  relief  to  the  poorer  districts  within  the 
counties.  In  some  states  state  aid  is  given  to  the  poorer  districts  for  long 
terms,  for  buildings  and  equipment,  or  for  the  employment  of  trained 
teachers. 

Utah  has  just  voted  an  amendment  to  its  constitution  providing  for 
the  state's  contribution  of  $25  per  child  in  the  schools  of  the  state.  Sim- 
ilarly California  has  just  amended  its  constitution  so  as  to  provide  $30 
per  pupil  in  average  daily  attendance  in  the  elementary  and  high  schools 
of  the  state.  These  states  recognize  the  unfairness  of  providing  the  largest 
part  of  the  support  of  the  schools  from  district  funds  and  the  smallest 
from  the  state. 

The  per  capita  cost  (maintenance)  of  elementary  education  in  Mon- 
tana was  $78.33  in  1919-20.  The  per  capita  cost  varies  greatly  in  different 
counties.  It  ranges  from  $45.89  in  Ravalli,  $50.64  in  Carbon,  and  $52.93 
in  Sheridan,  to  $190.58  in  Mineral,  $138.23  in  Wheatland  and  $134.86  in 
Meagher. 

The  third  source  of  school  funds  is  the  special  tax  levied  on  the  dis- 
trict. Montana  has  made  a  beginning  within  the  biennium  toward  a  saner 
system  of  school  taxation  for  its  third  class  districts.  The  district  system 
has  been  replaced  by  the  county  unit  system  in  three  counties.  But  this 
is  only  a  beginning,  as  forty-nine  counties  still  have  the  district  plan  of 
taxation.  The  district  tax  for  schools  continues  to  yield  more  than  one- 
half  of  the  money  raised  to  support  public  elementary  and  high  schools. 

The  earlier  practice  common  in  Montana  of  providing  school  build- 
ings from  the  general  school  funds  of  a  district  is  fast  disappearing  except 
in  extremely  wealthy  districts  which  can  easily  meet  their  building  require- 
ments by  a  special  levy  of  a  mill  or  two. 

"It  was  not  uncommon  a  few  years  ago,"  says  Superintendent  Trum- 
per's  report,  "for  the  school  term  to  be  shortened  in  many  districts  by 
the  use  of  school  funds  for  building  purposes.  Occasionally  shortsighted 
trustees  still  pursue  this  policy,  but  most  of  them  have  discovered  that  a 
very  small  levy  extending  over  a  period  of  ten,  fifteen  or  twenty  years, 
as  valuation  requires,  will  meet  payments  of  both  principal  and  interest 
on  bonds  and  will  permit  those  who  move  into  the  district  later,  and  whose 
children  receive  the  benefits  of  the  school,  to  assist  in  meeting  the  pay- 
ments on  bonds. 

"In  this  way  there  is  no  necessity  of  shortening  the  school  term  and 
the  indebtedness  incurred  by  bonding  is  frequently  paid  off  without  the 
consciousness  of  the  taxpayers  that  payments  on  bonds  were  being  made 
annually.  This  is  particularly  true  in  case  the  bonds  have  been  sold  to 
the  State  Land  Board,  as  this  board  permits  a  district  to  pay  off  one  or 
more  of  its  bonds  at  any  interest-paying-  period  by  giving  thirty  days' 
notice  of  its  intention  to  do  so. 

"Recently  many  school  districts  have  been  unable  to  dispose  of  their 
bonds  owing  to  the  fact  that  bonding  companies  were  not  interested  and 


•"««*r.       jt  '£ 

' 


OLD  ROSEDALE  SCHOOL 


NEW  ROSEDALE  SCHOOL 


524  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  State  Land  Board  was  placing  most  of  its  money  in  farm  loans.  It 
is  hoped,  however,  that  it  will  not  be  necessary  to  continue  this  policy 
indefinitely  and  that  the  school  districts  of  the  state  may  eventually  be 
able  to  receive  needed  assistance  from  the  State  Land  Board  in  the  dis- 
posal of  their  bonds. 

"The  same  difficulty  obtains  in  connection  with  raising  funds  for  build- 
ing purposes  by  bonding  as  for  raising  funds  for  maintenance  by  the 
special  district  levy.  Hundreds  of  districts,  even  if  they  were  to  bond  to 
the  legal  limit  of  3  per  cent  of  their  assessed  valuation,  would  not  be 
able  to  secure  more  than  a  few  hundred  dollars,  an  amount  entirely  in- 
adequate for  erecting  anything  but  a  shell  of  a  building. 

"Under  the  county  unit  plan  comfortable  buildings  can  be  provided 
for  all  districts  by  bonding  the  entire  county  unit,  if  the  public  will  only 
learn  to  think  of  the  welfare  of  all  children  regardless  of  where  they  live 
and  will  consider  an  education  as  a  right  to  which  every  man's  child  is 
entitled. 

"If  counties  could  learn  to  take  care  of  the  building  program  and  a 
moderate  share  of  the  maintenance  cost  of  all  the  schools  within  the 
county,  possibly  to  the  extent  of  a  five  or  six  mill  special  tax,  and  the 
state  could  assume  the  responsibility  of  providing  the  largest  share  of  the 
tax  for  maintenance,  we  might  then  hope  to  equalize  the  opportunities  of 
children  for  an  education  at  the  same  time  that  we  equalize  the  burdens 
upon  taxpayers.  No  system  could  be  more  unfair  than  the  one  we  have 
at  present  except  in  the  three  counties  that  have  adopted  county  unit." 

FINANCES  OF  THE  SYSTEM  BY  COUNTIES 

Superintendent  Trumper's  financial  report  of  the  school  districts  of 
Montana,  by  counties,  for  the  year  ending  June  30,  1920,  indicates  that 
their  total  receipts  amounted  to  $16,908,606.54,  and  their  disbursements, 
$7,273,139.62.  The  receipts  include  the  balances  carried  over  from  the 
previous  year,  and  those  realized  from  such  sources  as  the  apportionments 
from  state  and  county  (six  mill  levy)  ;  special  taxes  for  high  schools, 
general  fund,  free  text  book  fund  and  interest  and  sinking  fund ;  and  re- 
ceipts from  sale  of  bonds,  sale  of  property  and  proceeds  from  insurance 
adjustments,  premium  on  bonds,  income  from  forest  preserves  and  from 
rents,  tuition,  interest  and  other  items. 

The  disbursements  covered  the  expenses  of  the  school  boards  and  busi- 
ness offices,  the  superintendents  and  third-class  principals,  compulsory  at- 
tendance and  school  census ;  salaries  and  expenses  of  supervisors  of 
instruction  and  supervising  principals,  with  salaries  of  under-teachers ; 
text  books,  stationery,  supplies,  etc. — all  covering  the  kindergarten,  ele- 
mentary and  high  school  grades. 

Condensed,  the  figures  were  as  follows : 

Balances  Carried 

Over  and 

COUNTY                                                            Yearly  Receipts  Disbursements 

Beaverhead      $315,899.76  $114,186.87 

Big  Horn 277,836.96  84,721.78 

Blaine   244,730.63  94,35572 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


525 


Balances  Carried 

Over  and 

COUNTY  Yearly  Receipts  Disbursements 

Broadwater      $111,185.87  $50,740.14 

Carbon    287,754.04  182,850.53 

Carter   1 16,885.70  54,908.03 

Cascade 967,582.14  522,931.39 

Chouteau    436,354-53  i89,475-39 

Custer 340,733.44  153,256.49 

Dawson 314,038.34  130,435.98 

Deer  Lodge  252,977.52  133,638.14 

Fallon   173438.53  74,638-16 

Fergus    1,485,994.28  459,207.18 

Flathead   433J7546  243,334.19 

Gallatin    573,365-03  227,235.12 

Garfield 151,825.84  69,090.46 

Glacier    172,997.65  48,035.71 

Granite   117,616.43  55,413-39 

Hill   450,584-04  184,458.79 

Jefferson     246,990.13  69,037.70 

Lewis  and  Clark 485,024/60  243,758.25 

Liberty    96,102.86  45,388.08 

Lincoln   221,774.84  108,149.98 

McCone    158,430.53  67,979.06 

Madison 209,471.75  97,377-31 

Meagher  134,509.18  41,542.87 

Mineral    I95P35-5O  49,936-i4 

Missoula 794,126.58  307,752.67 

Musselshell    381,280.60  200,693.63 

Park    282,945.20  140,108.71 

Phillips   280,944.61  95,749.90 

Pondera 178,434.56  95,074.24 

Powder  River   131,563.82  47,906.36 

Powell 142,010.72  79,705.96 

Prairie 146,401 .24  63,584.68 

Ravalli    231,177.04  119,141.62 

Richland 399,i  13.72  128,592.96 

Roosevelt   426,446.41  125,399.20 

Rosebud   388,682.84  113,516.03 

Sanders J ......  230,892.53  92,549-55 

Sheridan 410,623.66  171,249.22 

Silver  Bow 1,039,506.50  677,697.51 

Stillwater    304,269.82  1 18,042.04 

Sweet  Grass 182,714.84  74,434.01 

Teton 336,868.08  91,479.09 

Toole 212,294.37  70,047-13 

Treasure 52,204.22  37,126.07 

Valley   251,423.03  131,410.34 


526  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Balances  Carried 

Over  and 

COUNTY                                                             Yearly  Receipts  Disbursements 

Wheatland      $274,532.89  $92,346.74 

Wilbaux   1 19,323.01  56,888.34 

Yellowstone    638,510.67  346,560.77 


Totals    $16,908,606.54         $  7,273,139.62 

SCHOOL  LAWS  ENACTED  IN  1921 

To  complete  the  literary  survey  of  Montana's  system  of  public  schools, 
it  is  necessary  to  note  the  school  laws  enacted  by  the  Legislature  during 
the  regular  and  extraordinary  sessions  of  1921.  Their  titles  are  usually 
a  sufficient  index  of  their  purport.  For  instance,  acts  were  passed  in 
February  and  March  "requiring  a  petition  of  20  per  cent  of  the  qualified 
electors  who  are  taxpayers  to  authorize  the  voting  upon  the  issuance  of  any 
school,  town,  city  or  county  bonds,  and  providing  who  are  entitled  to  vote 
thereon,"  and  relating  to  free  text  books — an  amendment  to  a  former  act 
authorizing  a  Board  of  County  Commissioners  to  levy  a  special  tax  to 
meet  any  deficiency  in  the  general  fund  of  the  district  provided  for  their 
purchase  as  shown  by  the  report  of  the  school  trustees.  One  of  the  most 
important  measures  enacted,  which  was  approved  February  8,  1921,  was 
that  "relating  to  compulsory  education  and  the  duties  of  truant  officers." 
It  provided  for  the  punishment  of  parents,  guardians  or  other  persons  who 
have  the  care  of  children,  between  the  ages  of  eight  and  sixteen,  and  who 
fail  to  have  them  instructed  in  the  common  branches,  either  at  a  public, 
private  or  parochial  school,  for  a  yearly  period  of  at  least  sixteen  weeks. 
Provisions  were  also  incorporated  to  fine  employes  of  children  under  six- 
teen years  of  age  if  such  employment  was  exacted  while  school  is  in 
session,  exception  being  made  in  the  case  of  a  child  over  fourteen  years  of 
age  whose  wages  are  necessary  for  the  support  of  the  family;  also,  de- 
fining the  duties  of  the  truant  officers,  appointed  by  the  school  boards  or 
county  superintendents  to  enforce  the  act,  such  officers  having  full  powers 
of  police  both  over  the  child  and  the  one  being  responsible  for  his  at- 
tendance at  school. 

Other  acts  passed  at  the  sessions  of  1921  were  to  the  following  effect: 
Relating  to  the  consolidation  of  the  offices  of  superintendent  of  city 
schools  and  the  principal  of  county  high  schools ;  accepting  the  provisions 
of  an  act  of  the  Sixty-sixth  Congress  by  which  the  state  accepts  sections 
1 6  and  36  in  the  Crow  Indian  Reservation,  or  such  parts  as  are  non- 
mineral  or  nontimbered,  in  return  for  which  the  United  States  was  to  pay 
the  Indians  $5  per  acre,  and  the  state  was  to  throw  open  its  public  schools 
to  the  Crow  children  residing  within  the  bounds  of  Montana;  relating  to 
the  submission  of  a  bond  issue  for  county  high  schools,  such  issue  being 
limited  to  $400,000  in  a  first-class  county,  to  $300,000  in  a  second  or  third 
class  county  and  $200,000  in  any  other  county ;  providing  for  the  vocational 
rehabilitation  of  persons  disabled  in  industry  or  otherwise  and  their  return 
to  civil  employment,  in  the  furtherance  of  this  object  the  newly  created 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


527 


State  Board  for  Vocational  Education  to  co-operate  with  the  Federal 
Board  for  Vocational  Education  in  the  distribution  of  moneys  contributed 
for  that  purpose  by  either  state  or  nation  under  the  Vocational  Education 
Act  approved  February  23,  1917;  requiring  publication  by  county  super- 
intendents of  schools  of  an  annual  report  of  the  financial  conditions  and 
transactions  of  school  districts ;  an  emergency  act  authorizing  the  Board 
of  County  Commissioners  of  any  county  to  fund  outstanding  indebtedness 
against  a  county  high  school  by  the  issuance  of  bonds;  defining  a  school 
month  as  twenty  school  days,  or  four  weeks  of  five  days  each,  naming  New 
Year's  day,  Memorial  day  (May  3Oth),  Independence  day,  Labor  day  (first 
Monday  in  September),  Thanksgiving  day  and  Christmas  day  and  in  dis- 
tricts where  the  schoolhouse  must  be  used  for  election  purposes,  state  and 
national  election  days,  as  legal  holidays,  and  Lincoln's  birthday  (February 
1 2th),  Washington's  birthday  (February  22nd),  Arbor  day  (second 


CULBERTSON  SCHOOL,  ROOSEVELT  COUNTY 

Tuesday  of  May),  Flag  day  (June  I4th),  Columbus  day  (October  I2th), 
Pioneer  day  (November  ist)  and  Armistice  day  (November  nth),  as  days 
to  be  observed  by  appropriate  exercises  in  the  public  schools ;  relating  to 
part-time  schools  established  for  the  benefit  of  children  who  are  employed, 
holding  sessions  of  not  less  than  four  hours  a  week  and  offering  a  mental 
training  "which  shall  be  supplementary  to  the  work  in  which  they  are  en- 
gaged, continue  their  general  education,  or  promote  their  civic  or  vocational 
intelligence."  The  establishment  of  such  a  school  or  class  is,  under  the 
act,  dependent  on  the  residence  in  the  school  district  of  not  fewer  than 
fifteen  children  over  fourteen  and  less  than  eighteen  years  of  age  who 
have  entered  upon  employment.  The  hours  of  attendance  fixed  by  the 
State  Board  of  Education  are  "counted  as  a  part  of  the  number  of  hours 
fixed  for  legal  employment  by  federal  or  state  laws."  The  funds  for  the 
support  of  the  part-time  schools  are  appropriated  from  the  Vocational 
Education  Fund. 

An  act  was  approved  March  n,  1921,  apportioning  all  school  moneys 
controlled  by  the  county  superintendent  of  common  schools  according  to 


528  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  number  of  school  children  as  shown  by  the  returns  of  the  district 
clerk  for  the  preceding  school  census ;  the  act  also  covering  Indian  children 
whose  parents  are  citizens  of  the  United  States,  or  have  been  allotted 
lands  or  been  accorded  public  school  privileges  under  various  measures  of 
Congress. 

MONTANA'S  SYSTEM  OF  HIGHER  EDUCATION 

In  the  foregoing  pages  of  this  chapter  has  been  briefly  described  the 
founding  of  the  State  University,  at  Missoula ;  the  Montana  State  College, 
at  Bozeman;  the  Montana  State  Normal  School  and  College,  at  Dillon, 
and  the  State  School  of  Mines,  at  Butte.  Subsequently,  by  legislative  en- 
actment, all  of  which  has  been  chronologically  noted,  the  Law  and  Forestry 
schools  were  founded  as  departments  of  the  State  University,  and  other 
departments  of  the  various  schools  and  colleges  were  added  from  time  to 
time. 

As  the  lands  granted  for  higher  educational  purposes,  together  with 
timber  or  stone  thereon,  have  been  sold,  the  proceeds  have  gone  into  per- 
manent funds  invested  for  the  various  institutions,  and  the  interest  on 
such  funds,  together  with  the  rental  of  unsold  lands,  has  been  used  for  the 
support  of  the  respective  institutions.  These  maintenance  resources  have 
t>een  supplemented  with  appropriations  made  each  biennium  by  the  Legis- 
lative Assembly,  which  also  has  provided  for  the  erection  of  the  buildings 
at  the  expense  of  the  state. 

These  institutions  were  administered  independently  by  the  local  execu- 
tive boards  for  some  years  under  the  general  supervision  of  the  State  Board 
of  Education.  By  a  law  of  1909  the  powers  of  the  local  boards  were  more 
closely  denned  and  the  direction  of  the  State  Board  of  Education  made 
more  effective. 

As  finally  organized  under  the  provisions  of  Chapter  92  of  the  laws 
of  the  thirteenth  Legislative  Assembly,  approved  March  14,  1913,  and 
effective  July  ist  following,  the  University  of  Montana,  as  constituted,  was 
placed  under  the  control  and  supervision  of  the  State  Board  of  Education. 
The  chancellor  of  the  University  was  thereby  made  the  chief  executive 
officer  of  the  entire  system.  Each  of  the  component  institutions  was  pro- 
vided with  an  executive  board  with  president  and  faculty.  Under  that 
law,  in  October,  1915,  the  State  Board  of  Education  appointed  Dr.  Edward 
C.  Elliott,  then  of  the  University  of  Wisconsin,  as  the  first  chancellor  of 
the  University  of  Montana.  He  assumed  his  duties  February  i,  1916, 
and  is  still  at  its  head.  The  executive  secretary  of  the  chancellor's  office, 
Dr.  Henry  H.  Swain,  is  also  a  University  of  Wisconsin  man. 

Under  the  provisions  of  the  law  making  the  Board  of  Education  the 
general  supervisory  body  of  the  University  of  Montana,  the  system  is 
tinder  the  control  of  the  governor,  Joseph  M.  Dixon;  Wellington  D.  Ran- 
kin,  attorney  general,  and  May  Trumper,  superintendent  of  public  instruc- 
tion and  ex-officio,  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Education,  with  the 
eight  regular  members  of  that  body. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  529 

THE  ORIGIN  AND  SCOPE  OF  THE  UNIVERSITY 

The  last  bulletin  of  the  University  of  Montana,  issued  from  the  office 
of  the  chancellor,  is  for  the  year  ending  September,  1920,  and  supple- 
ments the  foregoing,  as  an  authoritative  statement  of  the  organization  and 
scope  of  the  system.  The  portion  of  it  dealing  with  basic  facts  and  figures 
is  reproduced,  and  other  invaluable  data  found  in  it  are  used  in  the  sketches 
of  the  four  great  schools  or  colleges  of  the  university. 

The  foundation  of  the  plan,  by  which  the  University  of  Montana  is  now 
organized  and  administered,  is  to  be  found  in  the  provisions  of  Chapter  92 
of  the  laws  of  the  thirteenth  Legislative  Assembly  (approved  March  14, 
1913).  By  the  provisions  of  this  law  of  1913,  known  as  the  Leighton 
Law,  the  several  higher  educational  institutions  of  the  state  were  con- 
stituted as  integral  units  of  a  greater  university  system.  These  institutions 
were  the  State  University  at  Missoula  (established  1893,  opened  1895), 
the  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  at  Bozeman  (established 
1893,  opened  1895),  the  State  Normal  College  at  Dillon  (established  1893, 
opened  1897),  and  the  State  School  of  Mines  at  Butte  (established  1893, 
opened  1900).  The  distinctive  feature  of  the  law  of  1913  was  the  creation 
of  the  office  of  chancellor  of  the  university. 

In  addition  to  the  four  component  institutions,  the  principal  activities 
of  which  are  the  instruction  of  resident  students,  the  university  through 
these  institutions  is  directly  responsible  for  other  important  educational, 
scientific  and  service  undertakings.  The  principal  of  these  aref 

(a)  The  main  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  at  Bozeman  conducted 
in  close  connection  with  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts. 

(b)  Four  branch  Agricultural  Experiment  stations:  at  Huntley  in  the 
Yellowstone  Valley,  at  Moccasin  in  the  Judith  Basin,  at  Corvallis  in  the 
Bitter  Root  Valley,  and  at  Fort  Assiniboine,  near  Havre ; 

(c)  The  Grain  Inspection  Laboratory  maintained  under  the  direction 
of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  at  Bozeman; 

(d)  The  Agricultural  Extension  Service,  representing  the  co-operative 
efforts  of  the   College  of   Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,   the  United 
States  Department  of  Agriculture  and  the  several  agricultural  counties  of 
the  state.    Operating  directly' through  the  Farm  Bureau  organizations  and 
by  means  of  county  agricultural  agents,  home  demonstration  agents,  and 
leaders  of  Boys'  and  Girls'  clubs,  this  service  constantly  reaches  thou- 
sands of  people  throughout  the  state; 

(e)  The   Biological   Station  maintained  by  the  State  University  on 
Flathead  Lake; 

(f )  The  State  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy  created  by  the  sixteenth 
Legislative  Assembly,  as  the  service  and  research  department  of  the  State 
School  of  Mines. 

In  addition  to  these  definitely  organized  activities  the  university,  by 
statute,  performs  important  functions  for  other  agencies  of  the  state 
government. 

( i )  The  State  University  -is  charged  with  the  administration  of  the 
law  regulating  Certified  Public  Accountancv. 


Vol.  1—34 


530  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

(2)  A  member  of  the  faculty  of  one  of  the  component  institutions 
of  the  university  is  a  member  of  the  State  Board  of  Educational  Exam- 
iners. 

(3)  The  chancellor  of  the  university  establishes  the  requirements  for 
junior  college  courses  maintained  in  high  schools. 

(4)  The  president  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts 
and  the  director  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station,  together  with  the 
governor,  constitute  the  Board  of  Administration  for  Farmers'  Institutes. 

(5)  The  professor  of  chemistry  at  the  College  of  Agriculture  and 
Mechanic  Arts  is  the  state  chemist,  and  chemist  for  the  State  Board  of 
Health  and  for  the  State  Oil  Inspector. 

(6)  The  professor  of  entomology  at  the  College  of  Agriculture  and 
Mechanic  Arts  is  state  entomologist  and  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of 
Entomologists. 

(7)  The  professor  of  poultry  husbandry  at  the  College  of  Agriculture 
and  Mechanic  Arts  is  the  secretary  of  the  State  Board  of  Poultry  Hus- 
bandry. 

(8)  The  professor  of  animal  husbandry  at  the  College  of  Agriculture 
and  Mechanic  Arts  is  the  secretary  and  executive  officer  of  the  Stallion 
Registration  Board. 

(9)  The  director  of  the  Grain  Inspection  Laboratory  is  the  state  grain 
inspector  of  Montana. 

(10)  The  dean  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  is 
a  member  of  the  Board  of  Dairy  Commission  Examiners. 

1 ii )  The  director  of  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  is  responsible 
for  the  purchase  and  sale  of  anti-hog  cholera  serum. 

RESULTS  OF  UNIFIED  ADMINISTRATION 

The  existing  plan  for  the  unified  administration  of  the  higher  educa- 
tional system  of  the  state  has  now  been  in  effect  for  four  years.  Through- 
out practically  the  whole  of  this  period  the  ways  of  adjustment  and 
development  have  been  obstructed  by  the  war — first,  the  mobilization  of 
troops  for  service  on  the  Mexican  border  in  1916,  and  then  the  world 
struggle  in  Europe.  In  spite  of  the  many  emergency  problems  that  de- 
manded instant  action,  and  in  the  face  of  distracting  obstacles,  certain 
concrete  accomplishments  may  be  fairly  claimed.  Without  specific  details, 
the  following  may  be  indicated  as  major  constructive  results : 

(1)  The  creation  of  harmony,  and  the  development  of  concert  of 
action   among   the   several    institutions,   thereby   making   possible   a   co- 
ordinated and  economical  program  of  higher  educational  work  for  the 
state.    Thus,  much  wasteful  competition  and  duplication  have  been  elimi- 
nated; and  the  institutions  largely  removed  from  the  dangerous  field  of 
legislative  controversy  in  the  matter  of  appropriations. 

(2)  The  establishment  of  the  budget  system  of  financial  control  with 
its  resulting  economies. 

(3)  The  contriving  of  a  system  of  foundation  records  and  reports  of 
the  educational,  scientific,  financial  and  service  operation  of  all  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  531 

institutions  and  activities  of  the  university ;  and  the  adoption  of  a  simpler 
and  more  systematic  procedure  whereby  the  State  Board  of  Education,  the 
State  Board  of  Examiners,  and  the  legislative  committees  might  more 
readily  understand  and  exercise  a  more  intelligent  supervision  of  the 
affairs  of  the  institutions. 

(4)  The  designing  of  a  comprehensive  future  building  program  for 
the   university   institutions.      The   general    plans    presented   by   one    of 
America's  foremost  architects  for  the  State  University  and  for  the  State 
College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  provide  a  secure  basis  for  the 
effective  educational  and  artistic  development  of  these  institutions  during 
the  coming  decades  when  expansion  is  bound  to  be  rapid. 

(5)  The  equalization  of  the  educational  opportunities  of  the  university 
institutions  to  the  youth  of  the  state  by  the  refunding  of  the  cost  of  rail- 
way fare. 

(6)  The  adoption  of  regulations  governing  the  permanency  of  tenure 
of  members  of  the  teaching  and  scientific  staffs,  thereby  removing  one  of 
the  principal  hazards  to  effective  educational  service. 

(7)  The  establishment  of  new  points  of  contact  with  the  other  parts 
of  the  educational  system,  and  the  recognition  of  the  fundamental  principle 
that  the  university  institutions  are  integral  parts  of  the  public  school  sys- 
tem and  under  obligations  to  contribute  toward  its  development.    An  annual 
professional  school  for  county  superintendents,  an  annual  conference  of 
high  school  principals  and  teachers,  the  systematic  visitation  of  high  schools 
by  representatives  of  the  university  institutions,  and  the  co-operation  with 
the  State  Department  of  Public  Instruction  in  the  development  of  voca- 
tional education  are  typical  illustrations  of  these  new  contacts. 

(8)  The  establishment  of  the  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy  to 
serve  one  of  Montana's  leading  industries. 

(9)  The  organization  of  the  Teachers'  Service  Division  of  the  Normal 
College  which,  through  correspondence  study  and  other  forms  of  exten- 
sion teaching,  will  promote  the  professional  improvement  of  many  hun- 
dreds of  teachers  while  actually  in  service  in  the  schools  of  the  state. 

(10)  The  introduction  of   the  quarter-calendar   for  the   State  Uni- 
versity, and  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  thereby 
greatly  enlarging  the  use  of  the  facilities  of  these  institutions,  especially 
for  the  public  school  teachers  of  the  state. 

( 1 1 )  The  production  of  a  positive  public  sentiment  among  the  people 
of  the  state  in  favor  of  the  development  of  first  rank  higher  educational 
opportunities  through  the  university  system. 

(12)  The  formulation  and  presentation  to  the  people  of  the  state  of 
a  far-reaching  program  for  the  larger  and  more  secure  financial  support  of 
the  university  enterprise. 

While  the  above  results  are  concerned  for  the  most  part  with  the 
mechanism  of  administration,  they  are  nevertheless  fundamental  for  the 
economical  and  successful  functioning  of  the  university  as  the  state's  prin- 
cipal instrumentality  for  the  advance  of  culture  and  of  citizenship  and  for 
increased  productive  ability  through  trained  leadership. 

Numerous  other  examples  of  recent  significant  progress  of  the  univer- 


532  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

sity  institutions  are  to  be  found  in  the  revision  of  programs  of  study  and 
the  reorganization  of  those  processes  directed  to  the  more  effective  teach- 
ing of  students.  The  records  contain  abundant  evidence  of  the  constant 
and  watchful  endeavor  on  the  part  of  officers  and  faculty  to  cause  each 
institution  more  effectively  to  meet  the  needs  of  a  rapidly  changing  world. 

STUDENT  ENROLLMENT 

The  combined  tables  of  enrollment  of  students  in  the  several  institu- 
tions of  the  university,  for  the  year  ending  July  i,  1920,  show  a  total  of 
3,197  as  compared  with  2,633  f°r  I9I7'I8,  and  2,682  for  1918-19.  The 
actual  increase  of  the  load  of  teaching  was  far  greater  than  these  figures. 
The  totals  for  1918-19  included  the  Students'  Army  Training  Corps  en- 
listments— at  the  State  University,  585,  and  at  the  State  College  of  Agricul- 
ture and  Mechanic  Arts,  310.  The  best  index  of  the  growth  of  the  institu- 
tions is  to  be  found  in  the  increase  of  regular  collegiate  students.  This 
was  approximately  50  per  cent  over  1918-19.  The  following  is  the  sum- 
mary of  the  enrollment  of  regular  collegiate  students  at  the  several  institu- 
tions : 

1915-16  1916-17  1917-18  1918-19  1919-20 

State  University    622         635         604         524         818 

State  College  of  Agriculture  and 
Mechanic  Arts   306         359         371         330         519 

State  Normal  College 386         438         408         423         551 

State  School  of  Mines 75  88  52          92         125 


Totals    1,389      1,520      1,435      1,369      2,013 

STATE  UNIVERSITY 

The  State  University,  located  in  Missoula,  was  formally  opened  in 
1895.  For  four  years  the  institution  occupied  temporary  quarters.  Oscar 
J.  Craig  was  the  first  president.  The  local  executive  board,  named  by  the 
governor,  was  made  up  of  J.  H.  T.  Ryman,  Hiram  Knowles  and  Thomas 
C.  Marshall.  The  first  faculty  consisted  of  the  president  and  four  asso- 
ciates. 

In  1897,  the  Legislature  authorized  the  issuance  of  bonds,  in  amount 
of  $100,000,  for  the  construction  of  two  buildings.  The  campus  site  was 
donated  to  the  state  by  Edward  L.  Bonner  and  Francis  G.  Higgins  of 
Missoula.  In  1899  the  university  occupied  its  permanent  quarters. 

President  Craig  remained  at  the  head  of  the  university  until  1908, 
when  failing  health  compelled  his  resignation.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Clyde  A.  Duniway,  who  came  to  Montana  from  Stanford  University. 
During  the  administration  of  President  Duniway,  the  summer  session  was 
inaugurated  and  the  School  of  Law  established.  In  1912,  Edwin  Boone 
Craighead,  of  Tulane  University,  succeeded  President  Duniway.  He  con- 
tinued in  office  until  1915.  Under  his  presidency  the  Schools  of  Forestry 
and  of  Journalism  were  established ;  the  School  of  Pharmacy  reorganized  ; 
the  departments  of  Business  Administration  and  of  Domestic  Science  were 
added  to  the  College  of  Arts  and  Sciences. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


533 


In  1915,  Professor  Frederick  C.  Scheuch  was  appointed  acting  presi- 
dent and  continued  in  that  capacity  until  the  summer  of  1917. 

Edward  O.  Sisson  was  appointed  president  of  the  university  in  1917, 
coming  to  Montana  from  Idaho,  where  he  had  held  the  office  of  State 
Commissioner  of  Education.  His  resignation  in  the  spring  of  1921  took 
effect  in  July  of  that  year  and  he  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Charles  H.  Clapp, 
at  the  time  president  of  the  Montana  State  School  of  Mines  and  director 
and  geologist  of  the  Montana  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy. 

DR.  EDWARD  O.  SISSON  AND  DR.  CHARLES  H.  CLAPP 

The  retiring  and  the  incoming  presidents  of  the  State  University,  Dr. 
Edward  O.  Sisson  and  Dr.  Charles  H.  Clapp,  are  widely  and  closely  identi- 


STATE  UNIVERSITY  BUILDINGS,  MISSOULA 

fied  with  the  development  of  higher  education  in  Montana,  and  both  have 
demonstrated  by  their  achievements  that  they  are  not  only  deep  students 
and  thorough  scholars,  but  executives  of  marked  ability. 

Dr.  Edward  O.  Sisson,  former  president  of  the  College  of  Montana, 
was  born  in  England,  but  came  to  the  United  States  in  his  early  youth 
and  spent  a  number  of  the  succeeding  years  in  Kansas.  In  1886,  he 
graduated  from  the  Kansas  State  Agricultural  College  and  in  1892  entered 
the  University  of  Chicago  as  a  member  of  its  first  class  of  graduate?.  From 
that  institution  he  obtained  his  A.  B.  degree  and  afterward  pursued  post- 
graduate courses  at  the  University  of  Berlin  and  Harvard  University,  the 
latter  conferring  upon  him  the  Ph.  D.  honor.  For  five  years  he  was 
connected  in  a  prominent  way  with  the  public  school  system  of  Chicago 


534  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

(prior  to  entering  the  University  of  Chicago),  and  while  still  pursuing 
his  studies  there  founded  the  South  Side  Academy  in  that  city,  of  which 
he  was  principal  from  1892  to  1897.  During  the  succeeding  decade  he 
served  as  director  of  the  Bradley  Polytechnic  Institute,  Peoria,  Illinois,  and 
as  assistant  professor  of  education  in  the  University  of  Illinois.  In  1906, 
Doctor  Sisson  became  identified  with  the  development  of  higher  education 
in  the  far  Northwest,  by  becoming  professor  of  pedagogy  and  director  of 
the  department  of  education  in  the  University  of  Washington.  After  hold- 
ing that  position  for  six  years,  he  assumed  similar  duties  in  connection 
with  Reed  College,  Portland,  Oregon,  for  more  than  a  year,  and  from 
1913  to  1917,  inclusive,  was  commissioner  of  education  for  the  State  of 
Idaho.  From  the  latter  year  until  his  resignation  (which  took  effect  in 
July,  1921)  he  served  as  president  of  the  Montana  State  University,  when 
he  departed  from  Missoula  for  the  field  of  his  future  labors. 

Dr.  Charles  H.  Clapp,  Doctor  Sisson's  successor  as  president  of 
the  State  University,  is  a  Bostonian  with  a  New  England  education,  and  a 
high  reputation  as  a  western  geologist  and  educator.  In  1905  he  received 
the  degree  of  B.  S.  from  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  and 
soon  afterward  became  instructor  in  geology  and  mining  in  the  University 
of  North  Dakota,  which,  with  the  office  of  assistant  state  geologist,  he  held 
for  two  years.  Professor  Clapp  then  rejoined  his  alma  mater,  as  instructor 
in  geology  of  the  Massachusetts  Institute  of  Technology,  holding  that  posi- 
tion until  1910.  In  the  meantime  he  had  become  connected  with  the 
geological  survey  of  Canada  and  remained  thus  until  1913.  The  institute 
had  conferred  the  degree  of  Ph.  D.  upon  him  in  1910  and  in  the  following 
year  he  had  pursued  a  post-graduate  course  at  Harvard  University.  In 
1913,  Doctor  Clapp  again  came  into  the  educational  field  of  the  West  as  a 
geologist  and  assumed  the  professorship  of  geology  at  the  University  of 
Arizona,  leaving  that  position  to  assume  the  same  chair  in  the  Montana 
State  School  of  Mines,  in  1916.  Two  years  afterward,  he  was  elected 
president  of  the  school,  and  in  1919  was  appointed  director  and  geologist  of 
the  Montana  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy.  Since  1914,  he  had  been 
assistant  geologist  of  the  United  States  Geological  Survey.  Doctor  Clapp 
was  thus  recognized  as  a  national  authority  on  geology  and  as  an  executive 
educator  of  high  standing  in  Montana,  when  he  succeeded  Doctor  Sisson 
as  president  of  the  State  University  in  July,  1921. 

A  BIT  OF  HISTORY 

As  stated,  it  was  not  until  1895  tnat  the  university  was  formally 
opened  under  the  presidency  of  Doctor  Craig,  with  four  associate  members 
of  the  faculty.  In  addition  to  a  preparatory  course,  four  college  curricula 
were  offered — classical,  philosophical,  general  science  and  applied  science. 
After  the  Legislature  had  appropriated  $100,000  for  the  construction  of 
buildings,  in  1897,  the  university  erected  University  Hall  (containing  class 
rooms,  library  and  museum)  and  Science  Hall  (embracing  the  departments 
of  Science  and  Engineering).  In  1901,  the  Legislature  authorized^  bond 
issue  of  $70,000  for  the  construction  of  a  women's  dormitory  and  a 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  535 

gymnasium,  and  in  1907  appropriated  $50,000  for  a  library  building. 
Four  years  afterward,  the  biological  station  at  Flathead  Lake  was 
established. 

Under  the  long  and  useful  presidency  of  Professor  Craig,  the  faculty 
of  the  university  increased  from  five  to  thirty  members  and  the  enrollment 
of  students  proportionately.  The  philosophical,  the  classical  and  science 
courses  were  combined  into  the  College  of  Liberal  Arts  and  Science,  the 
course  in  applied  science  was  developed  into  a  department  of  engineering, 
and  the  Department  of  Education  began  the  work  of  preparing  Montana 
students  to  fill  positions  in  her  high  schools. 

At  his  retirement  in  1908,  President  Craig  was  succeeded  by  Professor 
Clyde  A.  Duniway,  of  Leland  Stanford  Junior  University.  In  his  admin- 
istration a  law  school  was  established  under  the  direction  of  Judge  Clay- 
berg.  Doctor  Craighead  of  Tulane  University,  who  became  president  in 
1912,  saw  that  the  first  step  in  the  real  progress  of  the  cause  of  higher 
education  was  to  consolidate  or  unify  the  institutions  already  existing. 
His  appeal  for  assistance  to  the  State  Board  of  Education  met  with  a 
hearty  and  prompt  response. 

The  bill  for  consolidation  was  introduced  by  Senator  Whiteside  of 
Flathead  County.  It  provided  for  the  formation  of  a  great  university  by 
combining  the  four  state  schools.  It  was  to  have  a  permanent  endowment, 
guaranteed  by  a  mill  tax  and  the  site  of  the  institution  was  to  be  chosen 
by  a  commission  of  disinterested  men.  It  was  planned  that  the  greater 
university  should  have  a  campus  of  at  least  10,000  acres,  where  could  be 
conducted  experiments  in  forestry  and  agriculture,  and  where  students 
might  work  in  order  to  pay  their  way  through  college.  The  Whiteside 
bill,  however,  was  defeated  by  a  combination  of  the  Dillon,  Bozeman  and 
Missoula  interests  which  naturally  protested  against  the  removal  of  the 
institutions  already  established  in  their  communities. 

The  unification  bill  introduced  by  Senator  Leighton,  which  recognized 
the  force  of  those  interests  and  yet  consolidated  and  systematized  the 
various  courses  so  that  there  was  no  repetition  or  overlapping  in  the  cur- 
"ricula,  replaced  the  Whiteside  measure,  which  was  also  open  to  the 
objection  that  it  would  throw  a  great  burden  of  expenditure  upon  the 
state.  At  the  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Education  in  June,  1913,  it  was 
decided  that  the  new  university  should  become  operative  in  the  following 
month,  and  that  a  committee  should  be  appointed  to  avoid  all  duplication 
in  the  courses  of  the  schools  at  Missoula,  Dillon  and  Bozeman. 

THE  UNIVERSITY  OF  TODAY 

The  university  campus  comprises  sixty  acres.  It  lies  southeast  of 
Missoula  at  the  head  of  the  Missoula  Valley.  The  entrance  to  the  campus 
is  on  the  west  side,  from  University  Avenue.  Trees,  lawns,  shrubbery  and 
flowers,  interspersed  among  the  walks  and  drives,  make  an  attractive 
setting  for  the  buildings.  Directly  east  of  the  campus  is  Mount  Sentinel, 
2,000  feet  high,  upon  whose  slope  the  university  owns  520  acres,  extending 
to  the  summit. 


536  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  buildings  of  the  State  University  are:  University  Hall,  Science 
Hall,  Natural  Science  Hall,  Craig  Hall,  Library  Hall,  the  Gymnasium, 
Forestry  Building,  Music  Building,  the  Hospital,  Simpkins  Hall,  Cook  Hall, 
and  Y.  W.  C.  A.  Building. 

University  Hall  is  the  administration  building.  Here  also  are  the 
assembly  hall  of  the  university  and  class  rooms,  lecture  rooms  and  labora- 
tories. 

Science  Hall  is  occupied  by  the  School  of  Pharmacy  and  the  Depart- 
ment of  Chemistry. 

Natural  Science  Hall,  completed  January,  1919,  is  a  modern,  three- 
story  laboratory  building.  It  contains  the  classrooms  and  laboratories 
of  the  departments  of  Biology,  Botany,  Home  Economics  and  Physics.  It 
has  also  a  large  lecture  room,  equipped  with  stereopticon  and  motion- 
picture  apparatus. 

Craig  Hall  is  the  women's  dormitory,  entirely  used  as  a  domicile  for 
the  women  students  of  the  institution. 

The  gymnasium  is  equipped  for  the  physical  education  of  all  students. 
Adjoining  it  is  Dornblaser  field,  the  athletic  ground,  with  its  bleachers  and 
tracks. 

Library  Hall  contains  the  university  library,  the  law  library,  the  class- 
rooms of  the  School  of  Law  and  other  lecture  and  classrooms. 

The  Forestry  and  Music  buildings  are  frame  structures,  affording  tem- 
porary quarters  for  these  schools. 

The  hospital  is  designed  for  the  isolation  of  students  who  may  be 
suffering  from  contagious  or  infectious  diseases  and  for  their  treatment. 

Simpkins  Hall  and  Cook  Hall  are  the  buildings  erected  for  barracks. 
They  have  been  remodeled  so  that  Simpkins  Hall  serves  as  a  men's  dormi- 
tory and  Cook  Hall  is  the  armory  of  the  R.  O.  T.  C.  and  temporary 
quarters  of  the  School  of  Journalism. 

BIOLOGICAL  STATION 

A  station  for  instruction  and  research,  located  at  Yellow  Bay  on  the 
east  shore  of  Flathead  Lake.  The  university  owns  eighty-nine  acres 
here  with  nearly  a  mile  and  a  half  of  shore  line;  the  institution  is 
owner  also  of  forty  acres  on  Wild  Horse  Island  and  forty  acres  on  Bull 
Island.  The  Flathead  Lake  Bird  Reservation  consists  of  two  islands 
donated  to  the  state  as  a  bird  reserve.  These  islands  are  under  the  con- 
trol of  the  station,  protected  by  state  law.  All  of  this  land  is  for  biological 
use.  The  station  is  accessible  by  a  good  automobile  road  or  by  boat  from 
either  end  of  the  lake,  connecting  with  both  Great  Northern  and  Northern 
Pacific  trains. 

The  building  equipment  of  the  station  consists  of  a  substantial  brick 
laboratory,  a  log  dining  building,  a  kitchen  and  a  group  of  sleeping  tents. 
The  station  has,  also,  a  good  equipment  of  boats  and  launches,  with  the 
collecting  apparatus  and  laboratory  instruments  necessary  for  research 
work. 

The  station  is  located  in  virgin  forest  between  the  lake  and  the  Mis- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  537 

sion  Mountains,  which  rise  to  an  altitude  of  8,500  feet  at  this  point- 
Forest,  lake  and  mountains  afford  an  attractive  and,  to  a  great  extent,  an 
unexplored  field  for  biological  research. 

It  is  the  purpose  of  the  biological  station  to  provide  opportunity  for 
field  work  of  a  sort  which  cannot  be  done  in  the  routine  of  a  university 
program.  Instruction  is  limited  to  prescribed  work  for  beginners  but 
qualified  students  may  select  their  own  lines  of  research. 

ADMINISTRATION  AND  ORGANIZATION 

The  local  administrative  officers  of  the  university  are  as  follows: 
Charles  H.  Clapp,  Ph.  D.,  president ;  Frederick  C.  Scheuch,  M.  E.,  A.  C, 
vice  president;  Richard  H.  Jesse,  Jr.,  Ph.  D.,  dean  of  men;  Mrs.  H.  R. 
Sedman,  B.  S.,  dean  of  women ;  Arthur  L.  Stone,  B.  S.,  university  editor 
and  dean  of  the  School  of  Journalism ;  Shirley  J.  Coon,  M.  A.,  dean  of  the 
School  of  Business  Administration;  Dorr  Skeels,  B.  S.,  dean  of  the  School 
of  Forestry;  Charles  W.  Leaphart,  A.  B.,  M.  A.,  LL.  B.,  dean  of  the  School 
of  Law;  DeLoss  Smith,  dean  of  the  School  of  Music;  Charles  E.  F. 
Mollet,  Ph.  C.,  B.  A.,  dean  of  the  School  of  Pharmacy;  James  B.  Speer, 
B.  A.,  LL.  B.,  registrar  and  business  manager,  and  Gertrude  M.  Buckhous, 
B.  S.,  librarian.  The  faculty  comprises  thirty  full  professors,  one  as- 
sociate, twenty-four  assistant  professors,  twenty  instructors  and  assistants, 
with  special  lecturers  on  law,  forestry  and  journalism. 

The  departments  of  the  State  University  are  the  College  of  Arts  and' 
Sciences,  and  schools  of  Business  Administration,  Forestry,  Journalism, 
Law,  Music  and  Pharmacy.  The  College  of  Arts  and  Sciences  aims 
primarily  to  give  the  student  a  liberal  education,  while  at  the  same  time 
giving  him  special  training  in  some  chosen  field  of  work.  For  this  purpose 
it  has  adopted  a  flexible  curriculum.  The  student  must  select  a  major 
department  in  which  he  must  obtain  from  forty  to  fifty-five  credits,  and  he 
must  also  get  acquainted  wtih  the  other  fields  of  liberal  education.  The 
required  courses  are  classed  under  biology,  botany,  chemistry,  economics, 
education,*  English,  fine  arts,  geology,  history  and  political  science,  home 
economics,  Latin  and  Greek,  library  science,  mathematics,  military  science, 
modern  languages,  physical  education,  physics  and  psychology  and  phil- 
osophy. The  details  as  to  entrance  and  graduation  are  beyond  the  scope  of 
this  article. 

It  may  also  be  noted  that  students  who  desire  to  prepare  for  educational 
administration  as  principals  and  superintendents  are  required  to  do  major 
work  in  the  department  or  school  of  education.  Those  wishing  to  be  teach- 
ers of  special  subjects  are  advised  to  do  major  work  in  the  departments 
offering  such  special  subjects. 

The  department  of  home  economics  is  of  special  value  to  women,  its 
aim  being  threefold:  to  train  teachers  for  secondary  and  normal  schools 
and  colleges ;  to  train  dietitians  and  managers  for  such  institutions  as  hos- 


*  The  organization  of  this  department  as  a  school  has  been  authorized  by  the 
State  Board  of  Education. 


538  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

pitals,  dormatories,  tea  and  lunch  rooms  and  cafeterias;  and  to  liberalize 
the  woman's  education  by  giving  her  an  appreciation  of  her  greatest  profes- 
sion, that  of  home  making.  The  curriculum  includes  courses  in  foods, 
clothing  and  shelter,  adapted  to  the  different  seasons  of  the  year. 

The  courses  on  library  economy  are  of  great  practical  worth  in  these 
times  of  the  general  utilization  of  library  privileges.  They  teach  one  how 
to  get  the  greatest  good  from  the  libraries  which  crowd  the  land,  and  often 
are  under-appreciated  from  lack  of  the  very  information  conveyed  in  the 
courses  indicated.  Library  Economy  is  open  to  all  university  students  and 
covers,  in  lectures,  reading  and  reference  work,  the  following:  The 
arrangement  of  the  library  and  the  privileges  granted  students,  the  use  and 
value  of  the  card  catalogue,  dictionaries  and  encyclopedias,  Poole's  index 
and  periodical  literature,  classification,  cataloging,  atlases  and  gazetteers, 
note  taking,  book  binding  and  care  of  books,  government  publications 
and  reference  books  on  English  and  American  literature,  history  and 
science. 

THE  R.  O.  T.  C 

The  State  University  maintains  an  infantry  unit  of  the  Reserve  Officers' 
Training  Corps,  organized  under  authority  of  the  National  Defense  Act 
and  under  the  supervision  of  a  captain  and  sergeant  of  the  United  States 
Army.  Certain  classes  of  students  are  barred  from  entrance  to  the 
R.  O.  T.  .C.,  such  as  those  who  have  reached  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years 
at  the  beginning  of  the  quarter;  because  of  physical  disability;  those  who 
have  completed  two  years'  training  under  P.  M.  S.  and  T.  at  some 
other  institution  for  which  credit  has  been  given;  those  who  have  served 
in  any  branch  of  the  army  or  navy,  including  the  Students'  Army  Training 
Corps,  during  the  World  war ;  students  who  are  not  citizens  of  the  United 
States,  and  no  member  of  the  Army,  Navy,  or  Marine  Corps  of  the  United 
States,  of  the  National  Guard,  Naval  Militia,  or  Naval  Reserve  or  reserve 
officers  of  the  military  or  naval  forces  of  the  United  States. 

GERMAN 

In  the  Department  of  Modern  Languages  are  French  and  Spanish,  but 
announcement  is  made:  "Instruction  in  German  was  suspended  during 
the  war  by  order  of  the  State  Council  of  Defense.  The  State  Board  of 
Education  has  authorized  the  reinstatement  of  this  subject  as  soon  as  the 
force  of  the  order  legally  expires." 

SCHOOL  OF  BUSINESS  ADMINISTRATION 

The  School  of  Business  Administration  gives  training  in  its  elementary 
courses  for  expert  clerical  work,  and  in  its  advanced  courses  for  executive 
and  administrative  positions  in  industrial  and  commercial  organizations 
and  in  the  public  service.  Its  various  courses  embrace  instruction  and 
practice  in  business  management,  commercial  law,  corporation  finance, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  539 

foreign  trade,  accounting,  advertising  and  selling  and  secretarial  work,  and 
commercial  teaching. 

The  work  of  the  Montana  School  of  Forestry  is  along  two  distinct 
lines — an  undergraduate  course  of  four  years  which  provides  for  specializa- 
tion in  all  the  various  branches  of  forestry  and  forestry  engineering,  and  a 
course  of  twelve  weeks  for  forest  rangers. 

SCHOOL  OF  FORESTRY 

The  purpose  of  the  Ranger  School  is  to  improve  the  training  of  forest 
rangers  and  other  forest  officers.  Men  who  have  either  a  high  school  train- 
ing or  some  practical  experience  in  forestry  work  are  prepared  in  this 
course  to  pass  the  civil  service  examination  for  forest  ranger.  During  the 
course  opportunity  is  also  offered  for  specialization  or  short  course  train- 
ing in  lumbering  and  logging,  scaling  and  cruising,  surveying  and  mapping, 
stream  gauging,  highway  and  bridge  construction  and  grazing.  The  work 
of  the  school  is  carried  on  in  close  co-operation  with  the  United  States 
Forest  Service.  Experts  in  various  branches  of  forest  service  work  are 
detailed  under  authorization  of 'the  secretary  of  agriculture  as  special 
lecturers  in  the  school.  Other  state  and  government  officials  and  experts 
in  the  employ  of  lumber  companies  assist  in  the  training.  Special  lectures 
in  grazing  are  given  by  the  state  veterinarian. 

SCHOOL  OF  JOURNALISM 

Practical  training  in  the  work  of  newspaper  making  is  the  purpose  of 
the  School  of  Journalism.  Technical  training  is  combined  with  courses  in 
the  College  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  that  the  graduates  of  the  school  may 
obtain  preparation  as  broad  and  comprehensive  as  possible.  The  vocational 
work  of  the  school  is  thoroughly  practical.  Its  purpose  throughout  is  to 
develop  reporters — to  ground  its  students  thoroughly  in  the  fundamentals 
of  newspaper  endeavor  and  practice.  No  student  leaves  the  school  with  the 
idea  that  he  is  ready  to  assume  at  once  editorial  or  managerial  duties. 

The  school's  course  is  four  years ;  these  years  are  arranged  to  present 
the  features  of  newspaper  work  under  conditions  which  parallel  those 
which  exist  in  a  newspaper  office.  This  plan  of  instruction  makes  the 
journalism  building  veritably  a  workshop.  The  reporters'  room  resembles 
the  news  room  of  a  newspaper  office ;  the  work  done  here  is  identical  with 
that  required  of  the  reporter  on  a  daily  newspaper. 

Following  the  work  in  newsgathering  and  newswriting  and  the  study 
of  news  values,  the  student  is  given  experience  in  editing  copy,  in  editorial 
writing  and  in  the  makeup  of  a  newspaper.  The  problems  of  the  business 
office — circulation, -the  writing  and  selling  of  advertising  and  the  general 
organization  of  a  newspaper — are  taken  up. 

There  are  no  textbooks  used  in  the  course;  the  student  studies  the 
newspaper.  The  school  receives  the  leading  daily  newspapers  of  the 
country  and  these  are  given  careful  and  thorough  study.  In  the  junior 
and  senior  years,  the  student  studies  foreign  newspapers.  The  school  has 
the  nucleus  of  a  reference  library,  which  is  used  intensively. 


540  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Publications  devoted  to  the  craft  are  on  file  and  the  study  of  these 
is  a  part  of  the  student's  assigned  work.  The  school  maintains  a  fine 
newspaper  "morgue"  which  is  developing  into  a  valuable  reference  file. 
Special  emphasis  is  placed  upon  the  study  of  current  events. 

The  Associated  Press,  the  United  Press  and  the  International  News 
Service  donate  a  daily  copy  of  their  "flimsy,"  which  is  used  as  the  basis 
of  instruction  in  editing  and  head-writing.  The  relationship  between  the 
School  of  Journalism  and  the  Montana  State  Press  Association  is  close 
and  pleasant.  The  members  of  the  association  are  contributing  material 
which  is  the  beginning  of  the  school's  much-desired  laboratory.  The  school 
furnishes  to  the  newspapers  of  the  state  a  weekly  news  service  from  the 
State  University. 

SCHOOL  OF  LAW 

The  School  of  Law  was  established  as  a  department  of  the  University 
of  Montana  in  1911.  Prior  to  that  time  there  had  been  no  similar  institu- 
tion in  the  state.  The  school  occupies  quarters  in  the  library  building, 
and  has  a  professional  library  of  9,000  volumes.  The  collection  is  known 
as  the  William  Wirt  Dixon  Law  Library.  A  recent  gift  to  the  School  of 
Law  under  the  will  of  Mrs.  W.  W.  Dixon  will  make  possible  the  endowment 
of  a  professorship  and  the  addition  of  about  1,500  volumes  to  the  library. 
The  school  has  also  received  a  gift  from  Judge  John  J.  McHatton,  of  Butte, 
consisting  of  his  entire  library  of  1,400  volumes,  with  book  cases  to  hold 
them. 

The  case  system  of  instruction  is  generally  employed. 

Special  attention  is  given  to  practice  court  work,  in  which  the  students 
are  required  not  only  to  argue  legal  questions,  but  to  try  cases,  prepare 
appeals  and  go  through  all  the  steps  incident  to  the  trial  of  a  law  suit. 

Students  who  have  successfully  completed  the  regular  law  course  and 
received  the  certificate  or  degree,  may  in  the  discretion  of  the  Supreme 
Court  of  Montana  be  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Montana  with- 
out further  examination. 

PUBLIC  SCHOOL  Music 

Graduation  from  the  School  of  Music  entitles  the  student  to  twenty- 
seven  credits  toward  the  B.  A.  degree  of  the  College  of  Arts  and  Science. 
Pupils  are  accepted  for  private  lessons  without  limitation  as  to  age  or 
academic  entrance  requirements. 

This  course  is  for  supervisors  and  teachers  of  music  in  the  public 
schools.  It  covers  a  period  of  two  years.  Those  who  desire  may  add 
two  more  years  from  the  Bachelor  of  Music  course  and  receive  a  degree, 
Those  completing  the  two-years  course  will  receive  a  Supervisor  of  Music 
certificate  and  will  be  recommended  by  the  State  Superintendent  of  In- 
struction to  receive  a  special  certificate  to  teach  music  in  the  schools  of 
the  state.  Students  will  do  their  observation  work  in  the  city  schools 
of  Missoula. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  541 

SCHOOL  OF  PHARMACY 

Applicants  for  admission  to  the  School  of  Pharmacy  must  be  at  least 
sixteen  years  of  age,  of  good  moral  character  and  have  completed  a  high 
school  course  or  a  preparatory  course  of  four  years.  The  pharmacists  of 
Montana  have  endorsed  it,  and  it  has  received  favorable  recognition  else- 
where. The  school  is  registered  by  the  Department  of  Education  of  the 
New  York  State  University,  and  it  is  a  member  of  the  Conference  of 
Faculties  of  the  American  Pharmaceutical  Association.  The  society  main- 
tained by  the  school  is  a  branch  of  the  Montana  Pharmaceutical  Associa- 
tion. Graduates  of  the  school  are  eligible  to  compete  for  the  Samuel  W. 
Fairchild  scholarship  of  $300  in  cash,  the  examination  for  which  is  held  at 
the  university  on  June  25th. 

All  standard  medical  schools  in  the  United  States  now  require  for 
admission  at  least  two  years  of  college  work ;  some  of  the  leading  schools 
demand  college  graduation.  The  State  University  therefore  offers  a  course 
preparing  students  for  entrance  to  any  medical  school  in  the  United  States. 

The  summer  quarter  of  the  university  is  an  extension  to  the  people  of 
the  state  of  its  privileges  and  curricula  for  the  entire  year  instead  of 
three-fourths  of  the  year.  The  executives  of  the  University  of  Montana 
and  the  State  Board  of  Educational  Examiners,  in  January,  1920,  adopted 
standards  of  credits  on  teachers'  certificates  for  the  summer  schools  which 
went  into  effect  on  June  7th  of  that  year.  Thus  the  completion  of  the 
courses  pursued  in  the  summer  quarters  is  a  practical  means  not  only 
along  the  line  of  university  extension  but  of  hastening  the  time  when  the 
student  may  commence  to  teach. 

WOMEN  IN  THE  UNIVERSITY 

The  academic  and  social  welfare  of  the  women  students  is  under  direct 
supervision  of  the  dean  of  women.  All  young  women  whose  homes  are 
outside  of  Missoula  live  in  the  university  hall  of  residence,  in  the  Eloise 
Knowles  Co-operative  Cottage,  in  the  chapter  houses  or  in  approved  resi- 
dences. Exceptions  are  made  only  by  permission  of  the  dean  of  women. 

The  university  maintains  one  large  hall  of  residence,  Craig  Hall,  which 
accommodates  about  seventy-two  students.  The  women  who  live  in  this 
hall  have  adopted  a  form  of  self-government  with  officers  chosen  from  the 
members.  These  officers,  together  with  the  director,  form  a  house  commit- 
tee to  whom  all  matters  of  importance  are  referred.  The  Eloise  Knowles 
Co-operative  Cottage  accommodates  ten  women. 

For  the  benefit  of  those  women  who  are  not  accommodated  in  Craig 
Hall,  or  the  Knowles  Cottage,  the  dean  of  women  has  prepared  a  list  of 
addresses  where  rooms  for  young  women  may  be  obtained  which  will  be 
sent  upon  request.  All  houses  have  been  inspected  by  her,  and  although 
responsibility  cannot  be  assumed  by  the  university,  they  are  believed  to 
be  suitable  homes  for  women  students.  The  discipline  of  such  houses  is 
controlled  by  the  students  themselves  under  the  supervision  of  the  Women's 
Self-Governing  Association  and  the  dean  of  women. 


542  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  Women's  Self -Governing  Association  is  an  organization  for  the 
women  of  the  university  only.  Every  woman  student  is  a  member  of  this 
organization,  the  object  of  which  is  to  regulate  all  matters  pertaining  to 
the  student  life  of  its  members  which  do  not  fall  under  the  jurisdiction  of 
the  faculty ;  to  further  in  every  way  the  spirit  of  women  of  the  university, 
to  increase  their  sense  of  responsibility  toward  each  other  and  to  be  a 
medium  by  which  the  social  standard  of  the  university  can  be  made  and 
kept  high.  The  executive  board  of  the  W.  S.  G.  A.  is  composed  of 
representatives  from  Craig  Hall,  each  sorority  house,  each  lodging  house 
where  six  or  more  girls  reside  and  from  the  girls  who  live  in  Missoula. 
The  Town  Girls'  Association  is  an  organization  composed  of  girls  who  do 
not  live  in  Craig  Hall  or  in  chapter  houses.  Mortar  Board  is  an  organ- 
ization of  senior  girls.  The  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  is  an 
organization  open  to  all  women  of  the  university. 

Physical  Education  Promoters,  commonly  known  as  P.  E.  P.,  is  an 
organization  to  promote  the  interest  of  physical  education  in  this  institution. 

Home  Economics  Club  is  an  organization  to  develop  friendliness  by 
bringing  all  the  members  of  the  club  together  on  a  common  plane,  and  to 
give  every  woman  a  clearer  conception  of  the  duties  and  responsibilities  of 
the  homemaker. 

THE  LIBRARY  AND  MUSEUM 

The  general  library  of  the  State  University  comprises  about  45,000 
volumes  and  19,000  pamphlets.  It  occupies  the  main  floor  of  the  library 
building.  The  library  is  the  designated  depository  of  documents  issued  by 
the  United  States  Government.  It  is  also  a  depository  for  the  publication 
of  the  National  Organization  for  Public  Health  Nursing  and  similar  organ- 
izations. These  publications  may  be  borrowed  by  any  one  in  the  state 
who  is  interested  in  public  health  work.  It  is  the  state  center  for  distribu- 
tion of  American  Library  Association,  Library  War  Service  books  to  ex- 
service  men. 

A  large  and  well  lighted  room  in  the  new  -Natural  Science  Building  is 
set  apart  for  housing  the  scientific  collections  of  the  university.  Since  the 
first  establishment  of  a  small  museum  in  1898  to  the  present,  material  has 
been  accumulating  from  various  sources.  Most  of  it  pertains  to  the  fauna 
and  flora  of  the  state  and  to  the  state's  industries.  Owing  to  the  lack  of 
room  for  teaching  purposes,  which  demanded  every  spare  corner  in  the 
various  buildings  on  the  campus,  the  cases  and  collections  have  stood  in  the 
halls  of  the  main  building  for  several  years,  without  attention.  The  im- 
proved quarters  make  possible  extensive  class  use  of  material  which  has 
heretofore  been  impossible,  will  afford  complete  fire  protection,  and  will 
make  possible  display  for  public  exhibition  and  the  education  of  the  visit- 
ing public  which  is  so  needful  and  desirable.  It  is  now  possible  to  organize 
a  museum  that  will  be  of  great  service  to  the  university  and  to  the  state. 
The  museum  as  it  is  planned  is  not  only  a  place  where  scientific  treasures 
may  be  safely  stored,  but  a  place  where  visitors  may  derive  information, 
where  the  public  may  see  something  of  the  state's  scientific  and  material 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  543 

resources,  and  where  university  students  may  find  material  for  study.  The 
scientific  and  historic  sections  are  now  much  used  in  instructional  work. 
The  new  plans  and  excellent  quarters  will  make  this  important  phase  of 
study  much  more  valuable  through  its  enlargement. 


Outside  of  its  province  as  an  educator  in  the  definite  sense  of  the 
word,  the  State  University  established  its  Bureau  of  Information  in  Oc- 
tober, 1913.  It  is  open  to  all  classes  of  citizens  and  no  restriction  is  placed 
upon  the  subjects  upon  which  they  may  request  information.  There  is  only 
one  requirement — that  each  letter  of  inquiry  must  be  accompanied  by 
return  postage  in  case  an  answer  by  mail  is  desired.  Citizens  of  Montana 
are  even  urged  to  use  this  Bureau  of  Information  so  that  it  may  become 
a  wide-spread  medium  of  public  usefulness  and  service. 

HONOR  SCHOLARSHIPS  AND  PRIZES 

The  State  University  provides  a  number  of  honor  scholarships  and 
.prizes.  The  awards  are  made  by  the  Scholarship  Committee  in  conference 
with  the  president.  The  High  School  Honor  Scholarship,  awarded  to  the 
graduate  of  an  accredited  high  school  of  the  state  who  belongs  to  the 
highest  one-fourth  of  his  class  in  scholarship,  or  the  highest  of  the  gradu- 
ating class  desiring  to  attend  the  university,  exempts  the  holder  from  the 
payment  of  all  customary  fees  except  the  student  activity  fees  and  the 
special  fees  in  the  School  of  Music.  The  Student  Army  Training  Corps 
Scholarships  are  granted  to  students  who  had  taken  up  work  in  one  of 
the  university  corps,  but  were  prevented  from  continuing  by  the  signing 
of  the  armistice.  In  awarding  the  Bonner  scholarship  to  the  student  at 
the  end  of  his  freshman  year,  the  committee  considers  scholarship,  moral 
qualities,  conditions  and  probabilities  of  future  usefulness.  Its  purpose  is 
to  aid  a  student  of  fine  mental  and  moral  qualities  to  obtain  a  university 
education  who  might  otherwise  find  it  difficult,  if  not  impossible,  to  obtain 
one.  The  Straughn  Scheuch  scholarship  was  founded  by  Professor  and 
Mrs.  Frederick  C.  Scheuch  in  memory  of  their  son,  who  died  during  his 
freshman  year  in  the  State  University  on  February  2,  1920.  It  is  awarded 
to  a  self-supporting  male  student  in  the  College  of  Arts  and  Science  for  his 
support  during  his  junior  and  senior  years. 

Annual  scholarships  have  also  been  donated  to  the  various  institutions 
of  the  university  by  the  State  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs.  Their  hold- 
ers are  exempt  from  the  payment  of  the  customary  fees,  and  their  expenses 
for  board,  room-rent  and  books  are  paid  also  by  the  Federation. 

The  Butte  College  Club  has  established  three  scholarships  open  to  girl 
graduates  of  the  Butte  High  School,  $300  being  allowed  each  year  to  each 
recipient.  To  be  eligible,  the  student  must  have  made  high  grades  in  the 
high  school  and  must  receive  the  vote  of  two  thirds  of  the  club's  active 
membership. 

Among  the  four  prizes  open  to  competition  are  the  Annie  Lewis  Joyce 


544  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Memorial  prize  of  $200  for  students  of  the  English  department ;  the  Ben- 
nett Essay  prize  of  $400  offered  by  the  Department  of  History  and  Political 
Science;  the  1904  class  prize  of  $20  to  be  awarded  annually  to  the  student 
holding  highest  rank  in  a  department  to  be  named  from  year  to  year  by 
members  of  that  class  in  rotation,  and  the  Rider  Art  prize  to  be  given 
annually  by  Dr.  T.  T.  Rider  of  Missoula  to  the  student  in  the  Department 
of  Fine  Arts  who  shows  the  greatest  advancement  in  art  during  the  year. 
A  fund  of  $1,000  was  set  aside  by  the  late  Professor  William  M. 
Aber  for  the  establishment  of  the  Aber  Memorial  Oratorical  prizes.  A 
first  prize  of  $35  and  second  prize  of  $15  are  awarded  annually  to  the  win- 
ners in  an  oratorical  contest. 

COLLEGE  OF  AGRICULTURE  AND  MECHANIC  ARTS 

By  an  act  of  the  third  Legislative  Assembly  of  Montana,  signed 
by  Governor  J.  E.  Rickards,  February  16,  1893,  the  Agricultural  College 
of  the  State  of  Montana  was  located  at  Bozeman.  This  act  provided 
for  an  executive  board  which  should  have  the  immediate  control  and 
direction  of  the  affairs  of  the  college,  subject  only  to  the  general  super- 
vision of  the  State  Board  of  Education.  The  executive  board  was  author- 
ized to  appoint  a  secretary  and  treasurer  and  to  choose  a  president  and 
faculty. 

On  March  21,  1893,  the  State  Board  of  Education  held  its  first  meet- 
ing at  Bozeman.  A  site  of  forty  acres  for  campus  was  donated  by  Nelson 
Story,  Sr.  An  adjoining  160  acres  of  land,  owned  by  Gallatin  County,  was 
donated,  one-half  by  the  county  and  one-half  by  the  citizens  of  Bozeman. 
An  executive  board  was  appointed.  The  executive  board  chose  Luther 
Foster  for  acting  president.  On  April  17,  with  the  president  and  an  assist- 
.ant,  instruction  was  begun.  September  15,  the  college  opened  for  its  first 
full  year's  work.  A.  M.  Ryon  was  president  and  the  faculty  numbered 
six.  Courses  were  offered  in  agriculture,  domestic  economy,  and  applied 
science,  the  last  being  chiefly  engineering  and  chemistry.  There  was  also 
established  a  one-year  preparatory  course,  a  two-years  business  course, 
modeled  after  the  usual  private  business  college,  and  a  music  department. 

Nelson  Story,  Sr.,  donated  the  use  of  a  frame  building  which  had 
been  occupied  as  a  Presbyterian  Academy.  The  public  school  board  al- 
lowed the  use  of  some  rooms  in  a  nearby  school  building.  During  the 
summer  of  1894  the  brick  veneer  building  now  used  for  biology  was 
erected  out  of  the  Hatch  Experiment  Station  Fund. 

The  Legislative  Assembly  in  1895  authorized  bond  issue  of  $100,000 
to  provide  funds  to  erect  and  furnish  buildings  for  the  college. 

By  the  enactment  of  Chapter  92  of  the -laws  of  the  Thirteenth  Legis- 
lative Assembly  in  1913,  the  State  University  at  Missoula,  the  State  School 
of  Mines  at  Butte,  the  State  Normal  College  at  Dillon,  and  the  State 
Agricultural  College  at  Bozeman  were  combined  into  the  University  of 
Montana,  under  the  executive  control  of  an  officer  whose  title  is  chan- 
cellor. 

The  Enabling  Act,  providing  for  the  admission  of  Montana  into  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


545 


Union,  approved  February  22,  1889,  Section  16  grants  90,000  acres  of  land 
to  Montana  for  the  use  and  support  of  an  agricultural  college  according 
to  the  terms  of  the  Act  of  Congress,  July  2,  1862,  and  Section  17  grants 
an  additional  50,000  for  the  same  purpose  and  subject  to  the  same  con- 
ditions and  limitations  as  the  other  grant.  The  140,000  acres  of  land 
cannot  be  sold  for  a  price  less  than  $10  per  acre  and  the  principal,  to- 
gether with  all  money  received  from  the  sale  of  timber,  is  to  be  invested 
as  a  permanent  endowment.  The  unsold  land  may  be  leased,  and  the 
rental,  together  with  the  interest  on  the  permanent  endowment,  shall  be 
used  for  the  maintenance  of  the  college. 


AGRICULTURAL  COLLEGE  HALL,  BOZEMAN 

The  Act  of  Congress  of  August  30,  1890,  appropriates  $25,000  an- 
nually out  of  the  treasury  of  the  United  States.  By  the  Nelson  Bill  passed 
March  3,  1907,  this  amount  was  increased  annually  by  $5,000  each 
year  beginning  in  1907  until  now  the  total  annual  appropriation  has  reached 
$50,000,  at  which  figure  it  is  to  remain. 

The  Smith-Hughes  Act  of  Congress,  February,  1917,  provides  a  plan 
for  Vocational  Education  in  Agriculture,  Home  Economics  and  the  Trades 
and  Industry.  The  training  of  teachers  under  the  federal  plan  for  Voca- 
tional Education  as  authorized  by  the  Smith-Hughes  Act  is  the  work  of 
the  College.  The  federal  government  makes  an  annual  appropriation  of 
$5,000  and  the  State  Legislature  a  like  amount. 

The  purpose  of  the  college  of  agriculture  and  mechanic  arts  is  chiefly 
to  provide  collegiate  education  in  agriculture,  engineering,  home  economics, 


Vol.  1—35 


546  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  applied  science,  for  the  young  men  and  women  of  the  respective  states 
in  which  they  are  located.  The  scope  of  the  Montana  State  College  is  set 
forth  in  the  two  so-called  Morrill  Acts  of  Congress,  which  authorized 
this  class  of  institutions  and  supplied  in  part  endowment  and  funds  for 
maintenance ;  and  in  the  act  of  the  Montana  Legislature  accepting  the  land 
and  money  grants  from  the  national  government. 

The  first  Morrill  Act  of  Congress  of  July  2,  1862,  making  a  land  grant 
for  the  partial  endowment  of  the  agricultural  and  mechanical  colleges, 
states  that  the  income  from  these  lands  shall  be  used  to  maintain  colleges 
"where  the  leading  object  shall  be,  without  excluding  other  scientific  and 
classical  studies  and  including  military  tactics,  to  teach  such  branches  of 
learning  as  are  related  to  agriculture  and  the  mechanic  arts,  in  such  man- 
ner as  the  legislatures  of  the  states  may  respectively  prescribe  in  order  to 
promote  the  liberal  and  practical  education  of  the  industrial  classes  in  the 
several  pursuits  and  professions  of  life." 

The  second  Morrill  Act  of  Congress,  August  30,  1890,  making  an 
annual  appropriation  out  of  the  treasury  of  the  United  States  for  the 
further  support  and  endowment  of  these  colleges,  provides  that  this  fund 
is  "to  be  applied  only  to  instruction  in  agriculture  and  mechanic  arts,  the 
English  language,  and  the  various  branches  of  mathematical,  physical, 
natural  and  economic  sciences,  with  special  reference  to  their  application 
to  the  industries  of  life ;  and  to  the  facilities  for  such  instruction." 

The  act  appropriates  $25,000  annually  out  of  the  treasury  of  the 
United  States  to  further  its  objects.  By  the  Nelson  Bill,  passed  March 
3,  1907,  this  amount  was  increased  annually  by  $5,000  each  year  beginning 
in  1907,  until  the  total  annual  appropriation  has  reached  $50,000,  at  which 
figure  it  is  to  remain. 

THE  COLLEGE  BUILDINGS 

The  college  campus  and  farm  at  Bozeman  comprise  400  acres.  The 
forty  acres  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  buildings  constitute  the  campus 
and  recreation  grounds,  which  are  in  lawn,  interspersed  with  flower  beds, 
shrubbery,  trees  and  driveways.  On  the  campus  are  a  quarter-mile  track, 
a  baseball  diamond,  a  football  field  and  three  cement  tennis  courts.  The 
remainder  is  used  for  farming  and  experimental  purposes. 

Montana  Hall,  a  three  story_  structure,  is  in  the  center  of  the  campus, 
and  contains  the  administration  offices,  the  library,  department  of  art  and 
mathematics,  the  assembly  hall  and  numerous  class  rooms.  Hamilton 
Hall,  with  its  three  floors,  is  the  dormitory  for  women,  and  Agricultural 
Hall  contains  within  its  four  stories  offices,  store  rooms,  classrooms  and 
laboratories  connected  with  the  study,  experiments  and  practical  opera- 
tions of  dairying,  agriculture,  horticulture,  agronomy  and  home  economics. 
It  also  has  a  large  assembly  room. 

Adjoining  Agricultural  Hall  is  the  greenhouse  and  on  either  side  flower 
and  vegetable  rooms.  Through  the  center  is  a  plant  breeding  room  and 
near  by  a  propagating  room. 

The  Chemistry  building  is  a  modern  fireproof  structure  of  reinforced 


547 

concrete.  Several  of  the  laboratories  are  provided  with  electric  circuits 
for  both  heat  and  power.  Those  located  in  the  basement  are  for  agricul- 
tural, organic  and  food  chemistry.  The  basement  also  furnishes  quarters 
for  a  food  and  drug  laboratory  and  for  a  water  and  sewage  laboratory 
where  the  work  required  by  the  State  Board  of  Health  in  enforcing  the 
State  Food  Law  and  some  of  the  state  sanitary  laws  is  carried  on. 

The  building  of  the  Experiment  Station  contains  research  laboratories, 
store  rooms  and  a  large  lecture  room.  Geological  collections  and  a  min- 
eralogical  laboratory,  as  well  as  a  distilling  apparatus  the  water  of  which 
is  distributed  to  all  laboratories,  are  in  the  attic  of  the  building. 

The  Biology  building  is  three  stories  with  basement  and  contains  the 
zoological  collection,  with  laboratories  for  bacteriology,  botany  and  general 
biology.  The  entomologist  has  his  special  quarters,  and  there  is  also  an 
insectary  for  the  study  of  living  insects. 

.  There  are  also  an  engineering  laboratory,  with  all  kinds  of  machinery 
for  experimental  work  in  connection  with  electrical  and  hydraulic  opera- 
tions. Then  there  are  the  shops;  the  barracks,  built  for  the  Students' 
Army  Training  Corps,  which  have  been  converted  into  dormitories  for 
men;  a  good  gymnasium  and  the  eight  College  Farm  buildings  adjacent 
to  the  campus. 

The  campus  of  sixty  acres  was  the  gift  of  citizens  of  Bozeman,  and 
largely  that  of  Nelson  Story,  Sr.  The  county  poor  farm  of  160  acres 
was  donated  for  an  experimental  farm,  one-half  by  Gallatin  County  and 
one-half  by  its  citizens.  The  first  executive  board  consisted  of  L.  S.  Will- 
son,  Peter  Koch,  Walter  Cooper,  of  Bozeman,  E.  H.  Talcott,  of  Livingston, 
and  George  Kinkel,  of  Manhattan.  Instruction  began  April  17,  1893, 
and  continued  ten  weeks,  during  which  period  Luther  Foster  was  acting 
head  and  eight  students  were  enrolled.  The  first  year  of  regular  work 
opened  September  I5th,  with  the  following  faculty:  A.  M.  Ryon,  presi- 
dent and  head  of  the  department  of  engineering;  S.  M.  Emery,  director 
of  the  experiment  station  and  horticulturist;  Luther  Foster,  agriculture 
and  botany;  F.  W.  Traphagen,  chemistry;  R.  E.  Chandler,  mathematics 
and  engineering;  B.  F.  Maiden,  English;  H.  G.  Phelps,  commercial  sub- 
jects. College  courses  were  offered  in  engineering,  agriculture  and  domes- 
tic science.  There  were  also  a  preparatory  school,  a  business  course  and 
a  music  department. 

At  first,  the  college  had  no  buildings  and  the  instruction  was  carried  on 
in  a  public  school  building  and  the  old  academy  building  on  Main  Street. 
In  1895,  the  Legislative  Assembly  passed  an  act  to  bond  the  50,000  acre 
land  grant  made  in  the  Enabling  Act  for  $100,000  to  construct  buildings. 
College  Hall,  the  chemistry  building  and  the  first  shop  were  erected  out 
of  the  proceeds  of  this  bond  issue.  These  bonds  were  afterward  declared 
void  by  the  State  Supreme  Court  and  by  act  of  Legislative  Assembly  of 
1907  state  bonds  were  issued  in  lieu  thereof. 

The  cornerstone  of  the  main  building  was  laid  October  21,  1896,  under 
Masonic  auspices,  and  Governor  Rickards  delivered  the  principal  address. 
The  original  buildings  were  completed  and  occupied  in  1897.  A  dairy 
barn  was  built  in  1904.  In  1907,  an  appropriation  of  $80,000  was  made 


548  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

for  an  agricultural  and  domestic  science  building  and  in  1908  the  state 
turned  over  to  the  college  the  buildings  and  grounds  belonging  to  old  Fort. 
Ellis.  The  dormitory  for  girls  was  erected  in  1912. 

ADMINISTRATION  OF  THE  COLLEGE 

In  1897,  President  Ryon  was  superceded  by  James  Reid,  who  remained 
at  the  head  of  the  institution  until  1904,  when  Prof.  James  M.  Ham- 
ilton became  its  president.  He  resigned  in  1915,  but  was  prevailed  upon 
to  continue  in  charge  until  a  satisfactory  successor  could  be  secured,  and 
in  July,  1919,  Prof.  Alfred  Atkinson,  who  had  been  connected  with 
the  college  throughout  Professor  Hamilton's  administration — for  much  of 
the  period  as  professor  of  agronomy  and  experiment  station  agronomist — 
became  head  of  the  college.  President  Hamilton,  who  thereby  closed 
fifteen  years  of  service  in  the  presidency,  at  once  concentrated  his  work 
upon  the  professorship  of  economics  and  the  newly  created  position  of 
dean  of  men. 

President  Atkinson  retained  the  chair  of  agronomy.  For  some  years 
he  has  also  been  director  of  the  State  Grain  Laboratory,  and  during  the 
World's  war  devoted  a  great  part  of  his  time  to  the  exacting  duties  of 
federal  food  administrator  for  Montana. 

The  other  administrative  officers  of  the  College  of  Agriculture  and 
Mechanics  Arts  are:  Frederick  B.  Linfield,  B.  S.  A.,  director  of  the 
experiment  station;  Fred  S.  Cooley,  B.  S.,  director  of  extension  service; 
James  B.  Hamilton,  dean  of  men ;  Una  B.  Herrick,  dean  of  women ;  John 
H.  Hoist,  M.  A.,  principal  of  secondary  schools  and  director  of  summer 
session ;  Roy  Orvis  Wilson,  B.  S.,  house  director  at  Hamilton  Hall ;  Anker 
Christenson,  acting  superintendent  of  buildings;  Adele  McCray,  college 
nurse;  Ray  B.  Bowden,  editorial  director.  On  the  faculty  are  thirty-one 
full  professors,  one  associate,  and  twenty-two  assistants,  as  well  as  seven- 
teen instructors  and  five  assistants. 

The  enrollment  of  students  is  a  fair  index  of  the  advancement  of  the 
College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  since  it  was  put  in  operation. 
The  showing  is  presented  in  periods  of  five  years.  In  1893-94,  the  first 
school  year,  the  enrollment  was  139;  in  1897-98,  201 ;  1902-03,  305;  1907- 
08,  419;  1912-13,  557;  1917-18,  1,105.  In  1918-19  the  enrollment  was 
only  887,  310  students  being  in  the  Students'  Army  Training  Corps. 

STATE  SCHOOL  OF  MINES 

The  establishment  of  the  State  School  of  Mines,  in  Butte,  was  super- 
vised by  a  commission  appointed  in  1895,  consisting  of  F.  E.  Sargent, 
John  Gillie,  W.  W.  Dixon,  J.  H.  Leyson,  and  C.  W.  Goodale.  The  lands 
of  the  School  of  Mines  were  used  as  a  basis  for  the  issue  of  bonds  amount- 
ing to  $120,000,  and  in  1896  the  erection  of  the  main  building  was  begun. 
An  additional  appropriation  of  $26,300  was  made  in  1899  for  equipment 
and  maintenance.  The  school  actually  opened  September  n,  1900,  and 
the  first  class  graduated  in  June,  1903. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  549 

The  proceeds  from  the  sale  of  the  lands  of  the  School  of  Mines  have 
gone  into  permanent  fund,  the  interest  from  which,  together  with  the 
rentals  from  unsold  lands,  has  provided  the  school  in  recent  years  with 
most  of  its  ordinary  operating  and  capital  expenditures.  In  1907,  $50,- 
ooo  was  appropriated  for  a  new  heating  plant  and  mill  building,  and  in 
1910,  $15,000  was  appropriated  for  a  gymnasium. 

Nathan  R.  Leonard,  professor  of  mathematics,  was  the  first  president 
of  the  institution.  He  was  succeeded  in  1906  by  Charles  H.  Bowman, 
professor  of  mathematics,  who  had  been  connected  with  the  school  since 
its  beginning.  In  1918  President  Bowman  was  granted  a  year's  leave  of 
absence,  and  Charles  H.  Qapp,  professor  of  geology  and  mineralogy,  was 
appointed  acting  president.  Upon  President  Bowman's  resignation  in 
1919,  Professor  Clapp  became  president.  When  President  Clapp  became 
head  of  the  State  University  in  July,  1921,  he  was  succeeded  by  Professor 
G.  W.  Craven,  former  vice  president  of  the  school.  Included  by  the 
faculty  are  eight  full  professors,  one  associate  and  two  assistants,  two 
instructors  and  two  assistants. 

The  Legislative  Assembly  of  1919  established  in  the  School  of  Mines 
a  State  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy,  to  aid  in  the  development  of 
the  mineral  resources  of  Montana.  In  much  the  same  way  that  the  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station  at  Bozeman  has  furthered  the  agricultural 
industry  of  the  state,  the  Bureau  of  Mines  and  Metallurgy  has  promoted 
the  mineral  industry.  Its  work,  which  is  considered  auxiliary  to  that  of 
the  School  of  Mjnes,  has  been  fully  described  in  the  chapter  on  mining. 

When  the  State  School  of  Mines  opened  on  September  n,  1900,  the 
faculty  consisted  of  Nathan  R.  Leonard,  president  and  professor  of  mathe- 
matics; William  G.  King,  professor  of  chemistry  and  metallurgy;  Alex- 
ander N.  Winchell,  professor  of  geology  and  mineralogy;  and  Charles  H. 
Bowman,  professor  of  mechanics  and  mining  engineering.  In  January, 
1902,  a  preparatory  department  was  opened  in  charge  of  Prof.  L.  R. 
Foote.  The  second  year  there  was  added  to  the  teaching  corps  a  lecturer 
on  mining  law  in  the  person  of  Hon.  John  B.  Clayberg.  Albert  B.  Knight 
,and  Prof.  E.  H.  McDonald  held  the  first  professorships  of  mining  en- 
gineering. At  the  close  of  the  school  year  1904-05,  the  preparatory  depart- 
ment was  abolished.  In  1907,  during  the  second  year  of  President 
Bowman's  administration,  the  second  building  of  the  School  of  Mines  was 
completed.  It  contained  plants  for  the  cyanidation  and  reduction  of  ores, 
and  its  completion  was  a  great  event  in  the  history  of  the  institution. 

The  enrollment  of  the  school  has  increased  from  thirty-nine  in  the 
first  year  1900-01;  sixty-one  in  1904-05 ;  seventy-five  in  1915-16,  and  126 
in  1919-20.  The  last  figures  are  exclusive  of  sixty-five  extension  corre- 
spondence students. 

PURPOSE  AND  SCOPE 

The  School  of  Mines  has  strictly  confined  itself  to  the  preparation  of 
young  men  "for  the  mining  profession,  and  by  so  doing  has  maintained  a 
very  high  standard  in  this  field.  Before  the  war  90  per  cent  of  its  grad- 


550  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

uates  were  engaged  in  engineering  work,  very  largely  in  mining  engineer- 
ing, and  moreover  many  of  its  graduates  hold  positions  of  great  respon- 
sibility. Although  the  distinction  between  a  purely  vocational  school  and 
an  engineering  college  has  always  been  clearly  in  mind,  the  school  has 
given  its  students  a  practical  knowledge  of  mining  subjects,  as  well  as  a 
thorough  education  in  theoretical  principles.  The  fundamental  subjects 
for  all  forms  of  engineering  are  given  and  special  emphasis  is  laid  upon 
the  three  main  branches  of  mining-geology,  mining  and  milling,  and  metal- 
lurgy. 

LOCATION  AND  BUILDINGS 

The  State  School  of  Mines  is  located  just  inside  the  western  city  limits 
of  Butte.  The  site,  on  the  southern  bench  of  Big  Butte,  the  extinct  vol- 
cano which  dominated  the  city,  and  from  which  the  city  takes  its  name, 
was  donated  by  certain  public-spirited  citizens.  It  is  easily  accessible,  since 
the  street  cars  run  within  two  blocks.  The  location  is  most  commanding, 
and  the  view  from  the  grounds  overlooks  the  city,  mines  and  smelters ; 
as  well  as  the  mountains  which  form  the  Continental  divide,  and  which 
surround  the  valley  in  which  the  city  is  situated  on  the  east  and  south. 

In  Butte  are  to  be  found,  not  only  some  of  the  largest  copper  and 
zinc  mines  of  the  world,  but  great  mills  and  reduction  plants.  These  are 
being  continually  enlarged  and  improved  to  meet  the  demands  of  greater 
industry.  In  addition,  Butte  is  the  site  of  other  great  engineering  enter- 
prises, and  in  few  other  places  is  there  such  an  assemblage  of  machine 
shops,  factories,  and  power  plants  as  are  to  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of 
the  school.  The  city  is,  therefore,  especially  well  fitted  to  meet  the  needs 
of  a  mining  school. 

In  a  very  important  sense  all  of  these  plants  are  a  part  of  the  sub- 
stantial equipment  of  the  school,  because  its  pupils  are  brought  into  daily 
contact  with  the  men  who  are  personally  engaged  in  the  various  depart- 
ments of  the  mining  and  engineering  industry  and  are  thoroughly  con- 
versant with  the  details  of  the  work.  The  main  building  erected  during 
1895  to  1897,  is  a  four-story  pressed  brick  building.  It  measures  118 
by  94  feet,  and  contains  37,000  square  feet  of  floor  space.  In  the  base- 
ment are  the  chemical,  metallurgical,  and  mechanical  testing  laboratories. 
The  next  two  floors  contain  the  recitation  rooms,  drafting  rooms,  min- 
eralogy laboratory,  and  library.  The  fourth  floor  is  devoted  chiefly  to 
museums,  which  contain  extensive  collections  of  minerals,  ores,  and  mine 
models.  In  addition,  there  is  also  on  this  floor  a  petrograph  laboratory 
and  a  blue  print  room. 

In  the  rear  of  the  main  building  is  the  mill  building,  completed  in 
1908.  This  building  measures  70  by  1 10  feet.  It  contains  the  steam  and 
electric  power  plant  which  heats  the  buildings  and  supplies  power  to  the 
mill  and  laboratories.  The  mill  is  equipped  to  handle  large  quantities  of 
ore  conveniently,  and  affords  treatment  of  ores  by  most  of  the  standard 
processes  now  in  practice. 

The  gymnasium  building,  to  the  north  of   the  main  building,   was 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  551 

erected  in  1910.     It  measures  87  by  50  feet  and  contains  a  large  gymna- 
sium hall  70  by  45  feet. 

The  new  chemistry  and  metallurgical  building  cost  $200,000  and  is 
thoroughly  equipped  for  its  purposes. 

THE  MONTANA  STATE  NORMAL  COLLEGE,  DILLON 

The  institution  named  was  established  February  17,  1893,  but  it  did 
not  get  into  practical  operation  until  1897.  Prof.  Joseph  E.  Monroe, 
former  president  of  the  college,  has  described  its  fundamental  aims  and 
plans  to  realize  such  objects,  in  the  following  paragraphs:  "The  Normal 
College  has  held  steadfastly  to  the  ideal  that  successful  teaching  requires 
professional  training  and  effective  training  can  be  based  only  on  sound 
scholarship.  For  this  reason,  an  amount  of  academic  and  collegiate  work 
has  been  required  in  connection  with  the  course  in  training,  greater  in 
subjects  which  they  thought  they  had  finished  in  high  schools.  * 

"From  the  very  nature  of  the  situation,  that  high  school  students  are 
generally  immature  in  age,  and  not  generally  inclined  to  be  careful, 
thoughtful  reasoners  upon  the  problems  which  confront  them,  and  that, 
as  yet,  a  large  part  of  the  faculties  of  our  high  schools  have  not  been 
trained  for  teaching,  it  follows  as  a  matter  of  course  that  many  of  our 
high  school  students  have  never  been  'taught'  but  have  simply  'learned' 
subject  matter.  This  made  it  appear  necessary  to  maintain  courses  in 
connection  with  the  Normal  College,  and  require  students  to  pursue 
subjects  which  they  thought  they  had  finished  in  high  schools. 

"The  scholastic  year  has  been  divided  into  four  quarters  of  twelve 
weeks  each  during  the  past  year  (1912),  instead  of  semesters  of  twenty 
weeks,  as  formerly.  The  fourth  quarter  has  become  available  to  a  class 
of  teachers  who  desire  to  advance  along  both  scholastic  and  professional 
lines.  That  there  is  a  real  demand  for  such  work  on  the  part  of  the 
teachers  themselves  is  evidenced  by  an  increase  in  attendance  of  34  per 
cent  in  the  summer  of  1912,  over  that  of  the  summer  of  1911,  at  the  Nor- 
mal College." 

The  recognized  value  of  the  summer  quarter  in  the  college  curriculum 
was  not  over-emphasized  by  Professor  Monroe  in  1912.  It  has  continued 
to  grow  in  the  esteem  of  the  teachers  and  the  public,  especially  since  the 
period  of  the  World  war,  which  so  thinned  the  ranks  of  the  profession, 
both  men  and  women.  The  college  also  provides  a  two-years'  course  and 
a  three-years'  course  and  a  "teachers'  service  division." 

The  enrollment  of  students  for  the  regular  courses  since  the  college 
opened  has  been:  1897-98,  82;  1901-02,  99;  1906-07,  197;  1911-12,  117; 
1916-17,  250.  The  war  year,  1918,  reduced  the  enrollment  to  129  and  in 
1919-20  it  had  reached  163 — not  a  complete  recovery  of  the  years  since 
1914-15.  During  the  opening  year,  there  was  an  enrollment  of  fifty  for 
the  summer  session,  the  century  mark  being  first  passed  in  1912-13,  when 
the  enrollment  was  no,  and  the  highest  enrollment  was  in  1919-20,  429. 
Including  both  regular  and  summer  courses,  the  total  enrollment  for  the 
last  named  year  was  551. 


552  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  training  school  of  the  college  is  thoroughly  organized  and  unique. 
Instead  of  being  a  "model  school,"  it  is  a  city  system  of  education,  pre- 
senting every  phase  of  organization  and  instruction  that  is  to  be  found  in 
its  practical  operation.  Pupil  teachers  thus  trained  have  actual  experience 
and  problems  are  required  to  be  solved  which  would  naturally  come  to 
them  when  they  are  fully  accredited  members  of  the  profession.  The 
college  not  only  has  a  complete  faculty  but  a  corps  of  critic  teachers  of 
the  training  school.  The  buildings  and  equipment  at  Dillon  are  modern, 
but  capable  of  ready  expansion  with  the  growth  of  the  college. 

Dr.  Sheldon  E.  Davis  assumed  the  presidency  of  the  State  Normal 
College  in  July,  1919,  having  enjoyed  a  long  scholastic  training  and  valu- 
able experience  in  normal  work  in  Missouri.  He  has  also  studied  abroad. 
Two  years  before  the  State  Board  of  Education  appointed  him  president, 
Columbia  University  conferred  upon  him  the  degree  of  Ph.  D. 

Besides  Doctor  Davis,  the  local  administrative  officers  comprise:  E. 
Ray  Mosher,  A.  M.,  vice  president ;  Margaret  Craig  Curran,  A.  B.,  director 
of  teachers'  service  division;  Grant  E.  Finch,  Sc.  D.,  director  of  train- 
ing; Katherine  J.  MacGregor,  college  nurse;  Velma  Phillips,  M.  A.,  dean 
of  women;  Tessie  M.  Degan,  B.  S.,  registrar,  and  M.  Eva  Dull,  house 
director  of  residence  halls.  Altogether,  the  faculty  consists  of  ten  full 
professors,  one  associate  and  eight  assistants;  eleven  instructors  and  as- 
sistants, including  eight  instructors  for  the  summer  quarter,  and  twenty- 
two  critics. 

OTHER  INSTITUTIONS  OF  HIGHER  LEARNING 

Montana  Wesleyan  College,  at  Helena,  was  founded  in  1888,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  opened  for  students  in 
1890,  and  has  been  in  continuous  operation  ever  since.  Its  first  location 
was  five  miles  north  of  the  city  in  the  Prickly  Pear  Valley,  but  after  about 
ten  years,  on  account  of  the  discontinuance  of  street  car  service,  the  school 
was  transferred  to  the  heart  of  Helena.  Henry  Klein  then  made  a  dona- 
tion of  $10,000  to  the  college,  the  trustees  of  which  used  that  fund  and 
purchased  the  twenty-two  acres  in  the  vicinity  of  the  capitol  grounds  as  a 
site  for  the  new  institution.  It  was  called  Klein  campus  in  honor  of  the 
donor  of  the  original  fund.  There  are  dormitories  for  both  boys  and 
girls,  the  latter  being  completed  in  1919.  The  Montana  Wesleyan  College 
is  a  standard  institution,  granting  degrees  in  the  Liberal  Arts  course,  with 
schools  of  education,  music  and  commerce  affiliated. 

The  Billings  Polytechnic  Institute  was  founded  in  1908  through  the 
generosity  and  wisdom  of  John  D.  Losekamp  and  other  citizens  of  Bil- 
lings. Mr.  Losekamp,  who  was  the  author  of  the  present  high  school 
law  of  Montana  had. long  felt  that  there  was  great  need  in  the  state  for 
an  institution  of  learning  which  should  supplement  the  education  furnished 
by  the  state  and  give  boys  and  girls  a  training  which  would  fit  them  for 
useful  citizenship.  The  Polytechnic  was  therefore  instituted  to  control 
the  environment  of  its  students  outside  of  the  class  room.  Its  buildings 
were  erected  on  a  large  irrigated  farm,  the  gift  of  James  J.  Hill,  three 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  553 

miles  from  Billings.  "Here  on  this  farm,"  says  a  reliable  description  of 
the  institute,  "with  its  gardens,  orchards,  dairy  and  fine  farm  crops,  is 
built  a  little  community  which  has  been  organized  into  a  complete  self- 
governing  state.  The  officers,  which  consist  of  governor,  lieutenant  gov- 
ernor, secretary  of  state,  chief  justice,  trial  judge,  state  marshal  and  legis- 
lators, are  elected  by  the  citizens  of  the  state.  It  is  doubtful  if  there  is 
a  better  governed  community  in  the  world  than  this  little  student  republic. 
Its  laws  are  just  and  conscientiously  enforced.  The  young  man  who  spends 
a  few  years  in  this  community  is  trained  to  become  a  statesman  and  is 
ready  to  take  a  leading  part  in  public  affairs  of  his  community. 

"The  industries  which  are  connected  with  the  school  include  the  rais- 
ing of  all  kinds  of  farm  crops  on  irrigated  and  dry  land,  the  caring  for 
fruit,  the  canning  of  vegetables,  caring  for  stock,  making  of  butter,  the 
care  of  poultry  and  bees,  the  construction  of  the  various  buildings,  car- 
pentry, blacksmithing,  plumbing  and  furniture  making.  These  various 
industries  give  the  student  an  opportunity  of  working  his  way  through 
school.  Practical  courses  are  offered  in  commerce,  normal  training  for 
rural  and  graded  teachers,  preparatory  engineering,  practical  agriculture, 
domestic  science  and  music.  There  are  no  entrance  requirements.  Students 
in  any  stage  of  advancement  are  received  and  their  school  work  is  adapted 
to  their  individual  needs.  The  students  maintain  a  non-sectarian  church, 
literary  societies  and  an  athletic  association."  Emphasis  is  placed  on 
musical  instruction,  a  conservatory  having  been  built  at  a  comparatively 
recent  date.  The  aim  of  the  managers  of  the  Polytechnic  is  not  only  to 
surround  the  students  with  occupations  of  a  practical  value,  but  to  place 
before  them  agencies  of  culture  and  elevation. 

Mount  St.  Charles  College,  at  Helena,  is  under  the  control  of  the 
Catholic  Church.  In  both  academic  and  collegiate  courses,  it  is  exclu- 
sively for  boys.  Its  college  course  is  in  the  Liberal  Arts.  The  buildings 
recently  erected  on  the  campus,  in  the  northern  outskirts  of  the  city,  in- 
clude a  gymnasium  and  a  dormitory. 

There  is  also  a  Deaconess  School  five  miles  north  of  Helena  in  the 
Prickly  Pear  Valley.  There  younger  children  are  given  a  home  and  an 
elementary  education.  It  was  opened  in  September,  1909,  in  the  aban- 
doned building  of  the  old  Montana  Wesleyan  University,  which  has  been 
much  improved.  While  under  the  direction  of  the  Methodist  Church,  the 
Montana  Deaconess  School  is  in  no  sense  sectarian,  but  is  designed  to 
provide  a  home  and  a  school  for  children  who  find  it  necessary  to  be 
educated  away  from  their  natural  homes. 

The  Catholic  Church  has  also  academies  for  girls  at  Helena,  Mis- 
soula  and  Great  Falls,  and  high  schools  for  boys  at  Helena  and  Butte. 

Three  institutions  of  a  mixed  character — charitable,  reformatory  and 
educational — may  be  noted  as  completions  of  the  educational  system  of 
Montana.  The  Montana  School  for  Deaf  and  Blind  and  Backward  Chil- 
dren at  Boulder,  Jefferson  County,  represents  an  extensive  plant  of  build- 
ings, more  than  400  acres  of  grounds  and  farm  lands  and  a  corps  of 
teachers  adapted  to  the  purposes  of  the  institution. 

At  Miles  City,  Custer  County,  is  the  State  Reform  School,  the  in- 


554  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

mates  of  which  pursue  the  studies  of  the  public  schools  from  the  first 
to  the  eighth  grades  under  the  supervision  of  the  State  Board  of  Educa- 
tion. School  continues  throughout  the  year. 

The  State  Orphans'  Home  at  Twin  Bridges  is  a  charitable  institution, 
the  inmates  of  which  receive  their  education  as  wards  of  the  common- 
wealth. 

Thus  the  entire  educational  survey  of  Montana  has  been  made,  rang- 
ing through  the  public  schools  of  city  and  country,  the  pupils  of  which 
pass  certain  hours  in  the  class  room,  to  special  institutions  provided  for 
those  who  are  homeless  through  misfortune  or  crime,  and  finally  to  the 
institutions  of  higher  learning  which  cap  the  system  of  the  state  with 
such  honor. 


CHAPTER  XXIII 
MODERN  MEANS  OF  COMMUNICATION 

For  many  years  Montana  was  far  to  the  north  of  the  great  overland 
trails — the  California,  the  Salt  Lake  and  the  Oregon — but  with  the  rush 
of  the  gold  seekers  and  traders  to  the  new  country,  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment commenced  to  push  the  building  of  the  military  road,  already  author- 
ized by  Congress,  under  Lieut.  John  Mullan,  from  Fort  Walla  Walla  to 
Fort  Benton. 

THE  MULLAN  GOVERNMENT  ROAD 

Writing  of  Mullan's  work,  Judge  Frank  H.  Woody  says :  "He  organ- 
ized his  expedition  at  the  Dalles,  Oregon,  in  the  spring  of  1858,  but  was 
forced  to  disband  it  on  account  of  Indian  hostilities.  He  again  organized 
in  the  spring  of  1859,  and  constructed  the  road  over  the  Coeur  d'Alene 
mountains  as  far  as  Cantonment  Jordan  on  the  St.  Regis  Borgia,  where 
he  went  into  winter  quarters,  sending  his  stock  to  the  Bitter  Root  Valley. 
During  the  winter  the  greater  portion  of  the  heavy  grades  between  French- 
town  and  the  mouth  of  Cedar  Creek  was  constructed.  In  the  spring  of 
1860,  he  resumed  his  march  and  took  his  expedition  through  to  Fort 
Benton,  doing  but  little  work,  however,  between  Hell  Gate  and  Fort 
Benton. 

"In  the  spring  of  1861  Lieutenant  Mullan  organized  another  party  and 
started  for  Fort  Benton  to  finish  up  the  road  that  he  had  merely  opened 
the  year  before.  His  expedition  was  accompanied  by  an  escort  of  100 
men  under  command  of  Lieutenant  Marsh.  The  expedition  came  as  far 
as  the  crossing  of  the  Big  Blackfoot  River,  where  they  erected  winter 
quarters  and  named  them  Cantonment  Wright,  in  honor  of  Colonel,  after- 
ward General  Wright  who  quelled  the  Indian  war  of  1858  so  effectively. 
During  that  winter  the  heavy  grades  in  the  Hell  Gate  canyon  were  con- 
structed. In  the  spring  of  1862,  Cantonment  Wright  was  broken  up, 
Mullan  with  his  party  going  to  Benton  and  the  escort  under  Lieutenant 
Marsh  returning  to  Walla  Walla  and  Colville." 

THE  BOZEMAN  CUT-OFF 

In  1862-64,  John  M.  Bozeman  opened  the  famous  cut-off,  branching 
from  the  old  Platte  route  on  the  south  and  running  between  the  Black 
Hills  and  Wind  River  mountains  to  Gallatin  Valley  and  Virginia  City. 
In  1865,  the  gold  discoveries  on  the  Little  Blackfoot  and  its  tributaries, 
and  along  the  affluents  of  the  Big  Blackfoot  River,  brought  a  great  influx 
of  emigrants  from  California,  Oregon,  Idaho  and  Washington.  Nearly 

555. 


556  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

all  of  them  came  over  the  Coeur  d'Alene  mountains  by  way  of  the  Mul- 
lan  Road. 

FIRST  STEAMBOATS  IN  WESTERN  MONTANA 

The  trail  across  the  Coeur  d'Alene  mountains  was  impassable  until 
July.  It  was  therefore  necessary  to  find  another  route  whereby  the  gold 
seekers,  merchants  and  travelers  could  reach  Montana  at  an  earlier  sea- 
son. The  spring  travel  came  by  way  of  Pend  d'Oreilles  Lake  and  up 
Clark's  Fork  of  the  Columbia.  The  heavy  travel  over  this  route  and  the 
prevailing  belief  that  the  Northern  Pacific  railroad  would  soon  be  a  reality, 
induced  the  Oregon  Steam  Navigation  Company  of  Portland,  Oregon, 
to  establish  steamboat  transportation  on  the  lake  and  river,  thus  consid- 
erably shortening  the  distance  to  Montana.  In  the  fall  of  1865,  a  little 
steamboat  about  a  hundred  feet  in  length  was  launched  from  the  western 
shores  of  Lake  Pend  d'Oreilles,  Idaho — Mary  Moody,  by  name.  In  the 
spring  of  1866,  she  steamed  across  the  lake  and  up  Qark's  Fork,  about 
fifteen  miles,  to  the  Cabinet  landing.  This  was  the  first  steamboat  that 
ever  navigated  the  waters  of  Western  Montana,  and  two  others  followed 
within  the  following  two  or  three  years.  Owing  to  lack  of  water  in  the 
mining  camps  in  1869,  travel  fell  off  so  rapidly  that  the  boats  were  taken 
out  of  service  in  the  summer  of  1870  and  transferred  to  the  lower  Colum- 
bia route. 

The  overland  stage  and  mail  lines  had  their  feverish  period  south  of 
Montana,  until  the  completion  of  the  Union  and  Central  Pacific  railroads 
in  1869;  and  Montana  had  its  local  lines  and  experiences.  Upon  the  com- 
pletion of  the  telegraph  in  the  autumn  of  1861,  the  pony  express  waned 
and  finally  disappeared  as  a  western  means  of  communication,  but  the 
stage  endured  for  some  time  after,  for  the  "accommodation"  of  pas- 
sengers and  the  mails. 


No  mail  route  was  established  by  the  government  into  Montana  until 
the  later  portion  of  1864.  Letters  and  newspapers  were  sent  by  express 
and  the  recipients  cheerfully  paid  $i  in  gold  for  each  piece  of  mail  coming 
or  going,  at  intervals  unknown  either  to  the  public  or  the  service. 

The  telegraph  line  from  the  Union  Pacific  at  Corrine  to  Virginia  City 
was  completed  on  November  2,  1866,  and  extended  to  Helena  on  the  I4th 
of  October,  1867.  Judge  Cornelius  Hedges  states  that  the  first  dispatch 
over  the  Montana  wires  announced  the  election  of  Allen  G.  Thurman  for 
governor  of  Ohio — a  mistake,  by  the  way. 

OVERLAND  AND  STATE  STAGE  LINES 

During  this  period,  which  heralded  the  close  of  the  old-time  overland 
stage  line,  Ben  Holladay  was  the  outstanding  figure.  He  directed  not  only 
the  Central  overland,  but  spur  lines  with  government  contracts,  to  Upper 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


557 


California,  Oregon,  Idaho  and  Montana.  Toward  the  close  of  1866,  Holla- 
day  sold  out  to  Wells,  Fargo  &  Company. 

As  to  local  lines:  Immediately  after  the  settlement  of  Alder  Gulch 
a  stage  line  was  established  by  A.  J.  Oliver  between  Bannack  and  Salt 
Lake  City,  and  not  long  thereafter  a  stage  line  service  was  introduced 
connecting  the  leading  mining  camps  of  the  territory.  The  Montana 
Post,  of  Virginia  City,  in  its  issue  of  January  20,  1866,  announces  that 
Smith's  stage  leaves  for  Gallatin  every  Monday ;  Oliver's  to  Helena,  Mon- 
day, Wednesday  and  Friday,  fare  $25 ;  the  Overland  stage  for  the  East, 
Sunday,  Tuesday,  Thursday  and  Saturday;  fare  to  Salt  Lake,  $75  in 
bankable  dust. 

The  stage  coach  travel  in  Montana  differed  little  from  the  Overland 
traffic.  It  was  precarious  and  dangerous,  especially  during  its  last  days. 
The  drivers  were  often  drunken  and  reckless,  the  roads  over  mountain 
grades  were  unsafe,  Indians  lurked  in  the  hills  and  canyons,  and  far 


EARLY-DAY  STAGE  COACH 

worse  than  the  Indians  were  the  road  agents.  The  stage  stations  were 
chiefly  conspicuous  for  their  lack  of  accommodations.  A  speaking  illus- 
tration of  this  feature  of  stage  travel  was  the  current  title  of  one  of  the 
stopping  places  in  Montana — "Dirty  Woman's  Ranch." 

Indian  troubles  consequent  upon  the  building  of  the  railroads  made 
travel  on  the  stage  lines  more  and  more  dangerous,  and  criticism  of  their 
crude  accommodations  became  severe.  Capt.  James  L.  Fiske,  with  his 
famous  emigrant  train,  had  blazed  a  new  way  from  Minnesota  to  Mon- 
tana, and,  upon  his  return  to  the  East  over  Holladay's  stage  line,  de- 
nounced it  in  unequivocal  terms.  Henry  Villard,  the  railroad  magnate, 
was  also  a  hostile  critic.  Its  enemies  were  powerful  and  its  days  were 
numbered. 

FORT  BENTON  DURING  ANTE-RAILROAD  DAYS 

Before  1869,  when  the  Union  and  Central  Pacific  railroads  met  at 
Ogden,  Utah,  the  Missouri  River  was  the  main  channel  of  transportation 


558  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

for  Montana  gold  shipments  and  Fort  Benton  the  natural  and  actual 
gateway.  Lieutenant  Bradley  presents  the  following  picture  of  the  "boom" 
which  thus  overtook  the  river  port:  "Some  of  it  (gold)  was  borne  upon 
the  persons  of  the  returning  miners — again  shipped  in  large  quantities 
as  freight.  In  one  instance  the  sum  of  $1,500,000  was  forwarded  from 
Helena  to  Fort  Benton  in  one  shipment  by  private  conveyance.  *  *  * 
Gold  was  to  be  seen  trundled  along  the  streets  in  wheelbarrows.  Packages 
of  great  value  were  sometimes  dropped  carelessly  in  an  obscure  corner  and 
left  for  hours  before  their  trustful  owners  again  laid  claim  to  them:  Mr. 
I.  G.  Baker  shows  a  dent  in  his  office  floor  made  by  a  package  dropped 
through  the  window  in  this  careless  manner.  It  was  so  large  that  it  re- 
quired several  men  to  handle  it,  and  it  remained  two  or  three  days  before 
he  learned  to  whom  it  belonged.  But  there  were  others  more  careful  of 
the  fortunes  which  had  come  to  them.  There  were  constant  applications 
to  owners  of  safes  for  permission  to  make  temporary  deposits  in  them. 
As  fast  as  sacks  were  drawn  out,  others  were  waiting  to  fill  their  places, 
and  the  most  capacious  safes  were  taxed  to  their  utmost  limits.  Trade 
assumed  extensive  proportions  and  business  was  lively.  From  four  steam- 
boat arrivals  in  1862  the  number  increased  to  forty-two  boats  in  1869." 
In  order  to  bind  the  gold  camps  with  Fort  Benton,  John  J.  Roe,  Capt. 
Nick  Wall  and  others  organized  a  wagon  transportation  service,  the  lines 
of  which  were  from  150  to  250  miles.  These  land  freighters,  who  trans- 
ported gold  to  Fort  Benton  and  supplies  to  the  mining  camps,  at  first 
received  as  high  as  10  cents  a  pound,  but  later,  with  the  increase  of  com- 
petition, were  obliged  to  be  reasonable  in  their  freight  charges. 

UTAH  &  NORTHERN  (UNION  PACIFIC)  EXTENDS  INTO  MONTANA 

Although  the  Northern  Pacific  railway  surveys  had  been  under  way 
since  1853,  and  they  had  been  fathered  and  protected  by  the  Government, 
the  first  line  to  be  built  into  Montana  was  an  offshoot  of  the  Union  Pacific 
from  the  south.  The  extension  was  Brigham  Young's  plan  and  the  canny 
Mormon  leader  aimed  to  extend  the  Utah  &  Northern  into  Montana  over 
the  Oregon  and  Montana  trails  of  the  old  days.  When  construction  com- 
menced in  the  late  'jos,  the  Utah  &  Northern  had  passed  from  a  receiver's 
hands  into  the  Union  Pacific  system  and  was  for  a  number  of  years  oper- 
ated as  a  narrow-gauge  railroad.  Congress  granted  it  various  rights-of- 
way  and  the  Montana  Legislative  Assembly  also  suggested  a  route  or 
two ;  but  the  salient  fact  is  that  while  governmental  maneuvers,  by  nation 
and  state,  were  occurring,  the  Utah  &  Northern  was  steadily  approaching 
the  Montana  line,  via  Idaho.  In  April,  1877,  when  it  had  reached  the 
Snake  River  Valley,  its  president,  Sidney  Dillon,  made  a  proposition  to 
Governor  Potts  for  its  extension  into  Montana.  "A  special  session  of  the 
Legislature  was  therefore  convened  to  consider  the  proposition,"  says 
a  writer  describing  the  final  establishment  of  the  Oregon  Short  Line,  the 
pioneer  of  Montana  railroads,  "and  the  leader  of  the  upper  House,  Wil- 
bur F.  Sanders,  as  chairman  of  the  Judiciary  Committee,  strongly  advo- 
cated, in  the  face  of  much  misdirected  opposition,  the  advantages  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  559 

railway.  As  a  matter  of  fact,  approaching  from  the  south  it  had  already 
crossed  the  southern  boundary  of  Montana  and  advanced  ten  miles  north- 
erly.' Moreover,  on  July  i,  1878,  it  had  gained  stability  by  placing  a 
thirty-year  bond  issue  for  $4,991, ooo,  covering  among  other  properties, 
389.59  miles  of  roadbed  from  Ogden,  Utah,  to  Silver  Bow,  Montana,  and 
56.59  miles  from  Butte  to  Garrison." 

During  1880,  the  road  reached  Silver  Bow,  approximately  125  miles 
northward  from  the  Idaho  line.  In  1881,  a  branch  was  completed  from 
Butte  to  Garrison ;  this,  however,  was  presently  handed  over  to  the  North- 
ern Pacific  by  a  ninety-nine  year  lease.  The  operation  of  the  main  line 
was  under  what  was  known  as  the  Union  Pacific  system,  remaining  until 
1889,  a  narrow  gauge. 

THE  OREGON  SHORT  LINE 

On  August  i,  1889,  the  Utah  &  Northern  was  consolidated  with  the 
Oregon  Short  Line  Railway  Company  and  in  1897  the  two  were  merged 
into  the  Oregon  Short  Line  Railroad  Company.  It  is  generally  known  as 
the  Oregon  Short  Line,  its  Montana  terminus  being  Butte.  Dillon  is  the 
only  other  town  of  considerable  size  having  a  station  on  the  line  within 
the  state. 


The  Northern  Pacific  line  in  Montana  was  the  first  to  be  projected  and 
the  last  to  be  completed.  Repeated  mention  has  been  made  of  the  gov- 
ernment expedition  and  Northern  Pacific  survey,  under  Governor  I.  I. 
Stevens,  of  Washington  territory,  in  1853.  The  leader  made  a  compre- 
hensive report  of  both,  including  observations  of  the  fauna,  flora  and 
topography  of  the  country  traversed  from  the  Pacific  coast  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi Valley;  but  the  northern  transcontinental  route  languished,  and 
received  a  further  set-back  with  the  completion  of  the  Union  Central 
Pacific  in  May,  1869. 

The  Northern  Pacific,  however,  had  its  unwavering  supporters,  among 
whom  was  Josiah  Perham,  who  transferred  his  organization  and  influence 
originally  designed  to  promote  a  line  from  the  Missouri  River  to  San 
Francisco  Bay,  to  the  route  contemplated,  from  the  head  of  Lake  Superior 
to  the  shores  of  Puget  Sound.  He  gained  the  friendship  and  support  of 
the  powerful  Thaddeus  Stevens,  of  Pennsylvania,  and  on  July  2,  1864, 
President  Lincoln  signed  the  Northern  Pacific  bill.  It  provided  for  a 
land  grant  of  twenty  sections  per  mile  of  track  in  the  states  of  Minnesota 
and  Oregon  and  forty  in  the  territories.  But  it  was  expressly  stated  that 
"no  money  should  be  drawn  from  the  treasury  of  the  United  States  to 
aid  in  the  construction  of  said  Northern  Pacific  railroad."  The  bill  also 
provided  that  after  10  per  cent  of  the  required  $2,000,000  in  subscriptions 
should  be  paid  in,  an  organization  of  the  company  should  be  effected. 
Mr.  Perham,  who  was  elected  its  first  president,  died  in  1868,  and  was 
followed  as  chief  executive  by  J.  Gregory  Smith.  Largely  through  him, 


560  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  famous  Jay  Cooke  &  Company,  of  New  York,  were  induced  to  finance 
the  enterprise  and  actual  construction  was  begun  in  1870,  near  Duluth, 
Minnesota.  It  had  proceeded  as  far  westward  as  Bismarck,  North  Dakota, 
and  as  far  eastward  as  New  Tacoma,  a  small  town  on  the  Pacific  coast, 
when  the  panic  of  1873  ruined  Jay  Cooke  &  Company. 

In  1875,  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company  went  into  the  hands 
of  a  receiver  and  was  quiescent  for  six  years.  It  was  reorganized  on 
June  24,  1881,  under  the  leadership  of  Henry  Villard,  who  became  its 
president.  The  interrupted  work  of  construction  was  resumed  and  pushed 
to  completion.  Finally,  on  September  8,  1883,  the  golden  spike,  which 
marked  the  meeting  of  the  eastern  and  western  units,  near  Garrison,  was 
driven  by  President  Villard  himself.  It  was  also  near  the  locality  where 
had  met  the  advance  parties  of  Governor  Stevens's  exploring  and  sur- 
veying expedition  of  1853 — one  having  come  from  St.  Paul,  Minnesota, 
and  the  other  from  Puget  Sound  and  the  Columbia  River. 

The  central  administrative  and  executive  offices  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railway,  as  it  is  now  incorporated,  are  in  St.  Paul.  Tacoma  is  its  western 
terminus.  With  the  Great  Northern  Railway  Company,  it  also  owns  a 
half  interest  in  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  road  in  Montana,  which 
projects  for  a  few  miles  into  the  state  from  the  south. 

The  Northern  Pacific  follows  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  and  the 
headwaters  of  the  Missouri  and  the  Columbia  to  the  mountain  ranges  and 
valleys  of  Western  Montana.  It  throws  out  spurs  north,  south  and  west, 
accommodating  all  the  larger  towns  of  the  state,  and  it  emerges  into  Idaho 
through  the  valleys  of  Clark's  Fork  of  the  Columbia. 

THE  GREAT  NORTHERN  RAILWAY 

The  trunk  line  of  this  system  may  be  said  to  pass  through  more  north- 
ern and  less  developed  sections  of  Minnesota,  North  Dakota,  Montana, 
Idaho,  Washington  and  Oregon  than  the  Northern  Pacific.  It  sends  down 
spurs  into  both  Dakotas,  and  into  the  central  and  western  parts  of  Mon- 
tana to  Great  Falls,  Lewistown,  Billings  and  Butte.  Among  the  stations 
and  large  towns  along  the  trunk  line  in  Northern  Montana  are  Glasgow 
and  Havre  and  the  railroad  bounds  the  Glacier  National  Park  on  the 
south.  Branches  from  the  Great  Northern  also  run  to  Winnipeg,  Por- 
tage, Brandon  and  other  points  in  Manitoba,  Canada.  In  fact,  the  system 
is  a  development  of  various  roads  projected  from  St.  Paul,  Duluth  and 
Manitoba  to  the  Pacific  coast  by  men  whose  vision  was  broader  than  their 
means,  and  which  were  assumed  by  those  who  had  both  the  vision  and  the 
means.  At  the  head  and  front  of  these  practical  seers  was  the  late  James 
J.  Hill,  the  railroad  king  of  northern  United  States  and  of  the  dominion 
of  Canada. 

Fortunately  for  this  history,  Mr.  Hill  told  the  story  of  the  origin  and 
growth  of  the  Great  Northern  in  July,  1912,  at  the  time  of  his  resignation 
from  the  chairmanship  of  the  board  of  directors  of  that  road.  The  por- 
tions of  his  address  which  are  so  succinct  and  apropos  that  for  purposes 
of  conveying  the  desired  information  it  would  be  impossible  to  improve 
upon  them  are  as  follows : 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  561 

"Nearly  forty  years  ago  the  thought  of  a  possible  railway  enterprise 
in  the  Northwest  began  to  occupy  my  mind.  It  was  born  of  experience 
in  Northwestern  transportation  problems  that  had  occupied  -  most  of  my 
early  business  life,  of  faith  in  the  productive  powers  and  material  re- 
sources of  this  part  of  the  country,  and  of  railroad  conditions  at  that  time. 
The  feverish  activity  in  securing  railroad  concessions  in  land  and  cash 
that  marked  the  sixth  decade  of  the*  last  century  had  been  followed  by 
collapse.  Doomed  as  these  enterprises  were  to  ultimate  failure  by  their 
lack  of  commercial  foundation  and  financial  soundness,  they  were  sud- 
denly wrecked  by  the  panic  of  1873.  Aside  from  the  Northern  Pacific 
property,  the  lines  in  the  State  of  Minnesota  most  important  and  available 
if  converted  into  real  assets  for  the  development  of  the  Northwest  were 
the  fragments  of  the  old  St.  Paul  &  Pacific  Company.  Following  the 
panic  of  1873  these  were  in  the  hands  of  a  receiver.  The  holders  of  their 
securities  in  Holland  were  more  anxious  to  recover  what  they  could  from 
the  wreck  than  to  put  more  money  into  its  completion  and  improvements 
that  must  be  made  if  the  properties  were  to  continue  to  be  operated  at  all. 
Their  value  lay  to  some  extent  in  what  was  left  of  a  land  grant,  which 
would  be  valuable  as  soon  as  the  country  should  be  opened,  but  chiefly  in 
the  possibilities  of  traffic  from  the  millions  of  productive  acres  in  the 
Northwest  to  be  opened  to' settlement  by  transportation  facilities.  Yet  so 
great  seemed  the  task  and  so  uncertain  the  reward,  in  the  general  opinion, 
that  any  plan  of  acquiring  and  reorganizing  the  property  was  regarded  as 
visionary  in  those  days  by  most  holders  of  capital  and  most  men  of  affairs. 

"After  long  and  close  study  of  the  situation  the  slender  beginning  was 
made  on  which  we  risked  our  all.  Failure  would  be  immediate  and  final 
disaster.  My  associates  were  George  Stephen,  now  Lord  Mount  Stephen, 
Donald  A.  Smith,  now  Lord  Strathcona,  and  Norman  W.  Kittson.  We 
bought  the  defaulted  bonds  of  these  properties  from  the  Dutch  holders. 
The  agreement  with  the  Dutch  committee  was  executed  March  13,  1878, 
and  practically  all  outstanding  indebtedness  was  subsequently  secured.  The 
mortgages  were  afterwards  foreclosed  and  the  property  was  bought  in. 
For  those  days  it  seemed  a  formidable  financial  undertaking.  The  stock  of 
these  companies  aggregated  $6,500,000,  and  their  bonded  indebtedness 
with  past  due  interest  nearly  $33,000,000,  aside  from  floating  obligations. 
These  had  to  be  purchased  at  prices  above  those  for  which  they  had  pre- 
viously been  offered  in  the  open  market.  The  total  capitalization  and  in- 
debtedness at  that  time  of  the  companies  taken  over  was  approximately 
$44,000,000. 

"The  property  secured  consisted  of  completed  lines  from  St.  Paul, 
via  St.  Anthony  to  Melrose,  a  distance  of  104  miles,  and  from  Minneapolis 
to  Breckenridge,  a  distance  of  207  miles;  and  of  two  projected  lines,  one 
from  Sauk  Rapids  to  Brainerd  and  one  from  Melrose  to  the  Red  River  at 
St.  Vincent  on  the  international  boundary  line.  On  these  latter  some 
grading  had  been  done,  and  about  seventy-five  miles  of  track  had  been  laid. 
There  were  gaps  between  Melrose  and  Barnesville,  Crookston  and  St.  Vin- 
cent, that  must  be  filled  quickly.  In  themselves,  had  it  not  been  for  the 
promise  of  the  future,  these  were  scattered  tracks  in  a  country  just 

Vol.  1—36 


562  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

being  settled,  out  of  which  to  construct  a  railway  system  and  on  which 
to  base  the  financing  of  their  purchase  and  development. 

"We  advanced  the  money  to  build  the  Red  River  Valley  Railroad, 
fourteen  miles  of  track  from  Crookston  to  Fisher's  Landing,  on  the  Red 
River,  making  a  through  route  by  steamboat  from  that  point  to  Winnipeg. 
While  negotiations  were  pending  and  also  after  they  were  concluded  but 
before  possession  could  be  secured  through  the  foreclosure  of  mortgages, 
an  immense  amount  of  work  had  been  done.  The  extension  from  Melrose 
to  Barnesville  must  be  pushed,  and  was  carried  thirty-three  miles  as  far  as 
Alexandria ;  and  ninety  miles  were  built  in  the  Red  River  Valley  to  reach 
the  Canadian  boundary.  The  former  was  necessary  to  save  the  land  grant, 
whose  time  limit,  already  extended,  was  about  to  expire.  The  latter  was 
in  addition  to  connect  with  a  railroad  projected  by  the  Canadian  govern- 
ment from  Winnipeg  south.  As  the  properties  were  still  in  the  hands  of 
a  receiver,  an  order  had  to  be  obtained  from  the  court  for  the  completion 
of  the  work  in  Minnesota  with  funds  furnished  us.  Money  had  to  be 
raised  to  build  these  lines  and  to  furnish  equipment  necessary  for  their 
operation. 

"In  May,  1879,  the  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis  &  Manitoba  Railway  Com- 
pany was  organized  to  take  over  all  these  properties,  whose  bonds  had 
been  largely  purchased,  whose  stocks  had  been-  secured  and  whose  assets 
were  to  be  bought  in  under  foreclosure.  It  had  an  authorized  capital 
stock  of  $15,000,000,  limited  by  its  charter  to  $20,000,000,  and  made  two 
mortgages  of  $8,000,000  each.  George  Stephen  was  made  first  President 
of  the  Company,  Richard  B.  Angus,  Vice  President,  and  I  was  chosen 
General  Manager.  This  placed  upon  me  the  practical  conduct  of  the 
enterprise  from  its  formal  inception. 

"The  lines  of  the  new  system  turned  over  to  our  possession  on  June 
23»  !879,  comprised  a  mileage  of  667  miles,  of  which  565  were  completed 
and  1 02  under  construction.  From  the  beginning  its  business  fulfilled  the 
expectations  of  its  founders.  The  annual  report  for  1880  showed  an  in- 
crease in  earning  of  54  per  cent,  and  land  sales  amounting  to  $1,200,000. 
And  now  began  the  long  task  of  building  up  the  country.  No  sooner  was 
a  mile  of  road  finished  than  the  need  of  building  other  miles  became  appar- 
ent. Before  Minnesota  had  filled  up  the  tide  of  immigration  was  passing 
even  the  famous  Red  River  Valley  country  and  flowing  into  Dakota.  By 
1880  it  had  become  necessary  to  add  a  line  down  the  Dakota  side  of  the 
Red  River,  to  plan  for  many  extensions  and  branches,  and  two  local 
companies,  building  lines  in  western  Minnesota  were  purchased. 

"Only  a  detailed  history  of  the  railroad  could  follow  step  by  step  the 
progress  of  track  extension  and  the  financial  arrangements  by  which 
capital  was  furnished  for  these  constant  and  always  growing  demands 
from  this  time  on.  In  a  brief  review  such  as  this,  I  can  call  attention  only 
to  what  may  fairly  be  called  points  of  historic  interest  in  the  growth  of 
what  is  now  the  Great  Northern  System.  One  of  these  was  the  provision 
of  an  eastern  outlet  by  way  of  the  Great  Lakes.  An  interest  was  obtained 
in  the  St.  Paul  &  Duluth  Railroad  Company  in  1881.  This,  with  the  build- 
ing of  the  link  from  St.  Cloud  to  Hinckley,  gave  the  necessary  access  to 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  563 

the  Great  Lakes,  until  the  organization  of  the  Eastern  Minnesota  in 
1887  as  a  subsidiary  company  furnished  a  permanent  outlet  and  terminale. 
I  was  made  Vice  President  of  the  Company,  November  i,  1881,  and  on 
August  21,  1882,  succeeded  to  the  Presidency,  a  position  whose  duties  I 
was  to  discharge  for  a  quarter  of  a  century.  Mr.  John  S.  Kennedy,  who 
had  joined  our  part  after  the  organization  of  the  Company,  was  elected 
Vice  President.  At  no  time  have  I  accepted  any  salary  for  my  services  as 
President  or  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors,  since  I  have  felt  that  I 
was  sufficiently  compensated  by  the  increase  in  the  value  of  the  property 
in  which  my  interest  has  always  been  large. 

"Business  now  grew  more  and  more  rapidly,  the  Northern  Pacific  was 
about  completed  and  the  Canadian  Pacific  was  building  toward  the  Coast. 
The  St.  Paul  and  Pacific  Railroad  was  originally,  as  its  name  implied, 
intended  as  a  transcontinental  line.  The  route  to  be  traversed  was  rich 
in  fertile  soils  and  abundance  of  mineral  and  forest  resources.  Quite  as 
important,  perhaps,  was  the  fact  that  it  admitted  of  the  construction  of 
a  line  with  grades  so  low  and  curves  so  moderate  as  to  make  possible 
cheaper  overland  carriage  than  had  ever  been  previously  considered.  Mon- 
tana was  beginning  a  large  development  of  her  own ;  while  the  active  growth 
of  the  North  Pacific  Coast,  though  only  in  embryo,  could  be  foreseen.  In 
1887  the  lines  of  the  Manitoba  were  extended  to  a  connection  with  the 
Montana  Central.  This  latter  company  had  been  incorporated  early  in 
January,  1886.  Realizing  the  importance  of  occupying  a  field  in  Montana 
which  was  essential  to  the  future  transcontinental  line,  valuable  in  itself 
and  one  which  others  were  already  preparing  to  secure,  we  had,  with  some 
friends,  organized  the  company  under  the  laws  of  Montana.  Work  was 
begun  at  once,  the  surveys  being  made  in  the  coldest  winter  weather. 
Construction  was  rushed.  The  track  was  completed  to  Helena  in  1887  and 
to  Butte  by  the  middle  of  1888.  A  branch  to  Sand  Coulee  opened  up  the 
coal  mines  of  that  region,  furnishing  fuel  for  use  on  the  Montana  and 
Dakota  divisions  of  the  line,  and  for  the  development  of  the  mining  inter- 
ests in  Montana  which  had  been  obliged  up  to  that  time  to  bring  in  their 
coal  from  Wyoming.  The  work  of  extending  the  Manitoba  line  to  connect 
with  the  Montana  Central  launched  this  Company  upon  the  most  active 
period  of  construction  ever  known  in  this  country. 

"Five  hundred  continuous  miles  were  graded  between  April  and  Sep- 
tember, 1887,  and  by  November  18,  643  miles  of  track  had  been  laid,  an 
average  rate  of  construction  of  3^4  miles  for  each  working  day.  The 
annual  report  for  that  year  said:  The  new  mileage  under  construction 
within  the  period  covered  by  the  fiscal  year  ending  June  30  and  the  residue 
of  the  calendar  year  1887  *  *  *  amounts  to  the  relatively  large  quan- 
tity of  1,443.97  miles,  or  95.5  per  cent  of  the  mileage  under  operation  at 
the  beginning  of  the  same  fiscal  year.  But  this  activity  on  the  main  line 
to  the  West  was  only  one  item  in  the  extension  program.  In  the  years  be- 
tween 1882  and  1888  the  stone  arch  bridge  and  terminals  in  Minneapolis 
were  completed;  the  Dakota  line  down  the  Red  River  was  finished  to  a 
connection  with  the  Canadian  Pacific ;  the  Casselton  branch  was  purchased ; 
a  line  was  built  from  Willmar  to  Sioux  Falls;  and  afterwards  extended 


RAILROADS  OVER  THE  MONTANA  MOUNTAINS 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  565 

to  Yankton;  some  railroads  in  South  Dakota  were  bought;  the  Montana 
was  taken  over  at  cost,  and  an  elevator  and  large  terminals  at  West  Su- 
perior were  arranged  for.  In  1889  the  line  to  Duluth  and  West  Superior 
was  completed,  giving  terminals  and  dock  accommodations  which  today  are 
not  surpassed  anywhere  in  the  country.  The  total  mileage  operated  had 
now  increased  to  3,030  miles.  The  Company  had  also  begun  to  operate  its 
own  steamships,  through  the  Northern  Steamship  Company,  on  the  Great 
Lakes.  These  boats,  which  began  to  run  in  1888  and  1890,  not  only 
afforded  greater  dispatch  in  the  carriage  of  grain  and  flour  from  the  head 
of  the  lakes  to  Buffalo  and  other  lake  ports,  but  they  made  the  railroad 
independent  of  other  lake  lines.  It  was  thus  enabled  to  protect  its  patrons, 
and  to  prevent  its  reduction  in  rates  from  being  absorbed  by  increase  made 
by  lines  east  of  its  lake  terminals. 

"In  1889  the  Great  Northern  Railway  Company  was  organized,  to 
bind  into  a  compact  whole  the  various  properties  that  had  grown  too  large 
for  the  charter  limitations  of  the  old  Manitoba.  It  leased  all  the  property 
of  the  latter  company,  and  was  prepared  to  finance  the  undertakings  about 
to  be  completed  or  in  contemplation.  By  1893  the  line  was  opened 
through  to  Puget  Sound.  In  the  next  five  or  six  years  many  improve- 
ments were  made  by  relaying  track  with  heavier  rails  and  by  changes  in 
equipment  and  large  additions  thereto.  Branches  and  feeders  were  built 
to  round  out  the  system.  In  1897  a  more  direct  line  from  the  head  of  the 
lakes  to  the  West  was  created  by  purchase  and  construction  that  com- 
pleted a  road  across  northern  Minnesota  to  a  connection  with  the  main 
line.  The  taking  over  of  the  Seattle  &  Montana  which,  like  the  Montana 
Central,  had  been  built  by  us  to  assure  adequate  terminals  on  the  Pacific 
Coast  and  to  enable  construction  to  go  forward  from  both  ends  of  the 
line  at  once,  extended  the  system  from  both  Seattle  to  Vancouver,  British 
Columbia.  In  1889  it  had  entered  the  ore  producing  regions  of  northern 
Minnesota  that  was  to  give  it  a  large  addition  to  its  traffic. 

"Just  as  in  the  building  of  the  Montana  Central  and  the  Seattle  & 
Montana,  it  was  necessary  to  know  thoroughly  the  country  in  advance 
of  railroad  construction  and  to  act  upon  that  knowledge,  so  these  ore  lands 
in  northern  Minnesota  had  to  be  examined;  and  some  of  them  it  seemed 
desirable  to  acquire,  with  a  view  of  the  effect  upon  the  future  of  the  Com" 
pany's  business.  In  January,  1899,  I  purchased  the  Wright  &  Davis  prop- 
erty, consisting  of  a  line  of  railroad,  some  logging  road  and  -a  large 
quantity  of  ore  lands.  The  purchase  for  $4,050,000  was  made  by  me  in- 
dividually. My  purpose  was  to  secure  the  shipments  of  ore  from  these 
properties  for  the  Great  Northern ;  and  the  profits  from  the  mines,  if  there 
were  any  profits,  for  the  stockholders  of  the  Company.  The  railroad  was 
turned  over  to  the  Great  Northern  at  cost.  The  ore  property  was  trans- 
ferred at  cost  to  the  Lake  Superior  Company,  Limited,  organized  October 
20,  1900,  to  hold  in  trust,  together  with  other  ore  interests  acquired  later. 
A  trust  to  administer  the  Great  Northern  ore  properties  was  formed 
December  7,  1906,  under  resolutions  adopted  by  the  Great  Northern  Com- 
pany. This  trust  took  over  the  ore  interests  acquired  by  me,  additional  ore 
lands  subsequently  secured  and  other  properties.  It  issued  against  them 


566  .       HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

1,500,000  shares  of  certificates  of  beneficial  interest,  which  were  distributed, 
share  for  share,  to  holders  of  Great  Northern  stock  at  the  time.  The 
stockholders  were  thus  put  in  possession  of  all  the  benefits  accruing  from 
the  whole  transaction.  At  the  end  of  the  last  fiscal  year  the  trustees  had 
distributed  a  total  of  $7,500,000  to  the  certificate  holders \;  while  the  future 
value  of  the  properties  so  covered,  owing  to  the  quality  and  accessibility  of 
the  ore  and  the  demand  of  the  iron  industry  for  new  supplies  of  raw 
material,  must  be  very  large. 

"In  1901  the  Company  decided  to  open  negotiations  for  the  joint 
purchase  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  System  by  the  Great  North- 
ern and  the  Northern  Pacific.  These  were  carried  to  a  successful  com- 
pletion by  the  issue  of  joint  collateral  trust  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $214,- 
154,000,  secured  by  the  stock  of  the  company  acquired.  Time  has  con- 
firmed the  wisdom  of  this  act,  by  which  through  traffic  arrangements  have 
been  simplified,  and  the  public  has  gained  much  by  the  drawing  together 
of  markets  and  the  quick  and  cheap  distribution  of  products  between 
Chicago,  St.  Louis  and  the  Pacific  Coast. 

"It  was  planned  through  the  formation  of  the  Northern  Securities 
Company,  to  form  a  holding  concern  for  the  control  of  these  three  great 
properties.  The  purpose  was  to  prevent  a  dispersion  of  securities  that 
might  follow  where  large  amounts  were  held  by  men  well  advanced  in 
years  and  so  to  secure  the  properties  against  speculative  raids  by  interests 
at  best  not  directly  concerned  in  the  progress  of  the  country  served  by 
these  lines.  This  was  declared  illegal,  under  the  Sherman  anti-trust  law  by 
a  divided  court,  upon  suit  by  the  United  States  government,  and  the 
Northern  Securities  Company  was  dissolved. 

"In  1907  the  subsidiary  companies  controlled  by  the  Great  Northern 
including  fourteen  railway  companies  operated  as  a  part  of  it,  were  pur- 
chased and  incorporated  into  the  Great  Northern  System,  making  of  these 
related  parts  one  homogeneous  whole.  In  the  same  year  I  resigned  the 
Presidency  of  the  System  and  became  Chairman  of  the  Board  of  Directors, 
— the  office  that  I  lay  down  today.  The  work  of  extension  and  improve- 
ment has  gone  forward  steadily.  By  the  construction  of  the  Spokane, 
Portland  &  Seattle  line,  along  the  north  bank  of  the  Columbia  River,  the 
Great  Northern  and  the  Northern  Pacific  obtained  jointly  entry  over  their 
own  tracks  into  Portland.  Lines  are  now  being  constructed  through 
eastern  Oregon  that  will  open  up  a  large  productive  country.  In  1909  the 
Burlington  obtained  control  of  the  Colorado  &  Southern;  so  that  the 
Great  Northern  covers  directly  from  Chicago,  St.  Paul,  Minneapolis, 
Duluth  and  Superior  in  the  east,  of  Puget  Sound  and  Portland  on  the  west, 
and  from  Galveston  to  Vancouver,  British  Columbia.  The  Great  Northern 
System  has  grown  from  less  than  400  miles  of  the  original  purchase 
to  7,407  miles." 

THE  CHICAGO,  MILWAUKEE  &  ST.  PAUL  RAILWAY 

The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  was  the  last  of  the  transcontinental 
lines  to  traverse  Montana.  It  was  built  through  the  state  under  the  cor- 


567 

porate  name  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  Puget  Sound  Railway  Com- 
pany, a  Montana  corporation,  and  upon  its  virtual  completion  transferred 
the  road  and  corporate  property  to  the  parent  company.  Amply  financed 
and  with  the  advantage  of  transportation  facilities  furnished  by  the  older 
railroads  of  the  state,  its  construction  was  rendered  easy. 

The  "St.  Paul"  is  naturally  a  competitor  of  the  Northern  Pacific  and 
the  Great  Northern,  and  passes  substantially  east  and  west  through  the 
central  part  of  the  state  on  a  line  with  Miles  City  and  Missoula.  It  takes 
a  loop  in  the  western  part  of  the  state  in  order  to  accommodate  Butte  and 
Anaconda,  and  has  branches  in  northern  Montana  which  include  Lewis- 
town,  Great  Falls  and  lesser  places. 

ELECTRIFICATION  OF  RAILROADS 

The  great  feature  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  is 
electrification  of  its  line  in  the  mountainous  country  of  central  and  western 


RAILROAD  ELECTRIFICATION  IN  WESTERN  MONTANA 

Montana,  which  has  been  progressing  for  the  past  seven  or  eight  years  and 
now  embraces  440  continuous  miles  from  Harlowton,  Wheathead  County, 
to  Avery,  Idaho,  just  over  the  Montana  line.  Beginning  at  Harlowton, 
over  4,000  feet  above  sea  level,  where  the  mountain  grades  begin,  the 
line  gradually  rises  to  Summit,  Gallatin  County,  the  ridge  of  the  Belt 
Mountains,  at  an  altitude  of  5,700  feet.  Then  downward  the  line  takes 
its  course  to  Barren,  Broadwater  County,  3,900  feet  above  sea  level,  only 
to  begin  another  climb  up  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  to 
Donald,  Silver  Bow  County,  with  its  altitude  of  6,300  feet.  Thence  the 
course  of  the  road  is  down  to  St.  Regis,  Mineral  County,  only  2,700  feet 
in  altitude.  From  that  point  the  ascent  over  the  Bitter  Root  Mountains 
begins,  through  what  is  known  as  East  Portal,  and  at  Roland,  just  within 
the  state  line,  the  elevation  above  sea  level  is  about  4,100  feet.  Thence, 
the  railroad  descends  to  Avery,  Idaho,  a  short  distance  beyond,  and  there, 


568  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

at  an  elevation  of  2,500  feet  the  continuous  electrification  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  terminates. 

The  power  productive  of  the  electricity  is  generated  from  plants  at 
Great  Falls,  near  Helena,  on  the  Madison  River,  at  Big  Hole  (near  Butte) 
and  at  Thompson  Falls,  near  the  western  border  of  the  state. 

The  pronounced  success  in  the  electrification  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee 
&  St.  Paul  line,  spurred  the  Great  Northern  and  the  Northern  Pacific  to 
activity,  and  in  January,  1921,  the  daily  press  made  announcement  of  some 
of  their  plans  in  this  regard.  It  was  said  that  these  two  systems  would 
obtain  power  from  Flathead  Lake  and  Kootenai  River,  and  that  the 
Great  Northern  would  commence  electrification  in  a  few  months.  It  was 
planned  that  the  Northern  Pacific  would  obtain  power  by  building  a  dam 
at  the  outlet  of  Flathead  Lake,  which  was  to  be  constructed  by  the  Rocky 
Mountain  Power  Company,  a  subsidiary  of  the  Montana  Power  Company, 
which  had  secured  that  privilege  of  the  Government  under  the  water  power 
leasing  bill.  The  Rocky  Mountain  Power  Company  had  filed  its  applica- 
tion for  the  lease,  June  18,  1920.  Another  application  was  also  on  file 
from  the  Montana  Water  Power  and  Electric  Company,  of  Portland, 
Oregon. 

The  plan  is  further,  that  the  Flathead  Lake  dam  shall  supply  water  for 
an  enterprise  known  as  the  Columbia  River  basin  project.  The  level  of 
the  lake  is  to  be  raised  about  ten  feet  and  the  water  stored  and  released 
to  the  Flathead  River  through  a  canal  and  finally  stored  in  Pend  d'Oreille 
Lake,  Idaho,  directly  west  of  Flathead  Lake.  Ultimately  the  Columbia 
River  project  is  expected  to  irrigate  1,750,000  acres  of  land. 

The  Flathead  dam  is  planned  to  generate  about  250,000  horse  power 
and  the  Great  Falls  plant  about  the  same,  for  the  electrification  of  the 
Great  Northern  and  the  Northern  Pacific  lines.  The  latter  also  has  avail- 
able power  from  a  Missouri  River  dam,  with  Helena  as  the  most  con- 
venient point  from  which  to  draw.  The  Great  Northern  has  a  number  of 
available  sites  for  power  plants  along  its  main  line  in  the  Kootenai  River 
Valley.  In  fact,  it  seems  probable  that  within  a  few  years,  all  the  rail- 
roads of  Western  Montana  will  be  using  electricity  as  their  motive  power, 
its  rivers  with  their  sources  in  the  mountain  heights  being  particularly 
favored  for  such  purposes. 

MINOR  RAILROADS 

The  Burlington  route,  in  Montana,  which  since  about  1902  has  been 
jointly  controlled  by  the  Great  Northern  and  the  Northern  Pacific,  loops 
into  the  state  from  the  south,  having  Billings  as  its  northern  and  central 
point.  Just  west  of  Billings  is  the  junction  of  the  roads. 

The  Butte,  Anaconda  &  Pacific  Railway  Company  has  been  organized 
within  recent  years  and  a  line  constructed  between  Butte  and  Anaconda  to 
transport  the  ores  from  the  Butte  mines  to  the  Washoe  smelter  at  Ana- 
conda, and,  in  turn,  to  haul  timber  and  mining  supplies  to  the  mines. 
Other  short  lines  in  operation  are  the  Montana  Western,  Billings  &  Central 
Montana,  Montana,  Wyoming  &  Southern  and  the  White  Sulphur  Springs 
&  Yellowstone  Park. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  569 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  PUBLIC  HIGHWAYS 

For  a  number  of  years  Montana  has  held  the  record  of  having  the 
best  natural  earth  roads  in  the  West,  and  for  a  decade  or  more  the  older 
counties  in  the  central  and  western  portions  of  the  state  have  been  prose- 
cuting systematic  road  programs.  Specially  excellent,  as  a  result  of  this 
work  in  the  interest  of  good  roads,  are  the  public  highways  of  Silver  Bow, 
Lewis  and  Clark,  Deer  Lodge,  Powell,  Cascade  and  Fergus  counties.  It  is 
only  since  1913,  however,  that  this  work  has  been  co-ordinated,  and  that 
the  state  has  participated  as  a  unit  in  highway  improvement  in  co-operation 
with  the  Federal  Government. 

THE  STATE  HIGHWAY  COMMISSION 

In  that  year  was  established  Montana's  first  State  Highway  Commis- 
sion, and  in  1917-18  that  body  assumed,  by  legislative  enactment,  its  present 
form.  The  commission  consists  of  twelve  men  appointed  from  different 
districts  throughout  the  state,  the  counties  embraced  in  each  district  hav- 
ing been  segregated  in  the  original  act  creating  the  commission.  The 
commissioners  are  appointed  by  the  governor  for  a  four-year  term.  The 
terms  of  three  commissioners  expire  each  year  and  not  more  than  six 
commissioners  may  belong  to  the  same  political  party.  This  commission 
is  required  to  meet  semi-annually  on  the  first  Mondays  of  May  and  Novem- 
ber. The  members  of  the  commission  acting  solely  as  such  receive  no 
compensation  for  their  services  but  receive  only  actual  expenses  incurred 
in  the  performance  of  their  duties. 

The  State  Highway  Commission  is  required  by  law  to  elect  from  its 
membership  an  executive  committee  of  three,  one  of  whom  shall  be 
designated  as  president  of  the  commission  and  of  the  executive  committee. 
The  committee  is  empowered  to  make  regulations  for  the  actual  conduct 
of  its  work  and  business  and  all  contracts  are  executed  by  the  executive 
committee.  For  slightly  less  than  one  year  after  the  organization  of  this 
commission  in  1917  the  activities  of  the  department  were  divided  between 
a  highway  engineer  and  a  bridge  engineer,  both  reporting  to  the  executive 
committee  as  a  whole.  The  lack  of  centralized  authority  in  a  single  execu- 
tive officer  led  to  confusion  and  uncertainty;  so  that  in  the  spring  of  1918 
the  committee  created  the  office  of  chief  engineer  and  designated  such  in- 
dividual as  the  responsible  executive  officer  of  the  department.  Briefly  then 
the  plan  of  organization  of  the  present  cohimission  is  as  follows :  ( i )  a 
representative  and  advisory  body  of  twelve  men,  which  selects  from  its 
membership  (2)  an  executive  committee  or  board  of  directors  of  three 
men,  which  in  turn  selects  (3)  an  executive  officer  or  manager  known  as 
the  chief  engineer  who  is  responsible  to  the  committee  for  all  the  operations 
of  the  department  and  to  whom  all  employes  report. 

The  general  or  broad  policies  are  determined  by  the  entire  commission 
at  the  semi-annual  meetings  and  by  the  executive  committee  to  meet  con- 
tingencies during  the  interim. 

The  operations  of  the  department  are  conducted  under  the  general 


570  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

direction  of  the  chief  engineer  acting  as  executive  officer  for  the  com- 
mission and  assisted  by  the  headquarters  staff  at  Helena.  Immediate 
responsibility  for  all  highway  construction,  however,  is  imposed  in  district 
engineers  located  at  Helena,  Great  Falls  and  Billings. 

The  handling  of  work  through  district  offices  was  decided  upon  during 
the  1919  construction  season  in  order  that  representatives  of  the  depart- 
ment might  be  brought  into  closer  touch  with  local  officials  and  conditions 
and  to  avoid  excessive  travel  expense  which  in  a  state  as  large  as  Montana 
represents  an  annual  expenditure  of  considerable  proportions.  The  execu- 
tive committee  originally  divided  the  state  into  four  construction  districts 
only  three  of  which — those  at  Helena,  Great  Falls  and  Billings — have 
been  operative.  The  district  office  designated  for  location  at  Glasgow  has 
never  been  opened  because  of  the  temporary  inability  of  certain  counties 
to  finance  contemplated  projects  and  the  consequent  inactivity  in  that  imme- 
diate vicinity.  The  work  of  the  Glasgow  district  has  been  conducted 
from  the  Great  Falls  office. 

The  plan  of  conducting  the  operations  of  the  department  through 
district  offices  is  a  practice  common  to  the  organization  of  state  highway 
departments  in  those  states  which  have  most  successfully  participated  in 
the  highway  development  of  the  state.  Particularly  is  such  a  plan  applicable 
to  Montana  where  large  areas  and  diversified  conditions  render  it  particu- 
larly desirable  that  the  department  be  localized  as  much  as  possible. 

Under  the  new  scheme  of  county  and  state  co-ordination,  and  close 
co-operation  between  the  state  and  federal  governments,  the  state  will  look 
after  the  main  highways  and  the  counties  will  devote  most  of  their  atten- 
tion to  the  branch  highways.  Although  three  transcontinental  highways 
traverse  Montana  and  the  state  highways  are  all  substantially  constructed, 
the  commission  has  steadfastly  kept  in  mind  that  the  development  of  the 
public  road  system  of  Montana  should  be  pursued,  primarily,  in  the  inter- 
ests of  the  farmer,  the  tradesman,  the  resident  citizen  and  his  family, 
rather  than  for  the  benefit  of  the  tourist. 

TRANSCONTINENTAL  HIGHWAYS 

The  transcontinental  highways  which  enable  the  traveler  to  enjoy  the 
grandeurs  and  beauties  of  the  state,  and  to  take  advantage  of  the  lawful 
privileges  of  the  sportsman,  are  (i)  the  Roosevelt  Memorial,  or  Glacier 
Park  to  St.  Paul  Highway,  which  follows  the  main  line  of  the  Great 
Northern  Railroad  and  is  painted  red;  (2)  the  Yellowstone  Trail,  from 
Aberdeen,  South  Dakota,  which  enters  the  state  along  the  line  of  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway,  and  (3)  the  Red  Trail  from 
Fargo,  North  Dakota,  which  comes  into  Montana  near  the  line  of  the 
Northern  Pacific.  Yellow  and  red  are  their  respective  colors.  They 
unite  in  Montana  at  Terry,  Prairie  County,  whence  they  follow  these 
railroads  to  Forsyth,  Rosebud  County;  then  follow  the  Northern  Pacific 
to  Livingston,  Park  County,  where  they  intersect  the  Eastern  Park  to 
Park  Highway  leading  to  Yellowstone  Park.  The  Yellowstone  Trail  con- 
tinues westward  from  Livingston  to  Butte  and  Missoula,  and  on  into 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


571 


Idaho,  to  Spokane  and  the  Pacific  coast.     It  is  often  called  the  National 
Parks  Highway. 

Another  automobile  road  enters  Montana  from  the  southeast,  from 
Deadwood,  South  Dakota,  and  connects  with  the  Yellowstone  Trail  at  Miles 
City.  One  also  enters  from  Wyoming,  along  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy,  and  intersects  the  Yellowstone  Trail  at  Billings.  Branches  of  the 
National  Park-to-Park  Highway  enter  the  state  from  the  southwest 
through  Idaho,  one  from  Pocatello  and  the  other  from  Salt  Lake  City. 
Both  intersect  the  central  route  of  the  Park-to-Park  Highway  leading  to 


GOVERNMENT  ROAD  THROUGH  JEFFERSON  NATIONAL  FOREST 

Yellowstone  Park,  to  points  east  and  west,  and  with  branches  northward 
to  Glacier  Park. 

LAST  REPORT  OF  STATE  HIGHWAY  COMMISSION 

The  biennial  report  of  the  State  Highway  Commission  for  1919-20 
is  well  charged  with  information  enlightening  to  an  understanding  of  the 
close  relations  between  the  federal  and  state  governments  along  the  line 
of  the  good  roads  movements  which  have  swept  the  country  within  the 
past  decade.  At  times,  Uncle  Sam  seems  to  have  furnished  most  of  the 
funds  used  in  such -enterprises.  Under  the  provisions  of  federal  laws 
enacted  in  1919  and  1920  the  national  Government  allotted  to  the  state 
various  road  building  equipment  which  amounted  to  $1,973,054.57.  It 
included  trucks  to  the  value  of  over  $1,400,000,  and  touring  cars,  Ford 
ambulances,  "caterpillars,"  wagons  and  spare  parts  of  wagons,  trucks,  etc. 
To  place  this  equipment  in  working  order  and  to  provide  for  the  handling 
of  like  equipment  which  might  be  received  in  the  future,  a  repair  shop 
was  built  on  the  state  ranch  at  Deer  Lodge,  which  also  served  as  a  receiv- 
ing and  distributing  station. 


572  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

FUNCTION  OF  HIGHWAY  DEPARTMENT 

The  function  of  a  state  highway  department,  as  generally  interpreted, 
includes  among  other  things  the  actual  construction  of  highways  and 
bridge  improvements.  Such  improvement  projects  as  have  been  undertaken 
by  the  State  Highway  Commission  fall  into  three  separate  classifications, 
namely:  (i)  Federal  Aid  Projects  or  those  constructed  with  the  aid  of 
funds  made  available  under  the  provisions  of  the  Federal  Aid  Road  Act; 
(2)  state  aid  projects  or  those  built  with  state  and  local  funds  and  (3) 
county  co-operative  projects  or  those  for  which  funds  are  provided  entirely 
by  the  county  or  other  local  interest  but  for  which  plans  and  supervision 
are  furnished  by.  the  state. 

During  the  year  1919  some  state  aid  work  initiated  in  1918  was  com- 
pleted. Since  that  time,  however,  the  efforts  of  this  department  have 
been  confined  almost  exclusively  to  the  prosecution  of  Federal  Aid  Projects. 
One  noteworthy  exception  should  be  mentioned,  namely,  the  Great  Falls 
bridge  projects,  involving  construction  of  two  reinforced  concrete  arch 
bridges  across  the  Missouri  River  at  Great  Falls.  Funds  for  these  projects 
were  provided  through  the  sale  of  Cascade  County  bridge  bonds  and  the 
improvements  were  designed  and  constructed  under  the  direction  and 
supervision  of  this  department.  These'  structures  not  only  represent  the 
most  extensive  county  co-operative  project  undertaken  by  this  department 
but  they  represent  also  two  of  the  largest,  most  expensive  and  most  mag- 
nificent concrete  highway  structures  to  be  found  in  the  Northwest. 

FEDERAL  AID 

As  has  been  intimated,  practically  all  of  the  highway  and  bridge  im- 
provements accomplished  by  the  department  during  the  past  two  years 
have  been  made  possible  by  virtue  of  the  operation  of  the  Federal  Aid 
Road  Act  previously  referred  to.  This  act  contemplates  •  the  financial 
participation  of  the  federal  government  in  worthy  road  and  bridge  projects 
to  the  extent  of  the  total  allotment  to  the  state.  The  co-operation  in  each 
project  may  not  exceed  50  per  cent  of  the  cost  of  the  improvement  nor 
$20,000  per  mile  of  highway.  All  Federal  Aid  Projects  are  constructed 
under  the  direct  supervision  of  the  State  Highway  Department  but  are 
also  subject  to  inspection  and  approval  by  the  secretary  of  agriculture 
or  his  duly  authorized  representative. 

The  original  Federal  Aid  Road  Act  as  approved  July  n,  1916,  pro- 
vided a  federal  allotment  of  $1,494,916.85  for  Montana  highways.  This 
act  was  amended  in  1919  and  an  additional  appropriation  made  whereby 
Montana  was  allotted  an  additional  sum  of  $4,003,910.46.  The  total  amount 
of  federal  aid  available  for  Montana  road  and  bridge  projects  is  therefore 
$5,498,827.31.  This  money  is  available  for  expenditure  and  must  be 
obligated  by  the  state  by  years. 

WORK  CONTRACTED  DURING  1920 

During  the  single  year  of  1920,  and  until  November  3Oth,  the  commis- 
sion placed  under  construction  agreement  seventy-two  Federal  Aid  Projects. 


GOOD  ROADS  IN  WESTERN  MONTANA 


574  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

in  thirty-four  counties,  representing  563.39  miles  of  road  and  twenty- 
seven  bridges  at  a  total  contract  price,  exclusive  of  the  usual  allowance 
of  10  per  cent  for  contingencies,  of  $5,315,371.68.  The  road  improve- 
ments include  the  following:  Earth  or  roadside  material  grading  projects, 
177.66  miles;  gravel  and  macadam  surfacing  projects,  354.98  miles; 
bituminous  concrete  pavement  (concrete  base),  1.37  miles;  Portland  cement 
concrete  pavement,  29.38  miles. 

Of  the  above,  forty  in  twenty-three  counties  were  let  by  contract  to 
road  and  bridge  contractors ;  thirty-two  projects  in  twenty  counties  were 
let  to  counties  by  agreement  whereby  the  counties  undertook  to  build  the 
improvement  by  day  labor  for  the  state  at  the  estimated  cost.  All  con- 
tracts were  awarded  with  the  approval  of  the  interested  Board  of  County 
Commissioners,  both  as  to  type  and  price. 

Prior  to  1920  the  department  had  contracted  twenty  projects  in  fifteen 
counties,  representing  98.05  miles  of  road  and  four  bridges  at  a  total  con- 
tract price  of  $907,317.14,  exclusive  of  the  10  per  cent  item.  These  road 
improvements  include  the  following:  Earth  or  roadside  material  grading 
projects,  16.06  miles;  gravel  and  macadam  surfacing  projects,  81.99  miles. 
The  total  mileage  of  Federal  Aid  highways  contracted  to  date  is  661.44, 
and  the  total  contract  price  is  $6,222,688.82. 

Federal  aid  projects  are  under  construction  at  present  in  thirty  Mon- 
tana counties.  The  counties,  the  number  of  projects,  the  total  mileage,  and 
the  total  cost,  are  as  follows. 

Big  Horn,  one,  2.02  miles,  $12,532.46.  Blaine,  five  road  and  bridge, 
27.44  miles,  $250,019.27.  Broadwater,  two  road  and  bridge,  3.4  miles, 
$116,222.77.  Carbon,  three,  20.28  miles,  $216,522.64.  Cascade,  four, 
51.25  miles,  $475,527.70.  Custer,  one,  3.99  miles,  $22,015.47.  Dawson, 
two,  16.5  miles,  $45,991.  Deer  Lodge,  one,  9.4  miles,  $333,465.28.  Fer- 
gus, three,  15.84  miles,  $220,019.14.  Flathead,  two,  6.59  miles,  $51,569.83. 
Gallatin,  four,  13.59  miles,  $354,241.86.  Granite,  one,  7.8  miles,  $147,- 
160.99.  Hill,  one,  7.96  miles,  $100,381.65.  Jefferson,  one,  .7  of  a  mile, 
$31,962.68.  Lewis  and  Clark,  one,  9.08  miles,  $126,001.38.  Madison,  one, 
5.52  miles,  $22,984.18.  Meagher,  three,  44.15  miles,  $289,945.95.  Mis- 
soula,  two,  20.886  miles,  $100,607.38.  Musselshell,  two,  4.21  miles,  $96,- 
118.46.  Park,  two,  4.25  miles,  $81,156.35.  Ravalli,  two,  4.67  miles,  $45,- 
966.70.  Rosebud,  two,  8.18  miles,  $62,419.21.  Silver  Bow,  one,  9.11 
miles,  $335,877.10.  Stillwater,  one,  5.22  miles,  $108,595.95.  Sweet  Grass, 
one,  105  feet,  $16,586.  Teton,  one,  21.72  miles,  $195,258.45.  Toole,  one, 
27.7  miles,  $136,458.17.  Valley,  one,  1.89  miles,  $16,717.71.  Wibaux, 
four,  26.18  miles,  $129,523.06.  Yellowstone,  four,  34.7  miles,  $535,267.67. 
Total  mileage,  431.28.  Aggregate  contracts,  $4,776,117.45. 

STATE  HIGHWAY  SYSTEM 

Under  the  administrative  policy  of  the  federal  government  federal 
funds  for  highway  improvement  are  restricted  to  those  highways  designated 
as  state  highways.  The  state  highway  map  indicates  the  inter-county 
seat  system  of  state  highways  adopted  by  the  State  Highway  Commission 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  575 

in  May,  1920.  This  system  comprises  approximately  7,700  miles  and  pro- 
vides for  connecting  all  county  seats  within  the  state.  It  will  readily  be 
seen  that  these  inter-county  highways  serve  not  only  the  thickly  populated 
and  industrial  districts  of  the  state  but  the  agricultural  areas  as  well. 

A  study  of  the  inter-county  system  of  highways  referred  to  above  will 
disclose  the  fact  that,  from  the  standpoint  of  the  state  as  a  unit,  some  of 
these  routes  are  of  more  importance  than  others.  The  federal  government 
has  asked  that  federal  aid  projects  in  Montana  be  confined  to  a  primary 
system  of  approximately  3,500  miles.  This  primary  system  will  include 
such  routes  as  the  Roosevelt  Highway,  traversing  the  state  from  east  to 
west  along  the  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway  on  the  north ;  the  Yel- 
lowstone Trail  and  the  Red  Trail,  crossing  the  state  along  the  south;  the 
main  route  connecting  Yellowstone  and  Glacier  Parks;  and  a  few  other 
roads  of  equal  importance  to  the  state.  The  state  and  federal  government 
have  not  reached  an  agreement  relative  to  this  matter  but  it  is  believed 
that  federal  aid  projects  initiated  in  the  future  must  be  restricted  to  a 
smaller  mileage  of  state  highways  than  that  included  in  the  inter-county 
system  referred  to. 

VALUE  OF  CONSTRUCTION 

The  total  value  of  construction  accomplished  during  1920,  to  Novem- 
ber 30,  segregated  as  to  kind  of  work,  is  as  follows:  (a)  Grading  and 
gravel  projects,  $2,003,418.80;  (b)  paving  projects,  $789,467.59;  (c) 
bridge  projects,  $147,804.43;  (d)  total  all  projects,  $2,940,690.82.  Total 
construction  engineering  charges  were,  respectively,  (a)  $129,428.83 ;  (b) 
$27,865.09;  (c)  $6,809.77;  and  (d)  $164,103.69. 

MOTOR  VEHICLES  REGISTERED 

The  total  number  of  motor  vehicles  registered  in  Montana  during  1920 
to  date  of  December  27th  is  60,646.  The  total  receipts  from  motor  vehicle 
license  fees  for  the  same  period  amounts  to  $415,358.50.  The  average 
license  fee,  therefore,  is  slightly  less  than  $6.85.  The  committee  recom- 
mends that  this  fee  be  increased  to  provide  for  the  use  of  this  department 
a  revolving  fund  of  not  less  than  $500,000,  together  with  a  maintenance 
fund  of  $100,000  for  1921  and  $200,000  for  1922. 

REVENUES  AND  EXPENDITURES 

The  total  revenues  of  the  State  Highway  Commission  for  the  year 
1920  amounted  to  $2,259,290.69,  the  sources  of  which  were :  auto  licenses, 
$351,395.50;  federal  aid  construction  work,  $1,637,810.30;  federal  equip- 
ment rentals  and  miscellaneous,  $1,129.10.  The  expenditures  were  as 
follows :  Administrative  and  general  overhead,  $97,007.05 ;  highways  and 
bridges,  $1,910,173.45;  outlay,  including  federal  equipment,  $226,167.62; 
equipment  maintenance  and  supplies,  $10,436.88;  handling  federal  equip- 
ment, $22,937.98;  stores,  $26,541.39.  Total  expenditures,  $2,293,264.37. 


576  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  bridge  division  of  the  highway  commission  accounts  for  a  large 
proportion  of  the  funds  expended.  Estimates  for  the  structures  designed 
by  the  division  for  the  year  December,  1919,  to  November,  1920,  inclusive, 
amounted  to  $800,000.  The  most  important  of  these  projects  were  the 
Kootenai  River  bridge  near  Leonia,  Idaho,  which  is  designed  to  open  up 
a  national  timber  forest  of  30,000  acres  and  greatly  improve  the  prospects 
of  homesteaders  in  Lincoln  County,  Montana,  and  two  bridges  over  the 
Missouri  River  at  Great  Falls,  which  involve  an  expenditure  of  nearly 
$500,000,  and  were  completed  in  1920.  The  Tenth  Street  bridge  was 
1,130  feet  long,  and  consisted  of  eight  spans.  The  north  approach  was 
built  by  Cascade  County  as  a  part  of  the  federal  aid  project  between  Great 
Falls  and  Havre,  and  the  south  approach  was  built  by  the  city. 

COOPERATION  IN  ROAD  BUILDING 

Illustrations  are  plentiful  showing  the  desire  of  the  county,  state  and 
federal  officials  to  cooperate  in  the  work  of  public  road  building  in  Mon- 
tana. For  instance,  in  March,  1919,  there  was  held  in  Helena  a  Road 
School  of  Instruction  for  selected  employes  of  the  commission  and  in- 
terested county  officials.  The  school,  which  continued  in  session  for  three 
days,  was  conducted  for  the  purpose  of  familiarizing  the  employes  with 
the  specifications  under  which  construction  operations  are  carried  on  and 
to  acquaint  them  with  the  requirements  of  the  Federal  Bureau  of  Public 
Roads.  The  subjects  discussed  and  explained  related  exclusively  to  those 
practical  problems  which  are  daily  encountered  in  the  construction  of 
serviceable  highways.  It  is  planned  to  conduct  a  similar  school  each  year. 

The  executive  committee  of  the  State  Highway  Commission  also  estab- 
lished the  principle  that  state  and  county  officials  and  contractors  engaged 
in  prosecuting  the  road  program  of  the  state  should  meet  in  annual  con- 
ference. The  first  of  such  conferences  was  held  in  Helena,  March  i, 
1920,  and  the  second,  at  the  same  place,  in  December  following.  "At  these 
meetings,"  says  the  report,  "the  state's  specifications  are  freely  and  frankly 
discussed  by  the  officials  charged  with  the  supervision  of  construction,  on 
the  one  hand,  and  by  the  contractors  and  others  engaged  in  the  actual 
building  of  the  improvements,  on  the  other.  The  purpose  is  to  keep  the 
specifications  practical  and  workable  and  free  from  unnecessary  and  in- 
consequential refinements  and  impractical  features.  It  is  agreed  that  this 
practice  is  certain  to  be  beneficial  to  all  interests  involved  and  most  cer- 
tainly will  result  in  ultimate  economy  to  the  state." 


CHAPTER  XXIV 
CONSERVATION  OF  LANDS 

The  lands  in  Montana  are  in  the  ownership  of  individuals,  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad,  the  state  and  the  government  of  the  United  States.  Their 
protection  from  short-sighted  practices  and  policies  of  abuse  and  waste, 
by  the  setting  aside  of  forest  preserves  and  the  enactment  of  appropriate 
legislation,  the  extension  of  the  agricultural  area  of  the  state  through 
the  drainage  of  lowlands  and  the  reclamation  of  arid  tracts  by  means  of 
irrigation,  are  all  wise  steps  which  have  been  taken  by  Montana,  in  co- 
operation with  the  federal  government,  to  conserve  the  treasure  of  her 
lands  which  shall  eventually  prove  of  more  value  to  her  and  her  people 
than  the  precious  and  the  useful  metals  which  for  many  years  were  at 
the  base  of  her  prosperity. 

THE  PUBLIC  LANDS  OF  MONTANA 

*Of  the  30,000,000  acres  of  land  in  Montana  classed  as  agricultural 
approximately  7,000,000  acres  of  public  lands  are  open  to  filing,  most  of 
which  are  grazing  lands;  and  of  the  total  "agricultural"  acreage  only 
4,328,000  acres  are  actually  devoted  to  farm  crops.  Most  of  the  best  lands 
have  been  taken  up  by  private  owners,  although  millions  of  acres  hitherto 
considered  poor  or  worthless  are  being  reclaimed  and  made  productive 
through  irrigation  or  drainage. 

The  State  of  Montana  is  the  largest  land  owner  in  the  commonwealth, 
possessing  as  it  does  4,349,570  acres,  of  which  3,228,308  were  leased  at 
the  rate  of  31  cents  per  acre  for  agricultural  purposes  and  i2l/2  cents 
(average)  for  grazing.  Much  of  the  state  land  is  included  in  the  school 
sections,  16  and  36,  or  their  equivalents.  The  state  has  also  some  land 
in  the  federal  reclamation  projects,  which  can  be  bought  or  leased. 

The  State  Board  of  Land  Commissioners  is  custodian  of  all  state  lands, 
and,  although  there  is  usually  an  auction  sale  in  each  county  every  year, 
the  fixing  of  the  dates  of  such  sales  is  discretionary  with  that  body.  The 
minimum  purchase  price  is  $10  per  acre.  Sales  are  made  upon  the  basis 
of  15  per  cent  cash,  the  remainder  of  the  purchase  price  to  be  paid  in 
twenty  annual  installments  with  interest  at  6  per  cent.  The  limit  of  the 
acreage  purchased  by  any  individual  or  corporation  is  160  acres  classified 
as  "agricultural  and  susceptible  of  irrigation,"  320  acres  of  "agricultural 
land  not  susceptible  of  irrigation,"  and  640  acres  of  grazing  land.  Lessees, 
of  state  lands  are  obliged  to  pay  annually  $50  to  $120  per  section  for  graz- 
ing, and  from  $200  to  $400  for  agricultural  purposes,  the  state  land  agent 
fixing  the  price. 


*See  Year  Book  of  United  States  Department  of  Agriculture  for  1920  and  "Re- 
sources of  Montana,"  official  state  publication  for  the  same  year. 

577 


578  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Nearly  every  year  also  there  are  sales  of  land  on  the  Indian  reserva- 
tions, belonging  to  deceased  or  non-competent  Indians,  the  appraised  price 
of  the  tract  being  the  minimum  bid  accepted.  Many  of  these  tracts  are 
irrigated  and  desirable. 

THE  STATE  LANDS 

The  register  of  state  lands,  who  records  the  fiscal  transactions  of  the 
Department  of  State  Lands  and  Farm  Loans,  reports  for  the  biennium 
ending  December  I,  1920,  a  falling  off  in  the  cash  receipts  from  1920,  as 
compared  with  1919,  of  $493,658;  the  totals  were  $1,770,070  and  $2,263,- 
728,  respectively.  He  adds  that  the  decrease  "is  entirely  due  to  following 
the  wise  instructions  of  the  State  Land  Board  not  to  make  any  extensive 
offerings  of  state  lands  for  sale  during  this  year  of  uncertainty  as  to  the 
financial  position  of  stockman  and  farmer.  All  the  income  accounts  show 
increases  over  last  year  totaling  $81,993,  while  receipts  from  land  sales 
show  a  decrease  of  $575,651,  the  net  decrease  as  compared  with  1919 
being  $493,658." 

For  the  biennial  period  1919-20,  the  land  sales  totaled  182,319  acres 
for  the  sum  of  $2,850,303,  or  an  average  of  over  $15.50  per  acre.  For 
the  same  period,  the  receipts  from  timber  stumpage  amounted  to  $166,100 
(about  $38,000  more  in  1920  than  in  1919)  ;  all  of  which  goes  to  swell 
the  permanent  land  grant  funds. 

Rentals  of  state  lands,  in  1919,  amounted  to  $456,188  on  3,228,308 
acres,  as  compared  with  $460,679  collected  on  3,109,402,  in  1920,  or  an 
average  of  14.8  cents  per  acre,  which  is  the  highest  average  rental  yet  ob- 
tained. Part  of  this  high  average  is  due  to  the  surface  rental  on  oil  and 
gas  leases  issued  during  1920.  At  the  end  of  that  year,  551  oil  leases  were 
in  force,  covering  300,406  acres. 

As  to  oil  and  gas  leases,  the  register  comments :  "In  the  absence  of 
any  legislation  relating  specially  thereto,  and  the  lack  of  any  exclusive 
renewal  privilege  under  existing  laws,  these  state  oil  and  gas  leases  are 
generally  considered  of  questionable  value,  and  consequently  little  if  any 
actual  prospecting  or  drilling  upon  state  lands  has  occurred.  If  any  ma- 
terial income  is  to  accrue  from  the  state's  oil  and  gas  rights,  legislation 
should  be  had  which  will  assure  to  the  successful  driller  the  extension  of 

• 

his  lease  necessary  to  reap  the  benefits  of  the  risk  taken  and  money  spent 
in  prospecting.  Up  to  date  (December  i,  1920)  no  income  has  been  de- 
rived from  oil  royalties." 

There  were  1,121,261  acres  of  state  land  vacant  and  not  leased  at  the 
end  of  1919.  This  number  had  increased  to  1,303,528  acres  at  the  close 
of  1920,  due  partly  to  the  prevailing  poor  agricultural  conditions  and 
partly  to  the  large  area  of  timber  lands  recently  selected  in  Flathead  County 
and  not  subject  to  lease  under  existing  laws. 

STATUS  OF  LAND  GRANT  FUNDS 

One  of  the  most  valuable  tables  presented  by  the  register  is  that  show- 
ing the  condition  of  the  permanent  land  grant  funds  and  how  they  are 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


579 


invested.  They  now  total  $21,245,094,  or  an  increase  of  $2,980,292  during 
the  biennium.  Of  that  amount  $6,699,631  is  invested  in  bonds  and  war- 
rants, $4,226,380  in  farm  loans  (common  school  bonds),  and  $10,129,950 
includes  deferred  payments  on  land  contracts.  To  the  total  amounts  in- 
vested is  added  $189,131  cash  in  the  hands  of  the  state  treasurer  to  cover 
the  item  in  the  table,  "total  fund."  With  these  comments,  the  table  follows : 


Invested  in 

Fund  Bonds  and 

Warrants 

Common  School — Warrants    $     717,772.79 

Common   School — Bonds    3,847,393.36 

Agricultural  College — Morrill  92,001.39 

Agricultural   College — Bond    420,893.00 

Deaf  and  Dumb  Asylum  161,537.36 

Capitol  Building  Interest  and  Sinking 

Fund 

School  of  Mines  449,050.97 

State  Normal  School    455,735-00 

State  Reform  School    i39,779-8i 

State    University    413,768.00 

U.  S.  Aid  Soldiers'  Home 1,700.00 


Total 
Invested 


Total 
Fund 


517,779,258.07  $17,907,662.39 

219,326.89  227,664.40 

490,73846  494,091.18 

231,681.82  233,267.00 


265,364-71 
695,491.18 
576,23776 
223,089.24 
571,115.62 
3,658.40 


296,794-65 
701,074.67 
580,098.22 
227,018.92 
573,226.24 
4,196.38 


Totals   $  6,699,631.68    $21,055,962.15    $21,245,094.05 

RECEIPTS  FROM   STATE  LANDS   (1896-1920) 

Following  shows  the  receipts  from  state  lands  for  the  past  twenty- 
five  years,  as  given  by  the  state  register : 

Prior  to  1896 $  172,190.71 

During  1896  &>i&5-23 

During  1897 101,755.98 

During  1898 126,833.71 

During  1899 200,195.20 

During  1900  200,275.25 

During  1901    293,335.75 

During  1902  363>5&4-63 

During  1903  388,279.13 

During  1904 389,812.60 

During  1905  357>79°-52 

During  1906 651,352.62 

During  1907 829,480.06 

During  1908 805,105.35 

During  1909 434,420.96 

During  1910  826,836.01 

During  1911   695,771.74 

During  1912  1,306,892.75 

During  1913   1,223,857.96 

During  1914  1,122,205.27 


580  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

During  1915  $1,219,602.97 

During  1916 1,657,639.21 

During  1917  1,812,812.29 

During  1918 1,828,712.43 

During  1919 2,263,728.95 

During  1920 1,770,070.57 


Total    . $21,080,727.85 

RENTALS  OF  STATE  LANDS 

The  following  table  shows  the  amounts  received  from  rentals  of  state 
lands — by  years  since  1896: 

Prior  to  1896 $     47,240.04 

During  1896 27,134.77 

During  1897  47,618.26 

During  1898 75,063.06 

During  1899 109,306.10 

During  1900  144,383.76 

During  1901    171,668.88 

During  1962  194,639.36 

During  1903   : 197,494.73 

During  1904 190,623.77 

During  1905   206,224.12 

During  1906  209,956.66 

During  1907   224,321.45 

During  1908 234,933.71 

During  1909 250,715.01 

During  1910 259,837.06 

During  1911   263,036.48 

During  1912 282,894.26 

During  1913   281,633.12 

During  1914 302,681.47 

During  1915  325,105.56 

During  1916 391,897.70 

During  1917 454,37343 

During  1918  439,169.24 

During  1919 456,188.59 

During  1920 ' .  . .  460,679.29 


Total  $6,248,819.88 

At  the  close  of  the  fiscal  year  1920,  the  following  amount  of  acres  was 
under  lease  in  each  grant,  producing  a  total  rental  of  $460,679.29:  Com- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  581 

mon  school,  2,857,069.09  acres ;  Agricultural  College,  64,786.96 ;  Deaf  and 
Dumb  Asylum,  27,067.76;  capitol  building,  44,443.67;  School  of  Mines, 
27,894.81;  State  Normal  School,  44,515.29;  State  Reform  School, 
29,661.21;  State  University,  12,828.45;  Soldiers  Home,  1,115.61;  general, 
20. 

CONDITION  OF  FARM  LOANS 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1920,  2,131  farm  loans  were  in  force,  amount- 
ing to  $4,264,470.  The  funds  available  for  investment  now  amount  to  only 
$112,230.06. 

IRRIGATION  UNDER  THE  CAREY  ACT 

As  irrigation  is  the  mother  of  the  modern  agricultural  development  of 
Montana,  that  subject  calls  for  first  mention.  Individual  farmers  and 
scattered  canal  companies  dug  ditches  here  and  there  and  demonstrated 
the  advantages  of  dependable  water  until  there  was  a  general  demand  for 
widespread  state  movements  and  the  establishment  of  a  system  of  irri- 
gation for  the  benefit  of  lands  already  cultivated  and  for  the  reclamation 
of  those  which  might  be  made  productive.  Not  only  Montana,  but  other 
states  lying  wholly  or  in  part  within  the  "arid  land"  area,  called  upon  the 
general  government  for  assistance.  The  result  was  the  passage  of  the 
congressional  measure,  approved  August  18,  1894,  and  known  as  the  Carey 
Act.  It  provided  that  Montana  and  other  states  affected  by  the  act  should 
be  given  1,000,000  acres  from  the  public  domain,  if  the  state  would  re- 
claim this  land  by  irrigation.  Having  accepted  the  conditions  of  the 
Carey  Act  in  1895,  a  board  was  appointed  to  carry  out  its  provisions. 
It  has  since  been  known  as  the  Carey  Land  Act  Board  and  consists  of  the 
governor,  secretary  of  state,  attorney  general  and  state  engineer.  At 
first  the  board  undertook  construction  of  irrigation  work  by  direct  state 
action,  but  from  time  to  time  the  law  has  been  amended  so  that  state 
construction  has  been  abandoned  for  the  contract  system  common  to  the 
western  states. 

The  biennial  report  of  the  Carey  Land  Act  Board  for  the  years 
1919-20,  shows  that  up  to  November  of  the  latter  year  the  lands  segre- 
gated by  the  general  government  in  the  thirteen  different  proj'ects  under 
way  in  Montana  amounted  to  172,486.22  acres.  The  approved  sales 
under  the  Billings,  Big  Timber  and  Valier  projects  totaled  81,256.94 
acres;  United  States  patents  to  the  state  under  the  same,  56,162.30  acres, 
and  the  patents  issued  to  settlers  covered  45,276.78  acres. 

The  office  of  the  state  engineer  to  supervise  the  work  of  the  Carey 
Land  Act  Board  was  created  in  1903  and  has  been  successively  filled  by 
John  Wade,  A.  W.  Mahon  and  C.  S.  Heidel. 

Under  the  Carey  Act,  the  Billings  project,  at  first  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  the  Billings  Land  and  Irrigation  Company,  was  the  first  project 
completed.  In  its  biennial  report  of  1919-20,  the  board  states:  "The 
closing  of  the  biennial  period  of  1919  and  1920  marks  the  successful 
completion  of  the  Billings  Bench  project,  both  the  reclamation  and  settle- 


582 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ment  of  the  lands  segregated  to  the  state  in  lists  i  and  7  having  been 
practically  consummated.  The  operation  and  maintenance  of  the  project 
has  been  under  the  direction  and  management  of  the  farmers  themselves 
for  the  past  two  years,  and  a  movement  is  now  under  way  to  make  a 
sufficient  showing  and  petition  the  Carey  Land  Act  Board  to  relinquish 
control  to  the  Water  Users'  Association." 

Since  the  commencement  of  the  Billings  project,  the  board  has  taken 
over  the  Big  Timber,  Valier,  Teton,  Flatwillow  and  Little  Missouri 
projects. 

The  Billings  Bench  (or  plain  Billings)  project  includes  13,223.54 
acres  lying  northeast  of  the  city,  and  12,264.62  of  that  amount  have  been 


MONTANA  IRRIGATION  DITCH 

sold — 9,876.39  having  been  patented  by  the  state  to  settlers.  The  Billings 
Land  and  Irrigation  Company,  which  first  assumed  the  work,  went  into 
the  hands  of  the  Merchants  Loan  Company  as  trustee,  which  formed  the 
Billings  Bench  Water  Association  to  complete  the  enterprise.  Lands 
within  the  scope  of  the  project  produce  wheat,  alfalfa,  oats  and  sugar 
beets,  and  now  bring  as  high  as  $300  per  acre.  The  water  supply  is  from 
the  Yellowstone  River.  The  irrigation  system  includes  Rattlesnake 
Butte  reservoir,  300  acres  in  area,  and  Holling  Lake  reservoir,  85  acres 
in  area,  with  a  main  canal  45  miles  long  and  main  laterals  of  103  miles. 
Within  the  bounds  of  the  project  are  39,010  acres,  of  which  23,591  are 
actually  to  be  irrigated.  Up  to  its  completion,  October  31,  1920,  $504,000 
had  been  expended  on  the  project. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  583 

The  Big  Timber  project  embraces  11,299.16  acres  of  lands  lying  near 
the  town  by  that  name  in  Sweet  Grass  County,  also  in  the  Yellowstone 
Valley.  It  draws  its  water  supply  directly  from  Sweet  Grass,  Big  Tim- 
ber and  Otter  creeks.  The  works  of  the  project  include  an  upper  reser- 
voir 585  acres  in  area  and  a  lower  one  of  768  acres,  with  five  canals 
more  than  53  miles  long  and  main  laterals  of  52  miles.  Within  the  bound- 
aries of  the  project,  not  yet  completed,  is  an  area  of  30,599.16  acres,  of 
which  the  Carey  lands  amount  to  11,299.16,  the  remainder  being  acreage 
deeded  by  the  construction  organization,  the  Glass-Lindsay  Land  Com- 
pany. The  total  sales  up  to  November  30,  1920,  comprise  6,174.94  acres, 
while  the  total  area  patented  to  the  state  by  the  Department  of  the  In- 
terior is  8,229.84  acres  and  the  area  patented  by  the  settlers,  3,619.32. 
About  17,000  acres  will  be  actually  irrigated  by  the  Big  Timber  project, 
the  total  expenditures  of  which  up  to  November,  1920,  amount  to 
$1,000,000. 

The  Valier  project  in  Pondera  County,  near  the  town  by  that  name 
in  Northwestern  Montana,  derives  its  water  supply  from  Birch  Creek, 
a  mountain  stream  flowing  the  year  round  from  the  eastern  slope  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  into  Maria's  River.  Wheat,  oats,  barley  and  alfalfa 
are  raised  within  its  scope.  As  the  flow  of  the  stream  is  not  sufficient 
to  take  care  of  the  project  by  direct  flow,  a  dam  and  a  reservoir  were 
built  to  supplement  the  normal  flow  from  both  Birch  and  Dupuyer  creeks. 
The  Valier  project  embodies  a  total  segregation  of  85,380.14  acres  of 
Carey  Act  land,  of  which  56,782  are  irrigable.  More  than  62,000  acres 
of  this  amount  have  been  sold,  of  which  43,443  acres  are  irrigable. 

During  the  past  two  years  much  work  has  been  done  toward  the 
ultimate  completion  of  the  project.  Many  temporary  structures  have 
been  replaced  by  more  permanent  ones  of  concrete.  In  1919,  the  old 
outlet  from  Lake  Francis  into  Canal  C,  which  had  been  constructed  some 
time  in  1910,  was  partially  torn  out  and  a  new  outlet  installed  which 
has  an  increased  capacity.  The  work  of  construction  has  been  done  by 
the  Valier-Montana  Land  and  Water  Company.  Besides  the  Birch  Creek 
and  Lake  Francis  reservoirs,  the  irrigating  works  comprise  474  miles  of 
canals  and  laterals,  and  the  Swift  dam  and  affiliated  structures.  The 
latter  has  been  built  across  Birch  Creek  canyon  and  is  about  470  feet 
long  and  160  feet  high  and  15  feet  thick.  The  concrete  lined  spillway 
is  762  feet  long.  The  total  acreage  within  the  boundaries  of  the  proj- 
ect is  178,598.25,  of  which  85,258  acres  are  to  be  irrigated.  The  esti- 
mated cost  of  the  project  is  $4,350,843.57,  and  the  expenditures  to  No- 
vember 30,  1920,  amounted  to  $4,275,843.57. 

The  crop  reports  for  the  irrigated  lands  within  the  Valier  project 
for  the  year  1919  show  that  of  their  cultivated  area  of  55,701  acres,  the 
crops  of  which  yielded  $1,394,910  in  value,  the  following  were  the  larg- 
est items:  The  32,128  acres  of  wheat  which  produced  306,016  bushels 
brought  $841,544;  4,470  acres  of  alfalfa  yielded  6,045  tons  and  sold  for 
$181,350;  flax,  4,612  acres,  24,040  bushels,  $120,200;  oats,  4,079  acres, 
65,779  bushels,  $65,779. 


584  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  Teton  project  situated  in  Pondera  County  lies  between  the  Valier 
Carey  project  and  the  United  States  Reclamation  Service  Sun  River 
project.  It  comprises  an  area  of  34,206  acres,  of  which  17,725  acres 
of  the  segregation  are  still  pending.  The  water  supply  is  from  the  Teton 
River  and  Muddy  and  Blackleaf  creeks.  The  Teton  Co-operative  Reser- 
voir Company  has  the  work  in  hand,  which  involves  an  expenditure  of 
$950,000;  total  expenditures  up  to  June  30,  1920,  $410,000.  Ultimately, 
the  works  will  comprise  two  reservoirs  and  the  usual  complement  of  in- 
take canal  and  main  canals  and  laterals.  Actual  delivery  of  water  to 
the  Carey  lands  has  not  commenced  (October,  1920).  The  concrete 
diversion  dam  and  gates  in  the  Teton  River  have  been  completed,  while 
the  intake  canal  from  the  Teton  River  diversion  dam  to  the  Bynum 
reservoir  is  delivering  water  but  is  not  completed  to  its  full  capacity. 
The  Bynum  reservoir  (much  the  larger  of  the  two  reservoirs)  is  com- 
pleted to  an  elevation  4,165  feet  above  sea  level;  elevation  of  4,170  feet 
above  sea  level  being  the  ultimate  height  of  the  completed  structure.  The 
reservoir  is  now  delivering  water  to  the  full  capacity  of  the  canals  for  the 
irrigation  of  several  thousand  acres  of  land  near  Brady. 

The  Flatwillow  project,  which  embraces  7,768  acres  of  Carey  Act 
lands  and  about  11,000  acres  held  by  private  parties,  lies  southeast  of 
Lewistown,  in  Eastern  Fergus  County.  The  Fergus  County  Land  and 
Irrigation  Company  contracted  with  the  state  for  the  reclamation  of  these 
lands,  but  its  work  was  seriously  handicapped  by  the  financial  and  indus- 
trial disturbances  caused  by  the  World's  war.  However,  investigation  by 
the  United  States  Reclamation  Service  reached  the  conclusion  that  the 
project  is  thoroughly  practicable  and  in  1920  construction  on  the  main 
distributing  canal  was  resumed.  The  water  for  irrigation  is  drawn  from 
Flatwillow  Creek,  a  tributary  of  Musselshell  River,  which  rises  in  the  Big 
Snowy  Mountains  and  flows  eastwardly  toward  the  parent  stream  through 
the  southeast  portions  of  Fergus  County.  When  completed,  the  works 
will  embrace  two  small  reservoirs  and  about  thirty  miles  of  canals  and 
laterals;  a  main  dam,  spilway,  outlet  and  diversion  dam.  About  18,000 
acres  are  embraced  within  the  project,  of  which  it  is  planned  that  15,000 
will  be  irrigated;  estimated  cost,  $350,000,  and  expenditures  to  October 
31,  1920,  about  $81,000. 

The  Little  Missouri  project,  embracing  a  total  segregation  of  some 
20,607  acres  lying  in  the  valley  of  the  Little  Missouri  River,  is  situated 
in  Carter  County,  southeastern  corner  of  the  state.  The  company  con- 
tracting with  the  state  for  the  reclamation  of  the  lands  under  this  proj- 
ect was  unable  to  proceed  during  the  past  two  years  owing  to  the  string- 
ency of  the  money  market.  Within  its  boundaries  are  20,000  acres  of 
Carey  Act  lands,  and  6,000  owned  by  the  state  and  individuals.  Alto- 
gether, only  $32,000  of  the  estimated  cost  of  the  project,  $250,000,  has 
been  expended.  About  ten  miles  of  canals  and  laterals  have  been  completed. 

In  short,  the  foregoing  statements  represent  the  status  of  the  work 
accomplished  under  the  supervision  of  the  Carey  Land  Act  Board  as 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  585 

ascertained  from  the  latest  accessible  reports    (not  yet  in  print — July, 
1921). 

WORK  OF  THE  UNITED  STATES  RECLAMATION  SERVICE 

The  date  of  the  approval  of  the  Reclamation  Act,  June  17,  1902,  marks 
the  beginning  of  the  irrigation  work  on  the  part  of  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment. During  the  eighteen  years  which  have  elapsed  since  that  time 
twenty- four  so-called  primary  projects  and  four  Indian  projects  have 
been  constructed  in  whole  or  in  part,  and  scores  of  secondary  projects 
have  been  examined  to  determine  their  feasibility  with  a  view  to  their 
possible  development  later  as  funds  become  available.  On  June  30,  1920, 
the  net  cost  of  construction  of  the  reclamation  projects  amounted  to  a 
little  less  than  $125,000,000.  The  value  of  crops  grown  in  1919  on  lands 
served  either  in  whole  or  in  part  from  the  works  .of  the  Service  amounted 
to  nearly  $153,000,000,  about  $89,000,000  of  which  represents  the  value 
of  crops  grown  on  the  1,113,469  acres  of  cropped  land  on  the  projects 
proper,  from  which  definite  crop  statistics  are  secured,  or  $79.88  per 
acre,  and  the  balance  an  estimated  amount  from  approximately  1,000,000 
acres  of  land  served  with  water  under  the  Warren  Act  of  February,  1911, 
from  the  works  of  the  Service.  The  projects  already  completed  or  under 
way  will  ultimately  comprise  an  area  of  over  3,300,000  acres. 

The  works  built  under  the  Federal  reclamation  law  may  for  statistical 
purposes  be  conveniently  considered  as  of  two  classes.  The  first  class 
comprises  lands  for  which  the  United  States  under  the  Reclamation 
Act  of  June  17,  1902,  has  in  general  built  a  complete  system  of  irriga- 
tion works  from  the  point  of  storage  to  that  of  delivery  to  each  farm 
or  group  of  farms.  These  are  the  lands  commonly  referred  to  as  the 
Government  projects,  and  include  those  tracts  that  under  Government 
aid  have  been  converted  from  sagebrush  desert  to  productive  farms. 
Here  the  Government  works  are  the  sole  source  of  irrigation  water,  and 
the  control  of  the  Reclamation  Service  commonly  extends  throughout 
the  system  of  lateral  canals  that  deliver  the  water  to  each  farmer.  Thus 
the  Service  has  a  force  of  ditch  riders  in  frequent  touch  with  the  irriga- 
tors. 

The  other  class  of  lands  benefited  by  the  Government  works  includes 
those  served  under  the  Warren  Act.  This  important  supplement  of  the 
reclamation  act  provides  a  connecting  link  between  the  Government  works 
and  private  canal  systems  built  in  the  same  vicinity  or  drainage  basin. 
The  latter  commonly  lack  storage,  depending  originally  on  the  unregulated 
flow  of  the  streams  alone.  This  natural  flow  often  dwindles  in  the  irri- 
gation season  to  a  point  far  below  the  needs  of  all  the  constructed  canals, 
and  the  typical  case  of  service  to  such  canals  and  lands  from  the  Govern- 
ment works  involves  furnishing  stored  water  at  such  times  from  the 
reservoirs  built  by  the  Reclamation  Service.  This  may  be  simply  deliv- 
ered in  bulk  in  the  river  channel  or  the  Service  may  include  carriage 


586  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

through  other  Government  works  and  delivery  at  various  stages  of  the 
process  of  distributing  water  to  the  individual  farms.  Similarly,  the 
quantities  of  water  made  available  by  the  Government  works  in  such 
cases  vary  from  a  complete  supply  to  a  small  percentage  of  the  total  water 
used  by  the  irrigators.  Even  where  only  a  portion  of  the  total  water  used 
is  furnished,  it  may  be  a  vital  part  and  may  double  the  crop  yield  that 
would  otherwise  be  secured. 

At  the  extraordinary  session  of  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  August, 
1919,  an  act  was  passed  designating  the  Montana  Railroad  Commission 
as  ex-officio  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission,  and  since  that  time  the 
state  and  the  nation  (through  the  United  States  Reclamation  Service) 
have  closely  co-operated  in  the  furtherance  of  the  various  reclamation 
projects  in  hand  and  those  required  by  the  agricultural  needs  of  the 
future.  The  report  of  the  Irrigation  Commission  for  the  year  ending 
December,  1920,  briefly  reviews  the  Government  work  in  Montana  to  the 
following  effect: 

A  large  acreage  in  Montana  has  been  reclaimed  under  the  provisions 
of  the  Reclamation  Act  passed  by  Congress  in  1902.  This  law  provides 
that  funds  from  the  sale  of  public  lands  be  devoted  to  the  reclamation 
of  arid  lands  in  the  several  western  states,  and  under  this  law  Montana 
has  a  larger  number  of  projects  than  any  other  western  state.  Four 
projects  under  direct  charge  of  the  United  States  Reclamation  Service 
and  three  projects  constructed  by  the  Reclamation  Service  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  United  States  Indian  Department  constitute  Montana's 
quota  under  this  act.  On  these  seven  projects  over  $20,000,000  have 
already  been  spent;  and  the  total  estimated  cost  amounts  to  nearly 
$39,000,000.  The  total  acreage  to  be  irrigated  under  these  projects  is 
864,000  acres.  To  date,  construction  is  completed  for  344,000  and  of 
this  amount  145,000  acres  are  actually  irrigated.  For  lack  of  sufficient 
funds,  construction  of  these  projects  has  been  very  much  delayed  and 
the  delay  has  been  a  source  of  disappointment  and  heavy  loss  to  the 
early  settlers  under  the  projects.  Default  in  the  annual  payments  on  most 
of  the  projects  caused  the  passage  in  1914  of  the  Reclamation  Extension 
Act,  allowing  a  twenty  year  period  in  which  to  repay  construction  costs 
to  the  Government.  This  further  limited  the  available  funds  and  for  the 
past  several  years  the  projects  have  been  greatly  handicapped  in  carry- 
ing out  their  plans  for  reclamation.  Some  of  the  projects  which  were 
completed  at  an  earlier  date  have  met  with  considerable  success  and  all 
will  in  time  be  fairly  successful  if  the  construction  can  be  completed  with- 
out further  delay. 

Under  some  projects,  completed  units  have  recently  organized  as 
irrigation  districts  in  order  to  gain  control  of  the  administration  of  the 
project,  and  this  method  promises  very  successful  operation  and  assures 
a  possibility  of  financing  the  settlers  through  Federal  loans  which  would 
not  be  possible  while  the  Government  held  prior  lien  on  the  lands.  The 
following  table  shows  the  acreage  and  cost  of  the  various  projects : 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  587 

UNITED  STATES  RECLAMATION  PROJECTS 


Project 
Huntley    

Acreage 
Irrigable 

....  33  ooo 

Acreage  for 
Which  Works 
Completed 

Acreage  Now 
Irrigated 

Estimated 
Cost  of 
Project 

Lower  Yellowstone    ..., 

60  ooo 

$  1,912,000 

Milk  River  

192  ooo 

3,i54,°oo 

Sun  River  

175  ooo 

9,427,000 

Ft.  Peck   (Indian)  

....  152  ooo 

17  ooo 

8,443,000 

Blackfeet    (Indian)    ... 

....  1  18,000 

48  ooo  x> 

5,630,000 

Flathead    (Indian) 

....  134  ooo 

08  ooo 

34,000      ^ 

Total    864,000  344,000  145,000  $38,786,000 

The  Huntley  project  was  the  first  reclamation  project  in  the  United 
States  to  be  started  and  also  the  first  to  be  opened  for  settlement,  and 
is  classed  as  one  of  the  successful  projects  of  the  Reclamation  Service. 
It  is  located  in  Yellowstone  County  not  far  from  the  city  of  Billings  at 
an  average  elevation  of  3,000  feet  above  sea  level.  The  land  lies  along 
the  south  side  of  Yellowstone  River  and  is  mostly  a  clay  silt  of  consider- 
able fertility.  Water  is  diverted  from  Yellowstone  River  and  distributed 
through  a  very  substantially  built  system  of  canals,  covering  a  total  of 
33,000  acres  irrigable.  The  system  has  been  completed  for  nearly  all  of 
the  lands  since  1907  and  has  been  successfully  farmed  since  that  date. 
Alfalfa,  sugar  beets  and  grains  are  the  chief  products.  Excellent  market 
and  transportation  facilities  are  furnished  and  returns  from  the  land  are 
very  satisfactory.  Seepage  and  alkali  troubles  have,  however,  developed 
and  the  Reclamation  Service  found  it  necessary  to  install  a  complete  drain- 
age system  over  the  greater  part  of  the  area.  Twenty-two  thousand  acres 
have  been  successfully  drained  and  still  further  extension  of  the  system 
is  planned.  The  average  farm  unit  is  about  50  acres  and  intensive  cultiva- 
tion is  practiced.  Twenty  thousand  acres  are  actually  irrigated  under  the 
project,  during  the  present  year.  The  cost  of  the  project  to  date  amounts 
to  $1,420,000,  while  the  total  estimated  cost  of  the  project  is  $1,912,000. 

The  Lower  Yellowstone  project  lies  along  the  west  bank  of  the  Yellow- 
stone River  in  Richland  and  Dawson  Counties  in  the  extreme  eastern  end 
of  the  state  and  a  small  part  of  the  project  also  extends  into  North  Dakota. 
There  are  at  present  600  farm  units  on  the  project  and  eight  towns  are 
located  within  the  area,  the  largest  being  Sidney  with  a  population  of 
1,400.  The  Great  Northern  Railway  runs  the  full  length  of  the  project, 
furnishing  ample  transportation.  The  total  irrigable  area  is  60,000  acres. 
Works  are  already  completed  for  42,000  acres  and  of  this  amount  22,000 
are  now  actually  irrigated.  The  average  elevation  of  the  land  is  1,900 
feet  above  sea  level.  The  temperature  ranges  from  46  below  to  no 
above.  The  annual  precipitation  is  16  inches  and  in  normal  years  fair 
crops  are  grown  without  irrigation.  This  feature  has  delayed  the  de- 
velopment of  the  project  since  many  of  the  settlers  are  not  thoroughly 
converted  to  the  necessity  of  irrigation.  The  estimated  duty  of  water 
under  this  project  is  1^2  acre  feet  per  acre  delivered  at  the  land.  The  total 
cost  to  date  is  $2,894,000  and  the  estimated  cost  for  the  complete  project 
will  be  $3,154,000. 


588 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


The  Milk  River  project  embraces  a  total  acreage  of  192,000  irrigable 
acres  extending  for  160  miles  along  the  valley  of  the  Milk  River  in  Elaine, 
Phillips  and  Valley  counties.  The  direct  flow  of  Milk  River  supplemented 
by  storage  in  St.  Marys  Lake  furnishes  the  water  supply  for  this  project. 
At  St.  Marys  Lake  218,000  acre  feet  are  to  be  stored  and  later  diverted 
into  the  head  of  Milk  River  by  a  canal  29  miles  long.  Diversion  dams 
on  Milk  River  at  Dodson  and  Vandalia  carry  the  water  onto  the  lands 
along  the  river.  A  secondary  storage  reservoir  is  provided  at  Nelson 
Lake  near  M^lta  with  a  capacity  of  142,000  acre  feet.  Work  was  begun 
on  this  project  in  1902  and  has  been  carried  on  continuously  since  that 
time  and  68,000  acres  are  now  served  by  completed  works.  Of  this 


LOWER  YELLOWSTONE  RECLAMATION  PROJECT 

amount,  46,000  acres  are  actually  irrigated.  The  project  to  date  has  cost 
$6,000,000  and  the  completed  plans  call  for  an  expenditure  of  $9,427,000. 
The  Great  Northern  Railroad  runs  the  full  length  of  the  project,  fur- 
nishing ample  transportation  for  all  crops.  The  principal  towns  within  the 
project  are  Chinook,  Harlem,  Dodson,  Malta,  Saco,  Hinsdale  and  Glas- 
gow. The  average  elevation  of  the  irrigable  land  is  2,200  feet  above  sea 
level.  The  mean  annual  precipitation  is  14  inches.  The  soils  under  this 
project  vary  from  light  sandy  loams  to  heavy  clay  and  gumbo.  Wheat 
and  alfalfa  are  the  principal  crops  and  the  yields  are  quite  heavy.  Ninety- 
five  thousand  acres  are  to  be  irrigated  under  canals  diverting  from  the 
river  at  Dodson,  28,000  acres  by  diversion  near  Vandalia  and  97,000  acres 
by  diversion  near  Chinook.  In  this  latter  acreage  are  included  28,000  acres 
served  by  company  ditches  constructed  independently  of  the  Reclamation 
Service,  but  having  contracts  with  the  Service  for  use  of  water  stored  in 
St.  Marys  reservoir.  This  area  of  28,000  acres  is  not  included  in  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  589 

figures  of  the  project  given  above,  but  is  reported  under  district  organiza- 
tions in  the  Blaine  County  report. 

The  Sun  River  project  contemplates  the  irrigation  of  175,000  acres 
in  Chouteau,  Cascade  and  Lewis  and  Clark  counties  by  diversion  from  Sun 
River  and  its  tributaries.  The  natural  flow  of  these  streams  is  to  be 
supplemented  by  storage  in  three  reservoirs,  Warm  Springs  reservoir  to 
have  a  capacity  of  269,000  acre  feet,  Willow  Creek  reservoir  with  86,000 
acre  feet  and  Piskhun  reservoir  with  a  capacity  of  45,700  acre  feet.  The 
Fort  Shaw  unit  of  this  project,  with  an  area  of  16,000  acres,  was  com- 
pleted about  ten  years  ago  and  has  been  in  successful  operation  since 
that  date.  Under  this  unit,  10,000  acres  are  now  irrigated.  Works  are 
now  completed  to  serve  a  total  of  40,000  acres  and  of  this  amount  12,000 
are  now  actually  irrigated.  The  cost  to  date  has  been  $3,736,000  and  the 
estimated  cost  of  the  entire  project  is  $8,443,000.  The  lands  under  this 
project  include  both  bench  and  valley  lands  and  are  quite  productive. 
In  the  valley  lands,  however,  necessity  for  drainage  has  arisen  and  the 
plans  include  a  drainage  system  for  part  of  the  acreage.  The  total  precipi- 
tation in  this  section  is  only  eleven  inches  and  irrigation  is  necessary  for 
the  production  of  crops.  Two  railroads  through  the  project  furnish  ample 
transportation.  Fairfield,  Ft.  Shaw,  Sun  River  and  Simms  are  the  princi- 
pal towns. 

The  Fort  Peck  project  is  being  constructed  by  the  Reclamation  Service 
in  co-operation  with  the  United  States  Indian  Department.  The  total 
irrigable  acreage  is  152,000  acres.  Water  supply  is  derived  from  Poplar 
River  and  Porcupine  and  Big  Muddy  creeks.  Only  a  small  part  of  this 
project  is  thus  far  completed  and  a  thousand  acres  are  now  irrigated. 
The  total  cost  to  date  has  been  $740,000  and  the  complete  project  calls 
for  the  expenditure  of  $5,630,000.  Most  of  the  lands  to  be  reclaimed  are 
Indian  allotments  under  the  former  Fort  Peck  Indian  Reservation.  No 
lands  are  now  open  to  entry. 

The  Blackfeet  (Indian)  project  is  in  Glacier  County,  mostly  included 
within  the  Blackfeet  Indian  Reservation.  The  total  irrigable  acreage 
is  118,000  acres,  of  which  11,000  acres  lie  outside  of  the  reservation. 
Several  separate  units  are  included  within  this  project,  diverting  water 
from  Cut  Bank  and  Two  Medicine  rivers  and  from  Birch  and  Badger 
creeks.  Works  are  already  completed  for  the  irrigation  of  48,000  acres, 
but  of  this  amount  only  10,000  are  now  actually  irrigated.  The  lands  now 
irrigated  are  mostly  Indian  allotments,  although  some  of  them  are  farmed 
by  white  tenants.  The  total  expenditure  to  date  is  $1,080,000  and  the  total 
estimated  cost  of  the  project  is  $3,600,000.  Browning  and  Cut  Bank  are 
the  principal  towns  included  within  the  area  served  by  this  project.  The 
lands  are  mostly  rolling  and  more  or  less  broken  bench  lands  of  consider- 
able fertility  and  with  favorable  climate  conditions  for  the  production  of 
ordinary  farm  crops.  The  mean  annual  precipitation  is  15  inches  and  the 
average  elevation  above  sea  level  is  4,000  feet. 

The  Flathead  (Indian)  project  is  being  constructed  by  the  Recla- 
mation Service  in  conjunction  with  the  Indian  Department  to  serve 
134,000  acres  of  land  within  the  former  Flathead  Reservation.  In 


590  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Missoula  and  Flathead  counties,  works  are  now  completed  to  cover  98,000 
acres  and  of  this  amount  34,000  acres  are  actually  being  irrigated.  The 
average  elevation  above  sea  level  is  3,000  feet  and  the  mean  annual  precipi- 
tation is  18  inches.  Seven  hundred  farms  are  included  within  the  project. 
Hay,  grain  and  potatoes  are  the  principal  crops,  although  some  fruit  and 
vegetables  are  raised.  The  total  expenditure  to  date  is  a  little  over 
$4,000,000,  while  the  estimated  cost  of  the  complete  project  is  $6,620,000. 
Poison,  Ronan  and  St.  Ignatius  are  the  principal  towns  within  the  area. 

UNITED  STATES  RECLAMATION  ENTERPRISES  DEFINED 

The  special  bulletin  on  irrigation  in  Montana  issued  by  the  United 
States  Census  of  1920  has  the  following  explanation  of  the  scope  of  the 
enterprises  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  National  Reclamation  Service : 

United  States  Reclamation  Service  enterprises,  which  operate  under 
the  federal  law  of  June  17,  1902,  providing  for  the  construction  of  irriga- 
tion works  with  the  receipts  from  the  sale  of  public  lands.  In  addition  to 
serving  land  within  its  own  projects,  the  United  States  Reclamation  Serv- 
ice supplies  stored  water  to  land  within  other  enterprises. 

United  States  Indian  Service  enterprises,  which  operate  under  various 
acts  of  Congress  providing  for  the  construction  by  that  service  of  works 
for  the  irrigation  of  land  in  Indian  reservations. 

Carey  Act  enterprises,  which  operate  under  the  federal  law  of  August 
18,  1894,  granting  to  each  of  the  states  in  the  arid  region  1,000,000  acres 
of  land  on  condition  that  the  state  provide  for  its  irrigation,  and  under 
amendments  to  that  law  granting  additional  areas  to  Idaho  and  Wyoming. 

Irrigation  districts,  which  are  public  corporations  that  operate  under 
state  laws  providing  for  their  organization  and  management,  and  empow- 
ering them  to  issue  bonds  and  levy  and  collect  taxes,  with  the  object  of 
obtaining  funds  for  the  purchase  or  construction  and  for  the  operation  and 
maintenance  of  irrigation  works. 

Co-operative  enterprises,  which  are  controlled  by  the  water  users  under 
some  organized  form  of  co-operation.  The  most  common  form  of  organi- 
zation is  the  stock  company,  the  stock  of  which  is  owned  by  the  water  users. 

Commercial  enterprises,  which  supply  water  for  compensation  to  parties 
who  may  own  no  interest  in  the  works. 

Individual  and  partnership  enterprises,  which  belong  to  individual 
farmers  or  to  neighboring  farmers,  who  control  them  without  formal 
organization. 

WATER  RIGHTS  LEGISLATION  IN  MONTANA 

The  water  rights  current  in  Montana,  as  fixed  by  legislation  going  back 
to  early  territorial  times,  is  a  subject  closely  related  to  irrigation.  The 
pertinent  laws  along  this  line  may  be  thus  summarized : 

In  1865  the  Territory  of  Montana  enacted  a  law  recognizing  the  right 
of  any  person  holding  land  bordering  on  or  in  the  neighborhood  of  a 
stream  to  take  water  from  the  stream  for  irrigation,  and  providing  for 
obtaining  the  right  of  way  for  ditches  over  the  land  of  others. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  591 

This  law  was  repealed  in  1870  by  one  extending  the  right  to  take  water 
for  irrigation  to  the  holder  of  land  anywhere  in  the  territory  and  recogniz- 
ing priority  among  users. 

In  1885  a  more  comprehensive  law  was  enacted.  This  provided  that 
rights  might  be  acquired  by  "appropriation ;"  that  the  appropriation  must 
be  for  a  useful  or  beneficial  purpose;  that  the  place  of  use  might  be 
changed ;  and  that  "among  appropriations  the  first  in  time  is  the  first  in 
right."  This  law  provided  also  that  persons  desiring  to  appropriate  water 
must  post  notices  stating  their  claims,  and  must  file  copies  of  these  claims 
with  the  county  recorders ;  and,  further,  that  persons  who  had  acquired 
rights  prior  to  the  passage  of  the  act  should  file  with  the  proper  county 
recorders  declarations  of  their  claims.  The  law  provided  also  that  con- 
troversies regarding  water  rights  should  be  settled  in  the  courts. 

This  law  is  still  in  effect,  the  state  never  having  provided  for  applica- 
tions for  permits  to  appropriate  water,  as  has  been  done  in  most  of  the 
western  states. 

The  constitution  of  the  state,  ratified  in  1889,  contains  the  following 
section  relating  to  irrigation : 

"The  use  of  all  water  now  appropriated,  or  that  may  hereafter  be 
appropriated  for  sale,  rental,  distribution  or  other  beneficial  use  and 
right  of  way  over  the  lands  of  others  for  all  ditches,  drains,  flumes, 
canals  and  aqueducts,  necessarily  used  in  connection  therewith,  as  well  as 
the  sites  for  reservoirs  necessary  for  collecting  and  storing  the  same,  shall 
be  held  to  be  a  public  use."  (Art.  3,  sec.  15.) 

Under  the  rulings  of  the  courts  riparian  rights  are  recognized  in  Mon- 
tana to  a  limited  extent. 

STATE  WORKS  AND  PROJECTS 

The  extension  and  organization  of  the  irrigation  fragments  scattered 
throughout  the  state  into  anything  approaching  a  system  were  first  made 
possible  through  the  passage  of  the  original  irrigation  district  law  by  the 
Legislative  Assembly  of  1907.  The  measure  was  similar  in  nature  to  the 
law  relating  to  municipal  improvement  districts.  The  supervision  and 
control  over  the  issuing  of  bonds  by  the  districts  were  placed  with  the 
boards  of  county  commissioners.  As  this  feature  proved  to  be  unsatis- 
factory, particularly  in  the  marketing  of  the  bonds,  the  law  was  amended 
in  1909,  so  as  to  place  the  control  of  bond  issues  with  the  district  courts. 
Under  this  law  several  districts  have  been  organized,  but  it  is  estimated 
that  with  the  advantage  of  a  single  regulating  board,  working  with  the 
advice  and  assistance  of  the  state  engineer,  as  provided  by  the  law,  oppor- 
tunities for  development  under  the  irrigation  district  plan  will  be  greatly 
extended. 

The  new  law  enables  the  owners  of  land  under  an  irrigation  system 
owned  by  other  parties  to  purchase  the  property,  using  the  district  bonds 
for  payment,  and  thus  secure  direct  and  co-operative  control  at  once. 
By  the  use  of  the  serially  maturing  bonds  the  expense  of  the  purchase 
or  the  new  construction  can  be  distributed  over  the  years  when  the  benefits 


592  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

are  being  derived,  the  expense  for  both  the  interest  and  principal  for  tak- 
ing up  the  bonds  at  maturity  being  levied  in  the  form  of  a  tax  against  the 
land  and  paid  in  annual  installments.  This  method  also  enables  the 
owners  of  land  with  direct-flow  rights  which  are  not  sufficient  in  all  sea- 
sons, to  form  their  lands  into  a  district  for  the  purpose  of  constructing 
storage  works  to  provide  a  supplemental  water  supply.  In  these  cases 
the  expense  per  acre  is  usually  small,  and  as  the  security  is  in  the  lands 
already  improved  the  bonds  may  become  a  first  lien  on  property  several 
times  its  value. 

It  is  in  these  two  ways  that  the  law  has  been  applied  in  the  past.  Under 
the  Irrigation  Commission  it  is  expected  that  in  the  future  it  may  be 
used  for  the  .development  of  water  supplies  for  sections  that  have  hereto- 
fore been  cultivated  under  the  dry  farming  system  where  the  need  for 
supplemental  irrigation  systems  has  been  particularly  felt  during  the  past 
dry  years.  A  higher  duty  than  is  used  at  present  is  probable  and  such  lands 
will  have  their  improved  dry-farming  values  as  security  for  the  bonds. 

Irrigation  beyond  a  doubt  is  the  best  crop  insurance  and  it  has  been 
found  to  pay  even  though  water  is  used  only  once  in  five  years.  The 
unusual  number  of  homestead  entries  in  Montana  has  been  breaking  up 
the  areas  which  might  ultimately  be  developed  under  the  Carey  Act  and 
it  is  expected  that  to  a  certain  extent  the  district  method  may  take  the 
place  of  the  Carey  Act  system. 

So  many  requests  were  made  for  preliminary  investigations  as  to  the 
feasibility  of  obtaining  water  supplies,  reservoir  sites  and  irrigable  areas, 
that  the  commission  made  a  survey  of  the  state,  by  counties,  in  the  sum- 
mer of  1920.  The  survey  revealed  the  fact  that  many  small  pumping 
plants  were  being  operated  under  low  lifts  for  the  irrigation  of  small 
areas.  As  to  the  development  of  larger  plants,  its  feasibility  depends 
on  the  correct  answer  to  the  question,  "How  high  can  water  be  pumped 
profitably?"  The  commission  answered  the  question  thus:  "The  irrigated 
land  must  produce  a  net  yearly  income  of  $18.15  Per  acre  to  Pav  interest 
on  the  investment  and  the  maintenance.  Depending  upon  the  locality,  the 
markets,  crops,  etc.,  it  is  a  matter  of  figures  to  compute  the  net  return 
on  irrigated  land  to  determine  whether  or  not  the  project  will  pay." 


The  survey  of  the  fifteen  projects  for  which  petitions  had  been  filed 
with  the  commission  is  briefly  covered  by  the  following  facts : 

Project  No.  i — Cooper's  Lake  Irrigation  District,  Powell  County. 
Location,  Blackfoot  Valley.  Elevation,  4,300  feet.  Total  area,  20,000 
acres.  Petition  filed,  October  18,  1919.  Deposit  requested,  $300.  Esti- 
mated cost,  $40  per  acre. 

Project  No.  2 — Nine  Mile  Prairie  Irrigation  District,  Missoula 
County.  Location,  Blackfoot  Valley.  Elevation,  3,600  feet.  Area,  9,000 
acres.  Petition  filed  August  10,  1919.  Deposit  requested,  $300.  Cost, 
$25  to  $30  per  acre. 

Project    No.    3 — Frenchtown    Valley    Irrigation    District,    Missoula 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


593 


County.  Location,  Frenchtown  Valley.  Elevation,  3,100  feet.  Area, 
8,000  acres.  Petition  filed  October  11,  1919.  Deposit  requested,  $450. 
Cost,  $24.61  per  acre. 

Project  No.  4— DeSmet  Irrigation  District,  Missoula  County.  Loca- 
tion, Missoula  Valley.  Elevation,  3,200  feet.  Irrigable  area,  4,927  acres. 
System,  pumping  by  electric  power.  Lifts,  131  and  70.8  feet.  District 
created,  January  3,  1920.  Cost  of  investigation,  $209.11.  Total  cost  of 
project,  $197,004.50.  Cost  per  acre,  $39.98.  Yearly  maintenance  cost, 
$447- 

Project  No.  5 — Glendive-Fallon  Irrigation  District,  Prairie  and  Daw- 
son  counties.  Location,  Yellowstone  Valley.  Construction  cost,  $26.87 


AN  UNIRRIGATED  WHEAT  FIELD 


to  $46.89  per  acre.  Maintenance  cost  $6.38  to  $12.81  per  acre.  Irrigable 
area,  4>255  to  22,475  acres.  Coal  consumption,  7,240  to  47,737  short 
tons.  Deposit  required,  $1,400.  Cost  of  report,  $1,309.95.  Elevation, 
2,150  feet.  Land  owners  in  district,  125.  Gross  area  of  district,  34,440 
acres. 

Project  No.  6 — Brockway  Irrigation  District.  Location,  Red  Water 
River  Valley.  Irrigable  area,  2,470  acres.  System,  flood  water  storage. 
Water  supply,  Duck  and  Ash  creeks  and  Redwater  River.  Elevation, 
2,500  feet.  Cost,  $76.95  to  $105.91  per  acre.  Cost  of  storage,  $27.06  to 
$35.84  per  acre  foot.  Cost  of  report,  $276.35. 

Project  No.  7 — Valley  View  Irrigation  District,  Broadwater  County. 
Location,  four  miles  west  of  Three  Forks.  Elevation,  4,200  feet.  Irrigable 
area,  3,037  acres.  System,  pumping  electric  power.  Water  supply,  Jeffer- 
son River.  Lifts,  89.5,  136.5  and  185  feet  net.  Total  connected  power, 


594  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

962  H.  P.  Yearly  power  used,  1,368,244  K.  W.  H.  Cost  of  construction, 
$21.09  Per  acre.  Yearly  maintenance  cost,  $6.03  per  acre.  Cost  of  report, 
$286.64. 

Project  No.  8 — East  Bench  Irrigation  District,  Beaverhead  County. 
Location,  near  Dillon.  Elevation,  5,000  to  5,200  feet.  Irrigable  area, 
13,900  acres.  System,  gravity  and  storage.  Source,  Beaverhead  River 
and  Grasshopper  Creek.  Reservoir,  554  acres.  Dam,  concrete  arch,  105 
feet  high.  Tunnel,  solid  rock,  675  feet  long.  Syphon,  560  feet.  Total 
estimated  cost,  $753,102,  or  $54.18  per  acre.  Deposit,  $400.  Petition 
filed,  March  6,  1920. 

Project  No.  9 — Harlowton-DuRand  Irrigation  District,  Wheatland 
County.  Location,  bench  north  of  Harlowton.  Elevation,  4,100  feet. 
Net  irrigable  area,  16,304  acres.  Source  water  supply,  Musselshell  River. 
System,  storage  of  flood  water.  Total  reservoir  capacities,  27,204  acre 
feet.  Construction  cost,  $915,778,  or  $56.17  per  acre.  Cost  of  making 
report,  $401.19. 

Project  No.  10 — Red  Lodge-Rosebud  Irrigation  District,  Carbon 
County.  Location,  20  miles  northwest  of  Red  Lodge.  Elevation,  4,700 
feet.  Source  of  water,  East  Rosebud  River.  System,  gravity.  Weast 
Canal,  paid  $27,000,  ten  miles  long.  'Irrigable  area,  12,510  acres.  Esti- 
mated cost,  $324,800,  or  $25.98  per  acre. 

Project  No.  n — Joliet  and  White  Horse  Bench  Irrigation  District, 
Carbon  County.  Location,  near  Joliet.  Irrigable  area,  7,200  acres.  Ele- 
vation, 3,500  feet.  System,  storage  to  supplement  direct  flow.  Water 
supply,  Rock  Creek.  Cost,  not  determined. 

Project  No.  12 — Newlan  Creek  Irrigation  District,  Meagher  County. 
Location,  nine  miles  northwest  of  White  Sulphur  Springs.  Gross  area, 
1,290  acres.  System,  flood  water  storage  and  gravity.  Source  of  water 
supply,  Sheep  and  Newlan  creeks. 

Project  No.  13 — Wood's  Gulch  Irrigation  District,  Meagher  County. 
Location,  six  miles  west  of  Sulphur  Springs.  Gross  area,  1,100  acres. 
System,  storage  and  gravity.  Source  of  water  supply,  Wood's  Gulch  and 
Little  Birch  creeks. 

Project  No.  14 — Meadow  Farm  Irrigation  District,  Gallatin  County. 
Location,  two  miles  southwest  of  Three  Forks.  Elevation,  4,060  feet. 
Gross  area,  1,037  acres.  System,  gravity.  Water  supply,  Jefferson  River. 

Project  No.  15 — Upper  Glendive-Fallon  Irrigation  District,  Prairie 
and  Dawson  counties.  Location,  Yellowtsone  Valley.  Elevation,  2,150 
feet.  System,  pumping,  steam  power,  lignite  coal.  Lifts,  400  feet  and 
75  feet  net.  Water  supply,  Yellowstone  River.  Irrigable  area,  4,210 
acres.  Coal  consumption,  6,713  short  tons.  Estimated  cost,  $152,394,  or 
$36.20  per  acre. 

Besides  the  foregoing  fifteen  projects  which  have  come  under  the  juris- 
diction of  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission,  many  requests  have  been 
made  for  the  inspection  of  projects  contemplating  the  formation  of  dis- 
tricts. The  following,  which  total  approximately  650,000  acres,  come  under 
this  head:  The  Dearborn  project,  of  which  some  work  has  been  done 
under  the  Carey  Act  and  the  contracts  cancelled  several  years  ago,  located 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  595 

in  Lewis  and  Clark  and  Cascade  counties  and  proposed  to  irrigate  30,000 
acres  on  the  bench  between  the  Dearborn  and  Sun  Rivers  west  of  the 
Missouri;  the  Brinkman  and  Lonesome  Lake  projects,  to  irrigate  about 
350,000  acres  along  Maria's  River  in  Chouteau  and  Hill  counties;  the 
South  Bench  project  in  the  northeastern  corner  of  Madison  County  and 
the  western  part  of  Gallatin  County,  which  would  irrigate  two  crescent 
shaped  benches  south  of  the  town  of  Three  Forks,  each  of  about  25,000 
acres,  from  the  Madison  River  or  its  branches;  the  Silver  Flat  project, 
in  Lewis  and  Gark  County  northwest  of  Helena,  covering  from  8,000  to 
10,000  acres,  and  drawing  its  supply  from  Silver,  Little  Prickly  Pear  and 
Canyon  creeks;  the  Flint  Creek  project,  which  proposes  to  irrigate  from 
20,000  to  30,000  acres  of  bench  land  near  the  towns  of  Hall  and  New 
Chicago,  Granite  County;  the  Crow  Creek  irrigation  project  adjoining 
the  town  of  Radersburg,  Broadwater  County,  which  plans  to  divert 
water  from  the  Jefferson  River  near  Twin  Bridges,  as  well  as  construct 
a  reservoir  on  Crow  Creek,  and  irrigate  some  50,000  acres ;  and  the  Judith 
Basin  project,  in  the  new  county  by  that  name,  which  aims  to  irrigate 
two  benches  of  land,  of  60,000  acres  each,  on  both  sides  of  the  Judith 
River,  immediately  below  the  canyon  and  adjacent  to  the  towns  of  Hobson 
and  Moccasin. 

COUNTRY  IRRIGATION  SURVEYS 

From  the  reports  made  by  the  State  Irrigation  Commission  covering  its 
surveys  of  the  different  counties,  the  following  facts  closely  relating  to  the 
subject  are  taken: 

Beaverhead  County — The  East  Branch  Irrigation  District  was  organ- 
ized in  1920  to  reclaim  13,900  acres  of  bench  land  east  of  Dillon.  This  is 
being  handled  by  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission  and  is  treated  in 
another  section  of  this  report. 

On  the  Red  Rock  River  twelve  miles  above  Lima  a  reservoir  has 
been  developed  by  constructing  a  fifty  foot  earth  dam.  Its  capacity  is 
60,000  acre  feet.  It  was  built  in  connection  with  a  Carey  project  of 
20,000  acres  near  Lima.  The  Carey  project  failed  to  materialize  and  the 
Red  Rock  Reservoir  and  Irrigation  Company  was  organized  to  take  it 
over  for  $250,000,  of  which  $50,000  has  actually  been  paid.  The  corpora- 
tion is  open,  a  share  corresponding  to  an  acre  foot  of  water,  it  being 
the  intention  to  increase  the  reservoir's  capacity  to  100,000  acre  feet. 
In  connection  with  this  the  Red  Rock  Lake  Company  is  a  corporation 
now  constructing  a  canal  from  the  river  just  below  the  dam  to  irrigate 
6,000  acres.  Water  will  be  purchased  from  the  reservoir  company. 
This  project  is  expected  to  operate  in  1921. 

Big  Horn  County — The  irrigated  lands  of  the  county  are  mostly 
along  the  valleys  of  the  Big  Horn  and  Little  Big  Horn  rivers.  These 
streams  have  more  than  ample  water  supply.  Some  of  the  tributaries 
also  furnish  irrigation  for  a  few  hundred  acres.  None  of  the  streams 
are  adjudicated. 


596  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  U.  S.  Indian  Service  is  constructing  a  system  to  serve  Indian 
lands  to  the  amount  of  74,000  acres.  Half  of  this  acreage  was  actually 
irrigated  in  1920.  The  system  consists  of  several  separate  canals,  the 
largest  of  which  is  the  Big  Horn  Canal,  irrigating  33,000  acres  on  the 
east  side  of  the  river  near  St.  Xavier.  The  Agency  Ditch  near  Crow 
Agency  on  the  Little  Big  Horn  covers  7,000  acres.  Ditches  from  Prior 
Creek  cover  5,500  acres. 

Outside  of  the  reservation  the  largest  ditch  is  the  Two  Leggin  Canal 
which  irrigates  20,000  acres  near  Hardin.  This  ditch  is  30  miles  long 
and  was  built  in  1909,  at  a  cost  of  $13  per  acre.  Annual  maintenance 
cost  is  $i  per  acre,  and  crop  yields  are  very  heavy.  At  the  lower  end  of 
the  land,  seepage  troubles  are  developing. 

Average  land  values  are  $10  per  acre  for  grazing  land,  $30  for  dry 
farm  lands  and  $100  per  acre  for  irrigated  land.  The  assessed  valua- 
tion of  the  county  is  $22,000,000. 

Blaine  County — Assessed  land  valuations  in  this  county  are  $30  to 
$60  for  irrigated  land,  $12  to  $14  for  non-irrigated  tillable  land,  and  from 
$8  to  $10  for  grazing  land.  According  to  the  assessment  rolls  there  are 
24,000  acres  of  irrigated  land,  440,000  acres  of  non-irrigated  tillable 
land,  and  713,000  acres  of  grazing  land.  The  total  assessed  land  value 
of  the  county  is  $18,000,000,  while  the  grand  total  of  all  property  in  the 
county  is  $28,000,000. 

Irrigation  has  been  practiced  in  this  county  for  many  years,  and 
with  good  success,  the  principal  areas  being  along  Milk  River  near 
Chinook.  Milk  River  is  the  only  stream  in  the  county  flowing  the  year 
round  and  is,  therefore,  practically  the  only  source  of  water  supply  for 
irrigation,  both  present  and  future.  A  few  acres  are  irrigated  by  storage 
on  the  intermittent  streams,  and  a  further  extension  of  irrigation  by  this 
means  is  possible. 

Along  Milk  River  several  important  projects  are  under  way,  most  of 
them  being  under  contract  with  the  United  States  Reclamation  Service 
for  use  of  water  stored  in  St.  Mary's  reservoir,  in  addition  to  early  water 
rights  on  Milk  River. 

The  Fort  Belknap  Irrigation  District  is  being  formed  to  take  over  and 
reconstruct  the  old  system  of  the  Fort  Belknap  Ditch  Company,  divert- 
ing from  the  north  side  of  the  river  eight  miles  above  Chinook,  and 
to  cover  9,000  acres  of  land,  three-fourths  of  which  has  already  been 
irrigated  with  fair  success  for  twenty-five  years.  A  new  high  line  canal 
is  now  being  constructed  by  the  ditch  company.  L.  V.  Bogy,  of  Chinook, 
is  secretary  of  the  companay. 

Zurich  Irrigation  District  was  created  June  19,  1920.  They  propose 
to  extend  the  Alfalfa  Ditch  to  cover  12,217  acres  on  the  north  side  of 
Milk  River  extending  from  North  Fork  to  Harlem.  Part  of  this  land 
has  been  irrigated  for  some  time  under  an  old  system.  Present  land 
values  range  from  $20  to  $60. 

Petitions  are  being  circulated  for  the  formation  of  the  Savoy-Coburg 
Irrigation  District.  It  is  proposed  to  take  over,  enlarge  and  extend  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  597 

present  ditch  of  the  Harlem  water  users'  association.  Twelve  thousand 
acres  are  to  be  included  in  the  district,  over  half  of  which  has  been 
irrigated  for  many  years  by  the  old  Harlem  ditch.  Vernon  Butler  of 
Chinook  is  promoting  the  project.  The  land  lies  on  the  north  side  of 
Milk  River,  extending  from  Harlem  to  Coburg. 

The  Paradise  Irrigation  District  was  created  April  I,  1920,  with 
W.  B.  Sands,  J.  L.  Sprinkle,  and  W.  W.  Bilger,  commissioners.  A.  W. 
Ziebarth,  of  Chinook,  is  secretary.  Eleven  thousand  five  hundred  acres 
are  included  in  the  district  lying  on  the  south  side  of  Milk  River  between 
Chinook  and  the  Indian  Reservation.  Part  of  the  land  has  been  irri- 
gated for  the  past  25  years.  A  new  canal  system  is  now  being  con- 
structed at  a  cost  of  $15  per  acre.  Present  land  values  are  around  $50 
per  acre. 

All  of  the  above  districts  have  some  early  water  rights  from  Milk 
River,  and  are  also  entering  into  contract  with  the  U.  S.  R.  S.  for  addi- 
tional water  from  St.  Mary's  reservoir. 

The  U.  S.  Indian  Department  has  constructed  a  system  to  irrigate 
38,000  acres  on  the  Fort  Belknap  Reservation.  About  half  of  this  acreage 
is  to  be  watered  from  Milk  River  and  the  balance  from  Whitebear, 
Peoples,  Lodge  Pole  and  Big  Warm  creeks.  Only  half  of  this  irrigable 
acreage  has  been  actually  irrigated  thus  far. 

The  North  Chinook  Irrigation  Association  irrigates  about  10,000 
acres  of  land  lying  several  miles  north  of  Chinook,  from  a  reservoir  con- 
structed in  1901  to  impound  the  flood  waters  of  West  Fork. 

Broadwater — About  40,000  acres  are  now  irrigated  from  the  Missouri 
River  and  its  tributaries,  with  good  results.  One  hundred  and  twenty  thou- 
sand acres  are  classified  as  non-irrigated  agricultural  lands.  Most  of  this 
has  been  dry  farmed,  but  for  the  past  four  years  crop  failures  have  been 
common,  except  at  the  higher  elevations. 

Several  large  projects  are  now  being  promoted  in  this  county.  The 
Valley  View  Irrigation  District  near  Three  Forks  is  being  developed  under 
supervision  of  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission  and  is  mentioned  else- 
where. 

The  Toston  Irrigation  District  was  recently  organized  to  irrigate 
5,000  acres  near  Toston  by  pumping  water  from  the  Missouri  River 
with  a  lift  of  100  feet  and  at  a  construction  cost  of  $30  per  acre. 

The  Broadwater  Irrigation  District  has  been  organized  to  irrigate 
10,000  acres  by  gravity  from  a  diversion  dam  on  the  Missouri  River  above 
Toston. 

Carbon — Irrigation  has  been  practiced  in  this  county  for  many  years, 
with  very  good  success.  About  150,000  acres  are  now  irrigated  in  the 
county,  of  this  amount  70,000  acres  are  watered  from  Rock  Creek',  60,000 
acres  from  Clark  Fork  River,  and  10,000  acres  from  Red  Lodge  Creek. 
The  greater  part  of  this  acreage  is  irrigated  by  private  ditches,  though 
there  are  several  incorporated  ditch  companies  operating  in  each  of  these 
valleys.  Rock  and  Red  Lodge  creeks  have  been  fully  appropriated  and 
the  rights  therein  determined  by  court. 


598 

There  are  three  organized  irrigation  districts  in  this  county.  The 
Red  Lodge-Rosebud  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  August,  1920,  to 
irrigate  12,500  acres  of  land  near  Luther  by  a  canal  diverting  from  East 
Rosebud  River.  This  project  is  under  supervision  of  the  Montana  Irriga- 
tion Commission. 

The  East  Side  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  August,  1920,  to 
irrigate  9,500  acres  near  Belfry  by  diverting  water  from  Clark  Fork 
River,  through  the  old  Wills  Ditch,  which  is  to  be  enlarged  and  extended. 
Final  surveys  are  now  being  made. 

The  Joliet  and  White  Horse  Bench  Irrigation  District  proposes  to 
irrigate  7,200  acres  of  land  near  Joliet  by  storage  of  the  flood  waters  of 
Rock  Creek.  This  district  was  first  created  under  the  old  irrigation 
district  law,  but  recently  petitioned  the  State  Irrigation  Commission  to 
assume  supervision. 

Cascade — Most  of  the  irrigated  land  in  this  country  lies  along  the 
Sun  River  west  of  Great  Falls.  Near  Cascade  is  also  a  considerable 
irrigated  area.  The  Sun  River  has  been  adjudicated.  Other  streams  of 
the  county  have  not  been  decreed  and  in  some  the  water  supply  is  ample 
for  a  still  further  extension  of  irrigation.  Several  large  projects  are  now 
being  promoted. 

Chestnut  Valley  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  June,  1920,  to 
irrigate  4,460  acres  on  the  east  side  of  Missouri  River  near  Cascade. 
This  project  has  an  early  water  right  and  most  of  the  land  has  been  irri- 
gated under  an  old  system.  Construction  of  the  new  system  is  now  under 
way.  Bonds  to  the  amount  of  $140,000  are  to  be  issued. 

The  Fort  Shaw  Irrigation  District  was  created  March  2,  1920,  to 
irrigate  13,745  acres  near  Forst  Shaw.  Construction  was  practically 
completed  before  the  district  was  organized,  this  being  the  Fort  Shaw 
unit  of  the  U.  S.  R.  S.  Sun  River  project,  now  organized  as  a  district 
for  operation  purposes  and  under  contract  with  the  Government  to  con- 
struct a  drainage  system. 

The  Ulm  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  January,  1920,  to  irrigate 
about  12,000  acres  near  Ulm  by  pumping  from  Missouri  River  with  an 
average  lift  of  78  feet.  A  complete  engineering  report  has  been  made 
by  the  district's  engineers.  Estimated  construction  cost,  including  partial 
drainage,  is  $60.48  per  acre. 

The  Sun  River  Bench  project  has  recently  been  investigated.  It 
contemplates  the  irrigation  of  50,000  acres  southwest  of  Great  Falls  by 
water  from  the  Dearborn  River  to  be  conveyed  through  Flat  Creek  and 
Sims  Creek  and  a  series  of  canals  including  15  miles  of  siphons  and 
30  miles  of  open  canal.  Reservoirs  are  also  to  be  built  on  Dearborn 
River  and  Sims  Creek.  Estimated  cost  is  $87  per  acre. 

The  Sunnyside  Project  is  being  promoted  to  organize  as  a  district 
the  Sunnyside  unit  of  the  Sun  River  Project  diverting  from  the  river 
near  Sun  River  Station  and  irrigating  about  8,000  acres,  on  both  sides 
of  the  river.  Some  of  these  lands  have  been  irrigated  by  private  ditches 
and  it  is  proposed  to  acquire  old  water  rights  and  cover  all  lands  with 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA'  599 

a  new  canal  system.  Surveys  have  been  made  by  the  U.  S.  R.  S.  and 
it  is  proposed  to  co-operate  with  the  Government  in  the  construction 
and  operation  of  this  project. 

The  Benton  Lake  project  is  also  being  promoted  to  irrigate  70,000 
acres  in  this  county  and  a  much  larger  area  in  Chouteau  County  by 
diverting  water  from  Sun  River  through  a  long  series  of  canals  and 
coulees  to  Benton  Lake,  8  miles  north  of  Great  Falls,  where  it  is  to  be 
stored.  Additional  storage  on  Sun  River  is  also  required.  Surveys 
have  been  made  by  the  U.  S.  R.  S.  and  it  is  proposed  to  co-operate  with 
the  Government  on  this  project. 

The  Sand  Coulee  Project  just  south  of  Great  Falls  has  been  favor- 
ably reported  by  engineers.  It  contemplates  irrigation  of  3,600  acres  by 
pumping  from  Missouri  River  with  a  lift  of  60  feet.  The  estimated  cost 
is  $75  per  acre  for  construction  and  $6.55  per  acre  yearly  for  operation 
and  maintenance. 

At  present  about  40,000  acres  in  the  county  are  actually  irrigated. 
Sixteen  thousand  acres  additional  are  to  be  irrigated  by  districts  already 
organized  and  128,000  acres  are  included  in  contemplated  projects. 

Carter — Irrigation  is  just  beginning  to  get  a  start  in  this  county. 
Lack  of  an  adequate  supply  during  the  irrigation  season  has  retarded 
any  development  along  this  line..  The  Little  Missouri  Carey  project  in 
the  southeastern  part  is  now  being  constructed  and  will  ultimately  irri- 
gate 20,000  acres. 

Similar  development  might  be  carried  on  along  other  water  courses 
of  the  county.  Several  thousand  acres  are  irrigable  in  the  same  manner. 
To  facilitate  this  future  development,  gauging  stations  could  profitably 
be  placed  on  Box  Elder  and  Little  Beaver  creeks.  The  state  engineer's 
office  is  now  keeping  records  of  the  flow  of  the  Little  Missouri  River. 

With  the  completion  of  the  project  now  under  construction,  the 
county's  valuation  will  be  increased  by  $600,000  to  ^1,000,000  through 
the  rise  in  value  of  the  acreage  under  the  project,  and  a  railroad  exten- 
sion is  almost  a  certainty. 

Chouteau — For  many  years,  a  small  amount  of  irrigation  has  been 
done  by  direct  flow  from  Highwood  and  Shonkin  creeks  in  the  south  end 
of  the  county.  The  total  area  so  irrigated  is  about  800  acres  on  each  of 
these  streams.  A  small  acreage  has  also  been  irrigated  from  Little 
Muddy,  Eagle,  and  Birch  creeks,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county. 
Within  the  past  year  several  hundred  acres  of  river  bottom  lands  have 
been  brought  under  irrigation  along  the  Missouri  and  Teton  rivers  by 
pumping  with  electric  power. 

Custer — The  Tongue  River  Ditch,  which  diverts  water  out  of  Tongue 
River,  covers  an  area  of  9,705  acres  along  the  Yellowstone  Valley  below 
Miles  City. 

There  is  one  irrigation  district  filed,  the  Buffalo  Rapids  District,  estab- 
lished in  April,  1919.  They  proposed  to  divert  water  out  of  Yellowstone 


600  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

River  by  gravity  and  irrigate  3,700  acres  along  the  west  side  of  the  river 
below  Miles  City. 

Daniels — Some  partial  irrigation  has  been  carried  on  in  recent  years 
along  the  Poplar  and  its  forks.  The  systems  are  of  the  direct  diversion 
type  depending  upon  the  summer  flow  of  the  river.  Temporary  structures 
have  generally  been  built  and  the  high  cost  of  maintenance  together  with 
complete  loss  in  some  instances  has  resulted  in  inefficient  irrigation.  A 
system  of  this  type  is  installed  two  miles  west  of  Scobey  on  the  Poplar 
River.  About  1,800  acres  along  the  bottom  have  a  complete  system  of 
canals  and  laterals,  but  there  has  never  been  a  good  dam.  Three  dams 
have  been  constructed  during  the  history  of  the  project,  the  first  an  earth 
dam,  the  second  a  loose  stone  dam,  and  the  third  a  timber  dam.  All  have 
been  taken  out  by  ice  in  the  spring  freshets.  Steps  are  now  being  taken 
with  a  view  of  organizing  an  irrigation  district  to  construct  a  permanent 
concrete  dam.  The  structure  will  be  100  feet  long  and  from  four  to  six 
feet  high  of  the  weir  type.  It  will  divert  water  throughout  the  entire 
season  and  in  addition  divert  enough  water  into  a  coulee,  which  is  used 
as  a  reservoir  to  insure  against  a  shortage  during  the  gowing  season. 

There  are  in  Daniels  County  10,000  acres  of  irrigable  land.  Water  can 
only  be  supplied,  however,  by  construction  of  dams  for  storage  of  spring 
floods.  Many  of  the  tracts  irrigated  in  this  way  would  be  as  small  as 
forty  acres. 

Dawson — The  only  irrigation  being  done  in  the  county  is  along  the 
few  benches  where  dams  have  been  placed  in  small  coulees  and  flood  water 
collected.  These  are  small  scattering  areas. 

The  United  States  Reclamation  Lower  Yellowstone  Project  diverts 
water  out  of  the  Yellowstone  River  in  this  county,  but  the  irrigable  area 
is  in  Richland  County. 

The  only  gauging  station  in  Yellowstone  County  is  at  Intake.  There 
have  been  no  water  rights  adjudicated.  The  only  irrigation  districts  which 
have  been  filed  in  the  county  are  the  Glendive-Fallon  Irrigation  Project 
and  the  Upper  Glendive-Fallon  Project.  Both  are  described  elsewhere  in 
this  report. 

Deer  Lodge — Irrigation  along  the  Big  Hole  has  been  carried  on  for 
many  years.  Direct  diversions  from  the  river  were  employed.  There  is 
very  little  irrigated  land  in  the  county. 

Fallon — Very  little  irrigation  has  been  done  in  the  county.  There  is 
no  regular  supply  except  by  storage.  Since  none  of  the  streams  have  ever 
been  measured  the  amount  of  water  that  goes  to  waste  every  spring  is 
unknown.  There  are  several  thousand  acres  of  irrigable  land  in  the 
county.  Gauging  stations  should  be  established  as  soon  as  possible  on 
Fallon  Creek  and  Little  Beaver  Creek  that  the  extent  of  water  available 
for  this  land  be  known  and  steps  taken  for  its  beneficial  use. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  601 

Fergus — Fergus  County  was  first  settled  along  the  streams,  and  irriga- 
tion ditches  were  built  to  irrigate  small  areas.  In  the  Flatwillow  drainage, 
including  Box  Elder  Creek,  about  15,000  acres  are  irrigated.  Warm 
Springs  and  Big  Springs  creeks  irrigate  about  9,000  acres.  Flatwillow 
Creek  is  the  only  adjudicated  stream  in  the  county.  It  also  has  a  gauging 
station  in  connection  with  the  Carey  project. 

The  Judith  Basin  Irrigation  District  is  the  only  district  in  the  county. 
Organized  in  1919,  under  the  district  court,  it  proposes  to  enlarge  an  old 
canal  from  Warm  Springs  Creek  and  carry  the  water  by  gravity  to  land 
a  few  miles  north  of  Danvers.  Relocation  of  the  canal  and  construction  of 
several  flumes  are  the  chief  features.  The  canal  is  about  ten  miles  long 
and  4,200  acres  are  included  in  the  project.  This  will  be  completed  in  1921. 

South  of  Winnett  on  Flatwillow  Creek  is  the  Carey  project  known  as 
the  Flatwillow  project. 

This  county  offers  great  possibilities  for  irrigation.  Wolf  Creek, 
upper  Flatwillow  Spring  Creek,  Lower  Judith  River  all  have  storage 
possibilities.  Twenty-five  thousand  acres  of  irrigable  land  could  be  irri- 
gated with  their  waters.  In  addition,  in  other  parts  of  the  county  the 
numerous  small  streams  and  coulees  furnish  possibilities  for  15,000  acres 
of  irrigable  land. 

In  addition  to  storing  irrigation  water,  Fergus  County  streams  offer 
good  opportunities  for  development  of  electric  power  in  their  lower  chan- 
nels. At  least,  40,000  acres  are  irrigable  in  this  county. 

Flathead — Very  little  irrigation  has  been  done  in  Flathead  County. 
The  possibilities  are  many;  the  water  supply  is  abundant  and  the  soil  is 
very  productive.  The  streams  which  have  been  gauged  are  Flathead 
River  near  Columbia  Falls,  Flathead  River  below  Poison,  the  Middle 
Fork  at  Belton,  the  South  Fork  at  Columbia  Falls,  the  Little  Bitter  Root 
River  at  Marion  and  Hubbard  and  the  Swan  River  at  Big  Fork. 

The  Ashley  Lake  Irrigation  District  was  organized  in  July,  1909. 
They  took  over  the  works  previously  started  by  the  Ashley  Lake  Irriga- 
tion Company,  paying  $50,000  for  the  old  works.  The  total  area  being 
irrigated  is  1,638  acres.  The  project  when  completed  will  cover  25,000 
acres.  Flood  waters  are  being  reservoired  in  both  Ashley  Lake  and 
Sedan  Lake. 

The  Tally  Lake  Irrigation  District  has  been  recently  organized  to  irri- 
gate 9,347  acres.  It  is  proposed  to  build  a  dam  and  reservoir  at  Tally 
Lake.  The  United  States  Reclamation  Service  developed  a  portion  of  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  county. 

Gallatin — Gallatin  Valley  was  among  the  very  first  areas  irrigated  in 
Montana.  Water  was  first  diverted  for  irrigation  in  1864  and  the  devel- 
opment of  irrigation  in  this  valley  has  steadily  increased  until  there  are 
now  about  140,000  acres  irrigated,  besides  180,000  acres  of  non-irrigated 
agricultural  land  and  525,000  acres  of  grazing  land.  The  average 
assessed  valuations  in  this  county  are  $105  per  acre  for  irrigated  land, 
$49  per  acre  for  dry  farming  land  and  $8  per  acre  for  grazing  land. 


602  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Practically  all  of  the  irrigated  land  is  within  Gallatin  Valley  and 
derives  its  water  supply  from  the  direct  flow  of  the  several  tributaries 
of  Gallatin  River.  All  of  these  streams  are  fully  appropriated  and  most 
of  them  have  been  adjudicated  after  much  trouble  and  expense. 

About  1,200  acres  of  land  south  of  Bozeman  are  irrigated  by  water 
stored  in  Mystic  Lake  Reservoir  located  at  the  head  of  Sour  Dough 
Canyon. 

Garfield — Garfield  County  has  no  irrigation  works  with  the  exception 
of  small  wells  which  supply  a  garden  or  small  truck  patch.  The  streams 
in  the  county  are  dry  during  the  summer  months  and  no  direct  irrigation 
from  them  is  possible.  Only  by  constructing  dams  and  creating  reservoirs 
to  hold  the  flood  waters  of  the  spring  freshets  can  the  water  be  put  on  the 
land  during  the  growing  season.  While  there  are  numerous  streams  flowing 
a  considerable  amount  of  water  in  the  spring,  good  reservoir  sites  along 
these  streams  are  scarce ;  the  land  susceptible  does  not  always  lie  close 
by,  making  a  long,  complex  distribution  system  necessary,  and  the  topo- 
graphy of  the  land  makes  it  unsuited  for  irrigation. 

Glacier — On  the  Indian  reservation  the  Government  is  constructing  an 
irrigation  system  to  eventually  include  111,000  acres.  The  canals  divert 
from  Badger,  Two  Medicine,  and  Cut  Bank  creeks.  Only  5,300  acres  are 
thus  far  irrigated,  although  construction  is  completed  for  a  much  larger 
area. 

Granite — Most  of  the  irrigation  in  this  county  is  being  done  along  the 
Flint  Creek  Valley.  There  is  a  small  acreage  along  the  upper  part  of  Rock 
Creek  Valley  and  a  few  small  areas  along  the  Hell  Gate  River.  In  all 
there  are  about  38,000  acres  under  irrigation.  Georgetown  Lake  at  the 
head  of  the  valley  has  been  reservoired  for  power  purposes ;  also  Fred 
Burr  Lake. 

The  streams  which  have  been  adjudicated  in  the  county  are  Fred  Burr 
Creek,  Willow  Creek,  Flint  Creek  and  tributaries,  and  Trout  Creek.  The 
oldest  water  rights  date  back  to  1865.  There  are  no  irrigation  districts 
within  the  county.  There  is  one  ditch  out  of  Rock  Creek  called  Munger 
Ditch,  which  diverts  water  into  the  Flint  Creek  Valley.  The  ditch  was 
built  in  1915. 

Hill — Irrigation  on  a  very  small  scale  has  been  practiced  in  this  county 
for  many  years,  with  satisfactory  success.  A  total  of  a  little  over  3,000 
acres  is  now  irrigated  by  private  ditches,  using  direct  flow  of  the  river  or 
storage  of  the  flood  waters  of  intermittent  streams.  These  areas  are  along 
Milk  River  or  in  the  hills  south  of  Havre  or  scattered  elsewhere  through- 
out the  county. 

The  Maria's  River  project  contemplates  the  irrigation  of  250,000  acres, 
most  of  which  is  in  Hill  County,  and  lies  southwest  of  Havre.  A  dam  is 
proposed  on  Maria's  River  near  Brinkman,  both  for  storage  and  diversion, 
and  additional  storage  is  to  be  provided  in  Lonesome  Lake.  This  project 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  603 

was  investigated  by  the  U.  S.  Reclamation  Service  in  1902  and  1904.  Last 
year  the  Maria's  River  Development  Association  revived  the  project  and 
now  plans  to  develop  it  as  an  irrigation  district.  The  estimated  cost  is 
$10,700,000. 

The  lands  of  this  county  lie  well  for  irrigation,  but  since  the  water 
supply  is  limited,  most  of  the  county  must  forever  remain  unwatered.  A 
considerable  irrigation  development  is  possible  by  storage  in  small  units 
along  the  many  coulees  and  in  the  dry  lake  beds. 

JeffefSon — Irrigation  has  been  practiced  for  many  years,  principally  in 
small  units,  and  only  recently  including  projects  of  any  importance.  Most 
of  the  available  water  supply  is  now  appropriated  and  further  irrigation 
development  must  depend  principally  upon  storage  of  the  flood  waters. 

The  Jefferson  Canal  Company,  with  2,500  acres  and  the  Pipestone 
Ditch  Company,  with  1,200  acres,  have  the  largest  units  under  direct 
flow.  The  Pipestone  Canal  and  Reservoir  Company  irrigates  3,000  acres 
by  storing  the  flood  waters  of  Pipestone  Creek. 

There  is  now  under  construction  on  west  fork  of  Whitetail  Creek 
a  reservoir  to  irrigate  4,000  acres  at  a  cost  of  $50  per  acre.  This 
project  was  organized  as  an  irrigation  district  in  March,  1919,  but  failed 
to  sell  bonds  for  construction  and  is  now  being  developed  with  private 
capital. 

Judith  Basin — Irrigation  practiced  along  the  Judith  River  and  Wolf 
Creek  covers  25,000  acres.  Three  gauging  stations  on  the  tributaries  of 
the  Judith  River  have  recently  been  established  in  order  that  definite  data 
regarding  these  streams  can  be  collected.  In  the  vicinity  of  Stanford 
there  are  5,000  acres  of  fine  irrigable  land.  The  waters  of  Wolf  Creek 
will  have  to  be  reservoired  and  conveyed  by  gravity  to  these  lands. 

Along  the  Judith  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Hobson  and  south  of  that 
city  there  is  a  large  area  of  irrigable  land.  About  122,000  acres  are 
irrigable.  The  general  scheme  calls  for  reservoiring  Judith  River  and 
its  tributaries  and  conveying  the  water  onto  the  land  by  gravity  through 
two  main  canals. 

Lewis  and  Clark — Irrigation  has  been  practiced  in  this  county  for 
many  years,  and  most  of  the  low  water  flow  of  the  streams  is  utilized,  but 
a  great  increase  in  irrigation  is  possible  by  storing  the  flood  waters  and  by 
pumping  from  Missouri  River.  Water  rights  have  been  adjudicated  on 
most  of  the  streams  of  the  county. 

In  Helena  Valley  about  10,000  acres  are  irrigated  from  Prickly  Pear 
Creek  and  a  few  thousand  acres  more  from  Ten  Mile  and  Seven  Mile 
creeks.  On  the  north  side  of  the  valley  6,600  acres  are  irrigated  by 
pumping  from  Lake  Helena  with  an  average  lift  of  no  feet.  Southeast 
of  Lake  Helena,  3,500  acres  are  irrigated  by  pumping  to  a  height  of 
1 60  feet. 

Near  Canyon  Creek  5,000  acres  are  irrigated  from  Prickly  Pear 
Creek,  and  in  the  north  end  of  the  county  an  equal  amount  is  irrigated 


604  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

from  Sun  River.    About  3,000  acres  are  irrigated  from  Dearborn  River. 

The  Helena  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  August,  1920,  to  irrigate 
16,000  acres  near  East  Helena  by  pumping  from  Lake  Helena  with  an 
average  lift  of  180  feet. 

A  large  project  was  started  about  fifteen  years  ago  to  irrigate  36,000 
acres  south  of  Oilman  by  storing  and  diverting  the  waters  of  the  Dearborn 
River.  After  constructing  twenty  miles  of  ditch  at  a  cost  of  $200,000 
the  project  was  dropped.  A  movement  is  now  under  way  to  revive  this 
project  and  complete  it  as  an  irrigation  district. 

Many  areas  of  excellent  irrigable  land  are  found  in  the  county,  much 
of  which  can  be  irrigated  by  storage  of  flood  waters  on  the  different 
streams.  Several  feasible  reservoirs  are  available  for  this  purpose. 

Liberty — The  irrigation  on  Maria's  River  is  in  small  patches  along 
the  river  bottoms.  On  Eagle  Creek  the  limited  area  irrigated  is  scattered 
among  ranches  on  the  headwaters  of  the  stream.  On  Cottonwood  Creek 
part  of  the  irrigation  is  from  storage  of  the  flood  waters.  Prescott's 
ranch  has  a  reservoir  for  irrigation  purposes. 

Prospects  for  extension  of  irrigation  are  not  very  encouraging.  Maria's 
River  has  but  little  fall,  while  the  lands  are  high  above  the  river.  The 
other  streams  are  dry  most  of  the  year.  Some  flood  waters  of  Cotton- 
wood  and  other  smaller  streams  may  be  stored  for  a  small  acreage  irrigated 
in  that  way. 

Lincoln — From  the  United  States  census  of  irrigation,  there  are  13,114 
acres  susceptible  of  irrigation  by  new  works  being  completed  or  just  com- 
pleted. Eight  thousand  seven  hundred  and  thirty  acres  can  be  irrigated 
by  works  already  constructed  and  5,349  acres  are  actually  being  irrigated. 

The  streams  which  have  been  measured  are  the  Kootenai  River  near 
Libby,  Callahan  Creek  near  Troy  and  the  Yaak  River  near  Troy.  There 
are  no  streams  in  the  county  which  have  been  adjudicated. 

It  is  estimated  that  190,000  acres  within  the  county  are  susceptible  of 
irrigation. 

Madison — Large  areas  are  now  under  irrigation  along  the  streams 
and  rivers  of  the  county.  The  Madison  Valley  has  about  35,000  acres  of 
irrigated  lands  while  the  Ruby,  Jefferson  and  Beaverhead  have,  with  their 
branches,  about  50,000  acres.  The  northern  end  of  the  county,  includ- 
ing the  South  Boulder  country,  has  about  15,000  acres  under  irrigation. 
Most  of  this  acreage  is  irrigated  by  private  ditches,  there  being  no  large 
districts  or  projects  in  use. 

One  irrigation  district  has  been  formed  in  Madison  County.  This 
one,  known  as  the  Madison  Valley  Irrigation  District,  was  organized  in 
1916,  to  water  1,909  acres  of  bench  land  on  the  west  side  of  the  Madison 
River,  near  Ennis. 

In  1919  the  land  owners  co-operated  and  completed  the  project  as 
a  company.  The  water  is  diverted  directly  from  the  Madison  River  at  a 
point  about  four  miles  south  of  Ennis  and  is  carried  by  canals  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  605 

flumes  to  a  point  near  McAllister.  This  year,  1920,  saw  the  first  full 
season's  operation,  which  is  considered  very  successful.  It  will  be  en- 
larged to  serve  the  3,200  acres  later.  The  chief  crop  is  hay.  The  cost  of 
the  project  approximated  $18  per  acre. 

A  similar  project  on  the  bench  lands,  just  above  the  Madison  Valley 
Irrigation  District,  can  be  utilized  to  water  from  5,000  to  7,000  acres  of 
good  bench  land. 

The  soil  is  a  silty  loam  and  abounds  in  lime.  The  altitude  is  about 
5,200  feet  above  sea  level.  The  canal  would  be  about  twenty  miles  in 
length,  diverting  directly  from  the  Madison  River.  No  serious  engineering 
obstacles  would  be  encountered. 

The  Madison  Irrigation  Project  is  the  name  given  to  a  system  proposed 
on  the  east  side  of  the  Madison  River,  embracing  some  30,000  acres  of 
good  land.  The  general  topography  is  smooth  bench  land  sloping  about 
twenty-five  feet  to  the  mile.  The  soil  is  a  silty  loam  with  considerable  lime 
ingredients.  The  average  elevation  of  the  lands  is  5,500  feet  above  sea 
level. 

The  engineering  work  consists  of  a  forty-mile  canal  diverting  directly 
from  the  Madison  River  at  a  point  about  a  mile  above  Lyon.  Several 
stream  crossings  are  encountered  in  bringing  the  canal  to  Jack  Creek 
northeast  of  Jeffers,  where  it  terminates,  but  none  is  extremely  difficult. 
This  project  is  expected  to  develop  within  a  short  time,  a  preliminary 
survey  having  been  made  several  years  ago.  Construction  of  this  project 
will  have  some  influence,  tending  to  the  extension  of  the  railroad  from 
Norris  into  the  upper  Madison  Valley. 

Madison  County  abounds  in  water  power  sites,  owing  to  the  great  fall 
in  most  of  its  streams.  The  Montana  Power  Company  has  developed 
a  large  power  site  and  reservoir  and  a  huge  storage  reservoir  on  the 
Madison  River.  This  county  has  great  possibilities  for  irrigation,  as 
its  numerous  streams  and  acres  of  dry  land  are  generally  situated  to 
combine  ease  of  construction  and  low  cost  of  development.  At  least 
60,000  acres  of  land,  valued  at  $10  to  $25  an  acre  now,  can  be  irrigated 
and  be  valued  at  $30  to  $60  an  acre,  a  net  increase  to  the  county  of 
upward  of  a  million  and  a  half  dollars. 

McCone — The  Brockway  Irrigation  District  was  formed  under  the 
Montana  Irrigation  Commission  in  1919  to  irrigate  2,740  acres. 

The  only  irrigation  system  in  the  county  is  located  in  the  north- 
eastern part  along  Wolf  Creek.  This  project  was  privately  built  ten 
years  ago  by  constructing  an  earth  dam  in  Wolf  Creek  and  creating  a 
storage  of  3,588  acre  feet.  Additional  work  has  been  done  from  time  to 
time  and  the  present  dam  and  reservoir  are  very  substantial.  About  600 
acres  are  successfully  irrigated  and  the  full  capacity  of  the  reservoir 
has  never  been  needed. 

Meagher — The  history  of  irrigation  in  the  county  is  similar  to  that 
of  the  other  older  sections  of  the  state.  Canals  and  works  were  con- 
structed by  individuals  or  partnerships  to  water  the  most  accessible  areas 


606  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

along  streams  and  rivers.  Most  of  the  35,000  acres  of  irrigated  lands  lie 
in  the  Smith  River  Valley  and  its  tributaries,  although  the  north  and 
south  forks  of  the  Musselshell  River  bottoms  are  also  watered.  Many 
of  the  streams  have  been  adjudicated. 

Two  proposed  projects  below  White  Sulphur  Springs  in  the  river 
valley,  Wood's  Gulch  and  Newlan  Creek,  respectively,  are  now  under 
consideration  by  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission.  A  direct  diversion 
from  Smith  River,  near  the  mouth  of  Birch  Creek,  contemplates  watering 
600  to  1,000  acres,  and  while  this  project  requires  some  heavy  con- 
struction work,  including  considerable  fluming,  its  feasibility  is  assured. 

Mineral — There  are  no  irrigation  districts  in  the  county  nor  any  large 
irrigation  companies.  Nearly  all  the  land  that  is  being  irrigated  consists 
of  small  patches  irrigated  from  individual  ditches.  There  are  about 
1,000  acres  in  the  county  under  irrigation. 

Missoula — From  the  county  assessor's  records,  there  are  155,159  acres 
of  land  irrigated  assessed  at  $4,726,475 ;  168,270  acres  of  agricultural  land 
non-irrigated  assessed  at  $3,168,015  ;  134,645  acres  of  grazing  land  assessed 
at  $947,070  and  515,016  acres  of  timber  land  assessed  at  $4,614,354, 
making  a  total  assessed  valuation  of  $20,500,144. 

There  are  approximately  100,000  acres  of  land  under  irrigation  in 
the  county;  the  U.  S.  census  returns  show  that  344,033  acres  will  be 
irrigated  by  new  works  either  completed  or  under  construction  and 
that  219,476  acres  are  susceptible  of  irrigation  by  works  already  con- 
structed and  that  101,026  acres  are  being  irrigated. 

There  have  been  only  two  irrigation  districts  filed  in  the  county,  the 
Clinton  Irrigation  District  and  the  DeSmet  Irrigation  District.  The 
Clinton  district  was  created  in  September,  1919,  but  did  not  come  under 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission.  They  proposed 
to  divert  water  out  of  Hell  Gate  River  two  miles  east  of  Clinton  covering 
land  nearly  down  to  Bonner.  The  DeSmet  Irrigation  District  elected  to 
come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission. 

The  United  States  Reclamation  Service  has  put  the  major  part  of 
the  Flathead  Valley  under  irrigation.  There  are  no  Carey  Act  projects 
in  the  county.  Land  that  might  still  be  put  under  irrigation  is  a  tract  of 
3,000  or  4,000  acres  near  the  mouth  of  Clearwater  River,  3,000  acres  on 
Nine  Mile  Prairie,  10,000  acres  in  Missoula  Valley,  10,000  acres  on  the 
DeSmet  bench  and  8,000  acres  around  Frenchtown,  making  a  total  of 
35,000  acres.  This  would  increase  the  assessed  valuation  of  the  county 
at  the  present  rate  of  assessment  $1,000,064. 

Musselshell  and  Golden  Valley — Irrigation  dates  back  to  the  early 
settlers  in  the  county  along  the  Musselshell  River  Valley.  Small  diver- 
sion dams  and  canals  were  constructed  to  divert  water  from  the  river  on 
to  the  low  lying  bottom  lands.  No  very  extensive  works  were  ever  con- 
structed. There  are  at  present  about  7,500  acres  of  land  irrigated  in  both 
counties;  about  1,500  acres  of  this  lie  along  the  Musselshell  bottom;  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  607 

rest  is  situated  in  the  bottom  of  the  tributaries  of  the  river,  quite  widely 
scattered  throughout  both  counties.  The  nature  of  the  flow  of  the  river 
has  made  construction  of  works  such  as  small  diversion  dams,  etc.,  an 
extremely  hazardous  investment.  In  the  spring  the  river,  swollen  by  the 
water  from  the  melting  snows  in  the  headwaters,  is  a  raging  torrent 
and  sweeps  out  everything  in  its  path.  Some  attempts  to  use  low  lift 
pumps  along  the  river  instead  of  dams  have  been  tried  and  have  proven 
fairly  successful.  These  are  on  a  small  scale  only.  In  a  few  instances 
small  storage  reservoirs  have  been  created  on  some  of  the  smaller  tribu- 
taries by  constructing  earth  dams.  Some  of  these  have  resulted  in  failure, 
but  near  Lake  Mason,  a  short  distance  north  of  Roundup,  about  1,000 
acres  have  been  irrigated  in  this  manner.  In  most  cases  where  it  is  possible 
to  construct  a  dam,  there  is  no  land  available  that  could  be  benefited 
thereby.  The  Musselshell  River  offers  the  best  possibility  to  reclaim  land 
in  both  counties,  through  the  development  of  the  Deadman's  Basin,  a 
natural  reservoir  lying  just  northwest  of  the  town  of  Barber  in  the 
western  part  of  Golden  Valley  County. 

Park — A  few  thousand  acres  are  irrigated  from  the  Yellowstone 
River,  and  in  this  stream  there  is  a  great  abundance  of  water  and  no 
question  as  to  water  rights  but  on  the  many  tributaries  of  the  Yellowstone 
the  full  supply  is  utilized  and  nearly  all  of  these  streams  have  been 
adjudicated. 

Shields  River  and  its  sixty  tributaries  were  covered  in  one  decree 
entered  in  1911,  awarding  1,989  second  feet  of  water  among  some  600 
appropriators.  Several  small  tributaries  of  the  Yellowstone  near  Living- 
ston are  also  adjudicated. 

In  the  upper  Yellowstone  Valley,  the  Armstrong  Ditch  and  the  Liv- 
ingston Ditch  are  among  the  largest  now  constructed. 

In  Shields  Valley  the  principal  canals  are  Clyde  Park  Canal,  irrigating 
1,500  acres,  Lower  Shields  River  Canal,  with  2,500  acres  and  Jordan  and 
Robinson  Ditch,  watering  about  7,000  acres.  But  the  great  bulk  of  the 
irrigation  both  in  Shields  Valley  and  elsewhere  in  the  county  is  done  by 
small  private  or  partnership  ditches. 

For  the  further  extension  of  irrigation,  water  supply  is  available 
from  the  Yellowstone  by  direct  •  flow,  and  from  many  smaller  streams 
by  storage  of  the  flood  waters. 

The  upper  Yellowstone  Irrigation  District  was  created  September  25, 
1920,  to  irrigate  3,680  acres  between  Chickory  and  Brisbin  at  a  cost  of  $20 
per  acre. 

Phillips— The  Reclamation  Service  is  doing  the  most  in  developing 
irrigation  in  the  county.  As  part  of  the  Milk  River  project  about  100,000 
acres  along  the  Milk  River  will  be  irrigated.  A  diversion  dam  in  that 
stream  at  Dodson  and  a  north  and  south  canal  paralleling  the  river  are 
the  salient  features.  About  12,000  acres  are  now  being  irrigated  from  that 


source. 


Beaver   Creek,   flowing   into   the   Milk   River    from   the   south,   has 


608  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

furnished  water  for  irrigation  along  its  bottom  lands  for  several  years. 
It  is  an  adjudicated  stream,  the  amount  decreed  being  8,187  miner's  inches. 
The  water  is  diverted  directly  upon  the  lands  from  the  natural  flow. 

About  10,000  acres  of  irrigable  land  in  the  county  can  be  developed 
through  construction  of  storage  reservoirs.  Phillips  County  thus  has 
approximately  100,000  acres  of  irrigable  land  which  when  developed 
will  increase  in  value,  according  to  present  differences  between  dry  and 
irrigated  land,  at  least  $30  per  acre,  or  a  total  increased  valuation  of  the 
county  of  $3,000,000. 

Pondera — About  120,000  acres  are  irrigated  in  the  county,  80,000  of 
which  are  in  the  Valier  Carey  Act  project,  described  elsewhere  in  this 
report.  The  other  irrigated  lands  of  the  county  are  mostly  in  small 
units  along  the  streams  of  the  county. 

Practically  all  of  the  direct  flow  of  the  streams  is  now  utilized  and 
the  Carey  Act  project  depends  largely  upon  storage  in  two  large  reservoirs. 
A  still  further  irrigation  development  is  possible  in  this  county  and  feasible 
reservoir  sites  are  available. 

Powder  River — Irrigation  is  only  practiced  along  the  bottom  lands  of 
the  streams  where  the  summer  flow  furnishes  a  sufficient  supply.  Most 
of  it  is  along  the  Powder  River. 

Powell — Irrigation  has  been  practiced  for  many  years  along  the 
Clark's  fork  of  the  Columbia,  but  no  irrigation  companies  have  been 
formed  and  no  irrigation  district  has  been  organized. 

Prairie — The  only  irrigation  that  is  being  done  in  the  county  is  a 
small  area  along  Powder  River.  It  contains  no  irrigation  district,  although 
work  is  being  done  to  create  one  to  irrigate  about  30,000  acres  around 
Terry. 

Ravalli — The  first  irrigation  ever  done  in  the  state  was  in  the  Bitter 
Root  Valley  when  Father  DeSmet  planted  a  small  patch  of  grain  at  St. 
Mary's  Mission  in  1841. 

The  stream  gauging  stations  located  in  the  county  are  the  Bitter 
Root  River  near  Como,  the  Bitter  Root  River  near  Grantsdale,  the 
East  Fork  near  Darby  and  the  West  Fork  near  Darby.  The  irrigation 
districts  which  have  been  formed  and  are  in  operation  in  the  county  include 
(i)  Canyon  Creek  Irrigation  District,  established  in  July,  1909;  diverted 
water  out  of  Canyon  Creek.  Canyon  Creek  Lake  has  been  reservoired. 

The  projected  (2)  Blodgett  Creek  Irrigation  District  was  organized 
October,  1910,  and  has  19,110  acres  under  irrigation.  They  purchased 
the  rights  of  the  Blodgett  Creek  Reservoir  Company  and  completed  a 
reservoir  at  the  head  of  the  creek. 

(3)  Mill  Creek  Irrigation  District  was  established  in  June,  1910,  and  a 
reservoir  has  been  built  at  the  head  of  Mill  Creek  and  water  is  diverted 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  609 

out  for  irrigation  some  distance  below  the  reservoir.     There  are  2,224 
acres  under  irrigation. 

(4)  Charlos  Irrigation  District  was  established  in  June,  1918.    Water 
is  diverted  from  Lost  Horse  Creek  to  irrigate  847  acres  around  Charlos 
Heights. 

(5)  Sunset  Irrigation  District  was  established  in  November,  1917,  and 
the  water  of  the  project  is  diverted  from  Burnt  Fork  Creek  to  irrigate 
land  locally  known  as  the  south  bench.     There  are  3,025  acres  under 
irrigation. 

The  Bitter  Root  Valley  Irrigation  Company  built  a  reservoir  at  Lake 
Como  on  the  west  side  of  the  Bitter  Root  River  and  diverted  water 
across  the  valley  through  a  syphon  and  down  along  the  bench  lands  on 
the  east  side  of  the  valley  as  far  as  Eight  Mile  Creek.  The  canal  is  some 
seventy  miles  long  and  proposed  the  irrigation  of  40,000  acres.  Several 
large  syphons  and  flumes  were  built  as  part  of  the  system.  This  canal 
has  been  poorly  managed  and  is  not  a  success.  The  company  has  recently 
been  reorganized  and  called  the  Ravalli  Water  Company.  An  application 
has  been  filed  to  come  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Public  Service  Com- 
mission. 

The  Marcus  Daly  estate  has  also  constructed  several  large  ditches 
out  of  the  Bitter  Root  River  to  irrigate  lands  extending  from  Hamilton 
to  Corvallis.  The  lands  from  Corvallis  to  Stevensville  are  irrigated 
from  Supply  Ditch,  Union  Ditch,  Web  Foot  Ditch  and  Surprise  Ditch. 

There  are  no  Carey  Act  or  Reclamation  projects  within  the  county. 
Some  years  ago  a  canal  line  was  surveyed  from  Rock  Creek  in  Granite 
County  over  the  summit  and  into  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  near  the 
head  of  Three  Mile  Creek.  It  was  proposed  to  irrigate  the  bench  lands 
between  Burnt  Fork  Creek  and  Eight  Mile  Creek  and  also  to  develop 
power  for  the  operation  of  an  electric  line  through  the  valley.  This 
scheme  was  never  developed,  although  perhaps  feasible. 

The  irrigation  possibilities  of  the  valley  are  pretty  well  developed. 
The  water  rights  in  most  of  the  streams  have  been  adjudicated.  Through- 
out the  valley  there  are  perhaps  10,000  acres  of  land  that  could  still  be 
under  irrigation. 

Richland — Early  irrigation  was  practiced  along  the  lowest  levels  of  the 
Yellowstone  bottom,  but  with  no  great  success.  High  water  ditches  were 
the  type  in  general  use  and  wild  hay  was  the  main  crop.  Few  attempts 
were  made  elsewhere  to  irrigate.  A  gauging  station  on  the  Yellowstone 
at  Intake  in  Dawson  County  gives  an  annual  minimum  flow  at  that  point 
of  8,900,000  acre  feet.  The  largest  amount  yet  diverted  by  the  Reclama- 
tion Project  has  been  slightly  more  than  60,000  acre  feet.  The  balance  is 
allowed  to  flow  from  the  state.  Twenty  thousand  acres  are  irrigated  along 
the  Yellowstone  River  by  the  Reclamation  Service  Canal.  The  Lower 
Yellowstone  Reclamation  project  furnishes  the  bulk  of  irrigation  land. 

Rosebud — The  early  irrigation  in  the  county  was  done  along  the 
Yellowstone  River  bottoms  and  in  Tongue  River  bottoms,  on  the  Tongue 

Vol.  1—39 


610  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

River  and  on  Rosebud  Creek.  Gravity  systems,  diverting  directly  from 
the  rivers,  were  employed.  Along  the  Yellowstone  the  constantly  chang- 
ing channel  of  the  river  caused  the  abandonment  of  many  of  these  or 
their  enlargement  and  location  farther  back  from  the  river  by  means  of 
heavy  ruts,  or  pumping  installations.  At  present  there  are  under  irriga- 
tion along  the  Yellowstone  approximately  20,000  acres,  along  the  Tongue 
River  about  7,000  acres  and  in  Rosebud  and  Arnell's  creeks  about  7,000 
acres.  However,  in  the  latter  two  creeks  the  irrigation  is  only  in  the 
spring  during  high  water,  or  by  sub-irrigation  during  the  summer  months, 
as  these  streams  flow  very  little  water  during  the  growing  season.  There 
are  several  pumping  or  gravity  irrigation  systems  in  operation  at  present 
along  the  Yellowstone  on  both  sides  of  the  river. 

The  Hammond  Irrigation  Company  was  organized  in  1912.  The 
land  covered  by  the  project  is  on  the  north  side  of  the  river,  the  intake 
being  opposite  Howard  on  the  Northern  Pacific  and  the  canal  extending 
east  to  Forsyth  being  about  ten  miles  in  length.  At  the  time  it  was  con- 
structed many  temporary  structures  were  built  and  as  a  result  the  project 
was  never  wholly  a  success  because  of  a  high  maintenance  cost;  but 
water  has  always  been  delivered  and  good  crops  have  always  been  grown. 
In  1920  a  district  was  organized  under  the  district  court  to  include  the 
same  land,  for  the  purpose  of  making  permanent  improvements. 

The  Carterville  -Irrigation  District  was  organized  in  1909.  It  is  a 
gravity  system  taking  water  from  a  slough  of  the  Yellowstone  River  on 
the  north  side  of  the  river  five  miles  northeast  of  Forsyth.  The  canal 
parallels  the  river  and  is  about  25  miles  long.  The  area  in  the  district 
embraces  a  strip  of  land  from  Forsyth  to  Thurlow  on  the  Milwaukee 
and  varies  from  one-half  to  one  and  one-half  miles  in  width,  the  irrigated 
land  amounting  to  12,600  acres.  The  Milwaukee  Railroad  traverses  the 
entire  district. 

The  Yellowstone  Irrigation  District  lies  p.artly  in  Rosebud  County 
and  partly  in  Treasure  County.  It  was  organized  in  1909  and  at  that 
time  took  over  the  Sanders  Co-operative  Ditch  Company  and  enlarged 
and  extended  that  company's  holdings.  It  is  a  gravity  system  and  the 
intake  is  located  just  west  of  Hysham  on  the  south  side  of  the  Yellow- 
stone. The  canal  then  skirts  the  foothills  east  of  Hysham  and  continues 
easterly  to  Arnell's  Creek  west  of  Forsyth.  It  is  29  miles  in  length  and 
embraces  in  all  about  10,000  acres,  the  area  being  a  strip  from  one-half 
to  two  miles  wide  between  the  river  and  the  foothills  to  the  south.  The 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad  traverses  the  district,  and  the  Great  Western 
Sugar  Company  is  co-operating  with  the  federal  and  county  governments 
in  constructing  a  first  class  gravel  highway  through  the  area. 

There  are  two  more  irrigation  districts  now  organized  under  the 
district  court,  but  no  construction  work  has  as  yet  been  started.  The 
first,  the  Highland  Park  Irrigation  District,  is  a  pumping  system  and 
will  water  a  high  bench  just  east  of  Forsyth  and  extending  east  south 
of  the  Yellowstone  River.  The  second,  the  Hathaway  Bottom  District, 
is  a  contemplated  pumping  project  in  the  eastern  end  of  the  county  near 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  611 

the  town  of  Hathaway  and  extending  into  Custer  County.    It  will  reclaim 
3,000  acres  of  fine  bottom  land. 

Roosevelt — The  Fort  Peck  Indian  Reservation  lies  partly  in  the 
county  and  the  Fort  Peck  Indian  Reclamation  Project  is  developing 
94,000  acres  of  irrigated  land  of  that  area. 

Since  the  Poplar  River,  which  flows  south  through  the  county,  will 
be  utilized  in  full  by  the  federal  project,  private  irrigation  along  it  is 
impossible.  The  Big  Muddy  creek  is  also  appropriated  by  the  Reclama- 
tion Service,  but  several  tributaries  on  its  east  bank  will  develop  storage 
for  considerable  irrigation.  The  largest  field  for  irrigation  lies  in  the 
Missouri  bottom  from  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Muddy  to  Mondak.  A  strip 
of  land  averaging  a  mile  wide  and  25  miles  long  is  largely  irrigable  here. 
Twelve  thousand  acres  are  irrigable  along  the  river. 

A  small  amount  of  private  development  has  been  done  recently  on 
some  of  the  coulees  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  Five  thousand 
acres  can  be  irrigated  by  utilizing  the  flood  waters  of  these  channels. 

In  all,  Roosevelt  County  has  111,000  acres  of  irrigable  land.  The 
increase  in  assessed  valuation  of  about  forty  dollars  an  acre  will  total 
$4,440,000.  Roosevelt  County  bids  fair  to  rank  as  one  of  the  greatest 
producers  in  the  state. 

Sanders — From  the  United  States  census  reports  there  are  25,363 
acres  that  will  be  irrigated  by  works  either  under  construction  or  com- 
pleted ;  8,022  acres  are  susceptible  of  irrigation  from  works  constructed 
and  5,749  acres  are  actually  being  irrigated.  There  are  2,110  acres  either 
irrigated  or  susceptible  of  irrigation  that  are  available  for  settlement. 

Sheridan — Irrigation  has  never  been  practiced  extensively  in  the 
county.  Not  to  exceed  500  acres  are  partially  irrigated  along  the  Big 
Muddy,  during  the  period  of  high  water  in  the  spring.  The  Reclamation 
Service  claims  the  flow  of  the  Big  Muddy  and  its  tributaries  on  the  west. 

Silver  Bow — There  are  no  companies  operating  exclusively  as  irriga- 
tion companies  in  the  county.  Most  of  the  15,000  acres  irrigated  lie 
adjacent  to  the  Big  Hole  River.  The  irrigation  here  is  carried  on  by 
ranches  operating  individually  or  in  gorups.  The  main  crop  raised  is 
hay. 

Near  Butte  are  several  truck  and  dairy  ranches  irrigating  but  a  few 
acres.  Only  about  90  acres  are  irrigated  in  this  manner.  Little  addi- 
tional irrigation  is  possible  in  the  county. 

Stillwater — Irrigation  has  been  practiced  in  this  county  for  30  years 
with  good  results.  Most  of  the  irrigation  is  by  small  private  ditches. 
About  30,000  acres  are  irrigated  along  the  river  valleys  of  the  Stillwater 
and  its  tributaries  and  10,000  acres  along  the  Yellowstone  River.  There 
is  ample  water  in  these  streams  and  no  water  rights  have  been  decreed. 

The   Columbus   Irrigation  District   was  created   in   1919  to   irrigate 


612  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

1,800  acres  adjoining  the  Town  of  Columbus  by  a  i6-mile  canal  diverting 
from  Yellowstone  River.  The  land  has  been  irrigated  since  1910  by 
water  from  Stillwater  River,  carried  by  pipe  across  the  Yellowstone. 
This  pipe  was  washed  out  in  the  high  water  of  1918  and  the  land  has 
since  been  without  water.  Construction  on  the  ditch  has  been  under  way 
for  the  past  year  and  the  cost  has  greatly  exceeded  the  original  estimates. 
Stillwater  is  one  of  the  best  watered  counties  in  the  state  and  has 
ample  opportunities  for  a  much  greater  extension  of  irrigation.  Fifty 
thousand  acres  of  good  bench  land  between  the  Stillwater  and  Yellow- 
stone are  irrigable  by  a  high  line  canal  from  the  Stillwater.  Large  tracts 
east  of  the  Rosebud  and  Stillwater  rivers  could  also  be  irrigated  at  rea- 
sonable cost. 

Sweet  Grass — Irrigation  has  been  practiced  in  this  county  for  over 
thirty  years.  Gravity  systems  are  used  and  storage  is  not  necessary  ex- 
cept on  the  Big  Timber  Carey  Act  Project.  Most  of  the  irrigation  is  by 
small  private  ditches. 

From  Sweetgrass  and  Big  Timber  creeks  about  25,000  acres  are  now 
irrigated,  about  half  of  this  amount  being  included  in  the  Glass-Lindsay 
Carey  Act. 

From  Boulder  River  about  20,000  acres  are  irrigated  mostly  by  small 
private  ditches  constructed  at  low  cost.  The  largest  ditch  diverting 
from  the  Boulder  is  the  Dry  Creek  canal  built  in  1900  at  a  cost  of  $25,000. 
It  is  15  miles  long  and  serves  3,000  acres  of  land  lying  southeast  of  Big 
Timber. 

The  Greycliff  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  March,  1920,  to  irri- 
gate 2,000  acres  near  Greycliff  by  enlarging  and  extending  the  old  Bailey 
Ditch  diverting  from  Boulder  River. 

Many  thousand  acres  additional  can  be  watered  by  direct  flow  from 
Boulder  River.  A  considerable  area  can  also  be  irrigated  from  Yellow- 
stone River.  The  total  irrigable  acreage  that  could  be  developed  at  rea- 
sonable cost  is  estimated  at  from  25,000  to  40,000  acres. 

Teton — Of  the  irrigated  lands  in  the  county,  about  3,000  acres  near 
Fairfield  are  included  in  the  U.  S.  R.  S.  Sun  River  project.  Three 
thousand  acres  are  irrigated  on  Deep  Creek  and  1,000  acres  on  Willow 
Creek.  Three  thousand  acres  are  irrigated  on  the  Teton  River  above 
Chouteau.  Northeast  of  Chouteau  a  large  expanse  of  excellent  bench 
land  is  irrigated  under  the  Burton,  the  Farmers,  and  the  Eldorado 
ditches,  all  diverting  from  Teton  River.  About  40,000  acres  are  served 
by  these  three  ditches. 

A  large  Carey  Act  project  was  planned  several  years  ago  to  irrigate 
40,000  acres  near  Brady,  being  partly  in  Teton  and  partly  in  Pondera 
County.  After  construction  of  the  Bynum  Reservoir  the  project  was 
dropped.  The  reservoir  rights  have  now  been  acquired  by  the  Bynum 
Irrigation  District,  which  was  created  in  March,  1920,  and  is  now  pre- 
paring to  irrigate  other  lands  near  Bynum,  amounting  to  25,000  acres, 
besides  furnishing  water  to  5,000  acres  near  Brady. 

Under  the  U.  S.  R.  S.  Sun  River  project  it  is  planned  to  eventually 
irrigate  an  additional  area  of  about  70,000  acres  northeast  of  Fairfield ; 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  613 

with  all  the  contemplated  irrigation  completed,  this  will  be  one  of  the 
best  watered  counties  in  the  state. 

Toole — About  500  acres  have  been  irrigated  from  private  ditches 
along  Maria's  River  and  about  half  that  amount  from  small  streams 
among  the  Sweetgrass  Hills.  Much  of  the  irrigation,  however,  has 
been  abandoned,  and  the  actual  area  properly  irrigated  is  negligible. 
The  Toole  County  Irrigation  District  was  organized  in  September, 
1919,  to  irrigate  over  200,000  acres  of  land  in  the  county. 

Treasure — Early  irrigation  was  practiced  along  the  lower  river  bot- 
toms by  individual  or  partnership  ditches,  generally  carrying  water  dur- 
ing high  flood  stages.  The  only  crop  sought  was  hay  sufficient  for  the 
need  of  stock  ranches.  Later  came  the  era  of  alfalfa,  sugar  beets  and 
vegetables,  and  these  early  ditches  were  improved  or  taken  over  by  larger 
companies  or  districts  and  enlarged.  The  Echetah  Ditch  was  one  of 
the  early  ditches,  although  it  was  later  incorporated  and  still  later  taken 
over  by  the  Rancher  Ditch  Company.  The  Rancher  Ditch  Company 
was  organized  in  1904  to  irrigate  lands  lying  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river  north  and  west  of  Hysham.  The  source  is  the  Yellowstone  River, 
the  water  being  conducted  by  gravity  from  a  point  almost  opposite  the 
mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  River  to  a  point  north  of  Hysham. 

The  chief  crops  are  beets  and  alfalfa.  Since  the  railroad  is  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river,  the  produce  must  be  hauled  across  to  ship  it. 
Lack  of  a  bridge  causes  the  farmers  near  Hysham  to  resort  to  a  ferry, 
which  tends  to  diminish  the  amount  of  beets  grown.  The  system  has 
always  given  satisfaction  and  is  very  successful. 

On  the  same  side  of  the  river  extending  east  from  Hysham  to  about 
north  of  the  Town  of  Sanders  is  a  project  known  as  the  North  Sanders 
Irrigation  District.  It  was  organized  under  the  district  court  to  take 
over  the  North  Sanders  Co-operative  Ditch  Company's  work  and  extend 
and  enlarge  the  same.  It  is  part  gravity  and  part  pumping.  The  gravity 
canal  diverts  from  the  Yellowstone  and  covers  some  3,700  acres. 

The  Box  Elder  Irrigation  District  organized  in  1919  irrigates  1,485 
acres  above  the  canal  of  the  Yellowstone  Irrigation  District  by  pumping 
from  that  canal.  The  land  lies  east  of  Hysham  about  two  miles. 

The  Big  Horn  Tulloc  Company  built  a  project  near  the  mouth  of 
the  Big  Horn  River,  taking  water  from  that  river  and  irrigating  lands 
near  the  town  of  Big  Horn.  It  is  a  gravity  system,  but  in  cases  of  ex- 
treme low  water  expects  to  be  prepared  to  pump  to  its  canal,  for  which 
contingency  it  is  now  installing  pumping  machinery.  It  covers  2,000 
acres  and  was  installed  in  1910  at  a  cost  of  $18  per  acre.  The  Hysham 
Irrigation  District,  organized  in  1919,  proposed  to  irrigate  some  6,OOO 
acres  of  bottom  land  immediately  adjacent  to  Hysham.  The  source  of 
water  is  the  Yellowstone,  from  which  it  will  have  to  be  pumped.  The 
canal  will  be  about  five  miles  in  length. 

Valley — Irrigation  on  a  small  scale  only  has  been  possible  in  Valley 
County.  Along  Rock  Creek  in  the  western  end  of  the  county  a  few  direct 
diversion  works  were  built  prior  to  1902. 


614  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Wheatland — The  earliest  irrigation  was  practiced  in  the  bottom  lands 
along  such  streams  that  gave  a  sufficient  flow  through  the  irrigation 
season.  In  most  cases  the  works  required  consisted  only  of  a  canal, 
with  perhaps  a  diversion  dam  at  its  head.  The  lands  along  the  Mussel- 
shell  River  are  the  most  extensive  of  the  irrigated  lands  in  the  county. 
Approximately  10,000  acres  lying  along  the  Musselshell  are  irrigated, 
which  includes  the  smaller  tributaries. 

The  Harlowton-DuRand  Irrigation  District,  now  being  handled 
through  the  Montana  Irrigation  Commission,  contemplates  the  irrigation 
of  16,600  acres. 

Wibaux — Irrigation  has  never  been  practiced  extensively.  Several 
years  ago  a  dam  to  divert  water  from  Beaver  Creek,  a  few  miles  north 
of  the  City  of  Wibaux,  was  utilized  to  irrigate  150  to  200  acres  during 
the  high  water  period  when  water  was  available.  However,  this  was 
never  very  successful  because  of  lack  of  water  at  the  proper  time  and 
has  fallen  into  disuse.  No  irrigation  is  done  with  the  exception  of  a 
flooding  on  some  small  tracts  in  the  Beaver  Creek  bottom  during  the 
spring  floods.  On  account  of  scarcity  of  reservoir  sites,  where  storage 
water  is  available,  nothing  has  been  done  to  develop  irrigation.  Numerous 
small  dams  have  been  built  to  form  water  holes  for  stock,  but  none  are 
large  enough  to  store  irrigation  water. 

Yellowstone — About  125,000  acres  are  irrigated  in  the  county  and 
the  average  value  thereof  is  about  $150  per  acre,  while  the  average  value 
of  dry  farm  land  is  about  $25.  The  total  assessed  valuation  of  the 
county  is  $84,500,000. 

Irrigation  has  been  practiced  in  this  county  for  40  years,  with  very 
satisfactory  results,  except  for  the  development  of  seepage  troubles, 
which  have  necessitated  the  drainage  of  a  considerable  acreage;  A  much 
larger  area  now  needs  drainage  and  plans  are  under  way  to  drain  most 
of  the  irrigated  lands  above  Billings.  Considerable  drainage  has  been 
done  by  the  U.  S.  Reclamation  Service  on  the  Huntley  project  below 
Billings. 

The  Yellowstone  River  is  the  main  source  of  supply  for  irrigation, 
though  some  of  the  tributaries  are  also  used  for  a  small  acreage.  In 
the  river  no  water  rights  have  been  adjudicated,  as  the  supply  is  ample 
for  all  needs.  A  few  of  the  minor  streams  have  been  decreed. 

The  principal  canals  diverting  from  Yellowstone  River  and  the  acreage 
served  by  each  are  as  follows: 

Cove   Ditch 5,5°o  acres 

Big  Ditch  37,50O  acres 

Billings  Ditch  (Carey  Act  Project)    25,000  acres 

Canyon  Creek  Ditch    5,ooo  acres 

Suburban  Ditch    2,000  acres 

Lockwood  Irrigation  District 2,500  acres 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  615 

Coulson  Ditch   3,000  acres 

Huntley  Project  (U.  S.  R.  S.)    33,ooo  acres 

The  first  five  of  these  ditches  irrigate  laands  on  the  north  side  of  the 
river  and  the  last  three  lands  on  the  south  side.  Cove  Ditch  has  its  diver- 
sion above  Park  City  in  Stillwater  County,  but  most  of  the  lands  irrigated 
are  in  Yellowstone. 

The  Big  Ditch  is  60  miles  long  and  has  been  in  operation  with  good 
success  for  over  20  years.  The  Canyon  Creek  Ditch  was  built  35  years 
ago.  The  Suburban  Ditch  is  also  an  old  one  and  irrigates  lands  adjoining 
the  city  of  Billings. 

Lockwood  Irrigation  District  is  a  pumping  project  operating  under 
three  different  lifts  ranging  from  65  to  165  feet.  Because  of  heavy 
operation  cost  it  is  less  profitable  than  the  gravity  systems. 

The  Billings  Carey  Act  Project  and  the  Huntley  U.  S.  Reclamation 
Project  are  described  elsewhere  in  this  report. 

The  Waeo-Custer  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  August,  1920,  to 
irrigate  4,50x3  acres  along  Yellowstone  River  in  the  east  end  of  the  county. 
Most  of  the  lands  have  been  irrigated  under  an  old  system  for  many 
years. 

The  Danford  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  September,  1920,  to 
irrigate  1,200  acres  near  Laurel,  by  diversion  from  Clark  Fork  River. 
About  half  of  the  lands  are  in  this  county  and  half  in  Carbon  County. 
The  lands  have  been  mostly  irrigated  for  20  years  under  an  old  system 
and  are  very  high  priced  lands. 

The  Victory  Irrigation  District  was  created  in  September,  1920,  to 
irrigate  2,800  acres  near  Custer  by  diversion  from  the  Big  Horn  River. 

s 

IRRIGATION  STATISTICALLY  CONSIDERED 

The  bulletin  of  the  United  States  census  for  1920,  on  irrigation  in 
Montana,  contains  all  the  data  necessary  for  a  complete  exposition  of 
the  subject,  from  the  standpoint  of  facts  and  figures.  Comparisons  are 
usually  presented  by  decades  and  the  record  goes  back  to  a  period  ante- 
dating the  formation  of  Montana  as  a  territory.  What  follows  com- 
prises condensations  and  extracts  from  the  Government's  rich  mine  of 
information. 

In  1920  the  number  of  farms  irrigated  in  the  state  was  10,807,  as 
compared  with  8,970  in  1910,  and  the  area  irrigated  1,679,084  acres 
and  1,687,031,  respectively.  Ten  years  ago,  however,  the  enterprises 
were  comparatively  small,  as  is  evident  from  the  reports  of  "capital 
invested,"  $53,457,663  being  devoted  to  irrigation  works  in  1920,  com- 
pared with  $22,970,958  so  applied  in  1910.  The  figures  showing  the 
area  irrigated  in  the  decadal  years  preceding  1910  indicate  an  imposing 
increase ;  in  1890,  350,582  acres  of  land  were  irrigated  in  Montana,  and 
in  1900  the  area  had  increased  to  951,154.  The  returns  of  capital  in- 
vested in  irrigation  enterprises  are  even  more  striking.  In  1890  the 
amount  was  $623.195;  in  1900,  $4,683,073,  and,  as  stated,  in  1910,  nearly 
$23,000,000. 


616 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


ACREAGE  BY  DRAINAGE  BASINS 

The  report  of  a  special  census  taken  in  1902  presented  all  data  by 
drainage  basins  rather  than  by  counties.  The  results  of  the  census  of 
1920  were  tabulated  on  the  same  basis,  and  the  data  for  1902  presented 
for  purposes  of  comparison.  For  no  other  census  have  the  results  been 
tabulated  in  this  form.  The  acreage  reported  for  each  drainage  basin 
in  1919  comprises  all  the  irrigated  land  in  that  drainage  basin,  including 
that  watered  from  springs  and  wells.  In  the  1902  results  the  acreages 
irrigated  from  springs  and  wells  were  not  reported  for  the  smaller 
tributary  streams,  but  the  acreages  for  the  tributaries  were  included  in 
those  reported  for  the  main  streams.  This  area  is  so  small,  however, 
that  the  comparison  of  the  areas  reported  for  the  tributary  streams  is 
not  seriously  affected. 


DRAINAGE   BASIN 

AREA  IRRIGATED   (ACRES) 

Afea 
included 
in  enter- 
prises, 1920 
(acres)* 

Area 
enterprises 
were 
capable 
ofirrigating 
in  1920 
(acres)1 

1919 

1902 

Per  cent 
of 
increase1 

Total  

2.639.082 

1.140,694 

131.4 

4,358,148 

2,639,082 

2,341,814 

908,243 

157.8 

3,713,068 

2,223,494 

15,635 
425,685 
21,276 
145,673 
184,655 
7,265 
34,474 
32,342 
34,425 
95,063 
16,861 
'      31,785 
44,945 
63,758 
15,173 
45,559 
108,555 
19,766 

11,390 
231,788 
15,721 
99,014 
67,422 
9,333 
21,101 
*  19,197 
20,338 
58,004 
18,677 
32,927 
34,961 
22.188 
44,600 
87,000 
56,507 
24,305 
4,947 

37.3 
83.7 
35.3 
47.1 
173.9 
-22.2 
63.4 
68.5 
69.3 
63.9 
-9.7 
—2.8 
28.6 
187.4 
-66.0 
-47.8 
91.8 
-18.7 

34,194 
831,898 
40,347 
296,079 
306,885 
40,677 
76,107 
71.803 
88.524 
228,056 
38,369 
244.071 
146,468 
308,158 
40.993 
141,363 
349,716 
26,358 
2,850 
3,130 
317,378 
858,817 
279.211 
94.238 
34,278 
125.367 
92.036 
1,365 
31.396 
5,871 
195,055 
3,205 
399,236 
645,080 

28,174 
574,672 
34,894 
199,797 
227.920 
13,297 
48,036 
50,728 
62,065 
152,515 
29.691 
77,465 
82.241 
122,431 
35,459 
113,964 
158,391 
23,443 
1,750 
2,275 
130,923 
645,588 
240,034 
53,062 
29,664 
116,506 
66,206 
1,305 
21,403 
4,841 
112,567 
1,480 
139,358 
539,288 

Jefferson  River  and  tributaries  

Jefferson  River  direct  

Beaverhead  River  

Boulder  River  

Passamari  River  

Other  tributaries  of  Jefferson  River  .... 
Madison  River     

Gallatin  River  

Sun  River  ...        

Teton  River  

Judith  River  

Milk  River  and  tributaries  

Milk  River  direct  

Sage  Creek  

Snake  River  

910 

87,879 
440.354 
189,453 
25,940 
23,561 
68,839 
51,103 
365 
11.170 
728 
69.195 
380 
51,585 
297,268 

2,135 
1  25,210 
209,137 
40,015 
19,836 
13,572 
64,628 
1.645 
13.618 
12,622 
2,390 
»  40.811 
2,865 
»  77,466 
232,451 

-57.4 
248.6 
110.6 
373.5 
30.8 
73.6 
6.5 

Other  tributaries  of  Milk  River  

Yellowstone  River  direct  

Shields  River  

Clark  Fork  

Big  Horn  River  

-97.3 
-11.5 
-69.5 
69.5 
-86.7 
-33.4 
27.9 

Tongue  River  

Other  tributaries  of  Yellowstone  River  . 

Other  tributaries  of  Missouri  River  .... 

Tributaries  of  Columbia  River  

Clark  Fork  and  tributaries  

291,286 
2,882 
238,769 
2,550 
77,381 
40,604 
112,622 
5,612 
49,635 
5.982 

229,851 
<  8,808 
221,043 
1,181 
78.139 
36,622 
98.965 
»  6,136 
(5) 
2,600 

26.7 
-67.3 
8.0 
115.9 
-1.0 
10.9 
13.8 
-8.5 

630,657 
14,403 
433,021 
8,322 
165,391 
83,716 
158,241 
17,351 
183,233 
14,423 

529,564 
4,722 
325,992 
5,777 
108,161 
61,476 
139,481 
11,097 
75,150 
9,724 

Missoula  River  and  tributaries  

Hellgate  River     .    .    .    .        

Big  Blackfoot  River  

Bitter  Root  River. 

Other  tributaries  of  Missoula  River.  . 
Flathead  River.. 

Kootenai  River  

130.1 

1  A  minus  sign  (— )  denotes  decrease.     Per  cent  not  shown  when  more  than  1,000. 
1  Not  reported  in  1902. 
1  Includes  springs  and  wells. 

4  Includes  springs  and  wells  and  all  sources  in  the  Columbia  River  drainage  basin,  exclusive  of  the 
Missoula  and  Kootenai  Rivers. 

*  Not  reported  separately  in  1902. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 
IRRIGATION  WORKS  BUILT  SINCE   1860 


617 


A  clear  idea  of  the  irrigation  works  constructed  in  Montana  since 
1860,  classified  by  dams,  main  and  lateral  ditches,  and  reservoirs,  may 
be  obtained  from  the  following  statistics : 


DATE   OF 
BEGINNING 

Number 
of 
diverting 
dams 

Number 
of 
storage 
dams 

524 

MAIN   DITCHES 

LATERAL 
DITCHES 

RESERVOIRS 

Number 

Length 
(miles) 

Length 
(miles) 

Number 

Capacity 
(acre-feet)* 

Total  

3,548 

8,820 

16,445 

6.285 

469 

1.583.720 

Before  1860  

5 
238 
373 
1,064 
763 
339 
275 
197 
163 
131 

1 
22 
10 
58 
91 
95 
98 
87 
38 
24 

15 
798 
876 
2,222 
1,861 
870 
616 
484 
407 
671 

10 
1,259 
1,516 
3,995 
3,429 
1,596 
2,002 
896 
808 
934 

3 
146 
370 
865 
1,554 
421 
2,087 
245 
402 
192 

1860-1869  

21 
7 
43 
79 
88 
82 
84 
43 
22 

6,209 
40 
55,430 
52,572 
43,666 
567.349 
758,984 
95.791 
3,679 

1870-1879 

1880-1889  

1890-1899  

1900-1904.  .  . 

1905-1909  

1910-1914 

1915-1919  

Not  reported  

*An  acre-foot  is  the  quantity  of  water  that  will  cover  one  acre  to  a  depth  of  one  foot — viz.,  43,560 
cubic  feet. 

STATUS  OF  ENTERPRISES  IN  1920 

The  following  table  indicates  the  capital  invested  in  1920,  and  cost  of 
operation  and  maintenance,  classified  by  character  of  enterprise: 


CLASS 

CAPITAL  INVESTED 

OPERATION  AND 
MAINTENANCE 

Amount 

Per  cent 
of  total 

Area  for 
which  cost 
is  reported 
(acres) 

Average 
cost 
per  acre 

Total  

$53,457,663 

100.0 

1,369,651 

$1.26 

Individual  and  partnership  

15,543,287 
6,692,877 
1,708,851 
4,834,407 
676,535 
19,183,271 
4,705,737 
100 
105,538 
7,060 

29.1 
12.5 
3.2 
9.0 
1.3 
35.9 
8.8 

C1) 
0.2 

0) 

747,131 
349,499 
34,983 
54,748 
34,115 
81,306 
67,789 
20 

1.07 
0.86 
0.98 
1.76 
2.14 
2.86 
2.71 
0.75 

Cooperative  

Irrigation  district  

Carey  Act  .    .                        

Commercial  

U.  S.  Reclamation  Service  

U.  S.  Indian  Service    

State  

City 

Other  

60 

2.67 

1  Less  than  one-tenth  of  1  per  cent. 


618 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 
IRRIGATED  LANDS  AS  PRODUCERS 


An  instructive  table  demonstrating  the  per  cent  of  land  irrigated  as 
compared  with  the  total  acreage  of  the  state  and  the  quantities  of  the 
various  crops  harvested  from  the  land. 


CROP 

AREA    HARVESTED 

QUANTITY    HA  RVESTED 

1919 

1909 

1919 

1909 

Acres 

Per 
cent  of 
total 
for 
state 

Acres 

Per 
cent  of 
total 
for 
state 

Amount 

Per 

cent  of 
total 
for 
state 

Amount 

Per 

cent  of 
total 
for 
state 

CEREALS: 
Corn  

2,436 
45.153 
39,396 
121,804 
10.286 
1.370 

35.781 
91,912 
5.576 
220,281 
39,254 
770 
25,349 
117,385 
620 

4,903 
7,686 

761,904 
47,600 

3,330 
1,022 
12,070 
3,740 
965 

13.0 
23.6 
7.3 
10.5 
35.1 
1.8 

44.3 
65.3 
42.4 
58.9 
52.0 
12.1 
5.4 
26.0 
32.3 

22.1 

89.4 

71.9 

72.5 

34.6 
44.5 
81.2 
2.9 
56.3 

.    1  .640 
159,658 

}  45.568 

9.271 
867 

48.868 
60.437 
8,433 
183,264 
22,195 

17.2 
47.9 
17.6 

34.0 
14.4 

41.5 
66.8 
72.9 
81.7 
37.5 

34,132  bu. 
1.183.068  bu. 
331.668  bu. 
1.551.685  bu. 
185,866  bu. 
6.826  bu. 

35,613  tons 
105.845  tons 
6,967  tons 
408,993  tons 
39,523  tons 
1,184  tons 
18.194  tons 
131,652  tons 
3,357  tons 

21.4 
45.8 
11.9 
31.0 
53.6 
3.0 

56.8 
70.4 
51.0 
69.7 
61.6 
25.4 
10.6 
46.8 
43  2 

51,488 
6,965.254 

ll.236.137 

273.827 
15,438 

76.230 
102.660 
17.350 
514,803 
37.424 

18.8 
50.5 
19.8 

36.4 
13.9 

44.6 
65.8 
72.0 
85.8 
47.6 

Oats             

Winter  wheat  

Spring  wheat  

Barley  

Rye  

HAY  AND  FORAGE: 
Timothy  alone  

Timothy  and  clover  mixed 
Clover  alone  

Alfalfa  

Other  tame  grasses  

Annual  legumes  cut  for  hay 
Grains  cut  green  

5.988 
329.579 

13.0 
56.4 

10.418 
339.821 

14.8 
57.6 

Wild,  salt  or  prairie  grasses 
Silage  crops  

VEGETABLES: 
Potatoes  

11.137 
7,551 

53.8 
86.7 

568.008  bu. 
67.297  tons 

477,796  bu. 

34.2 
91.2 

70  9 

1.938.677 
91.509 

59.8 
84.1 

Sugar  beets  

FRUITS:**) 
Apples  •  

Cherries  

1,527 

41.3 

9,595  bu. 

8,824  bu. 
14.576  bu. 

65.0 

37.8 
55  8 

4,817 

46.4 

M  ISCELLANBOUS  : 

Cloverfand  alfalfa  seed  .  .  . 
Dry  beans  

Dry  peas  .  .  . 

951 

80.3 

143.042  bu. 
22,534  bu. 

85.9 
6.9 

19,966 

92.1 

Flaxseed  

Sugar-beet  seed  

508,385  Ibs. 

52  0 

DRAINAGE  ENTERPRISES 

Secondary  to  the  irrigation  of  lands  in  Montana,  but  yet  of  great 
importance  in  the  conservation  of  its  productive  area,  is  the  drainage  of 
farms  and  other  land  that  will  eventually  be  used  for  agricultural  purposes. 
No  census  relating  to  the  subject  was  taken  prior  to  that  of  1920,  and  the 
facts  here  given  extracted  from  a  special  bulletin  issued  by  the  Govern- 
ment bureau  relate  substantially  to  conditions  as  of  January  I,  1920. 

The  organized  drainage  enterprises  include  considerable  areas  of  un- 
improved lands  not  yet  in  farms.  The  statistics  for  drainage  on  farms  were 
collected  in  the  general  census  of  agriculture,  while  the  figures  for  outside 
drainage  enterprises  were  obtained  in  a  special  canvass  for  that  purpose. 
Such  drainage  on  farms  may  be  either  inside  or  outside  an  organized 
enterprise,  and  the  drains  that  an  individual  owner  constructs  on  his  own 
farm  may  be  either  supplemental  to,  or  be  independent  of  the  works 
installed  by  an  enterprise. 

With  this  introductory  explanation,  the  following  table  will  be  com- 
prehended : 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


619 


ITEM 

Amount 

Per  cent 
of  total 

DRAINAGE   ON   FARMS 

Number  of  all  farms  in  the  state  

57,677 
756 
1,728 

35,070,656 
11,007,278 
51,146 
113,293 

93,523,840. 
116,082 
101,924 
14,158 

$846,466 
664,990 
181,476 

100.0 
1.3 
3.0 

100.0 
31.4 
0.1 
0.3 

100.0 
0.1 
0.1 

Farms  reporting  land  having  drainage 

Farms  reporting  land  needing  drainage  .  . 

All  land  in  farms  

acres 

Improved  land  in  farms  

acres 

Farm  land  reported  as  provided  with  drainage.  . 
Farm  land  reported  as  needing  drainage  

DRAINAGE    ENTERPRISES 

Approximate  land  area  of  the  state  
All  land  in  operating  drainage  enterprises  
Improved  land  

....  acres  .  . 
....  acres  .  . 

....  acres  .  . 
....  acres  .  . 
acres 

Unimproved  land  

Total  capital  invested  in  and  required  for  completion  of  oper- 
ating enterprises  

100.0 
78.6 
21.4 

Capital  invested  in  these  enterprises  to  Dec.  31,  1919..  . 
Additional  capital  required  to  complete  these  enterprises 

CHARACTER  OF  ENTERPRISES 

Most  of  the  drainage  enterprises  organized  under  the  state  laws  were 
established  in  accordance  with  the  law  of  March  7,  1905,  (ch.  106).  That 
provided  for  a  county  drain  commissioner  with  duties  generally  the  same 
as  provided  in  the  law  of  March  18,  1915  (ch.  147),  and  for  a  very  similar 
method  of  organizing  drainage  districts.  Amendments  made  in  1907  and 
1909  did  not  affect  the  form  of  organization. 

The  drainage  law  of  1915  provides  for  the  appointment  of  a  county 
drain  commissioner  by  the  board  of  county  commissioners,  to  have  juris- 
diction over  all  established  drains  in  his  county.  A  petition  for  a  drain 
must  be  signed  by  not  less  than  ten  freeholders  of  the  county,  including 
at  least  five  (or  at  least  half  when  the  whole  number  is  five  or  less)  who 
own  lands  liable '  for  assessment  for  the  proposed  improvement.  The 
tracts  of  land  and  the  cities,  towns,  counties,  railways,  and  irrigation 
ditches  assessed  for  the  construction  of  a  drain  comprise  the  drainage  dis- 
trict. Land  liable  to  become  waterlogged  may  be  included.  Damages 
and  inconvenience  caused  by  seepage  and  waste  water  from  irrigation 
ditches  and  higher  land  are  to  be  considered  in  apportioning  the  cost, 
which  is  borne  by  the  various  parts  of  the  district  in  proportion  to  the  bene- 
fits that  will  be  conferred. 

A  first  order  of  determination  for  the  drainage  district  is  issued  by 
the  drain  commissioner  if  his  preliminary  examination  indicates  that  the 
enterprise  is  practicable;  the  final  order  of  determination  is  issued  when 
right-of-way  for  the  drain  has  been  secured.  The  plan  of  drainage  is 
determined  by  the  drain  commissioner,  who  lets  contract  for  construction. 
Damages  for  right  of  way  are  awarded  by  a  board  of  special  commission- 
ers appointed  by  the  district  court.  If  this  board  decides  that  the  drain 
is  unnecessary,  proceedings  for  establishing  the  drain  are  dismissed  at  the 
cost  of  the  applicants.  Appeal  from  this  board's  awards  may  be  taken 


620  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

to  the  district  court  for  jury  trial.  Apportionment  of  the  cost  is  made 
by  the  drain  commissioner,  subject  to  review  by  a  board  appointed  by  the 
District  Court  and  to  further  appeal  for  jury  trial.  This  board  of  review 
may  add  to  the  district,  or  eliminate  any  part  of  it.  Public  hearings  are 
held  upon  the  petition  for  commissioners  to  determine  damages  and  upon 
the  drain  commissioner's  apportionment  of  cost.  Damages  awarded  each 
individual  are  deducted  from  the  assessment  of  cost  made  against  him. 
The  number  of  installments  for  collecting  the  drainage  taxes,  which  must 
not  extend  more  than  ten  years,  is  determined  by  the  drain  commissioner. 
Payments  for  damages,  services,  and  materials  are  made  by  warrants 
drawn  upon  the  funds  of  the  district,  but  those  for  land  and  for  damages 
in  excess  of  benefits  will  be  paid  from  general  county  funds,  which  will 
be  reimbursed  by  the  district. 

Petition  for  a  drain  to  be  located  or  to  confer  benefits  in  more  than 
one  county  may  be  filed  in  either  county  affected.  The  drain  commission- 
ers act  jointly,  but  after  they  apportion  the  total  cost  between  the  counties 
each  makes  the  apportionment  within  his  own  county. 

Drainage  and  protection  against  seepage  and  alkali  for  land  in  pro- 
jects of  the  United  States  Reclamation  Service  may  be  provided  by  that 
service  as  such  improvement  works  are  deemed  necessary. 

DRAINAGE  WORKS 

The  total  works  completed  by  drainage  enterprises  to  December  31, 
1919,  comprised  102.1  miles  of  open  ditches  and  50.7  miles  of  tile  drains; 
the  additional  lengths  under  construction  were  1.3  miles  of  open  ditches 
and  36.2  miles  of  tile  drains.  These  figures  do  not  include  drains  installed 
by  individual  farm  owners  supplemental  to  the  works  of  the  enterprises. 
There  are  no  pumping  districts  for  land  drainage  in  the  state. 

Throughout  the  state,  116,082  acres  of  land  are  covered  by  organized 
enterprises,  of  which  44,682  acres  are  embraced  by  completed  works  and  the 
remainder  of  the  area  by  works  under  construction.  The  total  amount 
invested  in  these  enterprises  on  December  31,  1919,  was  $664,990,  of 
which  $393,969  had  been  invested  in  completed  works.  To  complete  the 
drainage  enterprises  projected,  it  was  estimated  that  $181,476  would  be 
required.  Most  of  the  projects  are  situated  in  the  south  central  part  of 
the  state,  in  Yellowstone  County;  they  cover  96,732  acres  of  the  total  of 
116,082  which  have  been  drained,  or  are  in  process  of  drainage. 

CONDITION  OF  LAND  IN  ENTERPRISES 

With  one  exception,  all  the  enterprises  in  the  drainage  basin  of  the 
Missouri  River  and  its  branches  are  for  the  drainage  and  protection 
of  land  damaged  or  threatened  with  water-logging  and  the  con- 
centration of  salts,  commonly  called  alkali,  in  the  surface  soil  as  a  result 
of  irrigation.  The  enterprises  on  the  Pacific  slope  are  reported  as  all  for 
the  drainage  and  protection  of  land  that  was  swampy  or  subject  to  over- 
flow by  stream  floods. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  621 

For  the  state,  3,930  acres  in  drainage  districts  and  61,831  acres  in 
United  States  Reclamation  Service  projects  are  reported  as  not  having 
needed  drainage,  or  as  not  having  been  expected  to  receive  drainage  or 
protection  from  the  improvement  works  authorized,  but  as  having  been 
assessed  merely  as  being  responsible  for  damage  to  the  other  lands. 

The  usual  purpose  of  an  organized  enterprise  is  merely  to  provide 
adequate  outlets  into  which  the  landowners  of  the  district  may  drain  their 
farms,  and  to  afford  relief  from  overflows  for  the  district  as  a  unit. 
Therefore,  the  fact  that  an  enterprise  which  has  completed  the  construc- 
tion of  the  drainage  works  authorized  contains  land  still  swampy,  subject 
to  overflow,  seeped,  or  alkali,  or  land  that  suffers  damage  to  crops,  does 
not  show  that  the  improvement  works  are  inadequate. 


The  forests  and  mountainous  tracts  of  Montana  cover  26,000,000  acres 
of  the  90,000,000  acres  within  its  limits.  Of  the  former  splendid  and 
useful  domain,  nearly  16,000,000  acres  are  included  in  the  national  forests, 
the  state  owns  500,000  acres,  about  5,000,000  acres  are  in  private  hands 
and  the  remaining  5,000,000  acres  still  belong  to  the  public  domain  or  in- 
clude the  Indian  reservations.  The  national  and  state  governments  and 
private  owners  co-operate  to  conserve  these  lands  and  avoid  waste,  chiefly 
from  fires  and  the  indiscriminate  burning  of  slashings  which  in  the  past 
has  destroyed  thousands  of  acres  of  young  forest  growth. 

It  is  only  within  recent  years  that  there  has  filtered  into  the  general 
consciousness  a  realization  of  the  vital  relation  between  the  preservation 
and  expansion  of  mountain  forests  and  the  development  of  agricultural 
prosperity.  It  is  within  the  timbered  areas  of  the  mountains  that  the 
winter  snows  are  conserved  which  feed  the  innumerable  streams  netting 
Montana,  and  furnish  water  for  domestic,  irrigating  and  power  purposes. 
Of  the  15,957,196  acres  in  national  forests  13,147,153  are  classified  as 
timber  lands,  1,665,113  as  grass  or  grazing,  and  1,144,930  as  barren. 

THE  FOREST  PUBLIC  LANDS 

Under  what  is  called  the  Forest  Homestead  Law  passed  June  n,  1906, 
399,781  acres  of  national  forest  land  have  been  listed  and  opened  to  settle- 
ment and  entry.  This  acreage  embraces  3,169  distinct  tracts,  averaging 
126.15  acres  in  extent.  Only  a  few  of  the  listed  areas  have  not  been 
entered.  In  1912,  the  secretary  of  agriculture  was  directed  to  examine  and 
classify  all  the  national  forest  lands  with  a  view  to  ascertaining  what  areas 
were  suitable  for  agricultural  use.  The  classification  authorized  has  now 
been  completed  and  all  areas,  except  a  very  few  which  are  now  heavily 
timbered  and  which  have  been  left  for  re-examination  and  classification 
when  the  timber  is  removed,  which  are  chiefly  valuable  for  agriculture,  the 
occupation  of  which  for  agricultural  purposes  will  not  interfere  with  the 
administration  of  the  national  forests,  and  which  are  not  needed  for  public 
purposes,  have  been  opened  to  settlement  and  entry. 


J 

PQ 


H 

in 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  623 

Grazing  on  the  national  forests  is  not  a  right  given  to  anyone  by  law, 
but  is  a  privilege  which  rests  with  the  secretary  of  agriculture  under  the 
regulations  of  his  department,  who  is  to  simply  keep  in  mind,  with  the 
general  aim  of  land  conservation,  the  permanent  good  of  the  livestock 
industry  and  the  protection  of  bona  fide  settlers  and  homebuilders. 

The  Forest  Service,  to  which  is  confided  the  administration  of  the 
grazing  regulations,  endeavors  to  promote  and  stabilize  the  livestock  indus- 
try. "The  success  that  has  attended  its  efforts,"  says  one  of  the  public 
officials  of  Montana,  "is  attested  by  the  practically  unanimous  endorse- 
ment of  its  methods  by  stockmen's  organizations  throughout  the  West 
and  the  widespread  movement  for  the  extension  of  Forest  Service  man- 
agement to  the  public  range  outside  the  national  forests.  Grazing  permits 
are  issued  by  the  forest  supervisor,  the  fees  for  which  depend  on  the 
length  of  the  grazing  season,  the  location  of  the  forest,  quality  of  forage 
and  other  factors. 

"It  is  expected  of  the  permittees  that  their  stock  should  be  handled  while 
on  the  forests  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  damage  to  the  range  or  to  the 
timber  growth,  and  so  that  destructive  erosion  or  washing  of  the  soil  will 
be  prevented.  To  this  end,  cattle  should  be  salted  properly,  both  as  to 
quantity  and  distribution  of  salt ;  and  where  large  numbers  graze  on  one 
range  in  common  they  should  be  herded.  Herders  are  often  employed 
by  a  livestock  association  made  up  of  permittees  who  assess  a  small  charge 
per'  head  of  the  permitted  stock  to  defray  the  expense.  Sheep  should  be 
herded  in  a  quiet  manner  avoiding  all  unnecessary  trailing,  and  bedding 
not  more  than  three  nights  in  one  place. 

"If  the  stock  are  not  handled  in  such  a  way  as  to  prevent  damage  to  the 
range  and  timber  growth,  the  number  of  stock  is  reduced  and,  in  extreme 
cases,  grazing  is  entirely  prohibited  until  injury  done  is  remedied." 

Under  the  Federal  laws  governing  the  forests,  25  per  cent  of  the 
revenues  received  by  the  Government  on  account  of  each  national  forest 
is  paid  into  the  state  treasury  and  from  there  distributed  among  the  various 
counties  in  which  the  forest  is  situated  in  the  proportion  which  the  forest 
acreage  in  each  county  bears  to  the  total  acreage  of  the  forest.  This  25 
per  cent  fund  is  devoted  to  school  and  road  purposes  and  applied  in  such 
manner  as  the  State  Legislature  may  direct.  In  addition  to  the  25  per 
cent  fund,  10  per  cent  of  all  forest  revenues  from  each  state  is  set  aside 
for  the  construction  of  roads  and  trails  within  the  forests  in  the  state 
under  the  direction  of  the  secretary  of  agriculture.  The  total  net  receipts 
of  the  Government  from  all  national  forests  in  Montana  for  the  fiscal  year 
ending  June  30,  1919,  amounted  to  $385,525.72. 

AREAS  AND  LOCATIONS  OF  NATIONAL  FORESTS 

The  national  forests  in  Montana,  with  the  areas  and  approximate 
county  locations,  are  as  follows : 

Absarokee — Chiefly  in  Park  and  Sweet  Grass  counties.  Total  area, 
987,710  acres. 


624  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Beartooth — Chiefly  in  Carbon  and  Sweet  Grass  counties.  Total  area, 
681,930  acres. 

Beaverhead — Chiefly  in  Beaverhead  County.  Total  area,  1,365,000 
acres. 

Bitter  Root — Chiefly  in  Ravalli  County.     Total  area,  1,155,868  acres. 

Blackfeet — In  Flathead  and  Lincoln  counties.  Total  area,  1,128,615 
acres. 

Cabinet — Chiefly  in  Sanders  County.    Total  area,  1,043,224  acres. 

Custer — Chiefly  in  Powder  River  County.    Total  area,  499,508  acres. 

Deer  Lodge — Chiefly  in  Jefferson,  Deer  Lodge  and  Silver  Bow  coun- 
ties. Total  area,  964,000  acres. 

Flathead — Chiefly  in  Flathead  County.     Total  area,  2,004,579  acres. 

Gallatin — Chiefly  in  Gallatin  County.     Total  area,  909,430  acres. 

Helena — Chiefly  in  Lewis  and  Clark  and  Broadwater  counties.  Total 
area,  888,631  acres. 

Jefferson — Chiefly  in  Cascade  and  Meagher  counties.  Total  area, 
1,175,685  acres. 

Kootenai — In  Lincoln  County.    Total  area,  1,617,140  acres. 

Lewis  and  Clark — Chiefly  in  Lewis  and  Clark  and  .Teton  counties. 
Total  area,  826,360  acres. 

Lolo — Chiefly  in  Mineral  and  Missoula  counties.  Total  area,  1,181,- 
018  acres. 

Madison — Chiefly  in  Madison  County.     Total  area,   1,035,860  acres. 

Missoula — Chiefly  in  Granite  and  Missoula  counties.  Total  area, 
1,368,191  acres. 

Sioux — In  Carter  County.     Total  area,  114,541  acres. 

Grand  total  of  national  forest  area  in  Montana,  18,947,290  acres. 
Alienations,  2,990,094  acres. 
Net  area,  15,957,156  acres. 

THE  NATIONAL  FOREST  FUNDS 

Twenty-five  per  cent  of  the  receipts  of  the  national  forests  is  devoted 
to  the  support  of  the  common  schools  of  Montana,  and  10  per  cent  is 
applied  to  road  and  trail  building,  within  and  adjacent  to  the  preserves  in 
the  counties  from  which  the  receipts  are  derived.  The  expenditure  of 
these  funds  is  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  National  Forest  Service.  For 
the  year  1920,  the  total  thus  distributed  to  the  several  counties  interested 
was  $88,017.  I*1  tnat  list>  tne  following  were  most  favored:  Lincoln,  to 
the  extent  of  $11,167;  Beaverhead,  $8,947;  Madison,  $8,533;  Ravalli, 
$5,800;  Flathead,  $4,960;  Powder  River,  $4,797;  Jefferson,  $4,055. 

The  different  forests  yielded  the  following  revenues  in  1919  and  1920: 

National  Forests                              1919  1920 

Absaroka $  2,603.27  $  2,635.65 

Beartooth   3,687.14  3,441.89 

Beaverhead    10,765.59  7,989.81 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  625 

National  Forests  1919  1920 

Bitter  Root    $5.939-65  $5,842.12 

Blackfeet    1,854.12  4,314.89 

Cabinet   '•" 90977  1,315-92 

Custer    6,704.89  6,222.60 

Deer  Lodge   10,566.82  8,010.25 

Flathead   10,254.20  2,861.76 

Gallatin 2,973.50  2,712.85 

Helena    5,753-21  5,177-16 

Jefferson    6,585.76  7,200.06 

Kootenai    3,53ii.65  9,546.19 

Lewis  and  Clark 1,995.76  1,506.26 

Lolo 5,849.42  4,856.81 

Madison   10,997.94  1 1,158.53 

Missoula    2,351.08  1,943.84 

Sioux 1,719.04  1,280.60 


Totals $95,042.81        $88,017.19 

MONTANA'S  LUMBER  STAND 

The  stand  on  the  permanent  productive  timber  land  for  the  state  is  esti- 
mated by  the  United  States  Forest  Service  to  be  about  fifty-eight  billion 
feet.  The  total  productive  commercial  timbered  area  is  13,374,000  acres, 
half  of  which  is  covered  with  mature  timber,  and  half  with  reproduction 
and  young  growth.  In  addition  to  the  productive  commercial  timber  land 
there  are  3,577,000  acres  of  protective  forest.  The  current  annual  growth 
for  all  species  on  the  productive  commercial  timber  land  (exclusive  of 
park  land  and  protection  forest)  for  the  whole  state,  as  determined  very 
roughly,  is  790,000,000  feet.  Since  the  lumber  cut  for  1919  has  been 
given  at  about  335,000,000,  and  the  entire  cut  for  the  state,  including  round 
timbers  for  the  mines,  cordwood,  hewn  ties,  posts,  poles,  pilings,  shingles 
and  lath,  does  not  exceed  600,000,000,  no  deduction  need  be  made  from 
the  following  estimated  total  stand: 

Forest  Service 33,8i2  million  feet 

National  Park   ..'.,• 2,006  million  feet 

Public  Domain  27  million  feet 

Indian    2,425  million  feet 


Total  Federal 38,270  million  feet 

State 2,300  million  feet 

Private :7,5O1  million  feet 


Total    58,071  million  feet 

Reports  of  the  lumber  production  -by  species  show  that  the  great  bulk 
of  the  output  is  from  the  forests  of  yellow  pine  and  larch.     Montana's 


Vol.  1—40 


626 


HISTORY  OF  .MONTANA 


100  mills  supply  about  half  of  the  lumber  consumed  in  the  state,  and  the 
home  market  takes  four-fifths  of  the  lumber  cut. 

FORESTRY  ORGANIZATION  AND  LEGISLATION 

The  direction  and  control  of  state  owned  lands  is  vested  by  the  con- 
stitution in  the  State  Board  of  Land  Commissioners.     A  state  forester 


RAINY  LAKE,  MISSOULA  NATIONAL  FOREST 

is  appointed  by  the  governor  by  and  with  the  advice  and  consent  of  the 
Senate,  to  serve  a  term  of  four  years.  It  is  specified  in  the  act  that  he 
shall  be  skilled  in  the  science  of  forestry.  The  state  forester,  under 
the  direction  and  control  of  the  Land  Board,  is  charged  with  the  duty 
of  handling  all  the  field  work  in  selection,  location,  examination  and 
appraisement  of  state  timber  lands,  and  under  the  direction  of  the  board 
has  general  charge  of  the  timber  lands  of  the  state.  He  executes  all 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  627 

matters  pertaining  to  forestry  in  the  state,  has  charge  of  all  fire  war- 
dens, and  enforces  the  fire  laws  of  the  state. 

Provision  is  also  made  by  law  for  a  Forestry  Board,  composed  of 
the  register  of  state  lands  (chairman),  the  state  forester  (secretary), 
and  the  state  land  agent.  The  duties  of  the  State  Forestry  Board  are 
"to  ascertain  the  method  of  reforesting  the  denuded  lands  of  the  state, 
to  prevent  forestry  waste  and  the  destruction  of  forests  by  fire,  to  man- 
age the  forests  of  the  state  on  forestry  principles,  to  encourage  private 
owners  in  preserving  and  growing  timber,"  etc. 

The  salary  and  expense  of  the  state  forester,  as  well  as  all  other 
members  of  the  state  land  office  are  paid  out  of  the  moneys  in  the  sev- 
eral-land grant  income  funds,  and  apportioned  among  the  several  funds 
in  proportion  to  the  amount  of  land  in  each  of  the  land  grants  from 
which  the  several  funds  are  derived. 

Under  existing  state  laws  the  state  forester  has  general  charge  of 
fire  protection  work  in  the  state.  He  may  appoint  in  such  locations  as 
he  deems  wise,  public  spirited  citizens  to  act  as  volunteer  fire  wardens. 
Sheriffs,  deputy  sheriffs,  game  wardens  and  deputy  game  wardens  are 
ex-officio  fire  wardens,  as  are  also  duly  appointed  officers  of  the  U.  S. 
Forest  Service,  the  Northern  Montana  Forestry  Association  and  the 
U.  S.  Indian  Service.  Such  wardens  may  arrest  without  warrant  for 
violation  in  their  presence  of  any  state  or  federal  forest  laws. 

The  law  provides  a  closed  season  from  June  I  to  September  30,  dur- 
ing which  it  is  unlawful  to  burn  forest  material  without  a  permit  from 
a  warden.  An  exception  is  made,  "Providing  that  the  provision  of  this 
section  shall  not  apply  to  any  actual  settler  engaged  in  clearing  land  for 
agricultural  purposes,  nor  shall  not  apply  where  the  brush  is  piled  up 
and  there  is  a  clear  space  thirty  (30)  feet  around  such  pile,  but  shall 
apply  to  all  burning  of  slashings." 

The  law  also  compels  burning  of  brush  and  slashings  resulting  from 
logging  operations  within  a  year  after  such  cutting.  This  section  of  the 
law  covering  slash  disposal  is  adequate  for  the  purpose,  but  it  has  been 
enforced  only  to  a  very  limited  extent,  chiefly  owing  to  lack  of  an 
effective  organization  to  inspect  logging  operations  and  compel  com- 
pliance with  the  law. 

FOREST  FIRE  LAWS 

"The  principal  lack  in  the  Montana  forest  fire  laws  is  failure  to  pro- 
vide any  form  of  compulsory  fire  protection  on  privately  owned  forest 
lands,"  says  the  state  forester  in  his  biennial  report  for  1917-20.  "It  is 
a  well  recognized  principle  that  a  state  has  the  authority  to  legislate  for 
the  purpose  of  preventing  any  condition  on  any  privately  owned  prop- 
erty, which  may  be  a  menace  to  life  or  property  of  other  citizens  of  the 
state.  All  forest  land  in  this  region  is  inflammable  and  fire  starting  in 
any  forest  land  is  a  menace  to  adjoining  property. 

"Many  forest  owners  of  the  state  have  recognized  the  need  of  organ- 
ized fire  protection.  The  Northern  Montana  Forestry  Association,  which 


628 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


is  composed  principally  of  private  owners  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  state,  with  a  membership  representing  927,000  acres,  has  success- 
fully maintained  an  organized  fire  protection  for  some  years.  The  North- 
ern Pacific  Railway  Company  lands  within  the  national  forest,  amount- 
ing to  990,000  acres  in  Montana,  are  protected  by  co-operative  agree- 
ment with  the  Forest  Service.  The  state  forest  lands,  amounting  to 


YELLOW  PINE  FORESTS  IN  LINCOLN  COUNTY 

about  500,000  acres,  are  protected  either  through  co-operative  agree- 
ment with  the  Forest  Service  or  by  the  organization  maintained  by  the 
state  forester.  The  total  of  private  and  state  lands  under  organized 
protection  then  amount  to  2,417,000  acres. 

"There  are  in  the  State  of  Montana,  based  on  the  county  records, 
3,468,000  acres  of  timber  land,  and  951,000  acres  of  cut-over  land,  or  a 
total  of  4,419,000  acres  in  private  ownership  which  may  be  classed  as 
forest  land  requiring  fire  protection.  Adding  500,000  acres  of  state 
forest  land,  makes  a  total  of  4,919,000  acres  of  state  and  private  forest 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  629 

lands  requiring  protection.  Since  only  2,417,000  acres  are  under  organ- 
ized protection,  there  remain  2,502,000  acres  which  are  either  not  pro- 
tected, or  are  receiving  incidental  protection  in  which  they  do  not  share 
the  cost  from  the  Forest  Service,  the  Northern  Montana  Forestry  Asso- 
ciation and  the  state."  *.  *  * 

STATE  AND  FEDERAL  CO-OPERATION 

"The  Forest  Service  has  for  some  years  co-operated  with  the  various 
states  in  fire  protection,  under  the  provisions  of  the  so-called  'Weeks  Law,' 
which  provides  for  financial  co-operation  by  the  Federal  Government 
not  to  exceed  the  amount  appropriated  by  any  state  for  fire  protection 
of  the  headwaters  of  any  navigable  stream.  Federal  contributions  from 
this  source  in  Montana  have  amounted  to  $3,000  to  $3,500  a  year. 

"Recognizing  the  interest  and  responsibility  of  the  nation  in  safe- 
guarding its  future  timber  supply  it  is  now  proposed  to  greatly  extend 
this  co-operation  as  an  encouragement  to  the  practice  of  forestry  in  the 
several  states,  providing  necessary  legislation  can  be  secured  in  Congress. 
The  approval  of  the  secretary  of  agriculture  has  been  obtained  for  in- 
corporating in  the  next  Forest  Service  appropriation  bill  a  large  sum 
for  co-operation  with  the  states  in  fire  protection  and  forestry. 

"If  such  appropriation  is  made  it  is  the  plan  of  the  Forest  Service 
that  such-  co-operation  should  combine  three  essential  features  : 

"  (  i  )  The  Forest  Service,  in  co-operation  with  state  officers  or  other 
agencies  as  far  as  practicable,  should  determine  and  recommend  the 
essential  and  standard  requirements  for  keeping  forest  lands  in  con- 
tinuous production  in  each  region. 

"(2)  The  Forest  Service  should  be  enabled  to  offer  liberal  financial 
co-operation  to  the  several  states,  not  only  in  fire  prevention,  the  prin- 
cipal and  most  important  co-operative  activity,  but  in  any  phase  of 
forestry  or  forest  research,  including  planting. 

"(3)  The  Forest  Service  should  be  empowered  to  withhold  co- 
operation in  whole  or  in  part  from  states  which  do  not  comply  in  legis- 
lation or  administration  practice  with  the  standard  requirements  deter- 
mined upon. 

"Such  co-operation  contemplates  eventually  such  control  and  finan- 
cial assistance  by  the  states  of  cutting  on  privately  owned  lands  as  will 
be  necessary  to  keep  forest  lands  in  continuous  productive  condition." 


AIRPLANE  FOREST  FIRE  PATROL 

"This  department  has  been  investigating  the  question  of  airplanes 
for  forest  patrol  as  a  means  of  quickly  discovering  forest'  fires  and 
securing  information  that  will  enable  protective  agencies  to  reach  and 
suppress  such  fires  at  the  earliest  possible  moment,  thereby  minimizing 
the  devastation  and  expense. 

"The  method  has  been  given  a  trial  the  two  past  seasons  in  the  states 


630  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  California  and  Oregon,  and  from  the  best  information  obtainable  it 
has  proved  very  satisfactory. 

"The  following  letter,  under  date  of  December  3,  1920,  was  received 
from  H.  H.  Arnold,  Major,  A.  S.,  War  Department,  Headquarters 
Ninth  Corps  Area,  Office  of  the  Air  Officer, -San  Francisco,  California: 
'In  view  of  the  fact  that  there  is  a  strong  probability  that  aerial  forest 
fire  patrol  will  be  extended  to  cover  the  State  of  Montana  during  the 
coming  year,  it  is  requested  that  you  furnish  this  office  a  map  of  the 
State  of  Montana,  showing  the  forested  and  recent  burned  area.' 

"The  department  has  complied  with  this  request  by  preparing  and 
forwarding  a  map  of  Montana,  showing  the  requested  information,  as 
well  as  base  and  landing  fields,  distances,  etc.  The  War  Department 
has  granted  permission  to  use  the  grounds  at  Fort  Harrison  for  a  land- 
ing field.  As  the  demonstration  of  this  method  of  forest  patrol,  with 
little  expense  to  the  state,  is  possible  under  present  plans,  it  is  hoped 
the  service  will  be  extended  to  Montana  during  the  coming  fire  season." 

HYDRO-ELECTRIC  CONSERVATION 

The  conservation  of  the  forest  lands  of  Montana  means  the  retention 
and  development  of  one  of  the  greatest  resources  of  the  state — its  vast 
natural  water  power,  the  source  of  electrical  energy.  Conservative 
authorities  estimate  that  1,000,000  horse  powef,  in  electrical  form,  can  be 
developed  from  the  streams  of  Montana.  The  most  valuable  develop- 
ment of  hydro-electric  power  is  at  Great  Falls,  where  the  Missouri  River 
drops  400  feet  in  a  distance  of  eight  miles.  This  is  the  greatest  natural 
power  site  in  Montana,  and  one  of  the  finest  in  the  United  States,  but 
there  are  many  others. 

Already  the  Montana  Power  Company  has  thirteen  large  plants  in- 
stalled at  various  points  in  the  state,  generating  a  total  of  211,000  kilo- 
watts. The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  has  successfully 
electrified  its  line  for  440  miles,  between  Harlowton,  Montana,  and  Avery, 
Idaho,  and  over  some  of  the  most  rugged  country  of  Western  Montana, 
the  power  for  its  operation  being  generated  from  the  plants  at  Great 
Falls  and  those  near  Helena,  on  the  Madison  River,  at  Big  Hole,  near 
Butte,  and  at  Thompson  Falls,  not  far  from  the  western  border  of  the 
state.  The  Great  Northern  and  the  Northern  Pacific  system  are  making 
great  efforts  to  meet  that  competition  by  electrifying  their  own  lines 
through  the  moutainous  country  of  the  state,  planning  to  obtain  their 
power  from  the  Koontenai  River  and  Flathead  Lake  and  River. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  GREAT  FALLS  WATER  POWER 

The  first  abrupt  descents  in  the  Great  Falls  area  are  called  Black 
Eagle  Falls,  two  miles  from  the  center  of  the  city,  where  the  first  develop- 
ment of  power  commenced  in  1890  with  the  construction  of  a  low  crib 
dam.  About  10,000  horse  power  was  developed,  mostly  used  by  shaft  or 
rope  drive.  A  small  amount  of  electric  power  was  taken  by  the  Great 
Falls  Electric  Properties  power  station. 


o 

» 

M 
> 
H 


632  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Three  and  a  half  miles  below  Black  Eagle  Falls  are  Coulter's,  Rain- 
bow and  Crooked  Falls.  The  most  important  development  was  at  Rain- 
bow, which  was  commenced  in  October,  1908,  and  completed  in  July, 
1910.  No  excavation  was  required  for  the  diverting  dam  of  more  than 
1,100  feet,  as  solid  bed  rock  was  naturally  exposed  across  the  entire  site. 
At  the  south  end  of  the  dam  the  sluiceway  was  constructed,  and  at  the 
north  end  two  main  lines  of  riveted  steel,  2,350  feet  in  length,  were  con- 
structed to  feed  the  reservoir  near  the  plant.  The  balancing  reservoir, 
into  which  the  main  pipes  discharge,  regulates  the  flow  of  water,  an  over- 
flow weir  at  its  lower  end  being  provided  to  take  care  of  any  unusual  rise 
in  the  water  level.  The  power  house  is  a  three  story  brick  building  with 
steel  frame  and  concrete  floors  and  roof,  and  from  the  station  power  is 
transmitted  to  Butte,  Anaconda  and  more  distant  points. 

The  power  to  Butte,  130  miles,  is  transmitted  over  two  separate  lines 
running  parallel  on  the  same  right-of-way.  At  the  center  of  these  lines  is 
a  switching  station,  equipped  with  oil  switches  and  lightning  arresters,  by 
means  of  which  a  cross-over  connection  can  be  made  and  one  half  of 
either  line  cut  out  while  the  remainder  is  in  operation.  From  Butte  a 
single  line  is  extended  to  Anaconda,  twenty-two  miles  distant.  The  chief 
consumers  of  the  electric  power  in  this  part  of  the  state  are  the  Butte, 
Anaconda  &  Pacific  Railway  Company,  which  operates  ninety  miles  of 
tracks  and  the  great  Washoe  smelter,  at  Anaconda. 

But  electricity  from  water  power,  which  depends  for  its  constancy 
upon  the  conservation  of  its  fountain  heads  in  the  protecting  forests  of 
the  mountains,  is  used  in  Montana  to  operate  mines,  to  light  cities  and 
to  furnish  cheap  power  for  all  varieties  of  city  and  country  use,  even  to 
the  pumping  of  water  for  irrigation  projects.  A  total  development  of 
about  300,000  horse  power  has  already  been  made  in  the  state — hardly  a 
beginning  of  the  potentialities  in  hydro-electric  expansion. 

The  developed  hydro-electric  plants  of  the  Montana  Power  Company, 
with  its  2,000  miles  of  transmission  lines  and  75  substations,  are  as  fol- 
lows. 

Installed 

Capacity 

(Kw.) 

Rainbow  Falls,  on  Missouri  River,  completed  1910,  enlarged  1916 3S,ooo 

Black  Eagle  Falls,  on  Missouri  River,  reconstructed  1913 3,000 

Hauser  Lake,  on  Missouri  River,  completed  1911,  enlarged  1914 18,000 

Canyon  Ferry,  on  Missouri  River,  completed  1898,  enlarged  1901 7,5oo 

Madison  No.  i,  on  Madison  River,  completed  1901,  remodeled  1907 2,000 

Madison  No.  2,  on  Madison  River,  completed  1906 10,000 

Big  Hole,  on  Big  Hole  River,  completed  1898 3,000 

Livingston,  on  Yellowstone  River,   completed   1906,  enlarged    1908 1,500 

Billings  No.  i,  on  Yellowstone  River,  completed  1907 1,080 

Lewistown,  on  Spring  Creek,  completed  1906,  remodeled  1913 450 

Great  Falls,  on  Missouri  River,  at  the  Great  Falls,  completed  1916 60,000 

Thompson  Falls,  on  Clark's  Fork  of  Columbia  River,  completed  1916 30,000 

Holier,  on  Missouri  River,  completed  1918 40,000 


Total  Kilowatts  211,530 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  633 

The  reservoirs  of  the  system  include:  Hebgen  and  Madison  reser- 
voirs, on  Madison  River,  with  areas  of  13,400  and  4,030  acres,  respec- 
tively; Canyon  Ferry  and  Hauser  Lake  reservoirs,  on  Missouri  River, 
4,570  and  5,470  acres;  Holter  Reservoir,  also  on  the  Missouri,  5,005 
acres;  as  well  as  reservoirs  of  smaller  capacities  (below  1,000  acres)  on 
that  river  and  the  Big  Hole. 

Besides  the  Montana  Power  Company,  which  controls  282,000  of  the 
293,000  horse  power  produced  by  the  waterways  of  the  state,  and 
211,000  of  the  220,000  kilowatts  of  electricity  generated  thereby,  there 
are  such  minor  corporations  as  the  Missoula  Light  and  Power  Company 
and  the  Northern  Idaho  &  Montana  Power  Company. 

THE  NATIONAL  PARKS 

Yellowstone  National  Park,  the  greatest  continuous  public  domain 
in  the  United  States  and  the  most  superb  collection  of  various  and  nat- 
ural beauties  within  an  equal  area  in  the  world,  contains  2,142,720  acres, 
or  3,348  square  miles  within  its  limits.  Its  area  is  about  that  of  Porto 
Rico,  or  1,000  square  miles  larger  than  Delaware.  Only  narrow  strips 
of  it  overlap  the  boundaries  of  Montana  and  Idaho,  so  that  a  detailed 
description  of  its  spouting  geysers,  hot  springs,  great  mountains,  rugged 
canyons,  beautiful  lakes,  petrified  forests  and  broad  game  preserve  ranged 
by  fearless  herds  of  buffalo,  elk,  antelope  and  deer,  would  be  beyond  the 
scope  of  this  history — the  State  of  Montana.  Since  the  park  was  estab- 
lished in  March,  1872,  hunting  has  been  strictly  prohibited,  so  that  sev- 
eral generations  of  this  naturally  wild  game  have  not  known  the  sensation 
of  fear. 

Thousands  of  tourists  annually  pour  into  Yellowstone  Park  along  the 
fine  trails  and  highways  of  Montana,  many  of  them  direct  from  the 
Glacier  National  Park,  in  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  state,  which  is 
entirely  within  its  limits.  The  official  entrance  to  the  park,  an  imposing 
arch,  was  dedicated  by  President  Roosevelt  in  1903.  It  is  located  at 
Gardiner,  Montana,  five  miles  from  Mammoth  Hot  Springs,  the  admin- 
istrative headquarters  of  the  great  reserve.  The  western  entrance  to  the 
park  is  at  Yellowstone,  on  the  Madison  River,  in  Gallatin  County.  The 
locality  is  a  few  miles  from  the  ultimate  source  of  the  Missouri  River. 

Glacier  National  Park,  which  was  established  May  u,  1910,  has  an 
area  of  981,681  acres,  or  1,533  square  miles — somewhat  larger  than 
Rhode  Island.  The  Continental  divide  is  enclosed  by  the  park;  in  fact, 
from  one  locality,  known  as  the  Triple  Divide,  waters  flow  into  the 
Pacific  Ocean,  Hudson  Bay  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico. 

As  a  sketchy,  yet  precise  and  practical,  description  of  the  park  and 
other  beauty  spots  in  Montana,  as  well  as  the  promising  grounds  for 
sportsmen,  nothing  better  has  been  produced  than  the  following  from  the 
"Resources  of  Montana"  (edition  of  1920),  issued  by  Charles  D.  Green- 
field, commissioner  of  the  State  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Pub- 
licity : 


634  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Glacier  National  Park  is  remarkable  for  its  picturesquely  modeled 
peaks,  the  unique  quality  of  its  mountain  passes,  its  gigantic  precipices,  the 
romantic  loveliness  of  its  250  lakes  and  the  sixty  glaciers  from  which  it 
derives  its  name.  It  is  individual  in  its  make-up,  having  rugged  moun- 
tain tops,  bounded  by  vertical  walls,  sometimes  4,000  feet  high,  glaciers 
perched  upon  lofty  rocky  shelves,  unexpected  waterfalls  of  peculiar 
charm,  rivers  of  milky  glacier  water,  and  lakes  unexcelled  for  sheer 
beauty  by  the  most  celebrated  of  sunny  Italy  and  snow-topped  Switzer- 
land. 

The  supreme  glory  of  the  park  is  its  lakes.  The  world  has  none  to 
surpass,  perhaps  few  to  equal  them.  Some  are  cradled  among  the 


MAMMOTH  HOT  SPRINGS 

precipices,  some  float  ice-fields  in  midsummer,  while  some  are  valley 
gems,  grown  to  the  water's  edge  with  dense  forests.  All  kinds  of  wild 
animals,  fish,  birds  and  plants  are  found  within  the  park.  Firearms  are 
not  allowed.  Fishing  is  permitted,  however,  as  in  the  Yellowstone. 

There  are  ten  hotels  in  the  park,  two  of  them,  Glacier  Park  Hotel  and 
Many  Glacier  Hotel,  being  large  hotels  and  the  other  eight  are  Swiss 
chalets.  The  park  is  reached  only  by  the  main  line  of  the  Great  Northern 
Railroad  or  by  automobile.  Trips  through  the  park  cost  from  $i  to  $10 
a  day,  depending  upon  the  accommodations  desired.  Besides  the  hotels 
there  are  permanent  camps  ample  to  accommodate  the  tourist,  and  guides 
and  packtrains  are  available  for  those  who  desire  to  explore  the  park, 
glaciers  and  mountain  fastnesses.  The  season  is  from  June  ist  to  October 
1st  each  year. 

OTHER  BEAUTY  SPOTS 

In  addition  to  the  two  national  parks  there  are  many  other  places 
which  have  equal  attraction.  The  great  rolling  prairies  of  Eastern  Mon- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


635 


tana,  formerly  the  greatest  "cow  country,"  are  a  never  ending  place  of 
fascination  to  the  visitor.  There  are  also  many  spots  of  beauty  and  ex- 
cellent camping  grounds  in  the  bad  lands  and  along  the  rivers. 

The  western  part  of  the  state  has  much  fascination  for  the  tourist 
because  of  its  mountains  and  lakes.  Flathead  Lake,  the  largest  fresh 
water  lake  in  the  country,  aside  from  the  Great  Lakes,  is  rapidly  becoming 
famous  as  a  home  for  summer  colonies.  It  is  considered  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  in  the  world.  The  lake  has  a  shore  line  of  300  miles  and  large 
steamers  operate  on  its  waters. 

The  Kootenai  country  through  Lincoln  County  is  unexcelled  for  beau- 
tiful, peaceful  valleys  and  towering  picturesque  mountains,  covered  with 
dense  pine  forests.  The  Blackfoot  Valley,  which  follows  the  canyon  of 
the  Big  Blackfoot  River  in  Missoula  County,  between  towering  wooded 
mountains  of  great  beauty,  is  exceedingly  attractive  as  a  vacation  spot. 
Many  people  camp  out  here  in  the  forest  reserve. 

Of  equal  beauty  and  fascination  is  the  Missouri  River  Canyon  in 
Lewis  and  Clark  County  from  Canyon  Ferry  power  dam  to  the  Holter 


GREAT  BLACKFOOT  GLACIER 


power  dam  and  the  "Gates  of  the  Mountains."  For  scenic  splendor  this 
is  unexcelled.  The  famous  Gallatin  Valley  is  rich  in  natural  scenery  also. 
The  "Gallatin  Way,"  leading  to  Yellowstone  Park,  is  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  of  drives. 

Sanders  County  is  noted  for  its  wonderful  trout  fishing  streams,  great 
areas  of  virgin  forests  and  its  wealth  of  wild  animal  life.  Camp  sites  are 
available  at  beautiful  mountain  lakes.  The  Belt  and  High  wood  canyons, 
in  Cascade  County,  the  beauties  of  Madison  County,  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  Cavern,  the  mountain  drives  of  Jefferson  County,  the  Bitter  Root 
and  Hell  Gate  valleys,  the  Columbia  Gardens  at  Butte,  the  state  fish 
hatcheries,  the  big  smelters,  the  gigantic  power  dams,  the  lumber  mills, 
the  State  Fair  Gounds  at  Helena,  and  other  numerous  places,  give  con- 
stant delight  to  the  visitor. 

Situated  next  to  Yellowstone  National  Park  on  the  north  and  con- 
taining much  wonderful  scenery  are  Carbon  and  Park  counties.  The 
Beartooth  Mountains  and  Glaciers  are  principally  in  Carbon  County. 
Granite  Peak,  the  summit  of  which  is  12,950  feet,  is  the  highest  point  in 


636  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Montana.  There  are  a  number  of  live  glaciers  in  these  mountains.  Park 
County,  containing  the  official  entrance  to  Yellowstone  Park,  is  full  of 
majestic  mountains,  trout  streams,  and  unexcelled  vacation  spots.  It 
also  has  several  hot  springs  and  health  resorts  of  importance. 

Montana  is  well  supplied  with  medicinal  springs  and  health  resorts. 
Hundreds  are  treated  annually  or  spend  time  at  these  resorts  for  rest 
and  recuperation. 

HUNTING  AND  FISHING 

Montana  is  one  of  the  few  big  game  regions  in  the  United  States  and 
every  fall  hunters  from  all  parts  of  the  country  come  to  the  state  to  hunt 


LAKE  YELLOWSTONE 

elk,  bear,  dear,  mountain  lions,  wolves  and  coyotes.  The  best  elk  hunting 
is  found  in  those  counties  adjacent  to  the  Yellowstone  National  Park, 
while  Western  and  Northwestern  Montana  are  the  best  localities  for  deer 
and  bear. 

Trout  fishing  is  good  in  almost  all  of  the  mountain  streams  and  Mon- 
tana is  doing  its  utmost  to  keep  the  streams  well  stocked.  There  are  four 
state  fish  hatcheries,  one  at  Anaconda  on  Georgetown  Lake,  one  at  the 
Hebgen  Reservoir  on  the  Madison  River,  one  at  Somers,  near  Flat- 
head  Lake,  and  one  near  Livingston  on  the  Yellowstone  River. 

The  Federal  Government  maintains  a  hatchery  at  Bozeman  in  Gallatin 
County.  Upwards  of  20,000,000  fry  of  eastern  brook,  black  spotted,  rain- 
bow and  grayling  are  annually  sent  out  to  restock  the  streams  and  lakes. 

Good  bird  shooting  is  to  be  found  in  Montana.  In  the  eastern  part  of 
the  state  are  many  prairie  chickens  and  sage  hens,  while  in  the  mountain- 
ous districts  are  grouse,  fool  hens  and  pheasants. 

Wildfowl  hunting  is  perhaps  the  most  popular  sport  in  Montana.  In 
Madison  County,  not  far  from  the  Idaho  boundary,  are  the  Red  Rock 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  637 

Lakes  and  in  Phillips  County,  in  Northern  Montana,  is  Lake  Bowdoin. 
Both  of  these  places  are  breeding  grounds  for  ducks  and  besides  the 
"natives,"  which  afford  sport  early  in  the  season,  these  regions  are  tarry- 
ing places  when  the  "northerners"  are  winging  their  way  southward. 
These  are  the  best  wildfowl  grounds  in  the  state,  but  there  are  many 
lakes  and  sloughs  in  practically  every  part  of  the  state  that  furnish  good 
shooting.  Canadian  geese,  the  Snow  goose  and  the  common  swan  are 
found  in  Montana.  The  following  ducks  are  abundant  in  places  during 
the  duck  shooting  season,  viz. :  the  Mallard,  Gadwell,  Widgeon,  Green- 
winged  Teal,  Blue-winged  Teal,  Spoonbill,  Canvas-back,  Redhead,  Golden- 
eye,  Rufflehead,  American  Scooter  and  the  Pin-tail. 

There  is  no  closed  season  on  bear,  wolves,  coyotes  and  mountain  lions, 
which  are  listed  as  predatory  animals.  Bear  are  much  sought  during  the 
months  of  April,  May  and  June  when  their  fur  is  prime.  They  are  native 
to  all  the  mountainous  regions  of  the  state,  but  the  greatest  number  are 
found  in  the  counties  adjacent  to  Yellowstone  Park  and  in  the  north- 
western portion  of  Montana. 

Mountain  lion,  the  natural  destructive  enemy  of  deer  and  young  stock, 
are  much  sought  by  professional  hunters  employed  by  the  Government. 
These  hunters  also  roam  the  forests  during  the  winter,  trapping  and 
killing  wolves  and  coyotes  which  prey  upon  stock.  Bounties  are  paid  for 
the  destruction  of  these  predatory  animals.  Coyotes,  coyote  pups  and 
wolf  pups  each  carry  a  bounty  of  $2.50,  mountain  lions  $10  and  full- 
grown  wolves  $15. 

There  are  nine  preserves  in  Montana  which  furnish  a  refuge  to  the 
wild  game  and  serve  as  breeding  grounds  to  replenish  the  game  in  the 
adjacent  hunting  areas.  The  preserves  and  their  areas  are  as  follows: 

Snow  Creek  preserve,  300  square  miles;  Prior  Mountain  preserve,  130 
square  miles ;  Sun  River  preserve,  303  square  miles ;  Gallatin  preserve,  101 
square  miles;  Snowy  Mountain  preserve,  170  square  miles;  Highwood 
National  forest,  72  square  miles;  Powder  River  Game  preserve,  1,120 
square  miles ;  Twin  Buttes  Game  preserve,  35  square  miles ;  Flathead  Lake 
Bird  preserve,  6.82  acres. 

Discharge  of  firearms  within  the  limits  of  these  preserves  is  prohibited, 
as  is  also  the  making  of  any  unusual  noises.  Besides  these  preserves, 
hunting  of  certain  kind  of  game  has  been  prohibited  in  certain  counties 
and  parts  of  counties. 

The  Montana  Game  and  Fish  Commission,  established  in  1913,  has 
in  hand  the  protection  and  replenishment  of  the  game  and  fish  of  within 
the  state,  through  the  enforcement  of  proper  laws  and  regulations;  and 
it  has  done  its  work  well. 

GLACIER  PARK  LAKES  AGAIN 

It  may  be  added  to  the  brief  description  of  Glacier  National  Park, 
given  in  the  State  Manual,  that  its  largest  and  most  picturesque  lake  is 
McDonald,  named  after  Sir  John  McDonald,  a  famous  Canadian  states- 
man and  traveler.  It  lives  on  the  western  slope  of  the  Rocky  Mountains 


638 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


and  is  a  closely  wooded  body  of  water  twelve  miles  in  length  with  an 
average  width  of  a  mile  and  a  half.  The  reflections  in  its  clear  waters  are 
exquisite.  Farther  up  the  mountains  are  the  Little  St.  Mary's  lakes,  a  fine 
view  of  which  may  be  obtained  from  Mount  Lincoln.  The  most  frequented 
trail  from  McDonald  Lake  leads  to  Piegan  (Sperry)  glacier,  the  waters 
from  which  discharge  into  six  falls  which  leap,  from  rock  to  rock,  into 
Avalanche  Lake.  The  vast  body  of  ice  lies  over  a  rock  barrier,  or  gate- 
way, and  below  are  Gem,  Nansen  and  Peary's  lakes,  real  arctic  pools, 
joined  by  foaming  falls. 

The  eastern  slope  of  the  divide  is  not  so  heavily  timbered,  or  so  rugged, 
as  the  western,  but  is  deeply  scooped  out  in  the  form  of  basins.    The  larg- 


ICEBERG  LAKE 

est  bodies  of  water  in  this  section  of  the  park  are  Great  St.  Mary's  lakes,  so 
named  by  Hugh  Monroe,  an  early  fur  trader  and  a  faithful  Catholic. 
The  lakes  are  rich  in  Piegan  Indian  lore  also,  and  in  their  upper  reaches 
also  carry  exquisite  glaciers,  which  in  places  overhang  their  waters  and 
continuously  break  off  as  miniature  icebergs  and  float  away  with  the 
current.  The  lakes  in  this  region  are  McDermottJ  Grinnell  and  Iceberg. 
Farther  north  the  country  becomes  more  rugged  and  magnificent.  The 
highest  peak  in  the  park  is  Cleveland,  in  the  northeast  corner,  which 
attains  an  altitude  of  10,438  feet.  The  largest  of  the  glaciers  is  the 
Blackfoot. 

On  Lake  McDonald  are  several  excellent  hotels.  There  is  automobile 
service  between  Pelton,  at  the  foot  of  the  lake  in  Flathead  County  and  lakes 
McDonald,  St.  Mary's  and  McDermott.  Other  trips  are  made  on  horse- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


639 


back,  a  number  of  licensed  companies  furnishing  both  animals  and  guides, 
the  more  hardy  preferring  to  make  the  delightful,  if  strenuous,  trips,  afoot. 

INDIAN  RESERVATIONS 

There  are  now  in  Montana,  the  Blackfeet,  Fort  Belknap,  Fort  Peck, 
Crow  and  Northern  Cheyenne  Indian  reservations.  Altogether,  they  em- 
brace more  than  5,500,000  acres  of  the  public  domain,  and,  for  a  number 
of  years  the  people,  through  their  legislators,  national  and  state,  have  been ' 


GRAND  CANYON  OF  THE  YELLOWSTONE 

making  energetic  and  persistent  efforts  to  open  the  reservations  to  the 
railroads  and  other  highways  of  travel,  as  well  as  to  the  conserving  forces 
of  irrigation  and  drainage  of  the  lands.  These  efforts  have  been  more 
or  less  successful,  especially  in  the  matter  of  irrigating  the  Indian  lands. 
As  already  stated,  these  projects  have  been  undertaken  by  the  United 
States  Reclamation  Service  in  co-operation  with  the  Indian  Service  of  the 
National  Government. 

The  three  Indian  projects  now  under  way  are  known  as  the  Fort  Peck, 
the  Flathead  and  the  Blackfeet.  The  largest  of  them  is  the  Fort  Peck 
Indian  project,  located  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  state  on  the  reserva- 
tion by  that  name,  and  embraces  an  area  of  152,000  acres  in  the  valleys 
of  the  main  Missouri,  Poplar  River,  and  Big  Porcupine,  Little  Porcu- 


640  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

pine  and  Big  Muddy  creeks.  Only  a  small  part  of  the  project  is  com- 
pleted, and  until  the  irrigation  works  are  finished  the  irrigable  land  is 
withdrawn  from  entry.  The  Fort  Peck,  or  Poplar  River,  reservation  was 
opened  to  settlement  on  September  i,  1913.  It  is  occupied  by  Sioux  and 
Assiniboines. 

The  Flathead  project  is  located  in  the  counties  of  Flathead,  Sanders 
and  Missoula,  and  embraces  about  134,000  acres  on  the  Pacific  slope,  within 
the  drainage  areas  of  the  Flathead  and  Jocko  rivers,  on  the  former  Flat- 
head  Indian  reservation.  All  homestead  land  has  been  entered,  and  state 
lands  and  certain  Indian  lands  may  be  leased. 

The  Blackfeet  project  is  located  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  reserva- 
tion by  that  name,  south  of  the  town  of  Cut  Bank  and  near  the  eastern 
boundary  of  Glacier  National  Park,  in  Glacier  County.  About  a  half  of 
the  project,  which  covers  118,000  acres,  has  been  completed,  and  state  lands 
and  certain  Indian  lands  may  be  leased.  The  reservation  was  opened  May 
2,  1910. 

The  Fort  Belknap  Indian  reservation  is  in  Central  Montana,  between 
the  Milk  River  on  the  north  and  the  Little  Rocky  Mountains  on  the 
south  and  is  occupied  by  Gros  Ventres  of  the  Prairie  and  Assiniboines. 
The  northern  portion  is  bleak  and  naturally  arid,  but  on  the  slopes  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains  is  good  bottom  land.  It  is  an  old  reservation,  or 
agency,  and  until  about  1895,  when  the  Indians  commenced  to  raise  hay, 
grain  and  vegetables,  the  occupants  were  in  a  deplorable  condition. 

The  Crow  reservation,  the  first  to  be  established  in  Montana,  is  more 
favored  than  the  other  lands  set  apart  for  the  Indians  of  Montana.  It 
lies  to  the  south  of  the  Yellowstone,  in  the  valley  of  the  Big  Horn,  and 
the  lands  are  generally  well  watered  and  good.  The  Crows  are  fair 
farmers  and  live  stock  raisers,  they  have  been  friendly  to  the  Govern- 
ment and  the  white  settlers  generally  and  have  sold  their  lands  to  such 
advantage  that  they  are  more  prosperous  than  any  other  tribe  of  Mon- 
tana Indians.  If  their  physical  condition  was  as  creditable  as  their  intelli- 
gence and  thrift,  their  future  might  be  bright,  but  as  it  is  not,  they  are 
not  holding  their  own  in  numbers.  From  the  earliest  times  of  Montana's 
history,  the  Catholics  have  been  established  among  the  Crows  and  now 
have  a  mission  school  on  the  reservation.  There  is  also  a  day  school  at 
agency  headquarters. 

Immediately  to  the  east  of  the  Crow  reservation,  is  the  Tongue  River 
or  Northern  Cheyenne  reservation.  Its  eastern  boundary  is  Tongue  River 
and  its  western,  Rosebud  Creek,  while  the  agency  headquarters  is  at 
Lame  Deer,  on  the  creek  by  that  name,  sixty-five  miles  south  of  Rose- 
bud on  the  Yellowstone.  The  lands  of  the  reservation  are  said  to  be 
favorable  for  stock.  The  Indians  are  willing  to  work  and  generally 
strong,  but  find  little  to  do,  aside  from  hauling  stock  and  freight  to  and 
from  the  Burlington  route  and  the  Crow  agency  to  the  west  (thirty  or 
thirty-five  miles),  or  to  Rosebud  and  the  Northern  Pacific  line  to  the 
north,  twice  that  distance.  Occasionally  they  secure  wood  and  hay  con- 
tracts from  the  Government.  On  the  whole,  they  are  well-meaning,  but 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  641 

their  environments  are  poor  and  ill  adapted  to  develop  habits  of  thrift 
and  industry. 

Of  all  the  agencies  applied  to  the  conservation  of  lands  in  Montana, 
with  consequent  development  of  its  resources,  those  brought  to  bear  on 
the  Indian  reservations  of  the  state  have  proven  to  be  most  inefficient  and 
unsatisfactory.  And  it  has  been  always  thus  in  the  administrative  and 
executive  experience  of  every  state  in  the  Union. 


CHAPTER  XXV 
MILITARY  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA* 

Since  early  territorial  days,  the  citizens  of  Montana  have  stood  ready 
at  all  times  to  defend  the  state  and  the  nation,  and  whenever  they  have  been 
called  upon  to  do  battle  have  acquitted  themselves  with  credit.  From  the 
Nez  Perce  war,  throf^h  the  Spanish-American  struggle,  during  local  dis- 
turbances connected  with  labor  troubles,  and  in  the  border  clashes  with  the 
Mexicans,  Montana  had  been  quick  in  response  and  capable  and  valorous  in 
action.  It  was,  therefore,  not  surprising  that  the  men  who  went  forth  from 
this  state  to  do  battle  in  the  World's  war  should  have  made  such  a  splendid 
record.  When,  February  3,  1917,  President  Wilson  ordered  that  Am- 
bassador Count  von  Bernstorff  be  handed  his  passports  and  directed  the 
withdrawal  of  Ambassador  James  W.  Gerard  and  all  American  consuls 
from  Germany,  it  was  realized  that  war  with  Germany  was  inevitable, 
and  the  quiet  preparations  that  commenced  at  that  time  resulted  in  Mon- 
tana's being  ready  for  the  call  to  duty  when  the  United  States  formally 
entered  the  great  conflict  April  6th  of  the  same  year,  when  war  was 
declared  by  this  country  upon  Germany.  From  that  time  forward  until 
the  signing  of  the  armistice,  November  n,  1918,  at  "the  eleventh  hour, 
of  the  eleventh  day  of  the  eleventh  month,"  both  military  and  civilians  of 
Montana  displayed  the  greatest  bravery,  patriotism  and  unswerving  loyalty. 

NUCLEUS  OF  THE  NATIONAL  GUARD 

The  first  militia  organization  in  Montana  that  could  be  compared  to 
the  present  day  National  Guard  was  organized  in  the  fall  of  1877,  during 
the  Nez  Perce  war.  Practically  every  community  in  the  territory  organ- 
ized a  home  guard  company  and  some  of  them  were  incorporated  into 
what  was  known  as  the  Montana  Volunteer  Militia,  the  members  of  which 
subscribed  to  the  following  oath :  "We  and  each  of  us  do  solemnly  swear 
that  we  will  bear  true  faith  and  allegiance  to  the  territory  of  Montana ; 
that  we  will  serve  honestly  and  faithfully  against  all  its  enemies  whom- 
soever; that  we  will  obey  the  orders  of  the  Governor  of  Montana  Terri- 
tory and  the  orders  of  the  officers  appointed  over  us  according  to  the 
rules  and  regulations  prescribed  by  the  Commander-in-Chief."  The 
organization  consisted  of  the  following:  First  Battalion,  W.  A.  Clark, 
major;  Charles  S.  Warren,  adjutant.  Company  A,  Joseph  A.  Talbot, 
captain;  A.  J.  Clark,  first  lieutenant.  Company  B,  John  Noyes,  captain. 
Company  C,  William  Wilson,  captain.  Deer  Lodge  Company,  Thomas 
Stuart,  captain.  Bitter  Root  Company,  John  B.  Cottin,  captain. 


*  The  basis  of  this  chapter  and  most  of   its  actual  composition   represent  the 
good  work  of  Charles  L.  Sheridan,  adjutant  general  of  the  state. 

642 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  643 

The  Bitter  Root  Company  participated  in  the  battle  of  the  Big  Hole, 
August  11,  1877,  and  lost  five  men  killed  and  five  wounded  out  of  a  total 
of  thirty-two.  There  was  another  battalion  raised  at  Virginia  City  in 
July,  consisting  of  about  100  men,  and  this  force  marched  under  the 
command  of  Colonel  Caloway  to  the  vicinity  of  Henry's  Lake  in  the  hope 
of  intercepting  Chief  Joseph  there.  Some  of  this  force  co-operated  with 
General  Howard  at  Horse  Prairie,  where  one  man  was  lost.  Some 
of  these  companies  were  mustered  out  after  Chief  Joseph  had 
been  captured,  but  some  remained  in  existence,  and,  as  the  population  of  the 
state  grew,  others  were  organized.  In  the  spring  of  1887  a  number  of  these 
organizations  were  incorporated  with  the  First  Regiment  of  Infantry  and 
became  recognized  as  the  National  Guard.  An  encampment  was  held  at 
old  Fort  Ellis  that  summer  and  during  several  succeeding  years. 

MONTANA  IN  THE  SPANISH-AMERICAN  WAR 
• 

In  the  spring  of  1898,  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish- American  war, 
the  First  Regiment  was  called  out  by  the  governor  and  was  quickly  raised 
to  war  strength  of  fifty  officers  and  1,019  men  by  voluntary  enlistment. 
This  regiment  went  to  the  Philippines  and  served  there  throughout  the 
entire  insurrection,  being  eighteen  months  in  the  service.  The  regiment 
lost  two  officers  and  twenty-one  men,  killed  and  died  of  wounds;  one 
officer  and  thirteen  men,  died  of  disease;  and  ten  officers  and  121  men 
wounded.  In  addition  to  this  regiment,  Montana  furnished  one  squad- 
ron of  the  Third  United  States  Volunteer  Cavalry  (Rough  Riders), 
consisting  of  346  officers  and  men.  These  troops  were  sent  to  Chicka- 
mauga,  but  were  not  called  upon  for  service  outside  of  this  country.  A 
section  of  the  Volunteer  Signal  Corps,  consisting  of  two  officers  and  fif- 
teen men,  was  also  raised  in  Montana  and  served  in  the  Philippines,  and 
of  this  detachment  one  officer  was  killed  in  action. 

"ROUGH  RIDERS"  FIRST  TO  ORGANIZE 

The  cavalry  of  Montana  were  the  first  branch  of  the  state  military 
service  to  be  organized.  By  a  congressional  act  of  April  22,  1898,  three 
regiments  of  trained  horsemen  and  marksmen,  known  popularly  as  Rough 
Riders,  were  authorized  to  be  raised  in  the  West.  The  Third  Regiment, 
placed  in  command  of  Melvin  Grigsby,  of  Sioux  Falls,  South  Dakota, 
was  composed  of  three  squadrons  of  cavalry — the  Black  Hills,  the  Inter- 
Dakota  and  the  Montana.  To  each  squadron  were  assigned  four  troops, 
the  Montana  Rough  Riders  comprising  F,  L,  M  and  I. 

At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  there  were  various  cavalry  organizations 
in  Montana.  The  Billings  troop  became  M,  under  command  of  Capt. 
John  C.  Bond ;  the  Miles  City  cavalrymen,  Troop  I,  under  Capt.  Joseph 
T.  Brown;  the  Missoula  horsemen,  Troop  F,  with  Frank  G.  Higgins  as 
captain,  and  Butte  organized  the  fourth  troop,  L,  of  which  D.  Gay  Stivers 
was  commissioned  captain.  On  June  i,  1898,  Charles  F.  Lloyd,  of  Butte, 
lieutenant  colonel  of  the  Third  Cavalry  succeeded  Colonel  Grisby  in  com- 


644  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

mand  of  the  regiment,  the  latter  having  been  promoted  to  the  command 
of  the  First  Cavalry  Brigade.  Colonel  Lloyd  commanded  the  regiment 
until  he  was  mustered  out  of  the  service  September  8,  1898,  a  few  days 
later  his  entire  command  doing  likewise. 

SERVICE  OF  THE  VOLUNTEER  SIGNAL  CORPS 

Montana's  quota  of  the  National  Volunteer  Signal  Corps,  raised  by 
Gen.  A.  W.  Greely,  chief  of  that  branch  of  the  service,  included  two 
lieutenants  and  fifteen  enlisted  men.  The  officers  were  William  E.  Davies, 
an  expert  telegrapher  of  Butte,  and  George  H.  Tilly,  connected  with  the 
Western  Union  Telegraph  office  at  Helena.  Lieutenant  Davies  was 
ordered  to  Fort  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  for  duty,  which  took  him  to  Cuba 
and  eventually  to  the  Philippines.  Lieutenant  Tilly  acted  as  mustering 
officer  at  Fort  William  Henry  Harrison,  Helena,  and  commanded  the 
Montana  company  (the  Eighteenth)  which  left  the  state  capital  for  San 
Francisco,  via  Rio  de  Janeiro,  July  12,  1898.  It  reached  Manila  on  August 
24th,  and  for  more  than  a  year — until  ordered  home  September  7,  1899 — 
was  engaged  in  active  and  dangerous  service  in  the  Manila  zone.  The 
Montana  detachment  assisted  in  building  a  complete  police  telegraph 
system  in  the  city  and  closely  connecting  it  with  the  army  operating  against 
Aguinaldo.  By  means  of  a  signal  station  on  the  dome  of  La  Loma 
church  one  of  the  Montana  detachments  also  established  communication 
between  the  land  forces  and  Admiral  Dewey.  Sergs.  E.  R.  Fisher  and 
A.  M.  Mazeiner  and  Corp.  E.  T.  Brooks  were  especially  prominent  in 
these  movements.  The  Montana  detachment  of  the  Signal  Corps  came 
through  the  campaign  with  credit,  but  suffered  the  loss  of  Captain  Tilly 
(who  had  been  promoted).  He  was  killed  on  May  27,  1899,  by  insur- 
gents while  engaged  in  signal  service  at  Ilo  Ilo,  on  the  Island  of  Panay. 

FIRST  MONTANA  INFANTRY  REGIMENT 

The  First  Regiment  of  Infantry,  National  Guard  of  Montana,  had 
been  organized  in  1887,  and  at  the  outbreak  of  the  Spanish- American 
war  had  a  membership  of  about  500  officers  and  enlisted  men.  This 
organization  formed  the  nucleus  of  the  First  Montana  Infantry,  United 
States  Volunteers.  Enrollment  commenced  April  18,  1898,  three  days 
after  war  had  been  formally  proclaimed.  Col.  Harry  C.  Kessler  ordered 
the  various  companies  to  report  for  duty  at  the  regimental  headquarters, 
Helena,  and  from  May  4th  to  May  9th  there  arrived  at  the  state  capital 
organizations  from  Virginia  City,  Butte,  Dillon,  Anaconda,  Great  .Falls, 
Bozeman,  Kalispell  and  Lewiston,  which,  with  the  troops  enrolled  at 
Helena,  were  mustered  into  the  service  by  Lieut.  George  P.  Ahern,  of  the 
regular  army.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  Lieutenant  Ahern  was  on 
detailed  duty  as  military  instructor  at  the  Montana  Agricultural  College, 
Bozeman.  On  May  9,  1898,  Colonel  Kessler  took  formal  command  of 
the  regiment. 

During  the  early  part  of  May,  the  regiment  was  encamped  about  a 
mile  north  of  the  Broadwater  Hotel,  the  site  being  named  Camp  Robert 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


645 


B.  Smith  in  honor  of  the  governor.  Unsanitary  conditions  forced  an 
abandonment  of  that  locality,  and  the  camp  was  moved  to  the  northern 
slope  of  Mount  Helena  near  the  western  suburbs  of  the  city.  There 
the  regiment  remained  until  its  departure  for  San  Francisco  on  the  25th  ' 
of  May.  The  first  battalion  was  commanded  by  Maj.  James  W.  Drennan, 
the  second  by  Maj.  Byron  H.  Cook  and  the  third  by  Maj.  John  R.  Mil- 
ler. Although  inadequately  equipped,  the  regiment  was  thoroughly  drilled 
by  Lieut.  Col.  Robert  B.  Wallace. 


GENERAL  HENRY  C.  KESSLER 


The  regiment  reached  Camp  Merritt,  San  Francisco,  on  May  28, 
in  June  it  was  incorporated  into  the  Third  Brigade,  Independent  Division, 
Philippine  Islands  Expeditionary  Forces,  with  Brig.  Gen.  H.  G.  Otis 
as  commander,  and  on  the  i8th  of  July  embarked  for  the  Philippines  on 
the  transport  Pennsylvania.  The  Pennsylvania,  accompanied  by  the 
transport  Rio  de  Janeiro  (carrying  South  Dakota  and  Utah  troops), 
anchored  off  Cavite,  the  Spanish  naval  station  at  Manila  Bay,  on  the 
24th  of  August.  In  October  and  November  the  three  battalions  of  the 
regiment  were  ordered  to  various  districts  in  Manila  to  guard  the  city 
against  threatening  insurgents.  The  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  Second 
Division  of  the  Expeditionary  Forces  commanded  by  Gen.  Arthur  Mac- 
Arthur.  Under  the  wily  and  able  Aguinaldo  hostilities  commenced  in 


646  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

February,  1899,  the  preliminary  fighting,  in  which  the  First  Montana 
bore  a  leading  part  being  in  the  vicinity  of  La  Loma  church  and  the 
Chinese  hospital.  In  the  skirmishes  of  the  4th  and  5th  the  regiment  sus- 
tained a  number  of  casualties  in  wounded,  but  the  insurgents  were  de- 
moralized at  the  American  mode  of  warfare  but  as  they  had  possession  of 
the  railway  prepared  for  the  crushing  blow  which  they  expected  to  deal. 
On  the  loth  eight  companies  of  the  First  Montana,  under  Colonel  Kessler, 
earned  military  honor  in  the  combined  assault  of  artillery  and  infantry 
on  the  town  of  Caloocan,  the  Filipinos  being  forced  to  abandon  the  burn- 


LlEUTENANT   COLONEL  ROBERT   BRUCE   WALLACE 

ing  town.  In  this  engagement,  which  lasted  nearly  half  a  day,  the  First 
.Montana  suffered  serious  loss,  the  greatest  being  the  eventual  death  of 
Lieut.  Col.  Robert  Bruce  Wallace.  He  was  a  West  Pointer  from  Mon- 
tana, was  detailed  as  a  military  instructor  at  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
and  at  the  battle  of  Caloocan  was  shot  through  the  left  lung.  Leaving 
the  hospital  the  ninth  day  after  receiving  his  wound,  in  July,  1899,  he 
was  commissioned  colonel  of  the  Thirty-seventh  Infantry,  the  youngest 
officer  of  that  grade  in  the  army.  He  was  ordered  home  to  recuperate, 
however,  but  died  in  Arizona  as  a  result  of  cold  contracted  in  his  wounded 
and  weakened  lung  and  died  March  13,  1900.  In  compliance  with  his 
wishes  he  was  taken  to  Montana,  and  March  25th  was  buried  with  military 
honors  at  Forestvale  Cemetery,  Helena. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


647 


Upon  the  capture  of  Caloocan,  the  Montana  regiment  entrenched 
themselves  north  of  town  and  on  the  right  of  the  railroad  track.  Here 
they  remained  until  the  advance,  having  for  its  ultimate  object  the  cap- 
ture of  Malolos,  was  begun.  The  regiment,  with  Pennsylvania,  Kansas, 
and  Oregon  troops,  was  active  in  the  battle  and  capture  of  Malolos,  in 
which  it  lost  five  killed  and  sixteen  wounded.  Engagements  at  Maycaua- 
yan,  the  crossing  of  the  Bagbag  and  Calumpit  rivers,  along  the  Rio  Grande 
and  at  San  Fernando,  the  Montanans  participated  in  the  American  pur- 
suit of  the  Filipino  army.  This  was  the  most  northerly  point  reached  by 
the  Montana  regiment,  and  their  progress  was  marked  by  continuous 
decimation  of  the  ranks  by  wounds,  exhaustion  and  sickness.  The  later 
portion  of  its  stay  was  occupied  in  garrison  duty  at  Manila  and  Cavite 
and  guarding  the  approaches  to  Malolos  and  San  Fernando.  The  insur- 


FIRST  MONTANA  INFANTRY  AGAIN  AT  SAN*  FRANCISCO 

gent  attack  on  the  latter  place  was  the  last  spirited  action  in  which  the 
Montana  regiment  engaged,  and,  with  the  assistance  of  their  faithful 
brothers  in  arms,  the  Kansans,  Aguinaldo's  men  were  badly  beaten.  The 
corps  commander,  General  MacArthur,  was  appealed  to  regarding  the 
decimated  and  exhausted  condition  of  the  First  Montana,  as  a  regiment, 
and  in  August,  1899,  after  the  tropical  rains  had  subsided,  its  companies 
boarded  two  transports,  and  a  month  later  reached  San  Francisco.  The 
formal  muster-out  of  the  regiment  occurred  October  I7th.  Six  days  later 
the  soldiers  were  welcomed  in  the  City  of  Butte,  "and,  for  the  last  time, 
drawn  up  in  regimental  formation ;  each  officer  and  enlisted  man  in  recog- 
nition of  his  unselfish  services  was  presented  with  a  medal  bestowed  by 
a  grateful  state." 

Out  of  the  original  number  of  officers  and  men  who  were  mustered 
into  the  service,  forty-eight  commissioned  officers  and  676  enlisted  men 
returned.  During  the  intervening  eighteen  months  of  service,  nineteen 
non-commissioned  officers  and  enlisted  men  had  received  commissions,  two 


648  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

officers  had  resigned,  seventeen  had  been  discharged,  one  had  been  killed, 
one  had  died  of  disease  and  ten  had  been  wounded  in  battle.  Of  the  orig- 
inal enrollment  of  enlisted  men,  277  had  been  discharged  on  account  of 
sickness  and  for  other  reasons,  twenty-one  had  been  killed  in  battle  or  had 
died  of  wounds  received  in  action,  thirteen  had  died  of  disease,  one  had 
been  drowned,  and  121  had  received  wounds. 

At  the  time,  the  foregoing  seemed  a  large  casualty  list,  but  the  sol- 
diers of  Montana  and  the  people  of  the  state,  were  to  suffer  far  more 
in  a  much  greater  field  of  operations  and  for  a  far  greater  cause  than 
that  which  precipitated  the  Spanish-American  war. 

THE  SECOND  REGIMENT  IN  THE  MINERS'  TROUBLE 

For  a  time  after  the  Spanish-American  war  there  was  no  National 
Guard  in  Montana,  but  in  June,  1900,  Company  A  of  the  Second  Regiment 
was  mustered  into  the  service  at  Bozeman,  and  this  was  followed  by  the 
mustering  in  of  other  companies  in  various  cities  and  towns,  until  regi- 
mental organization  was  perfected. 

During  the  summer  of  1914  a  situation  had  arisen  in  Butte  that  was 
fraught  with  danger.  A  number  of  very  radical  labor  leaders,  of  the 
Industrial  Workers  of  the  World  or  "Wobbly"  revolutionary  type,  had 
arrived  at  Butte,  and  in  order  to  gain  control  of  the  labor  element  at- 
tempted to  wreck  the  Western  Federation  of  Miners'  local  at  that  point. 
A  new  body  was  formed,  known  as  the  Metal  Mine  Workers  Union, 
and  a  campaign  of  forcible  deportation  of  all  those  in  opposition  was 
started.  For  some  time  there  was  a  threat  of  serious  trouble  and  this 
eventually  culminated  in  the  wrecking  of  the  Miners  Union  Hall  by  dyna- 
mite on  the  night  of  June  13.  There  was  much  excitement  and  a  good 
deal  of  shooting,  during  which  one  man  was  killed.  As  it  appeared  that 
the  civil  authorities  had  lost  control  of  the  situation,  the  National  Guard 
was  ordered  mobilised  and  held  in  readiness  at  their  home  stations  June 
14,  but  as  the  situation  quieted  down  and  things  became  normal  on  the 
day  following  the  riot,  the  Guard  was  released  from  duty  on  the  I5th 
During  the  latter  part  of  August,  however,  the  labor  troubles  again  be- 
came critical  and  on  the  3Oth  the  governor  ordered  the  mobilization  of  the 
Guard  at  Helena  with  all  possible  dispatch.  The  result  was  that,  regard- 
less of  the  fact  that  the  call  was  issued  on  a  Sunday  and  that  because  of 
the  fine  weather  many  of  the  members  were  out  of  town,  409  officers  and 
men  reported  at  Helena  by  12  o'clock  the  next  day,  and  went  into  a  shel- 
ter tent  camp  near  the  state  armory. 

When  it  is  considered  that  these  troops  were  drawn  from  a  terri- 
tory as  large  as  the  old  German  empire  it  speaks  very  well  for  the  organi- 
zation of  the  Second  Regiment  that  so  large  a  number  of  men  should 
reach  the  place  of  mobilization  within  twenty-four  hours.  At  i  :3O  o'clock 
the  troops  left  Helena  for  Butte,  via  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  en- 
training in  steel  ore  cars,  with  a  flat  car  at  the  front  and  rear  of  the  train 
on  which  machine  guns  were  mounted.  There  was  grave  apprehension 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  649 

entertained  by  many  of  the  prominent  men  of  the  state  as  to  what  the 
reception  of  the  troops  would  be  at  Butte,  and  most  everyone  felt  that 
they  would  meet  with  resistance  when  they  reached  the  seat  of  trouble. 
The  troops,  on  arriving  at  Butte,  detrained  on  the  hills  west  of  the  city 
at  6:30  p.  m.,  and  went  into  camp  near  the  School  of  Mines.  The  next 
morning  they  marched  into  the  city  and  took  up  quarters  in  the  court- 
house. Here  a  large  number  of  men,  who  had  been  unable  to  reach  their 
companies  before  they  left,  joined  the  regiment  and  brought  its  strength 
up  to  730  officers  and  men.  Martial  law  was  proclaimed  and  with  the  aid 
of  the  soldiers  the  ring-leaders  in  the  trouble  were  rounded  up  and  lodged 
in  jail.  Through  the  prompt  action  of  Maj.  Dan  J.  Donahue,  who  com- 
manded the  troops,  the  situation  was  gotten  well  in  hand  and  order  was 
preserved  without  the  necessity  of  firing  a  single  shot  or  using  a  bayonet. 
From  the  date  of  the  arrival  until  November  12,  when  the  troops  left  the 
city,  there  was  no  disorder.  During  this  operation  the  National  Guard 
proved  itself  to  be  a  very  well-disciplined  body  of  men.  They  undertook 
a  difficult  task  and  one  that  was  fraught  with  danger,  one  that  could 
easily  have  developed  into  strife  and  bloodshed  had  not  the  cool,  business- 
like and  gentlemanly  manner  in  which  the  troops  conducted  themselves 
convinced  the  lawless  element  that  they  were  dealing  with  a  force  that  was 
fully  able  to  cope  with  any  situation.  Thus,  through  the  ability  of  Major 
Donahue  and  the  splendid  discipline  of  the  soldiers  of  the  Second  Infantry, 
an  incident  came  to  a  peaceful  close  that  many  of  the  leading  citizens  had 
feared  would  be  a  repetition  of  the  horrors  of  Cripple  Creek  and  Ludlow,, 
Colorado. 

THE  BORDER  TROUBLES 

The  next  two  years  passed  uneventfully  for  the  Guard,  but  June  18, 
1916,  came  the  call  of  the  President  for  the  National  Guard  to  aid  in  the 
Border  troubles.  Again  the  mobilization  was  effected  in  a  remarkably 
short  space  of  time,  although  owing  to  the  flood  conditions  at  the  time 
and  the  fact  that  many  bridges  were  out,  some  of  the  companies  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  state  had  to  make  long  marches.  The  regiment 
was  mobilized  at  Fort  Harrison  by  June  23.  On  July  i  the  regiment 
passed  in  review  before  the  governor  and  on  the  following  day  entrained 
for  Douglas,  Arizona,  with  fifty-six  officers  and  913  men.  On  the  Border 
the  regiment  made  an  excellent  record.  It  was  complimented  again  and 
again,  by  regular  officers  and  civilians,  as  well  as  by  the  Border  news- 
papers, for  its  model  camp  and  for  the  physical  and  soldierly  appearance 
of  the  men. 

On  October  16  the  regiment  left  its  camp  near  Douglas  en  route  for 
Fort  Harrison,  where  it  was  mustered  out  November  3  after  four  and 
one-half  months  of  the  hardest  kind  of  service  in  the  deserts  of  Arizona. 
Helena  gave  the  troops  a  grand  reception  and  feast  after  it  had  paraded 
down  its  main  streets,  and  it  was  a  day  of  celebration  for  those  who 
returned;  but  all  had  not  come  back.  Pvt.  Kenneth  Piggot,  of  Head- 


650  HISTORY  QF  MONTANA 

quarters  Company,  and  Corp.  Donald  A.  Smith,  of  D  Company,  died 
on  the  Border;  and  Pvt.  Ernest  McMahan,  of  Company  A,  died  soon 
after  his  muster  out.  In  addition  to  the  Second  Regiment  of  Infantry, 
a  troop  of  cavalry  was  authorized  by  the  War  Department,  and  was 
mustered  into  the  Federal  service  at  Fort  Harrison,  August  7,  depart- 
ing the  next  day  for  the  Border  with  three  officers  and  eighty-three  men, 
Capt.  Paul  McCormick  of  Billings  commanding.  These  troops  remained 
on  the  Border  when  the  Second  Regiment  came  home  and  were  not  mus- 
tered out  until  February  19,  1917. 

INTRODUCTORY  TO  THE  WORLD'S  WAR 

The  members  of  the  Second  Infantry  were  just  beginning  to  feel 
at  home  in  their  civilian  clothes  when  again  the  bugle  sounded.  On  March 
25,  1917,  the  President  called  out  a  portion  of  the  National  Guard,  in- 
cluding the  Montana  Regiment,  as  a  precautionary  measure  prior  to  the 
declaration  of  war  with  Germany.  Orders  were  issued  that  each  com- 
pany assemble  at  its  company  station  and  recruit  its  personnel  up  to 
150  men  as  expeditiously  as  possible.  Soon  companies  began  arriving  at 
Fort  Harrison,  and  by  April  5  all  organizations  were  present  and  April  7 
were  sworn  into  the  Federal  service,  with  1,539  officers  and  men. 

The  necessity  of  keeping  the  transcontinental  lines  open  during  the 
period  of  mobilization  was  apparent,  so,  with  this  in  view,  the  greater 
part  of  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  the  duty  of  guarding  bridges,  tun- 
nels and  other  objects  that  might  be  easily  damaged  and  would  interrupt 
traffic.  Two  companies  were  stationed  at  Butte  during  the  greater  part 
of  the  summer,  while  two  or  three  remained  at  Fort  Harrison. 

Early  in  the  fall,  one  battalion  was  ordered  to  Camp  Green,  South 
Carolina,  where  the  Forty-first  Division  was  mobilizing,  the  other  two 
battalions  remaining  on  duty  in  Montana  until  the  first  week  in  October, 
when  they  entrained  for  Camp  Mills,  Long  Island,  and  were  joined  there 
by  the  other  battalion.  Here  full  equipment  was  issued,  sailing  lists 
made  out,  and  everything  put  in  readiness  for  the  trip  overseas.  On 
December  i  the  regiment  moved  to  Camp  Merritt,  New  Jersey,  and 
December  14  marched  aboard  the  U.  S.  S.  Leviathan  and  departed  for 
the  "great  adventure."  All  was  suppressed  and  eager  excitement.  The 
march  from  Camp  Merritt  to  the  trains  was  through  two  feet  of  fresh 
snow,  and  at  the  station  the  troops  had  to  wait  three  hours  for  the 
trains  that  were  all  but  blockaded  by  the  snow,  but  there  was  no  com- 
plaining. The  remark  was  often  heard:  "Oh,  well,  we  hired  out  for 
tough  guys."  At  the  dock  as  Adjt.-Gen.  Charles  L.  Sheridan's  old  com- 
pany was  going  up  the  gang-plank,  two  men  put  in  an  appearance  who 
had  been  in  the  hospital,  and  were  broken-hearted  when  they  were 
turned  over  to  the  medical  officers  at  the  dock.  On  the  great  ship 
there  were,  in  addition  to  the  old  Second  Regiment  (now  i63rd),  which 
numbered  over  3,000  men,  the  i64th  Infantry,  the  Eighty-second  In- 
fantry Brigade  Headquarters,  a  detachment  of  medical  troops,  and  500 
nurses,  in  all  about  10,000  souls,  including  the  crew. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  651 

OVERSEAS  AT  LAST 

The  voyage  was  uneventful  and  the  'troops  landed  at  Liverpool, 
England,  December  24,  1917,  marching  from  the  ship  to  the  trains 
which  were  waiting.  They  were  rushed  across  England  to  the  great 
camp  at  Winchester,  where  they  spent  Christmas  Day,  but  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  began  departing  on  the  last  leg  of  their  journey.  After 
the  stormy  trip  across  the  Channel,  they  landed  at  Le  Havre  and 
marched  to  British  Rest  Camp  No.  2  (so-called)  and  December  29 
began  their  first  box-car  journey  to  the  French  garrison  town  of  La 
Cpurtine.  This  was  the  last  time  the  regiment  was  all  together,  one 
battalion  under  Major  Williams  being  sent  to  Bordeaux,  one  under 
Major  Hodson  to  Langres,  and  the  other  to  St.  Aignan.  About  this 
time  the  men  learned  with  heavy  hearts  that  the  division  was  to  be 
broken  up  and  most  of  its  personnel  used  as  replacements.  In  Febru- 
ary the  dissembling  started,  and  nearly  3,000  men  were  transferred 
from  the  regiment  to  the  First,  Twenty-sixth,  Thirty-second  and  Forty- 
second  Divisions,  leaving  what  was  known  as  a  training  coterie  of  fifty 
non-commissioned  officers  to  each  company. 

In  March  the  remnants  of  the  regiment  were  reassembled  in  St. 
Aignan  district  and  their  duties  as  a  replacement  and  training  unit 
began.  Here  replacements  were  received  from  the  United  States, 
equipped,  drilled  in  the  use  of  gas  masks,  bayonet  fighting,  etc.,  and 
sent  up  to  the  front.  During  the  summer  of  1918,  290,000  men  passed 
through  the  camp  of  the  Forty-first  Division,  and  although  the  men  of 
that  division  longed  to  get  to  the  front  and  away  from  the  heart-break- 
ing work  that  they  were  called  upon  to  perform,  they  realized  that  this 
duty  was  necessary  and  performed  it  in  a  manner  that  brought  them 
many  compliments  from  high  officers. 

The  old  Second  Regiment  was  never  privileged  to  meet  the  enemy 
in  battle  as  an  organization,  but  the  individual  officers  and  men  who 
did  battle  with  other  units  wrote  a  record  in  the  history  of  the  war  of 
which  Montana  may  well  be  proud.  Their  losses  were  as  follows :  three 
officers  and  eighty-eight  men  killed  in  action,  thirty-five  men  died  of 
wounds,  twenty-eight  men  died  of  disease  and  nineteen  officers  and  289 
men  were  wounded.  Individuals  of  the  old  regiment  won  eighteen  of 
the  fifty-three  Distinguished  Service  Cross  awards  that  went  to  Mon- 
tana. This  was  a  loss  and  achievement  equal  to  most  of  the  regiments 
that  won  glory  in  battle,  but  it  was  the  lot  of  this  regiment  to  suffer 
without  the  reward  of  having  those  at  home  know  of  their  deeds. 

TOTAL  MAN  POWER  RAISED        , 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1917  thousands  of  Montanans 
offered  their  services  to  the  Government  in  other  organizations  than 
the  Second  Infantry,  until  a  total  of  11,709  had  voluntarily  entered  the 
army  and  1,862  the  Navy  and  Marine  Corps.  On  May  18,  1917,  Con- 
gress passed  the  Selective  Service  Act  and  June  5  all  men  between  the 


652  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ages  of  twenty-one  and  thirty-five  were  required  to  register.  It  was 
feared  that  there  might  be  some  trouble  on  this  day,  but  with  the  ex- 
ception of  an  anti-draft  parade  at  Butte,  which  promptly  disbanded 
upon  the  appearance  of  troops  from  Company  F,  Second  Montana 
Infantry,  then  stationed  there,  there  was  no  disturbance  in  the  state. 
The  estimated  population  of  Montana  was  put  at  952,474,  when,  in 
reality,  there  was  a  population  of  but  496,131.  The  state,  therefore, 
raised  troops  on  a  basis  of  a  population  twice  as  great  as  that  which 
it  really  had.  Even  then,  Montana  reached  more  than  its  quota,  with 
its  grand  total  of  39,271  in  the  Army  and  1,862  in  the  Navy,  exceed- 
ing by  25  per  cent  all  other  States  in  the  Union.  Montana  furnished 
796  soldiers  out  of  every  10,000  population,  as  compared  with  296  for 
Georgia,  which  state  stood  at  the  foot  of  the  list.  Out  of  these  troops, 
Montana  lost  681  killed  or  died  of  wounds,  253  died  from  other  causes, 
or  a  total  of  934  dead ;  2,469  wounded,  and  one  missing,  or  a  total  of 
3,443  casualties,  again  establishing  a  record  above  all  other  states  with 
a  like  population..  As  before  noted,  its  soldiers  were  awarded  fifty-three 
Distinguished  Service  Crosses  for  acts  of  heroism  on  the  field  of  battle, 
a  record  of  which  all  Montana  may  well  be  proud.  Montana  had  troops 
in  practically  all  the  combat  divisions  and  it  is  safe  to  say  that  there 
was  not  a  part  of  the  front  where  Americans  participated  that  did  not 
feel  Montana's  effort.  There  were  a  number  of  the  old  Second  In- 
fantry with  the  First  Division  at  Cantigny  when  America  struck  her 
first  offensive  blow  and  it  was  here  that  Montana  suffered  her  first  losses 
in  this  sector,  when  John  J.  White,  of  Miles  City,  serving  as  private  of 
Company  A,  Sixteenth  Infantry,  and  formerly  private  of  Company  E, 
Second  Montana  Infantry,  was  killed  in  action,  February  9.  Others 
who  fell  in  this  sector  between  the  1st  of  February  and  the  end  of 
the  battle  of  Cantigny  were :  George  E.  Mooney,  of  Glasgow,  formerly 
private  of  Company  G,  Second  Montana  Infantry,  but  serving  as  pri- 
vate of  Headquarters  Company,  Sixteenth  Infantry,  killed  May  4; 
Ray  Brent,  of  Helena,  Pvt.  First  Class  Machine  Gun  Company,  Sec- 
ond Montana  Infantry,  serving  as  private  First  Class,  Second  Brigade 
Machine  Gun  Battalion,  killed  May  27;  Loraine  York,  Mareo,  Com- 
pany G,  Second  Montana  Infantry,  serving  as  private  First  Class,  Com- 
pany H,  Sixteenth  Infantry,  killed  May  31  ;  Harry  Barrich,  Company  G, 
Second  Montana  Infantry,  serving  as  private  Company  I,  Sixteenth  In- 
fantry, killed  June  3;  and  Hasso  A.  Briese,  sergeant  First  Field  Signal 
Battalion,  killed  June  4. 

FIRST  MONTANA  MAN  TO  FALL 

Perhaps  the  first  Montana  man  to  fall  was  Elmer  L.  Cowan,  of 
Victor,  Montana,  Company  D,  Twentieth  Engineers,  who  was  killed  Feb- 
ruary 5  in  the  sinking  of  the  Tuscania.  In  the  fighting  between  February 
i  and  June  5,  three  officers  and  thirty-eight  enlisted  men  from  Montana 
were  wounded. 

In  June,  when  the  German  advance  began  to  threaten  Paris,  the  Amer- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  653 

ican  First  and  Second  Divisions  threw  themselves  into  the  fray  along  the 
west  face  of  the  Marne  salient  and  the  Forty-second  to  the  east  of  St. 
Quentin.  There  were  hundreds  of  Montana  men  with  these  units  and 
scores  of  them  fell  in  the  desperate  fighting  which  followed.  On  July 
15,  when  the  Third  Machine  Gun  Battalion  blocked  the  Paris  road  at 
Chateau  Thierry,  a  large  number  of  the  old  Second  Montana  Infantry 
Machine  Gun  Company  was  with  them,  and  here  two  Montana  men  were 
decorated  for  bravery.  When  the  Thirty-second  Division  went  into  the 
drive  July  30,  and  through  five  days  of  terrific  fighting  pressed  the  enemy 
back  from  the  Ourcq  River  to  the  Vesle,  there  were  perhaps  more  Mon- 
tana men  engaged  than  with  any  other  division,  and  the  newspaper  ac- 
counts gave  Montana  the  credit  of  taking  Hill  230  and  Belleveau  Farm, 
August  i.  Many  Montana  men  were  also  with  the  Fourth  and  Twenty- 
sixth  Divisions  in  the  drive  to  the  Vesle.  But  by  far  the  greatest  number 
of  Montana  soldiers  to  go  into  a  fight  together  were  with  the  Ninety-first 
Division  when  it  made  history  in  the  Argonne  Forest,  starting  September 
26.  This  division  fought  its  way  northward  through  Very  and  Epion- 
ville  until  relieved  by  the  Thirty-second  Division  in  front  of  Germens, 
October  3.  One  brigade  of  the  Ninety-first  Division  went  in  again  be- 
tween the  First  and  Thirty-second,  October  8,  and  fought  its  way  over 
Hill  255  and  through  the  Bois  Mikicy  until  relieved  by  the  Forty-second 
Division  October  n. 

From  this  front  the  Ninety-first  Division  was  moved  to  Belgium, 
where  it  went  in  with  the  Thirty-seventh  Division  to  aid  the  Sixth  French 
Army,  October  31,  reaching  the  Lys  River  November  3  and  then  being 
relieved  by  the  French.  They  went  in  again  November  10,  and  were 
advancing  steadily  when  the  armistice  was  signed,  November  n.  The 
victory  was  won  and  Montana  had  done  its  full  share,  while  suffering 
more  than  its  due  measure  of  losses. 

THE  HONOR  MEN  FROM  MONTANA 

The  officers  of  the  American  Expeditionary  Forces  who  entered  the 
service  from  the  state  of  Montana,  and  who  were  killed  in  action  were  as 
follows:  Orville  L.  Anderson,  captain  Company  C,  I28th  Infantry, 
killed  August  i,  1918;  Lee  S.  Cassell,  first  lieutenant  One  Hundred  and 
Thirtieth  Field  Ambulance,  Medical  Corps,  killed  November  14,  1918; 
Harold  H.  Joyce,  first  lieutenant  Company  I,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
eighth  Infantry,  killed  August  30,  1918;  Raymond  J.  Saunders,  first  lieu- 
tenant Ninety-fourth  Aero  Squadron,  killed  October  23,  1918;  George 
Ahlquist,  second  lieutenant  Three  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  Infantry, 
killed  October  20,  1918;  James  C.  Simpkins,  second  lieutenant  Two  Hun- 
dred and  Fifty-fifth  Aero  Squadron,  killed  September  18,  1918;  and 
Randolph  C.  Stacker,  second  lieutenant  Company  D,  Thirty-ninth  In- 
fantry, killed  September  28,  1918. 

One  officer,  Emmet  E.  Carruthers,  first  lieutenant  of  Company  A, 
Three  Hundred  and  Sixteenth  Engineers,  died  of  wounds,  November  2, 
1918. 


654  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  following  officers  died  of  disease  or  other  causes :  Winfield  S. 
Faulds,  first  lieutenant  Thirty-fifth  Sanitary  Squad,  died  October  10, 
1918;  Cyrus  J.  Gatton,  first  lieutenant  First  Aero  Squadron,  died  Novem- 
ber 4,  1918;  Clinton  V.  Reed,  first  lieutenant  Medical  Corps,  Base  Hos- 
pital No.  40,  died  October  7,  1918;  Charles  L.  Watkins,  first  lieutenant 
Headquarters  Detachment,  Signal  Reserve  Corps,  died  June  23,  1918; 
George  S.  Reisz,  second  lieutenant,  Headquarters  Detail,  Aviation  In- 
structor, died  September  19,  1918. 

Montana's  soldiers  who  won  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross  were 
fifty-three  in  number.  The  award  of  the  Distinguished  Service  Cross 
is  confined  to  any  one  who  may  distinguish  himself  or  herself  by  ex- 
traordinary heroism  in  connection  with  military  operations  against  an 
armed  enemy  of  the  United  States  under  circumstances  which  do'  not 
justify  the  award  of  the  Medal  of  Honor,  and  may  be  awarded  to  any 
person  who  while  serving  in  any  capacity  with  the  army  distinguishes 
himself  or  herself.  Following  is  given  the  names  of  the  heroes  who  re- 
ceived these  awards  and  details  of  the  deeds  for  which  they  were  thus 
honored. 

Arthur  Aamot,  sergeant,  Company  D,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty- 
sixth  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Juvigny, 
France,  August  29,  1918.  Sergeant  Aamot  had  sought  cover  in  a  shell 
hole,  after  a  difficult  advance  in  the  face  of  heavy  machine-gun  fire,  when 
he  observed  distress  signals  from  a  tank  nearby  on  which  concentrated 
artillery  and  machine-gun  fire  was  being  directed  by  the  enemy.  Leav- 
ing his  shelter,  Sergeant  Aamot  proceeded  through  the  fire  to  the  tank 
where  he  found  a  wounded  man,  whom  he  courageously  carried  to  safety. 
Residence  at  enlistment*  Saco,  Montana. 

John  Ora  Adams,  second  lieutenant,  Ninth  Infantry.  For  extraordi- 
nary heroism  in  action  near  Medeah  Farm,  France,  October  3,  1918.  He 
remained  on  duty  after  receiving  two  shrapnel  wounds  in  the  arm,  and 
continued  to  lead  his  platoon  to  its  objective.  He  directed  the  consolida- 
tion of  his  position  and  the  reorganization  of  his  platoon  before  finally 
reporting  to  the  aid  station,  eight  hours  after  being  wounded.  Resi- 
dence at  appointment:  Kalispell,  Montana. 

Ernest  H.  Anderson,  private  first  class,  Company  F,  First  Gas  Regi- 
ment. For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Moulin  de  Guenoville, 
France,  September  26,  1918.  Private  Anderson,  with  three  other  sol- 
diers, advanced  nearly  200  yards  over  an  open  hillside  exposed  to  ma- 
chine-gun fire  and  carried  two  wounded  men  to  the  protection  of  a  near- 
by trench.  Private  Anderson  was  later  killed  in  action.  Emergency 
address:  Mrs.  Christine  Anderson,  mother,  706  Chestnut  Street,  Ana- 
conda, Montana.  Residence  at  enlistment:  706  Chestnut  Street,  Ana- 
conda. 

Oliver  Anderson,  sergeant,  Company  L,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
second  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Steenbrugge, 
Belgium,  October  31,  1918.  Sergeant  Anderson,  with  two  other  soldiers, 
attacked  a  strong  machine-gun  position  from  which  destructive  fire  had 
been  poured  into  his  platoon  and  the  platoon  of  the  flank  company, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  655 

wounding  his  lieutenant,  the  platoon  sergeant  and  many  others.  They 
drove  the  machine-gunners  from  the  position,  thereby  enabling  the  line 
to  continue  the  advance.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Sand  Creek,  Montana. 

Harold  B.  Anthony  (army  serial  No.  2260112),  supply  sergeant, 
Company  D,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty-second  Infantry.  For  extraordi- 
nary heroism  in  action  at  Bois  de  Very,  France,  September  26,  1918. 
Sergeant  Anthony,  while  leading  a  small  detachment  opertaing  on  the 
flank  of  his  company,  suddenly  came  under  heavy  machine-gun  fire. 
Alone  he  crawled  up  close  to  the  machine-gun,  killed  the  gunner  and  cap- 
tured four  prisoners.  Again,  at  Eclisfontaine,  France,  September  29, 
1918,  the  company  was  held  up  by  machine-gun  fire  from  front  and 
flank.  Sergeant  Anthony  spotted  the  machine-gun  nest.  While  attempting 
to  reach  an  automatic  squad  to  point  out  the  hostile  gun  he  was  killed 
by  the  machine-gun  fire.  Emergency  address :  Alex  H.  Anthony,  father, 
1 122  Sharp  Avenue,  East,  Nashville,  Tennessee.  Residence  at  enlist- 
ment: Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Miles  City,  Montana. 

Ivan  Y.  Bailey,  private,  Intelligence  Section,  First  Battalion,  Three 
Hundred  and  Sixty-first  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action 
near  Gesnes,  France,  October  10,  1918.  While  on  a  liaison  patrol  Pri- 
vate Bailey  and  Corp.  Carl  G.  Theobald  attacked  and  captured  a  hostile 
machine-gun  nest  and  its  entire  crew.  Private  Bailey  then  took  the  pris- 
oners across  "No  Man's  Land"  to  the  American  lines  under  machine- 
gun  fire.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Fort  Shaw,  Montana. 

William  Belzer,  second  lieutenant,  Air  Service,  observer,  Observa- 
tion Group,  attached  to  Fourth  Army  Corps.  For  extraordinary  hero- 
ism in  action  near  Jaulny,  France,  September  12-13,  1918.  On  Septem- 
ber 12,  Lieutenant  Belzer,  observer,  and  First  Lieut.  Wallace  Coleman, 
pilot,  while  on  an  artillery  surveillance  mission,  were  attacked  by  an 
enemy  plane.  They  waited  until  the  enemy  was  at  close  range  and  then 
fired  fifty  rounds  directly  into  the  vital  parts  of  the  enemy  machine, 
which  was  seen  to  disappear  out  of  control.  The  next  day,  Lieutenants 
Belzer  and  Coleman,  while  on  a  reconnoissance  mission,  were  attacked  by 
seven  enemy  aircraft.  They  unhesitatingly  opened  fire,  but  owing  to 
their  guns  being  jammed  were  forced  to  withdraw  to  the  American 
lines,  where,  clearing  the  jam,  they  returned  to  finish  the  mission.  Their 
guns  again  jammed  and  they  were  driven  back  by  a  large  patrol  of  enemy 
planes.  After  skillful  maneuvering,  they  succeeded  in  putting  one  gun 
into  use  and  returning  a  third  time,  only  to  be  driven  back.  Undaunted, 
they  returned  the  fourth  time  and  accomplished  their  mission,  transmit- 
ting valuable,  information  to  the  Infantry  headquarters.  Residence  at 
appointment :  Glasgow,  Montana. 

Henry  N.  Benoit  (Army  serial  No.  2293659),  private,  first  class, 
Company  D,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty-first  Infantry.  For  extraordi- 
nary heroism  in  action  near  Gesnes,  France,  September  26  to  October  4, 
1918.  During  eight  days  while  acting  in  the  capacity  of  runner  between 
his  company  and  battalion  headquarters,  Private  Benoit  was  constantly 
subjected  to  heavy  shell  fire,  but  performed  his  mission  without  thought 


656  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  personal  danger,  carrying  the  many  messages  promptly  and  success- 
fully.   Residence  at  enlistment :   Ekalaka,  Montana. 

Arthur  I.  Clark  (Army  serial  No.  2258790),  sergeant,  Company  C, 
Thirty-ninth  Infantry,  Fourth  Division.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in 
action  near  Esnes,  France,  September  26,  1918.  Sergeant  Clark  was  in 
command  of  one  platoon  of  his  company,  which  was  being  held  up  by 
intense  enemy  machine-gun  fire.  Accompanied  by  two  other  soldiers, 
he  voluntarily  made  an  attack  on  one  of  the  nests  under  heavy  fire,  firing 
a  rifle  grenade  into  it  and  forcing  its  surrender.  He  then  advanced  on 
another  machine-gun  nest  and  captured  it,  taking  seven  prisoners  from 
both  nests.  His  platoon  having  been  forced  to  fall  back  by  machine- 
gun  fire  from  the  rear,  he  reorganized  it  and  led  it  in  a  successful  attack 
on  seventy-five  of  the  enemy  whom  he  discovered  near  by.  Residence  at 
enlistment:  Helena,  Montana. 

Oscar  Clauson,  private,  Company  F,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty-second 
Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  the  Scheldt  River, 
Belgium,  October  31,  1918.  When  the  advance  of  the  front  line  was 
held  up  by  the  fire  from  a  machine-gun  nest  300  yards  to  the  front,  Pri- 
vate Clauson,  with  two  others,  crossed  the  open  field  in  the  face  of  fire 
from  enemy  artillery,  machine  guns  and  snipers.  Charging  the  nest  they 
killed  two  of  the  crew,  wounded  two  others  and  captured  five,  together 
with  the  machine-gun.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Havre,  Montana. 

Milan  Debney  (Army  serial  2293685),  private,  Company  B,  Three 
Hundred  and  Forty-eighth  Machine  Gun  Battalion,  Ninety-first  Division. 
For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Eclisfontaine  and  Tronsol 
Farm,  France,  September  27-October  i,  1918.  Throughout  five  days 
of  action  Private  Debney  maintained  liaison  between  company  and  bat- 
talion posts  of  command,  repeatedly  passing  through  enemy  barrages  and 
constantly  subjected  to  enemy  sniping.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Care 
of  the  Baltimore  Hotel,  Butte,  Montana. 

Louis  C.  Dolce,  corporal,  Company  C,  Second  Field  Signal  Battalion. 
For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Exermont,  France,  October  8, 
1918.  He  volunteered  and  laid  a  telephone  line  to  an  advanced  observa- 
tion post  under  heavy  artillery  and  machine-gun  fire,  working  his  way 
the  entire  distance  of  nearly  i  kilometer  through  dense  undergrowth  and 
barbed-wire  entanglements.  Residence  at  enlistment:  632  Maryland 
Avenue,  Butte,  Montana. 

Charles  H.  Evans  (Army  serial  No.  574149),  private,  Company  B, 
Fourth  Division.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  the  Bois 
de-Brieulles,  France,  September  27,  1918.  When  his  company  was  held 
up  by  heavy  enemy  machine-gun  fire,  Private  Evans  and  two  other  sol- 
diers advanced  in  the  face  of  intense  fire  and  captured  the  enemy  ma- 
chine-gun nest,  from  which  the  fire  had  been  coming,  killing  two  of  the 
enemy  and  capturing  three  prisoners  with  their  machine  gun.  Resi- 
dence at  enlistment :  Lewistown,  Montana. 

Austin  Gates  (Army  serial  No.  14556),  private,  Company  M.,  Six- 
teenth Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Charpentry, 
France,  October  3,  1918.  He  went  forward  with  three  other  soldiers, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  657 

and,  though  subjected  to  intense  enemy  fire,  rescued  a  wounded  soldier 
who  had  fallen  in  advance  of  the  American  lines.  Residence  at  enlist- 
ment :  Drummond,  Montana. 

Leonard  E.  Guy  (Army  serial  No.  572657),  sergeant,  Company  C, 
Fifty-eighth  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Nantil- 
lois,  France,  September  27,  1918.  Sergeant  Guy  displayed  exceptional 
courage  in  attacking  single-handed  a  machine-gun  emplacement,  captur- 
ing the  gun  and  taking  as  prisoners  three  machine-gunners.  Residence 
at  enlistment:  Great  Falls,  Montana. 

Benjamin  P.  Harwood,  second  lieutenant,  Field  Artillery,  observer, 
Twelfth  Aero  Squadron,  Air  Service.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in 
action  near  Chateau  Thierry,  France,  July  5,  1918.  He  volunteered,  with 
another  plane,  to  protect  a  photographic  plane.  In  the  course  of  their 
mission  they  were  attacked  by  seven  enemy  planes  of  the  Fokker  type. 
He  accepted  the  combat  and  kept  the  enemy  engaged  while  the  photo- 
graphic plane  completed  its  mission,  but  his  guns  jammed  and  he  himself 
was  seriously  wounded.  After  skillfully  clearing  his  guns,  with  his  plane 
badly  damaged  he  fought  off  the  hostile  planes  and  enabled  the  photo- 
graphic plane  to  return  to  the  American  lines  with  valuable  information. 
Residence  at  appointment :  Billings,  Montana. 

Rudolph  P.  Hassler,  sergeant,  Company  K,  Three  Hundred  and 
Sixty-second  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  at  Gesnes,  France, 
September  29,  1918.  Although  he  was  seriously  wounded,  he  remained 
in  command  of  his  platoon  until  he  was  relieved  next  morning,  display- 
ing exceptional  devotion  to  duty.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Sumatra, 
Montana. 

Harry  Hildebrand,  sergeant,  Company  C,  Third  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion. For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Soissons,  France,  July 
18-24,  1918.  He  went  forward  beyond  the  front  line,  exposed  to  fire  of 
snipers,  and  repaired  and  put  into  action  an  abandoned  enemy  machine- 
gun.  Later,  his  platoon  commander  being  wounded  and  the  platoon  be- 
coming disorganized  through  direct  artillery  fire,  he  took  command, 
gathered  reinforcements,  and  protected  a  dangerously  exposed  flank  of 
the  infantry.  He  also  voluntarily  led  his  machine  guns  with  the  attack- 
ing battalion,  rendering  most  efficient  service  until  wounded.  Residence 
at  enlistment:  Butte,  Montana. 

Melvin  B.  Johnson  (Army  serial  No.  84054),  corporal,  Company  M, 
One  Hundred  and  Twenty-seventh  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  hero- 
ism in  action  near  Gesnes,  France,  October  14,  1918.  When  his  bat- 
talion was  held  up  after  suffering  heavy  casualties  from  flanking  machine- 
gun  fire,  he  went  out  alone  with  an  automatic  rifle  to  a  position  250  yards 
in  advance  of  the  American  lines,  and,  although  subjected  to  intense  fire 
from  three  directions,  operated  his  gun  and  so  neutralized  the  enemy  fire 
while  his  battalion  reformed.  He  was  killed  on  this  mission,  undertaken 
on  his  own  initiative.  Emergency  address :  Mrs.  Oliva  Johnson,  mother, 
Clear  Brook,  Minnesota.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Greve,  Montana. 

Clifford  M.  Jordan,  private,  Company  L,  Sixteenth  Infantry.  For 
extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Cantigny,  France,  June  2,  1918. 


658 

He  went  forward  under  intense  machine-gun  and  artillery  fire  and  as- 
sisted in  the  removal  of  a  wounded  soldier  over  a  distance  of  i  kilometer. 
Now  deceased.  Emergency  address :  J.  I.  B.  Hanson,  friend,  Malta, 
Montana.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Malta,  Montana. 

Emanuel  Karch,  private,  Company  B,  Sixteenth  Infantry.  Display- 
ing exceptional  initiative  and  bravery  throughout  the  operations  south 
of  Soissons,  France,  July  18-22,  1918;  he  with  extraordinary  heroism, 
July  21,  with  two  companions  captured  two  machine  guns  that  were 
causing  heavy  losses  to  his  company.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Angela, 
Montana. 

Eugene  F.  Knoke,  private,  Company  M,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
second  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Gesnes, 
France,  September  29,  1918.  He  performed  his  duties  as  company  run- 
ner with  the  utmost  fearlessness,  crossing  fire-swept  fields  on  two  occa- 
sions to  carry  important  messages  to  neighboring  units.  Residence  at  en- 
listment: Glasston,  Montana. 

Christian  Kurle,  private,  Company  H,  Three  Hundred  and  Seventh 
Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Oches,  France, 
November  4,  1918.  Exposing  himself  to  heavy  machine-gun  fire,  Pri- 
vate Kurle  crossed  an  open  field  300  yards  wide  and  rescued  a  severely 
wounded  comrade.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Angela,  Montana. 

Arthur  S.  Long  (Army  serial  No.  44521),  private,  Company  D,  Six- 
teenth Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Hill  272, 
France,  October  9,  1918.  Facing  direct  fire  from  a  77-millimeter  gun 
which  was  enfilading  his  company,  he  advanced  against  the  gun  with  an 
automatic  rifle.  Attacking  the  German  gun  position,  he  captured  the 
crew,  making  it  possible  for  his  company  to  hold  the  ground  it  had  gained. 
Residence  at  enlistment:  Box  No.  57,  Roberts,  Montana. 

Luzius  Luzi,  private,  Company  M,  Twenty-third  Infantry.  For 
extraordinary  heroism.  He  fearlessly  and  frequently  passed  through 
heavy  machine-gun  fire  while  performing  his  duty  as  runner  near  Cha- 
teau Thierry,  France,  June  6,  1918,  after  being  twice  wounded.  Resi- 
dence at  enlistment:  Salesville,  Montana. 

Daniel  McAuliffe,  corporal,  Company  M,  Sixteenth  Infantry.  For 
extraordinary  heroism  in  action  in  the  Argonne  Forest,  France,  October 
4,  1918.  Leading  his  squad  on  enemy  machine-gun  nests  which  had  been 
inflicting  severe  casualties  on  his  platoon,  Corporal  McAuliffe  opened  an 
effective  bombing  attack  on  the  nests,  and,  although  severely  wounded, 
remained  in  command  until  the  strong  point  was  reduced.  Residence 
at  enlistment:  939  Hornet  Street,  Butte,  Monana. 

William  McLoughlin,  private,  Company  A,  Third  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion. For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Berzy-le-Sec,  France, 
July  21,  1918.  He  advanced  against  a  machine  gun,  and,  single-handed, 
killed  or  captured  the  entire  crew.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Anaconda, 
Montana. 

Duncan  A.  McRae,  sergeant,  Company  M,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
second  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Gesnes, 
France,  October  11,  1918.  He  took  out  a  patrol  for  the  purpose  of  ascer- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  659 

taining  the  position  of  the  enemy  and  the  location  of  machine  guns. 
Three  of  his  men  were  killed  but  he  continued  on  over  a  difficult  terrain 
and  returned  with  information  of  the  highest  value  in  subsequent  opera- 
tions. Residence  at  enlistment:  902  Ninth  Avenue,  Helena,  Montana. 

Carl  J.  Maier,  private,  first  class,  Company  I,  Three  Hundred  and 
Sixty-second  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  at  Bois  de 
Cheppy,  near  Meuse,  France,  September  26,  1918.  Working  with  a 
patrol  in  an  attack  on  an  enemy  machine  gun,  he  crawled  upon  the  em- 
placement and  without  assistance  killed  three  enemy  gunners  and  cap- 
tured their  machine  gun.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Glendive,  Montana. 

Jesse  Marlin,  corporal,  Company  B,  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-sev- 
enth Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  at  Juvigny,  France, 
August  31,  1918.  He  was  one  of  a  party  of  three  officers  and  two  men 
who,  armed  with  one  German  machine  gun  and  three  German  rifles, 
attacked  a  machine-gun  nest  held  by  seventy  Germans.  Under  terrific 
fire  from  the  enemy,  who  laid  down  an  artillery  barrage  upon  their  posi- 
tion; they  concentrated  their  rifle  fire  so  effectively  that  thirty-two  Ger- 
mans surrendered  within  an  hour.  After  the  prisoners  had  been  brought 
in,  Corporal  Marlin,  with  a  private,  established  another  machine  gun  in 
an  advanced  position  and  kept  up  a  concentrated  fire  on  the  Germans 
until  he  was  wounded  in  the  body  five  times  by  machine-gun  fire. 
Emergency  address :  L.  C.  Hall,  friend,  General  Delivery,  Billings,  Mon- 
tana. Residence  at  enlistment,  same. 

Robert  J.  Maxey,  lieutenant-colonel,  Eighteenth  Infantry.  On  May 
28,  1918,  at  Cantigny,  France,,  he  advanced  with  the  first  wave  and,  in 
the  face  of  heavy  shell  and  machine-gun  fire,  located  the  objective  of 
his  battalion.  He  was  a  cool,  dependable  and  heroic  leader.  Although 
fatally  wounded,  he  gave  detailed  instructions  to  his  second  in  command 
and  caused  himself  to  be  carried  to  his  regimental  commander  and  deliv- 
ered important  information  before  he  died.  Emergency  address :  Mrs. 
Lu  Knowles  Maxey,  wife,  900  First  Street,  Missoula,  Montana.  Resi- 
dence at  appointment :  same. 

Frank  D.  Miller  (army  serial  No.  2706),  private,  Medical  Detach- 
ment, Twenty-eighth  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near 
Exermont,  France,  October  1-12,  1918.  His  detachment  having  been  re-' 
duced  to  but  three  men,  Private  Miller  displayed  conspicuous  courage  and 
devotion  to  duty  in  caring  for  and  evacuating  wounded  across  an  area 
swept  by  shell  and  machine-gun  fire  to  the  regimental  aid  station  and 
returning  with  badly-needed  medical  supplies  to  the  forward  aid  station. 
His  conduct  was  an  inspiration  to  his  associates,  their  commanding  officer 
being  absent  and  the  sergeant  in  charge  having  been  killed.  Residence  at 
enlistment :  Great  Falls,  Montana. 

James  H.  Moore,  Jr.  (army  serial  No.  3137555),  corporal,  Company  E, 
Two  Hundred  and  Seventh  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action 
in  the  Argonne  Forest,  France,  October  2,  1918.  During  an  attack,  when 
his  platoon  encountered  enemy  wire,  Corporal  Moore  calmly  went  forward 
and  alone  proceeded  to  cut  a  passage  through  the  wire.  While  perform- 
ing his  work  he  was  subjected  to  the  fiercest  fire  of  enemy  machine  guns 


660  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  grenades,  which  wounded  over  half  the  platoon.  He  continued  in  this 
work  until  he  accomplished  his  purpose.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Ridg- 
way,  Montana. 

John  J.  Murphy,  private,  first  class,  Battery  F,  One  Hundred  and 
Forty-eighth  Field  Artillery.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near 
Nantillois,  France,  October  31,  1918.  Private  Murphy  displayed  a  remark- 
able example  of  heroism  by  carrying  two  wounded  men  from  the  gun  pit 
after  being  seriously  wounded  himself,  when  a  German  shell  exploded 
within  a  few  feet  of  the  piece  which  was  being  loaded,  setting  fire  to 
several  boxes  of  powder  and  to  the  camouflage  cover  of  the  pit.  After 
carrying  the  wounded  men  to  safety,  he  returned  to  the  pit,  closed  the 
breech  of  the  piece,  verified  its  laying,  and  fired  it,  preventing  what  prob- 
ably would  have  been  a  very  serious  explosion.  He  was  quickly  carried 
to  the  aid  station,  where  it  was  found  that  he  had  suffered  serious  burns 
from  the  terrific  heat,  besides  being  wounded  in  several  places  by  shell 
fragments.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Butte,  Montana. 

Vincent  A.  Nolan  (army  serial  No.  303736),  pharmacist's  mate,  third 
class,  United  States  Navy,  attached  to  Company  E,  Fifth  Regiment, 
United  States  Marine  Corps,  Second  Division.  For  extraordinary  hero- 
ism in  action  near  St.  Etienne,  France,  October  5-9,  1918.  During  the 
operations  at  Blanc  Mont  Ridge  he  repeatedly  went  through  intense  ma- 
chine-gun fire  and  shell  fire  to  administer  first  aid  to  officers  and  soldiers 
who  were  wounded  and  lying  in  exposed  positions.  Residence  at  enlist- 
ment: Livingston,  Montana.  » 

Cornelius  J.  O'Brien,  sergeant,  Company  E,  Second  Engineers.  For 
extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Ville-Savoye,  France,  August  n, 
1918.  While  engaged  on  the  construction  of  a  bridge  over  the  Valle  River, 
he  voluntarily  left  shelter  during  intense  fire  and  carried  one  of  his 
wounded  officers  through  a  heavy  machine-gun  and  artillery  fire  to  a  dress- 
ing station.  Emergency  address :  Mrs.  Mollie  Prine,  sister,  2  Ridgely 
Avenue,  Butte,  Montana.  Address  at  enlistment:  same. 

Solomon  Peterson,  sergeant,  Company  I,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
second  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  during  the  Argonne 
offensive,  France,  September  26-29,  1918.  He  repeatedly  led  patrols  in 
successful  attacks  on  enemy  machine-gun  emplacements,  displaying  calm- 
ness and  keen  judgment.  After  being  wounded  he  insisted  in  remaining 
in  command  of  his  platoon.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Mosley,  Montana. 

Philip  W.  Prevost  (army  serial  No.  2284906),  private  first  class, 
Company  D,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty-fourth  Infantry.  For  extraordi- 
nary heroism  in  action  near  Eclisfontaine,  France,  September  28,  1918. 
A  combat  group  had  worked  its  way  far  ahead  when  the  remainder  of  the 
line  was  held  up  by  heavy  bursts  of  machine-gun  fire,  and  the  order  to 
dig  in  and  hold  the  position  was  given.  Private  Prevost  volunteered  to 
carry  the  message  through  heavy  machine-gun  fire  to  the  combat  group, 
which  was  still  advancing.  He  delivered  the  order  and  returned  with 
information  which  enabled  the  battalion  to  make  dispositions  for  the  cap- 
ture of  the  line  of  enemy  machine-gun  nests  and  the  saving  of  the  combat 
group.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Geyser,  Montana. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  661 

John  E.  Reese,  sergeant,  Company  F,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixteenth 
Engineers.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  at  Audenarde,  Belgium, 
November  i,  1918.  He  volunteered  to  accompany  an  officer  and  three 
other  soldiers  on  a  reconnaissance  patrol  of  the  City  of  Audenarde.  En- 
tering the  city  under  heavy  shell  fire,  the  party  reconnoitered  for  seven 
hours,  while  it  was  still  being  patrolled  by  the  enemy,  advancing  two  kilo- 
meters ahead  of  the  American  outposts  and  beyond  those  of  the  enemy. 
Residence  at  enlistment:  415  South  Colorado  Street,  Butte,  Montana. 

Charles  L.  Sheridan,  captain,  Company  A,  One  Hundred  and  Sixty-third 
Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  on  Hill  230,  near  Cierges, 
France,  July  31  and  August  i,  1918.  He  demonstrated  notable  courage 
and  leadership  by  taking  command  of  the  remnants  of  two  companies  and 
leading  them  up  the  hill  and  into  the  woods  against  violent  fire  from  the 
enemy.  He  personally  shot  and  killed  three  of  the  enemy  and  under  his 
direction  six  machine  guns  were  put  out  of  action  and  the  hill  captured. 
Residence  at  appointment:  1022  West  Curtis  Street,  Bozeman,  Montana. 

Robert  A.  Simpson  (army  serial  No.  41804),  private,  Company  A, 
Sixteenth  Infantry,  First  Division.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action 
near  Soissons,  France,  July  22,  1918.  After  being  wounded,  Private  Simp- 
son returned  to  the  line  and  continued  to  carry  messages  with  absolute 
disregard  of  his  own  safety  until  he  was  wounded  a  second  time.  Resi- 
dence at  enlistment:  Shelby,  Montana. 

Sidney  Smith,  private,  Company  H,  Three  Hundred  and  Eighth  In- 
fantry. For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Bainarville,  France, 
October  2-8,  1918.  When  his  company  had  been  cut  off  from  communi- 
ciation  he,  though  seriously  wounded,  refused  to  seek  shelter.  He  partici- 
pated in  several  attacks  with  courage  and  aggressiveness,  using  his  rifle 
very  effectively  and  encouraging  his  comrades.  When  relief  came  he 
walked  back  to  the  dressing  station  so  that  medical  attention  could  first 
be  given  to  the  more  seriously  wounded.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Blaine, 
Montana. 

Clayton  Evans  Snyder,  second  lieutenant,  Ninth  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion. For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Cunel,  France,  October 
13,  1918.  Although  wounded  by  machine-gun  fire,  he  refused  to  be  evacu- 
ated, and,  going  out  into  No  Man's  Land,  located  several  enemy  machine 
guns  which  were  endangering  his  platoon,  and  directed  the  fire  of  his  men 
tvith  such  accuracy  that  the  guns  were  silenced.  Residence  at  appointment : 
Malta,  Montana, 

Carl  J.  Sonstelie,  first  lieutenant,  Third  Brigade,  Tank  Corps.  For 
extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Montfaucon,  France,  September  26, 
1918.  He  displayed  bravery  and  leadership  of  a  high  order  in  the  advance 
toward  Montfaucon  by  going  out  ahead  of  the  engineers,  reconnoitering 
a  tank  route  under  fire,  and  urging  the  tanks  forward.  He  located  the 
resistance  in  the  Bois  de  Cuisy  in  advance,  later  rallying  disorganized  sol- 
diers and  enabling  them  to  hold  that  point.  Residence  at  appointment :  628 
Third  Avenue,  West,  Kalispell,  Montana. 

Gilbert  Straabe,  private,  Company  D,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty-first 
Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Gesnes,  France,  Octo- 


662  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

her  3,  1918.  He  voluntarily  and  unhesitatingly  left  shelter  under  heavy 
shell  fire  and  without  thought  of  personal  danger  rendered  first  aid  and 
carried  a  wounded  comrade  to  a  place  of  safety.  Residence  at  enlistment : 
Devon,  Montana. 

Joseph  J.  Sullivan,  corporal,  Company  M,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty- 
second  Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Gesnes, 
France.  Observing  that  the  left  flank  of  the  regimental  line  was  un- 
protected, he  voluntarily  took  out  a  combat  patrol,  and,  while  so  doing, 
encountered  three  machine  guns,  which  were  employing  effective  enfilade 
fire.  Boldly  advancing  to  this  position,  he  silenced  the  guns.  Residence 
at  enlistment:  Jordan,  Montana. 

Clarence  W.  Thompson  (army  serial  No.  1039036),  sergeant,  Battery 
F,.  Tenth  Field  Artillery,  Third  Division.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in 
action  near  Greves  Farm,  France,  July  15,  1918.  Responding  to  a  call  for 
volunteers,  Sergeant  Thompson,  with  eight  other  soldiers,  manned  two 
guns  of  a  French  battery  which  had  been  deserted  by  the  French  during 
the  unprecedented  fire,  after  many  casualties  had  been  inflicted  upon  their 
forces.  For  two  hours  he  remained  at  his  post  and  poured  an  effective 
fire  into  the  ranks  of  the  enemy.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Van  Norman, 
Montana. 

Waldo  Thompson,  corporal,  Company  C,  Second  Field  Signal  Bat- 
talion. For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Exermont,  France, 
October  5,  1918.  He  voluntarily  went  forward  in  the  face  of  a  most 
destructive  bombardment  and  kept  in  repair  the  telephone  line  connecting 
the  infantry  and  artillery,  thereby  assuring  the  close  co-operation  between 
these  two  elements.  Residence  at  enlistment:  1108  East  Sixth  Street, 
Anaconda,  Montana. 

Hans  L.  Tveten,  private,  Company  K,  Three  Hundred  and  Sixty-third 
Infantry.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  at  Gesnes,  France,  Sep- 
tember 29,  1918.  When  his  company  was  under  fire  from  two  German 
machine  guns,  he  crept  forward  alone  and  put  the  guns  out  of  action 
with  rifle  grenades,  capturing,  single-handed,  four  Germans  and  both 
machine  guns.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Sandcreek,  Montana. 

Herman  Wallenmaier,  private,  Company  D,  Sixtenth  Infantry.  For 
extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  the  Argonne  Forest,  France,  Octo- 
ber 9,  1918.  Although  suffering  painfully  from  wounds,  he  remained 
with  his  company  during  the  entire  action,  and  then  was  evacuated  only 
when  ordered  to  leave  by  his  commanding  officer,  being  unable  to  pro- 
ceed further  because  of  the  loss  of  blood.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Valley- 
town,  Montana. 

George  Whitcomb,  private,  Company  B,  Ninth  Machine  Gun  Bat- 
talion. For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  Gunel,  France,  October 
12,  1918.  Although  seriously  wounded,  he  refused  to  be  evacuated  until 
he  had  gone  under  heavy  artillery  and  machine-gun  fire  to  four  other  gun 
crews,  requesting  that  men  be  sent  to  his  gun,  thereby  enabling  an  im- 
portant gun  to  remain  in  action.  Residence  at  enlistment:  Bonnerville 
Apartments,  Helena,  Montana. 

Cecil  J.  Widdifield,  second  lieutenant,  Sixth  Regiment,  United  States 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  663 

Marine  Corps.  For  extraordinary  heroism  in  action  near  St.  Etienne, 
France,  October  5,  1918.  He  voluntarily  went  forward  for  a  distance 
of  800  meters  under  heavy  shell  fire  and  rescued  a  wounded  soldier  who 
had  been  left  there  the  night  before  when  the  advance  patrols  had  been 
withdrawn.  Residence  at  appointment :  Troy,  Montana. 

Frank  Zilkey,  corporal,  Company  D,  Sixteenth  Infantry.  For  extraor- 
dinary heroism  in  action  near  the  Forest  of  Argonne,  France,  October  9, 
1918.  After  all  the  other  members  of  his  squad  had  been  killed  or 
wounded  in  advancing  on  a  hostile  machine  gun,  he  pressed  forward  alone 
in  the  face  of  direct  fire  from  the  gun,  and  by  remarkable  courage  cap- 
tured both  the  gun  and  its  crew.  Upon  his  own  initiative,  he  then  started 
out  alone  to  attack  another  gun  and  was  killed.  Emergency  address,  Mrs. 
J.  J.  Carr,  mother,  May,  Idaho.  Residence  at  enlistment :  Butte,  Montana. 

MONTANA'S  SINEWS'  OF  THE  WAR 

While  the  fighting  forces  were  thus  writing  Montana's  name  large  on 
history's  page  in  France,  the  people  at  home  were  waging  a  no  less  val- 
iant campaign  in  furnishing  the  sinews  of  war  through  Liberty  Bond 
sales  and  contributions  to  other  war  activities.  With  the  exception  of 
four  cases,  Montana's  counties  went  "over  the  top"  in  their  total  allot- 
ments of  Liberty  Loans.  Montana  was  included  in  the  Ninth  Federal 
Reserve  District,  and  a  record  of  the  various  counties,  their  chairmen, 
women's  chairmen,  allotments  and  subscriptions  are  herewith  given. 
Unless  otherwise  noted,  the  chairmen  served  during  the  Second,  Third, 
Fourth  and  Fifth  campaigns,  and  the  chairwomen  during  the  Third, 
Fourth  and  Fifth  drives. 

Beaverhead:  Frank  S.  Hazelbaker,  Dillon,  chairman;  Miss  Carolyn 
White,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $1,319,100;  Subscription,  $1,640,100. 
Big  Horn:  G.  F.  Burla,  Hardin,  chairman;  Mrs.  G.  F.  Burla,  Hardin, 
chairwoman;  Allotment,  $460,000;  Subscription,  $739,050.  Blaine: 
Thomas  Everett,  Harlem  (Second)  and  John  McLaren,  Chinook,  chair- 
men; Mrs.  L.  N.  Beaulieu,  Chinook,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $392,450; 
Subscription,  $502,650.  Broadwater:  J.  B.  Kearns,  Townsend,  chairman; 
Mrs.  C.  B.  Fairchild,  Townsend,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $404,350;  Sub- 
scription, $441,400.  Carbon:  John  Romersa,  Red  Lodge  (Second)  and 
Albert  Budas,  Red  Lodge,  chairmen ;  Mrs.  S.  Mott  Soupers,  Red  Lodge, 
chairwoman;  Allotment,  $1,273,800;  Subscription,  $1,785,300.  Carter: 
L.  M.  Elliott,  Ekalaka,  chairman ;  Mrs.  John  Oliver,  Ekalaka,  chairwoman; 
Allotment,  $99,550;  Subscription,  $134,700;  Cascade:  Harry  Yaeger, 
Great  Falls,  chairman;  Mrs.  W.  K.  Floweree,  Great  Falls,  chairwoman; 
Allotment,  $5,960,800;  Subscription,  $7,896,250.  Chouteau:  David  G. 
Browne,  Fort  Benton,  chairman;  Mrs.  David  G.  Browne,  chairwoman, 
Fort  Benton;  Allotment,  $854,100;  Subscription,  $2,441,450.  Custer: 
C.  W.  Butler  and  H.  B.  Wiley,  Miles  City  (Second)  H.  B.  Wiley  (Third 
and  Fourth)  and  P.  I.  Wedge  (Fifth),  chairmen;  Mrs.  Minnie  M.  Ser- 
ruys,  Miles  City,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $1,318,600;  Subscription, 
$1,620,500.  Dawson:  Frank  G.  Hughes  (Second  and  Third),  Glendive, 


664  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  G.  D.  Hollecker,  Glendive,  chairman;  Mrs.  C.  A.  Rasmusson,  Glen- 
dive,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $858,500;  Subscription,  $985,100.  Deer 
Lodge:  J.  B.  Gnose,  Anaconda  (Second),  and  T.  P.  Stewart,  Anaconda, 
chairmen;  Mrs.  Frederick  Laist,  Anaconda,  chairwoman;  Allotment, 
$3,919,350;  Subscription,  $5,105,550.  Fallon:  R.  F.  Smith,  Baker,  chair- 
man; Mrs.  C.  J.  Dousman,  Baker,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $137,000; 
Subscription,  $211,900.  Fergus:  O.  W.  Beldon,  Lewistown,  chairman; 
Mrs.  Noble  M.  Walker,  Lewistown,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $2,368,100; 
Subscription,  $2,953,700.  Flathead:  H.  C.  Keith,  Kalispell,  and  Dr. 
Morris  W.  Bottorf,  Kalispell  (Fourth),  chairmen;  Mrs.  J.  R.  Listle, 
Kalispell  (Fourth)  and  Mrs.  E.  E.  Ingalls,  Kalispell  (Fifth),  chairwomen; 
Allotment,  $1,343,050;  Subscription,  $2,100,900.  Gallatin:  Justin  M. 
Smith,  chairman;  Allotment,  $2,151,550;  Subscription,  $2,831,506.  Gar- 
field  (formed  after  Fourth  drive)  :  A.  C.  Attix,  Jordan,  chairman;  Allot- 
ment, $20,000;  Subscription,  $24,150.  Glacier  (formed  after  Fourth 
drive):  R.  L.  Taft,  Cutbank,  chairman:  Allotment,  $30,000;  Subscrip- 
tion, $42,500.  Granite:  Charles  Anderson,  Philipsburg  (Second),  Thomas 
M.  Brogan,  Philipsburg  (Third  and  Fourth)  and  A.  J.  Murray,  Philips- 
burg,  chairmen;  Mrs.  M.  E.  H.  Gannon,  Philipsburg,  chairwoman;  Allot- 
ment, $389,350;  Subscription,  $517,850.  Hill:  A.  L.  Ritt,  Havre,  chair- 
man; Mrs.  W.  B.  Rhoades,  Havre,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $758,500; 
Subscription,  $1,123,400.  Jefferson:  L.  Q.  Skelton,  Boulder  (Second) 
and  Dr.  I.  A.  Leighton,  Boulder,  chairmen;  Mrs.  Ike  E.  O.  Pace,  chair- 
woman; Allotment,  $433,900;  Subscription,  $616,700.  Lewis  and  Clark: 
T.  A.  Marlow,  Helena  (Second)  and  Harry  Cunningham,  Helena,  chair- 
men: Mrs.  G.  S.  M.  Neill,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $5,207,750;  Sub- 
scription, $7,406,500.  Lincoln:  John  Lewis,  Libby  (Second),  C.  A.  Weil, 
Eureka  (Third  and  Fourth)  and  J.  G.  Masek,  Eureka,  chairmen;  Mrs. 
J.  M.  Kennedy,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $426,350;  Subscription, 
$733,770;  McCone  (formed  after  Fourth  drive)  :  O.  A.  Maxness,  Brock- 
way,  chairman;  Allotment,  $20,000;  Subscription,  $41,550.  Madison: 
O.  H.  Junod,  Sheridan  (Second)  and  R.  G.  Willson,  Sheridan,  chair- 
men; Mrs.  M.  M.  Duncan,  Virginia  City,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $873,- 
ioo;  Subscription,  $1,012,900.  Meagher:  James  T.  Wood,  White  Sulphur 
Springs,  chairman;  Mrs.  E.  J.  Anderson,  White  Sulphur  Springs,  chair- 
woman; Allotment,  $510,100;  Subscription,  $634,700.  Mineral:  Sam 
Boyd,  Henderson,  chairman;  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Searles,  Alberton,  chair- 
woman; Allotment,  $150,700;  Subscription,  $280,300.  Missoula:  H.  H. 
Parsons,  Missoula,  chairman;  Mrs.  F.  S.  Lusk,  Missoula,  chairwoman; 
Allotment,  $2,380,700;  Subscription,  $3,549,350.  Musselshell :  F.  M.  Wall, 
Roundup,  chairman;  Mrs.  C.  Fairchild,  Roundup,  chairwoman;  Allot- 
ment, $932,500;  Subscription,  $1,121,600.  Park:  J.  C.  Vilas  (Second), 
D.  J.  Fitzgerald  (Third),  A.  P.  Stark  (Fourth)  and  Charles  Angus,  all 
of  Livingston,  chairman;  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Sax,  Livingston,  chairwoman; 
Allotment,  $1,453,400;  Subscription,  $2,034,150.  Phillips:  B.  D.  Phillips, 
Phillips  (Second)  and  F.  W.  Hall,  Malta,  chairmen;  Mrs.  John  A.  Tress- 
ler,  Malta,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $334,750;  Subscription,  $417,450. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  665 

Ponderay  (formed  after  Fourth  drive)  :  B.  T.  Moore,  Brady,  chairman; 
Allotment,  $40,000;  Subscription,  $41,200.  Powder  River  (formed  after 
Fourth  drive);  H.  R.  Straiton,  Broadus,  chairman;  Allotment,  $50,000; 
Subscription,  $60,550.  Powell :  R.  D.  Larabie,  Deer  Lodge,  chairman ;  Mrs! 
A.  D.  Hoss,  Deed  Lodge,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $741,050;  Subscrip- 
tion, $1,088,100.  Prairie:  W.  A.  Brubaker,  Terry,  chairman;  Allotment, 
$339,000;  Subscription,  $277,850.  Ravalli:  W.  O.  Fisk,  Hamilton  (Sec- 
ond) and  M.  A.  White,  Hamilton,  chairmen;  Mrs.  C.  L.  Hoffman,  Ham- 
ilton, chairwoman;  Allotment,  $639,850;  Subscription,  $820,300.  Rich- 
land:  Sam  Donaldson,  Sidney,  chairman;  Mrs.  J.  P.  Meadors,  Sidney, 
chairwoman;  Allotment,  $596,350;  Subscription,  $595,100.  Roosevelt 
(formed  after  Fourth  drive):  A.  S.  Newcombe,  Mondak,  chairman; 
Allotment,  $85,000;  Subscription,  $119,850.  Rosebud:  E.  A.  Cornwall, 
Forsyth,  chairman ;  Mrs.  E.  A.  Richardson,  Forsyth,  chairwoman ;  Allot- 
ment, $879,000 ;  Subscription,  $974,500.  Sanders :  E.  L.  Johnson,  Plains 
(Second,  Third,  Fourth  and  Fifth)  and  A.  M.  Johnson,  Plains  (Fifth 
only),  chairmen;  Mrs.  F.  M.  Lewellen,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $321,500; 
Subscription,  $513,650.  Sheridan:  N.  L.  Nelson,  Plentywood,  chairman; 
Mrs.  F.  G.  Fishbeck,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $1,021,850;  Subscription, 
$1,198,650.  Silver  Bow:  A.  R.  Currie,  Butte  (Second,  Third  and  Fourth) 
and  W.  W.  McDowell,  Butte,  chairmen ;  Mrs.  J.  K.  Hesley,  chairwoman ; 
Allotment,  $20,451,750;  Subscription,  $24,434,300.  Stillwater:  George  A. 
Westover,  Columbus,  chairman ;  Mrs.  J.  D.  Ray,  chairwoman ;  Allotment, 
$609,400;  Subscription,  $598,150.  Sweetgrass:  T.  C.  Busha,  Big  Timber 
(Second,  Third  and  Fourth)  and  E.  J.  Mo,  Big  Timber,  chairmen;  Miss 
Inga  Solberg,  Big  Timber,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $516,000;  Subscrip- 
tion, $572,800.  Teton:  T.  O.  Larson,  Chouteau,  chairman;  Mrs.  T.  O. 
Larson,  Chouteau,  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $937,700;  Subscription,, 
$1,156,950.  Toole:  W.  H.  Schoregge,  Shelby,  chairman;  Mrs.  T.  L. 
Clark,  Sweet  Grass  (Fifth  only),  chairwoman;  Allotment,  $283,900; 
Subscription,  $308,700.  Treasure  (formed  after  Fourth  drive)  :  J.  G. 
Weldon,  Hysham,  chairman;  Allotment,  $30,000;  Subscription,  $41,400. 
Valley:  J.  E.  Arnott,  Glasgow  (Second),  S.  J.  Bundle,  Glasgow  (Third) 
and  R.  J.  Moore,  Glasgow,  chairmen;  Mrs.  Thomas  Dignan,  Glasgow 
(Third  and  Fourth)  and  Mrs.  J.  M.  Lewis,  Glasgow,  chairwomen;  Allot- 
ment, $721,350;  Subscription,  $822,100.  Wheatland:  W.  M.  Smith,  Har- 
lowton,  chairman ;  Mrs.  Harriet  W.  Tooley,  Harlowton,  chairwoman ; 
Allotment,  $463,400;  Subscription,  $664,150.  Wibaux:  L.  C.  Faltermeyer, 
Wibaux,  chairman ;  Mrs.  Ed.  F.  Fisher,  Wibaux,  chairwoman ;  Allotment, 
$235,400;  Subscription,  $195,900.  Yellowstone:  W.  Lee  Mains,  Billings,, 
chairman  ;  Mrs.  H.  R.  Smith,  chairwoman,  Billings  ;  Allotment,  $2,683,750; 
Subscription,  $3,525,300. 

The  state  had  an  average  over-subscription  of  about  seventy-five  per 
cent,  and  led  the  nation  in  the  First  Liberty  Loan  in  the  percentage  of  over- 
subscription, much  more  than  doubling  its  allotment.  The  five  subscrip- 
tions were  as  follows : 


666  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Loan                                            Allotted  Subscribed 

First $  6,768,000  $15,165,000 

Second  15,000,000  19,126,350 

Third 9,000,000  17,635,500 

Fourth    16,000,000  22,489,050 

Fifth  1 1,000,000  12,100,000 


Total  $57,768,000  $86,515,900 

The  state  chairman  was  Norman  B.  Holter,  of  Helena,  and  the  women's 
chairman  was  Mrs.  W.  W.  McDowell,  of  Butte. 

The  only  campaign  in  the  state  that  did  not  reach  its  full  allotment 
was  the  Thrift  Stamp  drive,  in  which  Montana  raised  $6,794,698.41.  In 
the  different  drives  for  the  Red  Cross,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Knights  of  Columbus, 
Salvation  Army,  Y.  W.  C.  A.,  Armenian  Relief  and  others,  in  the  separate 
campaigns  and  in  the  United  War  Work  campaign,  Montana  was  a  gener- 
ous contributor,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  following  figures: 

Red  Cross .$1,110,000 

Y.  M.  C.  A.  (First  Drive) 179,000 

K.  of  C.  (First  Drive) 100,000 

Salvation  Army  (First  Drive) 45,ooo 

Other  Organizations    (Estimated) 100,000 

United  War  Work  Campaign 643,913 

Armenian  Relief    90,000 


Total  $2,267,913 

In  the  matter  of  war  materials,  Montana  played  a  leading  part  in 
furnishing  vast  stores  of  goods,  as  the  products  of  this  state  were  those 
that  were  greatly  sought  after  by  the  Government.  The  production  of 
these  different  materials  in  1918  was  as  follows:  Wheat,  25,434,000 
bushels;  beef  cattle,  406,415  head;  sheep,  3,000,000  head;  hogs,  200,000 
head ;  wool,  22,878,000  pounds ;  copper,  323,174,850  pounds ;  zinc,  209,258,- 
148  pounds;  lead,  3,7,135,875  pounds;  manganese,  199,796  tons;  and  lum- 
ber, 400,000,000  feet. 


CHAPTER  XXVI 


If  for  no  other  reason,  there  would  be  much  of  interest  attaching 
to  Beaverhead  County,  because  it  was  here  that  much  of  the  early  history 
of  the  State  of  Montana  was  enacted.  Within  its  borders,  on  Grass- 
hopper Creek,  in  1862,  there  occurred  the  first  important  discovery  of 
gold  which  resulted  in  the  settlement  of  the  rich  Treasure  State  and 
the  unfolding  of  its  vast  resources,  agricultural  as  well  as  mineral.  Like- 
wise Bannack,  the  first  mining  camp  in  Montana,  was  the  first  territorial 
capital  of  the  state,  although  today,  shorn  of  its  former  glory  and  ro- 
mance, it  bears  little  resemblance  to  the  prosperous  and  vivid  little  com- 
munity of  the  days  of  its  prosperity.  Today,  while  mining  still  is  an 
industry,  as  well  as  farming  and  lumbering,  Beaverhead  occupies  a 
leading  position  among  the  counties  of  the  state  principally  because  of  its 
stockgrowing  interests,  in  this  connection  being  one  of  the  most  im- 
portant centers  in  Montana. 

NATURAL  FEATURES  AND  INDUSTRIES  OF  BEAVERHEAD 

Beaverhead  County,  which  derives  its  name  from  the  river  of  the 
same  title,  was  created  February  2,  1865,  and  nes  m  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  state.  Since  1890,  it  has  shown  a  slow  but  steady  increase 
in  population  at  the  rate  of  about  1,000  every  decade,  as  follows:  1890, 
4,655;  1900,  5,615;  1910,  6,446;  1920,  7,369. 

With  a  land  area  of  5,632  square  miles,  Beaverhead  County  is  bounded 
on  the  south  and  west  by  the  Idaho-Montana  state  line,  and  the  Continental 
Divide  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  marks  the  northwestern  boundary,  while 
on  the  southwest  it  is  flanked  by  the  Beaverheads.  In  the  interior  of 
the  county  smaller  ranges  are  found,  and  between  these  are  extensive 
valleys  and  basins,  including  the  Big  Hole  Basin,  Horse  Prairie,  and 
the  Centennial  and  the  Alaska  basins,  which  are  devoted  to  stockgrowing 
and  farming.  For  the  greater  part,  the  soil  of  the  tillable  areas  is  of 
a  clay-loam  type,  and  there  are  approximately  30,000  acres  of  first-class 
irrigated  land  in  the  county,  130,000  acres  of  second-class  irrigated  land 
and  175,000  acres  of  non-irrigated  farming  land,  the  balance  being  graz- 
ing, mineral  and  timber  country.  While  in  recent  years  much  grain, 
chiefly  wheat  and  oats  of  high  quality,  has  been  produced  on  the  benches, 
the  favorite  crop  with  the  agriculturists  is  hay,  and  the  Big  Hole  Basin, 
which  is  twelve  miles  in  width  and  about  thirty  miles  in  length,  presents 
the  appearance  of  one  great  hay  meadow.  The  product  of  this  basin 
is  so  high  in  nutritive  value  that  for  years  cattle  have  been  fattened 

667 


668 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


in  the  winter  on  hay  alone  and  shipped  to  markets  throughout  the  county, 
where  they  have  commanded  the  highest  prices.  The  altitude  of  Beaver- 
head  County,  5,098  feet,  is  comparatively  high,  and  experience  has  taught 
the  agriculturists  that  the  hardier  crops  are  the  ones  which  produce  the 
best  results.  In  this  county  irrigated  land  sells  for  from  $50  to  $125 
per  acre,  non-irrigated  land  from  $15  to  $50  an  acre,  and  grazing  land 
from  $6  to  $15  an  acre. 

In  addition  to  the  Beaverhead  River,  the  county  has  the  Wise  and 
Big  Hole  rivers,  which,  with  the  numerous  tributaries  that  rise  in  the 
high  mountains  to  the  south  and  west,  make  Beaverhead  one  of  the 
best  watered  counties  in  the  state.  Because  of  its  excellent  irrigation 
and  large  and  bountiful  forage,  cattle  raising  and  cattle  feeding  as  an 


STEER  FEEDING  IN  BEAVERHEAD  COUNTY 

industry  has  taken  the  leading  place,  with  farming,  mining  and  lumber- 
ing in  the  order  named.  As  to  its  mineral  resources,  the  county  is  be- 
lieved to  have  large  deposits  of  copper,  lead,  graphite,  manganese,  silver 
and  gold,  but  the  proper  exploitation  of  these  metals  has  been  under- 
taken on  a  comprehensive  scale  only  during  recent  years.  Large  stands 
of  commercial  timber  are  found  in  the  Beaverhead  and  Madison  national 
forests,  and  of  these  1,325,000  acres  of  the  former  and  99,600  of  the 
latter  are  in  Beaverhead  County. 

TRANSPORTATION  AND  POINTS  OF  INTEREST 

Traversing  the  county  from  the  north  to  the  south  is  a  branch  of 
the  Oregon  Short  Line  Railroad  from  Pocatello  to  Butte,  while  the  Gil- 
more  &  Pittsburgh  Railroad,  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  furnishes 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  669 

transportation  from  Armstead  to  Salmon,  Idaho.  A  narrow  gauge  line 
runs  west  and  then  south  from  Divide  to  Elkhorn,  and  a  good  highway, 
running  parallel  to  the  Oregon  Short  Line,  runs  through  the  county, 
making  possible  a  connection  with  Salt  Lake  and  points  west  and  with 
Montana  points  to  the  north.  For  the  visitors  to  this  region  there  are 
to  be  found  excellent  hunting  and  fishing  in  the  mountainous  districts. 
The  points  of  interest  are  not  lacking,  as  there  are  numerous  evidences 
of  the  early  days  of  Montana  when  the  desperadoes  of  the  mining  camps 
fought  it  out  with  the  vigilantes,  and  the  gulches  awarded  the  hardy 
and  adventurous  miners  with  streams  of  golden  treasure.  In  the  Big 
Hole  Basin,  also,  there  are  brought  back  scenes  of  earlier  days,  when 
the  cowboys  were  in  their  glory,  on  some  of  the  big  ranches  which  have 
not  totally  laid  aside  old-time  customs. 

DILLON,  THE  COUNTY  SEAT 

Dillon,  the  county  seat  of  Beaverhead  County,  was  founded  in  1880 
by  the  late  Gov.  B.  F.  White,  who,  with  Howard  Sebree,  purchased 
the  ranch  of  William  Deacon,  comprising  400  acres,  and  platted  the 
town.  There  are  a  few  of  the  old-time  buildings  still  standing,  one  of 
the  oldest  being  the  former  Opera  House,  which  recently  has  been  re- 
modeled and  made  into  a  rooming-house.  The  cabin  of  William  Deacon 
stood  until  1920  when  it  was  torn  down  and  the  logs  used  in  the  building 
of  a  barn,  and  practically  all  of  the  old  landmarks  of  this  thriving  city 
have  disappeared,  no  effort  having  been  made  to  preserve  them.  At 
Dillon  is  located  the  State  Normal  College,  a  part  of  the  University  of 
Montana;  the  Beaverhead  County  High  School,  and  two  large  public 
schools.  These  latter  are  conducted  under  the  auspices  of  the  normal 
college  and  are  known  as  training  schools.  The  condition  is  considered 
unique,  it  being  as  far  as  is  known  the  only  case  in  the  United  States 
where  an  entire  public  school  system  is  conducted  in  connection  with 
a  normal  college. 

THE  STATE  NORMAL  COLLEGE 

The  act  of  Congress  under  which  the  State  of  Montana  was  ad- 
mitted to  the  Union  set  aside  100,000  acres  of  the  public  domain  for 
the  establishment  and  support  of  a  State  Normal  School.  In  pursuance 
of  the  same  plan  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  Montana  established  the 
State  Normal  College  in  1893.  The  committee  having  in  charge  the 
election  of  a  building  began  work  in  that  year.  The  Legislature  of 
1897  created  an  executive  board  which  selected  a  president  and  faculty, 
the  first  session  of  the  school  opening  September  7,  1897.  By  an  act 
of  the  eighth  Legislative  Assembly,  which  became  a  law  February  25, 
1903,  the  name  of  the  institution  was  changed  to  the  Montana  State 
Normal  College. 

The  State  Normal  College  prepares  teachers  for  the  public  schools 
of  Montana.  It  accomplishes  its  work  through  professional  courses, 


670  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

directed  observation  of  expert  teaching,  and  actual  teaching  under  expert 
supervision  in  a  public  school.  The  two  years  curricula  permit  speciali- 
zation in  kindergarten,  primary,  intermediate,  grammar  grade  or  rural 
work.  The  Normal  College  diploma  authorizes  its  holder  to  teach  in 
any  public  school  in  the  state  for  six  years  without  examination.  After 
twenty-seven  months  of  successful  experience  in  Montana,  graduates 
are  granted  life  certificates  by  the  State  Board  of  Education.  A  student 
who  completes  a  third  year  of  Normal  College  work  has  opportunity 
for  greater  specialization  and  is  better  prepared  for  junior  high  school 
teaching. 

Graduates  of  the  two  years  curriculum  are  granted  junior  standing 
in  the  State  University.  Students  who  earn  credit  after  receiving  the 
diploma  are  granted  hour  for  hour  credit  up  to  a  maximum  of  one  year 
in  subjects  of  college  or  university  character.  Graduates  of  either  the 
two  or  three  years  curricula  who  transfer  to  the  State  University  must 
satisfy  restricted  elective  and  major  department  requirements ;  they  are 
exempt  from  the  required  work  in  English  composition  and  physical 
education. 

The  Normal  College  offers  no  certificate  at  the  close  of  the  first 
year,  but  students  who  find  it  necessary  to  teach  before  earning  a  diploma 
are  able  to  secure  a  second  grade  certificate  valid  in  the  state  for  two 
years  by  completing  courses  in  the  required  subjects.  According  to 
law,  Normal  College  (University  of  Montana)  grades  in  such  subjects 
are  accepted  upon  certificates  in  lieu  of  grades  earned  by  examination. 
Certificates  acquired  in  this  way  represent  no  loss  of  time  since  all 
work  done  is  credited  toward  a  diploma. 

The  Normal  College  buildings  are  well  constructed  and  arranged. 
The  main  building  with  its  class  rooms,  library,  laboratories,  gymnasium 
and  auditorium,  is  situated  less  than  100  yards  from  the  Residence  Halls 
in  which  nearly  all  out-of-town  students  live.  These  halls,  three  in  num- 
ber, provide  comfortable  home  life  for  women  students  and  excellent 
accommodations  at  cost.  The  campus,  upon  a  slight  elevation  at  the 
edge  of  Dillon,  is  of  ample  size  and  well  supplied  with  shade  trees. 

Dillon  is  well  supplied  with  churches,  maintaining  congregations  of 
the  Catholic,  Episcopal,  Methodist,  Baptist,  Presbyterian,  Latter-day 
Saints  and  Christian  Science  denominations,  and  there  being  a  move- 
ment on  foot  in  1921  to  organize  a  Danish  Lutheran  Church. 

There  are  four  banks  at  Dillon,  the  First  National,  State  Bank  of 
Dillon,  Security  State  Bank  and  the  Beaverhead  State  Bank.  The  first- 
named  is  the  richest  institution  in  the  United  States  in  comparison  witr 
the  population  of  the  town,  its  deposits  being  over  $4,000,000.  There 
are  two  weekly  newspapers,  the  Examiner  and  the  Tribune,  and  four 
hotels.  Every  line  of  business  industry  made  necessary  by  the  needs  of 
a  growing  city  is  represented,  and  Dillon's  stores  are  conducted  in  a  modern 
way.  As  the  county  seat  of  Beaverhead  County,  Dillon  is  the  site  of  the 
court  house,  and  also  has  a  large  city  hall  and  a  Carnegie  library.  It  is  an 
incorporated  city,  with  a  mayor  and  eight  aldermen.  The  main  streets 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  671 

of  the  city  are  paved  and  lighted,  a  municipal  gravity  water  system  is 
in  operation  and  a  private  electric  system  is  used. 

BANNACK  OF  TODAY 

Bannack,  located  about  twenty-five  miles  southwest  of  Dillon,  has 
little  left  to  remind  one  of  the  early  days.  The  old  Peabody  Hotel, 
with  Skinner's  Saloon  adjoining,  still  stands  and  is  used  as  a  hotel  al- 
though the  saloon  room  is  vacant.  This  old  hostelry  has  the  distinction 
of  being  the  first  in  Montana,  and  was  erected  when  the  discovery  of, 
gold  brought  the  prospectors  in  an  eager  rush  to  this  region.  It  was 
not  far  from  this  hotel  that  Henry  Plummer,  Buck  Stinson  and  Ned 


REMAINS  OF  BANNACK'S  FORMER  MINING  GLORY 

Ray,  noted  road  agents,  were  executed  by  the  vigilantes  January  8, 
1864,  after  a  trial  in  the  court  of  Judge  Lynch.  Mrs.  Durgan's  Dance 
Hall,  a  popular  resort  of  the  old  free-and-easy  days,  has  been  removed 
from  its  former  location,  and  is  now  used  as  a  billiard  hall.  The  old 
log  jail,  on  the  very  rare  occasions  when  Bannack  now  needs  a  jail,  is 
pressed  into  service;  and  the  house  where  Henry  Plummer  lived,  sur- 
rounded by  trees  set  out  about  forty  years  ago,  still  stands  and  is  used 
as  a  residence.  These  are  the  only  historic  buildings  remaining.  Some 
were  torn  down  and  removed  elsewhere,  while  others  have  been  destroyed 
in  two  big  conflagations  which  have  swept  the  little  town.  Bannack 
still  consists  of  one  street  in  the  center  of  a  narrow  gulch,  but  most  of 
its  houses  are  vacant.  Instead  of  a  population  of  5,000,  as  in  the  days 
of  the  gold  rush,  Bannack's  population  in  the  winter  of  1920-21  num- 
bered fifty-nine  men,  women  and  children.  Placer  mining  is  still  carried 
on  in  a  small  way  by  individuals,  with  gold  pan,  rocker  and  sluice  box, 
but  the  dredge  boats  have  been  dismantled.  The  old  mill  and  flume 
of  the  Bannack  Gold  Company  still  stands,  and  the  Dunn  Development 


672  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Company  in  1921  was  engaged  in  quartz  mining,  employing  eighteen 
men.  The  Bannack  Mining  and  Milling  Company  was  still  operating 
a  cyanide  mill  in  1921,  for  reducing  their  ore  by  the  Dorr  process,  and 
gave  employment  to  eight  men. 

THE  SACAJAWEA  MONUMENT 

Another  point  of  interest  in  Beaverhead  County  is  the  Sacajawea 
Monument,  located  at .  Armstead,  on  the  upper  Beaverhead  River,  the 
northern  point  at  which  Lewis  and  Clark  landed  in  navigating  the  head- 
Water  of  the  Missouri.  The  Town  of  Armstead  is  the  opening  of  the 
Horse  Prairie  Valley,  the  route  taken  by  gold  miners  going  to  Bannack 
in  the  early  days,  and  where  one  of  the  bloody  Indian  battles  was  fought. 


CUSTER  BATTLEFIELD  OF  TODAY 

Near  this  point  are  the  Indian  Painted  Rocks.     A  few  years  ago  a  big 
celebration  was  held  at  Armstead  dedicating  the  Sacajawea  Monument. 

BIG  HORN  COUNTY 

On  June  25,  1876,  Gen.  George  A.  Custer,  with  his  force  of  some 
1,100  men  attacked  a  body  of  Sioux  Indians,  afterward  found  to  number 
about  9,000,  encamped  on  the  Little  Big  Horn  River,  and  he  and  his 
entire  command  were  destroyed.  Today,  the  Custer  battlefield,  located 
on  the  Custer  Battlefield  Highway,  is  the  shrine  visited  by  thousands 
of  tourists  annually.  The  field  is  dotted  by  little  white  crosses,  each 
marking  where  a  soldier  died,  and  these  culminate  in  the  monument 
at  the  highest  point  of  the  ridge  overlooking,  the  Little  Big  Horn  River, 
where  the  final  stand  was  made  by  the  whites.  This  battlefield  lies  in 
the  eastern  center  of  Big  Horn  County,  and  its  presence  is  only  one 
of  the  reasons  for  tourists  making  this  part  of  Montana  the  object  of 
their  interest. 

The  Big  Horn  Canyon,  formed  by  the  Big  Horn  River  after  which 
the  county  is  named,  is  an  exceptional  bit  of  scenery,  and  while  most 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  673 

of  the  surface  of  the  county  is  level  or  rolling,  with  broad  bench  up- 
lands, isolated  mountain  ranges  rise  near  the  eastern  and  western  sides, 
including  the  Wolf  and  Rosebud  ranges.  The  county  lies  in  South- 
eastern Montana,  its  southern  boundary  being  denned  by  the  Wyoming 
state  line,  and,  irregular  in  shape,  has  a  maximum  length  east  and  west 
of  1 20  miles  and  a  maximum  width  north  and  south  of  seventy  miles. 
Lying  in  the  county  is  the  Crow  Indian  Reservation,  recently  thrown 
open  to  settlement,  and  the  Tongue  River  Northern  Cheyenne  Reser- 
vation, or  a  part  thereof. 

Possessing  a  rich  clay  loam  soil,  which  is  mixed  with  considerable 
sand  in  some  places  and  in  others  is  somewhat  heavy  and  of  the  gumbo 
type,  Big  Horn  is  distinctively  an  agricultural  and  stock  growing  county. 
It  is  estimated  that  more  than  100,000  acres  are  under  cultivation,  while 
projects  are  contemplated  for  the  reclamation  of  125,000  acres  more, 
and  there  are  approximately  500,000  acres  of  non-irrigated  grain  land, 
the  remainder  of  the  county  being  used  for  grazing.  Irrigated  land 
prices  range  from  $40  to  $200  an  acre,  non-irrigated  farming  land  from 
$10  to  $75  an  acre,  and  grazing  land  from  $6  to  $12  an  acre.  The 
principal  farming  crops  are  alfalfa  and  sugar  beets,  confined  to  the  irri- 
gated districts  along  the  streams;  wheat,  oats,  potatoes  and  corn,  the 
last  named  raised  both  for  grain  and  silage,  on  the  non-irrigated  lands, 
and  garden  stuff.  The  farmers  on  the  non-irrigated  lands  generally 
keep  some  stock.  Much  pork  is  produced  in  the  irrigated  districts,  the 
animals  being  brought  to  maturity  chiefly  on  alfalfa  pasture  and  then 
fattened  on  corn,  wheat  or  barley.  Dairying  as  an  industry  has  made 
some  headway  during  recent  years,  and  several  large  and  prosperous 
apiaries  have  been  established.  While  coal  has  been  found  in  com- 
mercial quantities  in  Big  Horn  County,  it  is  not  being  mined.  In  wells 
around  Hardin  natural  gas  has  been  found,  and,  as  in  other  parts  of 
the  state,  drilling  for  oil  has  been  carried  on  lately.  Along  the  rivers 
and  stream  there  is  an  abundant  growth  of  cottonwood  timber,  and 
in  the  north  end  and  mountain  ranges  on  the  eastern  and  western  sides 
of  the  county  small  pine  timber  of  slight  commercial  value  exists. 

For  its  drainage,  Big  Horn  County  looks  principally  to  the  Big  Horn 
and  Little  Horn  rivers,  the  former  the  third  largest  river  in  the  state, 
which  rise  in  the  high  mountains  of  Wyoming,  are  fed  by  numerous 
tributaries  in  Big  Horn  County,  and  enter  the  county  from  the  south- 
west and  south  respectively,  and,  running  north,  unite  near  Hardin. 
Rosebud  Creek  traverses  the  eastern  portions  of  the  county,  springs  are 
frequent  in  the  uplands,  making  a  good  pasture  region,  and  water  is 
encountered  at  depths  of  from  15  to  100  feet.  Running  northward 
through  the  county  to  connections  with  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Great 
Northern  railways,  is  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  and  a  branch 
to  the  east  has  been  provided  to  serve  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county, 
as  well  as  counties  adjoining.  The  state  highway  is  the  Custer  Battle- 
field Highway,  of  which  there  are  seventy-five  miles  in  Big  Horn  County. 

Big  Horn  County  has  a  number  of  thriving  trade  centers,  principal 
among  which  are  Hardin,  the  county  seat,  Crow  Agency,  Lodge  Grass 


674  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

/ 
and  Wyola.     There  are  fifty-seven  schools  in  the  county,  of  which  all 

but  seven  are  public  schools,  including  a  modern  high  school.  In  addi- 
tion to  two  schools  conducted  by  the  Federal  Government  for  the  Indians, 
there  are  three  Baptist  and  two  Congregational  schools. 

BLAINE  COUNTY 

Among  the  counties  of  Montana  and  one  which  is  distinctively  di- 
vided into  two  different  sections,  plains  and  mountainous,  is  Elaine  County. 
The  former,  which  comprises  about  two-thirds  of  the  land  area  of  4,219 
square  miles,  lies  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  from  the  northern 
boundary,  formed  by  the  Canadian  line,  down  to  about  township  30. 
This  region  is  almost  wholly  devoted  to  grain  growing  and  farming, 
and  the  crops  include  wheat,  flax,  rye,  oats,  corn  and  blue-joint  hay. 
Root  crops  and  vegetables  do  well,  and  alfalfa  seed  raised  in  Blaine 
County  has  always  commanded  a  premium  on  the  market.  The  Milk 
River  Valley  which  crosses  the  county  east  and  west,  is  included  in  the 
Milk  River  project  of  the  reclamation  service  and  when  developed  will 
probably  be  one  of  the  best  agricultural  districts  in  the  state.  This  will 
offer  an  excellent  opportunity  to  farmers  of  some  means. 

The  agricultural  district  referred  to  is  a  matter  of  modern  develop- 
ment for  the  greater  part.  The  soil,  varying  from  a  sandy  loam  to  a 
gumbo  in  the  valleys,  and  a  chocolate  loam  on  the  benches,  has  responded 
spendidly  to  the  treatment  of  the  up-to-date  agriculturists.  On  the  other 
hand,  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  extending  down  to  the  Missouri 
River,  with  its  outlying  ridges  of  the  Little  Rocky  Mountains  in  the 
southeastern  corner,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Fort  Belknap  Indian  Res- 
ervation, and  the  Bear  Paw  Mountains  in  the  southwestern  part,  are 
best  adapted  to  the  older  industry  of  the  region,  that  of  stock  raising. 
This  part  of  the  county  also  offers  the  chief  attractions  to  tourists,  for 
there  is  much  excellent  scenery,  good  hunting  and  fishing  and  the  Fort 
Belknap  Indian  Reservation,  as  a  reminder  of  the  old  West,  remains  to 
attract  and  hold  the  interest  of  the  visitors. 

Blaine  County,  named  in  honor  of  James  Blaine,  the  American  states- 
man and  political  historian,  was  created  February  29,  1912.  Its  chief 
source  of  water  supply  is  the  Milk  River,  which  crosses  the  county  east 
and  west,  although  several  large  tributaries  flow  into  this  stream  from 
the  north  and  from  the  Bear  Paw  Mountains  on  the  south.  It  is  not 
noted  as  a  mining  county,  although  this  industry  has  been  engaged  in 
to  some  extent.  Nor  has  its  timber  been  of  a  sufficient  quantity  or 
quality  to  make  lumbering  a  leading  occupation,  although  some  timber 
is  found  in  the  mountainous  districts,  and,  as  is  the  case  with  many 
Montana  counties,  quite  a  large  amount  of  cottonwood  grows  along  the 
streams.  Its  chief  means  of  transportation  is  found  in  the  main  line 
of  the  Great  Northern  Railway,  which  runs  through  the  heart  of  the 
county,  and  this  is  paralleled  by  the  Roosevelt  Memorial  Highway. 
Graded  schools  have  been  established  in  all  communities,  the  rural  schools 
are  of  a  superior  order,  and  there  are  two  high  schools,  accredited  for 
the  four-year  course,  located  at  Chinook  and  Harlem. 


675 


Chinook,  the  county  seat  of  Elaine  County,  is  also  the  largest  town 
in  size  and  the  one  of  chief-  importance.  A  town  of  1,200  population, 
it  lies  on  the  main  line  of  the  Great  Northern,  which  runs  from  Minne- 
apolis to  Seattle,  and  is  the  center  of  a  productive  irrigated  district, 
being  situated  on  a  slight  elevation  overlooking  the  Milk  River.  Also, 
it  is  the  trading  point  for  the  Bear  Paw  Mountain  stock  raising  district, 
of  about  fifty  miles  in  length,  and  maintains  a  large  live  stock  yards, 
a  thriving  wool  market  and  facilities  for  the  handling  of  such  coal  as 
in  mined  in  the  locality.  Many  of  the  farmers  of  the  outlying  districts 
bring  their  families  to  Chinook  during  the  winter  months  in  order  that 
their  children  may  enjoy  the  educational  advantages  offered  by  its  schools. 
The  Elaine  County  Fair,  an  event  of  some  importance  in  Northern 
Montana,  is  held  at  Chinook  each  year.  This  was  incorporated  in  1901 
and  has  been  increasingly  successful  each  year.  Chinook  has  two  na- 
tional banks,  two  newspapers,  four  churches,  a  creamery  and  two  grain 
elevators.  It  derives  its  name  from  the  warm,  dry  wind  which  descends 
from  the  mountains  and  in  winter  removes  the  snow  with  remarkable 
rapidity. 

BROADWATER  COUNTY 

One  of  the  smaller  counties  in  size,  but  not  in  importance,  in  Mon- 
tana, is  that  which  bears  the  suggestive  name  of  Broadwater,  this  doubt- 
less having  been  derived  from  the  Missouri  River,  the  largest  stream 
of  the  county,  which  enters  in  the  southeast  end  and  pursues  an  irregular 
course  northeasterly  into  Lewis  and  Clark  counties.  While  the  land 
area  of  Broadwater  is  only  1,248  square  miles,  the  county,  which  lies  in 
the  west  central  part  of  the  state,  is  one  of  the  richest  agricultural  sec- 
tions of  Montana,  and  within  its  borders  are  raised  cattle,  sheep  and 
hogs  of  prize-winning  quality.  Bounded  by  Lewis  and  Clark,  Meagher, 
Jefferson  and  Gallatin  counties,  the  county  is  so  situated  that  it  offers 
opportunities  in  several  fields  of  industry.  The  crest  of  the  Big  Belt 
range  of  mountains  marks  the  eastern  border  and  the  Elkhorn  range 
is  found  on  the  western  side.  Here,  in  the  upland  mountain  country, 
are  found  numerous  springs  and  abundant  feed,  and  during  the  summer 
months  large  herds  of  sheep,  cattle  and  horses  are  pastured.  Between 
these  two  ranges  flows  the  Missouri  River,  the  valley  of  which  is  rich  and 
fertile,  and  between  the  mountains  and  the  valley  are  benches.  The 
soil  in  the  valleys  is  a  black  loam  and  on  the  benches  a  clay  loam.  In 
addition  the  Crow  Creek  Valley  furnishes  fertile  lands  for  agriculture, 
and  Crow  Creek,  Dry  Creek,  Deep  Creek,  Grayson  Creek,  Ray  Creek. 
Gurnett  Creek,  Duck  Creek,  Confederate  Creek  and  Indian  Creek  serve 
to  furnish  water  for  irrigation  purposes  and  are  used  on  the  farm  lands 
in  the  valleys  and  upper  bench  lands. 

In  the  lower  regions  of  the  county  there  are  found  large  tracts  of 
irrigated  land,  where  crops  of  hay,  grains  and  other  feeds  are  grown. 


676  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  upper  benchlands  are  devoted  in  the  main  to  dry  farming,  principally 
wheat  and  barley.  In  addition,  dairying  is  rapidly  becoming  an  im- 
portant industry  and  the  county  possesses  one  of  the  best  equipped  and 
most  modern  creameries  in  the  state,  as  well  as  an  up-to-date  flour  mill. 
The  mining  industry  is  also  a  leading  one  and  gold,  silver  and  lead  are 
taken  in  large  quantities  from  the  mines  at  Radersburg,  the  Iron  Mask 
and  Silver  King  mines  near  Townsend,  and  the  Diamond  mines,  near 
Diamond.  In  the  mountainous  region,  pine,  fir  and  cedar  timber  are 
found,  and  there  is  an  abundant  growth  of  cottonwood  along  the  num- 
erous streams. 

Broadwater  County  has  two  transcontinental  railways,  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  crossing  its  southern  end,  while  the 
Northern  Pacific  runs  east  and  west  across  the  county.  Likewise  good 
service  is  securable  through  interurban  lines  which  connect  various  points, 
and  the  Park-to-Park  and  Montana  Electric  highways  run  in  an  east 
and  west  direction  across  the  county.  To  tourists  the  county  offers 
some  of  the  most  beautiful  scenery  to  be  found  in  the  state,  the  trip 
down  the  Deep  Creek  Canyon  being  an  exceptionally  attractive  one. 
Convenient  camping  sites  are  to  be  found  on  all  the  leading  creeks  here- 
tofore mentioned,  where  good  hunting  and  fishing  may  be  had. 

A  number  of  enterprising  communities  serve  to  act  as  trading  centers 
for  this  rich  agricultural  county,  among  the  leaders  being  Toston,  Win- 
ston, Lombard,  Canton,  Diamond,  Radersburg  and  Townsend.  The  last 
three-named  are  also  mining  centers  of  some  importance,  while  Town- 
send  is  also  the  county  seat  and  a  growing  and  prosperous  little  city. 
The  county  high  school  and  graded  school  are  located  at  Townsend,  the 
other  fifty-two  schools  of  the  county  being  of  a  rural  nature. 

CARBON  COUNTY 

Towering  mountain  ranges  and  broad,  fertile  valleys  serve  to  make 
Carbon  one  of  the  scenic  counties  of  Montana.  One  of  the  best  watered 
counties,  likewise,  with  150,000  to  200,000  acres  under  irrigation,  it  is 
naturally  largely  devoted  to  agriculture  and  stock  raising,  but  that  coal 
mining  is  likewise  a  leading  industry  will  be  suggested  at  once  by 
the  county's  appellation.  It  lies  in  Southern  Montana,  being  bounded 
on  the  south  by  Wyoming,  and  is  about  midway  between  the  eastern 
and  western  borders  of  Montana,  with  Park  and  Stillwater  counties 
to  its  west,  Stillwater  and  Yellowstone  to  its  north,  and  Yellowstone 
and  Big  Horn  to  its  east. 

In  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  which  is  chiefly  of  a  mountainous 
character,  the  principal  industry  is  stock  raising,  and  this  has  been  de- 
veloped into  an  important  enterprise.  In  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
however,  the  valleys,  running  north  and  south,  widen  out,  and  the  moun- 
tains are  succeeded  by  rolling  benchlands,  where  there  is  a  soil  of  chocolate 
colored  loam,  the  valley  soil  being  chiefly  a  deep  alluvial  loam.  In  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  county,  and  chiefly  along  the  Clark's  Fork, 
some  of  the  finest  sugar  beet  farms  in  the  state  are  found.  Carbon 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  677 

County  agriculturists,  however,  do  not  find  it  necessary  to  confine  their 
activities  to  any  one  special  line  of  product,  for  wheat,  oats  and  barley, 
among  the  grains,  grow  equally  well,  and  potatoes  and  other  vegetables 
are  raised  in  large  quantities,  while  considerable  fruit,  chiefly  apples  and 
berries,  find  their  way  to  the  market.  Much  hay  is  also  raised,  and  in 
the  northern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  county  conditions  are  favorable 
for  the  growing  of  good  corn. 

LARGE  COAL  MINES  AND  FIRST  OIL  WELL 

What  are  reputed  to  be  the  largest  bituminous  coal  mines  in  the 
Northwest  are  found  at  Red  Lodge,  Washoe  and  Bear  Creek,  and  in 
addition  to  the  large  enterprises  already  developed,  promising  deposits 
await  further  unfolding  and  promotion.  In  the  southern  part  of  the 
county  minerals  of  various  kinds  have  been  found,  but  lack  of  trans- 
portation facilities  thus  far  has  acted  detrimentally  to  their  development, 
which  has  not  been  brought  to  a  commercial  scale  of  activity.  Carbon 
County  has  the  distinction  of  having  been  the  site  of  the  first  producing 
oil  well  in  Montana,  this  having  been  brought  into  action  in  the  Elk 
Basin  field,  November  n,  1915.  Several  other  producing  wells  were 
brought  in  later.  A  great  deal  of  commercial  timber  has  been  found 
in  the  Beartobth  National  Forest,  of  which  315,056  acres  lie  in  Carbon 
County,  but  logging  operations  have  been  carried  on  only  in  a  small 
way  and  will  continue  to  be  so,  in  all  likelihood,  until  better  transporta- 
tion facilities  are  forthcoming. 

Carbon  County  need  have  no  fears  as  to  its  continued  water  supply. 
Numerous  streams  arising  from  the  glaciers  and  snow  packed  drifts  in 
the  Bear  Tooth  Mountains  furnish  clear,  pure  water,  the  principal  streams 
being  the  Clark's  Ford,  Rock  Creek,  Willow  Creek  and  Red  Lodge  Creek. 
Water  is  found  in  depths  ranging  from  ten  to  thirty  feet  when  wells  are 
sunk.  The  county  is  not  as  well  supplied  with  railways  as  some  of  its 
more  progressive  citizens  could  hope  for.  A  branch  line  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  runs  from  Laurel,  on  the  main  line,  to  Red  Lodge,  and  another 
to  Bridger.  The  latter  branch,  at  Bridger,  connects  with  a  local  railroad 
that  serves  the  Bear  Creek  field,  and  the  Burlington,  Cody-Denver  line 
runs  through  the  county  and  from  Fromberg  north  uses  the  Northern 
Pacific  tracks.  A  main  north  and  south  highway  runs  through  the  county, 
one  branch  going  to  Cody,  Wyoming,  and  another  to  Denver,  Colorado, 
and  there  are  also  a  number  of  good  local  roads. 

Created  March  4,  1895,  Carbon  County  has  a  land  area  of  2,060 
square  miles,  and  possesses  a  somewhat  high  altitude,  that  at  Red  Lodge 
being  5,537  feet.  It  has  a  growing  season  of  from  84  to  123  days,  and 
its  mean  temperature  is  about  40.4,  while  its  precipitation  is  19.51.  Well 
improved  irrigated  farms  sell  for  from  $125  up  to  $250  per  acre,  while 
non-irrigated  lands  secure  from  $10  to  $50  an  acre. 

There  are  good  graded  schools  in  the  county,  a  county  high  school 
at  Red  Lodge  and  other  high  schools  at  Bridger,  Joliet  and  Bear  Creek. 
The  Bear  Creek  school  is  accredited  for  the  three-year  term  and  the  other 


678  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

three  for  four  years.  Bear  Creek  is  a  coal  mining  town,  as  is  Washoe, 
while  Fromberg  is  in  the  heart  of  the  agricultural  region  and  other  good 
towns  are  Edgar,  Bridger,  Boyd,  Silesia,  Luther,  Roberts,  Roscoe  and 
Belfry. 

Carbon  County  stands  fourth  among  the  counties  of  Montana  as  to 
density  of  population  per  square  mile — 7.4 — being  exceeded  only  by  Deer 
Lodge,  Cascade  and  Missoula.  Its  advance  in  population,  by  decades,  is 
thus  noted  in  the  1920  census:  1900,  7,533;  1910,  13,962;  1920,  15,279. 

TOWN  OF  RED  LODGE 

Red  Lodge,  the  county  seat  of  Carbon  County,  and  the  largest  town 
therein,  is  headquarters  for  the  coal  mining  industry,  and  was  founded  as 
a  postoffice  in  1886,  although  the  town  did  not  really  begin  to  attract 
attention  until  the  following  year  when  coal  was  discovered  by  a  local 
character  known  as  "Yankee  Jim,"  whose  real  name  has  been  forgotten 
during  the  years  of  development.  The  discovery  of  coal  was  sufficient 
to  warrant  the  railroad  building  its  line  to  the  camp  which  was  com- 
pleted in  June,  1889,  and  the  mining  of  coal  has  been  the  industry  which 
has  caused  the  growth  and  advancement  of  this  community.  At  the 
present  time,  the  Northwest  Improvment  Company  operates  the  two 
largest  mines,  and  in  the  Bear  Creek  workings  of  the  same  field  there  are 
several  companies  in  operation,  including  the  Smokeless  and  Sootless  Coal 
Company  of  Red  Lodge ;  the  Fulton  Coal  Company,  Red  Lodge,  which  is 
just  preparing  to  open  mines  on  a  i,3OO-acre  tract;  the  Montana  Coal  and 
Iron  Company,  Washoe;  the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company's  coal 
department,  Washoe;  the  Anaconda  Creek  Coal  Company,  Bear  Creek; 
the  International  Coal  Company,  Bear  Creek;  and  the  Eagle  Coal  Com- 
pany, Red  Lodge.  In  1915  a  new  industry  was  opened  up,  when  the  first 
well  was  brought  in  in  the  Elk  Basin  oil  field,  and  this  has  been  a  steady 
producer.  Drilling  is  in  progress  in  a  number  of  other  supposed  oil 
structures  in  the  vicinity  of  the  county  seat  and  is  contemplated  in  several 
others,  the  Hoosier  Company,  just  below  Joliet,  being  the  most  advanced 
aside  from  the  Elk  Basin. 

Among  the  old  buildings  still  standing  at  Red  Lodge,  the  Pollard 
Hotel  is  the  one  which  has  precedence  in  the  present  location  of  the 
town,  the  depot  being  another.  Store  buildings  which  are  now  in  the 
"old  town,"  far  outside  of  the  present  business  district,  were  occupied 
during  the  late  '8os  by  O.  E.  Millis  and  Babcock  &  Miles,  while  the  Weaver 
&  Bell  livery  barn  is  another  landmark.  Early  residents,  who  are  still 
living,  include  P.  C.  Hicox,  A.  A.  Ellis,  Louis  Gruel,  Maurice  Powers, 
Thomas  Hogan,  C.  C.  Bowlen,  Charles  Wilson,  John  Weaver,  W.  B. 
Nutting,  John  W.  Chapman,  Dan  Southerland  and  Thomas  Early;  and 
Mrs.  F.  W.  Draper,  who  has  grown  sons,  one  of  whom  is  Charles  H. 
Draper,  editor  and  publisher  of  the  Picket-Journal,  the  official  newspaper 
of  Carbon  County  and  of  the  City  of  Red  Lodge.  This  paper  was 
established  as  the  Red  Lodge  Picket,  in  1888,  and  consolidated  with  the 
Carbon  County  Journal,  which  was  established  in  1909.  Today  Red 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


679 


Lodge  boasts  of  three  banks,  eight  grocery  stores,  five  men's  furnishing 
stores,  four  ladies'  furnishing  stores,  one  exclusive  shoe  store,  two  gen- 
eral stores  and  a  large  number  of  smaller  miscellaneous  establishments. 
In  addition  to  the  county  high  school,  the  city  has  six  schools,  including 
the  one  erected  in  1921,  and  churches  of  the  Congregational,  Catholic, 
Methodist,  Episcopal  and  Finnish  Lutheran  denominations.  Two  hos- 
pitals are  located  at  Red  Lodge,  a  Masonic  Temple,  a  Labor  Temple,  an 
Odd  Fellows'  Home,  an  Elks'  Club  House  and  a  Carnegie  Library,  as 
well  as  a  new  modern  theater. 

Red  Lodge  is  the  gateway  of  Beartooth  National  Forest,  a  wonderful 
natural  playground,  with  scenic  splendors  and  vast  natural  resources. 
This  national  forest  adjoins  the  Yellowstone  National  Park  on  the  north- 
east corner,  and  from  Red  Lodge  good  roads  lead  many  miles  up  the 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL,  RED  LODGE 

principal  streams,  the  county  seat  maintaining  a  camp  for  the  tourists. 
Camp  Senia  and  Richel  Lodge,  the  former  fifteen  miles  and  the  latter 
twelve  miles  from  Red  Lodge,  are  favorite  spots  with  the  tourists,  par- 
ticularly those  in  search  of  hunting  and  fishing.  In  its  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce Red  Lodge  has  an  organization  which  has  done  much  to  encourage 
visitors  as  well  as  permanent  residents.  Its  present  officers  are:  G.  A. 
Jeffrey,  president;  Elbert  Hymer,  vice  president;  R.  J.  Fleming,  treasurer; 
and  L.  E.  Hathaway,  general  secretary. 

CARTER  COUNTY 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  Carter  County  cannot  boast  of  a  mile  of  rail- 
road within  its  entire  area  of  3,318  square  miles,  this  county,  which  lies 
in  the  southeastern  corner  of  the  state,  the  South  Dakota-Montana  boun- 
dary marking  its  eastern  and  the  Wyoming-Montana  state  line  its  south- 
ern side,  has  made  little  progress  since  the  date  of  its  creation,  February 
22,  1917.  The  county,  which  was  named  in  honor  of  Thomas  Henry 


680  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Carter,  Montana's  first  representative  in  Congress  (1891)  and  subse- 
quently a  member  of  the  United  States  Senate,  has  a  maximum  length 
north  and  south  of  seventy-eight  miles  and  a  maximum  width  east  and 
west  of  forty-eight  miles,  in  all  of  which  there  has  been  little  irrigation 
development,  although  a  feasible  project  exists  along  the  Little  Missouri 
River.  Also,  a  railroad  has  been  projected  through  the  county  from 
Belle  Fourche,  South  Dakota,  to  Miles  City.  Until  this  is  built  the  trade 
from  the  southern  end  of  the  county  will  probably  continue  to  go  to 
Belle  Fourche,  and  from  the  northern  end  to  Baker,  Montana. 

Carter  County,  when  fully  developed,  will  be  one  of  the  prosperous 
sections  of  the  state,  for  there  are  numerous  industries  and  resources 
ready  for  promoters.  Farming  and  stockraising  are  the  chief  industries, 
the  latter  principally  in  the  southern  end.  Grain,  particularly  corn,  and 
forage  crops  can  be  raised  in  abundance,  and  the  Chalkes  Buttes  country, 
southwest  of  Ekalaka,  the  Beaver  Flats  and  the  Box  Elder  Valley  are 
considered  as  teeming  with  opportunities.  The  modern  creamery  at 
Ekalaka  has  served  as  a  stimulus  to  dairying,  in  which  considerable 
progress  has  been  made.  The  county  also  abounds  in  minerals,  large  beds 
of  lignite  coal  underlying  most  of  its  territory,  building  stone  being 
found  in  a  number  of  places  and  geologists  believing  that  the  county 
contains  oil  and  gas  prospects  that  warrant  development.  Timber  is  also 
readily  available,  as  the  Sioux  National  Forest  occupies  114,541  acres 
in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  With  the  exception  of  this  tract,  and 
the  Blue  Mud  Hills  near  the  center  of  the  county,  most  of  the  surface 
of  Carter  County  is  rolling  prairie  and  tillable,  the  soil  varying  from  a 
sandy  loam  to  a  heavy  gumbo.  Opportunities  are  to  be  found  in  this 
county  for  those  who  have  the  patience  to  wait  for  the  coming  of  the 
railroad,  as  land  prices  range  in  value  from  $5  to  $25  an  acre.  Carter 
County  has  a  good  educational  system,  considering  its  lack  of  develop- 
ment, there  being  seventy-six  rural  schools,  as  well  as  a  high  school  at 
Ekalaka,  which  is  accredited  for  the  four-year  term.  In  drainage  and 
water  supply,  the  county  is  also  well  supplied,  the  Little  Missouri  River 
passing  through  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  with  the  Box  Elder 
and  Beaver  creeks  flowing  northeasterly  and  a  number  of  tributaries. 

Lying  forty-two  miles  south  of  the  Milwaukee  Railway  is  Ekalaka, 
the  county  seat  of  Carter  County  and  it  is  the  largest  town.  It  has  two 
banks,  three  garages,  two  newspapers,  two  general  stores,  two  drug 
stores,  two  hardware  stores,  two  lumber  yards,  good  hotels,  a  creamery 
and  a  flour  mill.  Piniele,  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county,  the 
second  largest  community,  has  two  general  stores,  a  flour  mill,  a  drug 
store,  a  bank,  a  garage  and  a  hotel,  maintains  a  newspaper,  and  is  equipped 
with  an  electric  lighting  system. 

Special  attractions  are  held  out  to  visiting  tourists.  In  "Hunting 
Trips  of  a  Ranchman,"  Col.  Theodore  Roosevelt  dealt  with  the  Little 
Missouri  River  region,  just  across  the  state  line  in  South  Dakota,  where 
he  ranched  during  the  '8os.  Much  beautiful  scenery  is  to  be  found  in 
the  Sioux  National  Forest,  and  in  the  northern  part  of  Carter  County 
are  located  Medicine  Rocks,  sandstone  formations  likened  to  Colorado's 
"Garden  of  the  Gods,"  because  of  the  fantastic  shapes  which  they  present. 


CHAPTER  XXVII 
CASCADE  COUNTY  (GREAT  FALLS) 

The  second  county  in  the  State  of  Montana  from  the  standpoint  of 
size  and  population,  Cascade  County's  land  area  of  3,411  square  miles 
lies  between  a  rich  mining  and  stockraising  district  and  the  great  agricul- 
tural basin  of  North  Central  Montana,  where  the  plains  meet  the  moun- 
tains. Not  only  in  these  directions  does  the  county  hold  a  prominent 
place,  but  as  well  in  the  matter  of  variety  and  prodigality  of  its  resources, 
for  agriculture,  stockraising  and  mining  are  extensively  followed  within 
the  county's  confines  and  practically  every  ramification  of  these  three  im- 
portant industries  are  to  be  found.  The  county  also  ranks  first  of  all 
counties  in  Montana  in  the  number  of  coal  mines  operated. 

RIVER  VALLEYS  AND  STREAMS 

The  rich  agricultural  district  of  Cascade  County  is  found  in  the 
northern  part,  where  the  loamy  soil,  lying  over  a  good  clay  subsoil  makes 
possible  good  dry-land  yields  in  normal  years.  Much  of  the  farm  land 
is  susceptible  of  irrigation,  being  located  below  the  watershed  of  moun- 
tains on  two  sides,  and  specially  fertile  are  the  valleys  along  the  Missouri 
River,  which  runs  diagonally  through  the  county,  with  a  sudden  descent 
over  a  series  of  falls  and  rapids,  from  the  mountains  to  the  southwest,  and 
with  a  more  gradual  flow  toward  the  northeastern  boundary,  below  the 
Great  Falls.  The  Sun  River  has  its  conflux  with  the  Missouri  at  the 
city  of  Great  Falls;  the  Smith  and  Dearborn  rivers  traverse  the  county 
and  flow  into  the  Missouri;  and  Belt  Creek,  a  stream  which  heads  in  the 
Little  Belt  Mountains  and  flows  north  100  miles,  empties  into  the  Mis- 
souri near  Great  Falls.  While  hundreds  of  thousands  of  acres  in  this 
district  have  never  been  irrigated  and  have  nevertheless  produced  large 
crops,  there  are  at  present  75,000  acres  of  irrigated  land  and  projects  are 
now  pending  for  an  additional  irrigation  of  120,000  acres,  a  matter  which 
is  covered  in  another  chapter  in  this  work. 

CROPS  AND  LANDS 

The  chief  crops  of  the  county  are  oats,  wheat,  flax,  barley,  rye  and 
potatoes,  and  this  section  of  the  state  has  taken  hundreds  of  prizes  for 
the  best  and  hardiest  grains,  biggest  and  best  crops  of  hay  and  most 
profitable  returns  from  truck  gardens.  The  soil,  composed  of  nitrogen, 
phosphorus,  lime  and  potash,  has  advantageous  elements,  as  shown  in  the 
abundance  of  grass  to  be  found  on  uncultivated  fields,  and  the  fact  that 
there  are  farms  in  this  district  which  have  been  under  continuous  culti- 

681 


682  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

vation  for  forty  years  without  fertilization  and  are  still  yielding  bumper 
crops.  Cascade  County  is  forging  to  the  front  as  a  producer  of  alfalfa, 
and  owing  to  its  adaptability  this  forage  crop  lends  itself  admirably  to 
diversified  farming,  being  used  for  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  sheep  and  poultry, 
and  having  the  additional  advantage  of  being  a  soil  builder.  Averages 
show  that  it  is  possible  in  Cascade  County  to  raise  from  three  to  five  tons 
of  alfalfa  to  the  acre  on  irrigated  land  and  from  one  to  three  tons  by  dry 
farming.  Corn  is  raised  in  Cascade  County  for  grain  in  some  instances, 
but  for  the  most  part  is  cultivated  for  silage,  and  for  this  latter  purpose 
many  farmers  raise  sunflowers  in  large  quantities.  Practically  every  farm 
has  its  own  truck  garden,  and  this  has  proven  a  successful  undertaking. 
While  fruit  is  not  raised  in  extensive  commercial  quantities,  excellent  fruit 
and  berries  are  raised  in  the  valleys,  particularly  strawberries  and  currants, 
for  home  consumption  and  there  are  many  small  orchards  in  the  county 
which  are  doing  well. 

Of  recent  years  the  farmers  have  shown  a  marked  co-operative  spirit 
and  have  worked  together  in  an  endeavor  to  raise  the  best  possible  crops  and 
to  dispose  of  them  at  advantageous  prices,  with  the  result  that  elevators,  co- 
operative stores  and  growers'  associations  of  various  kinds  are  to  be  found 
all  through  this  district. 

According  to  the  1920  assessment,  Cascade  County  had  524,000  acres  of 
grain  land  and  937,000  acres  of  grazing  land,  total  of  1,461,000  acres  sub- 
ject to  the  assessed  value  of  $115,909,716.  Government  land  in  the  county 
includes  26,665  unsurveyed  and  30,916  surveyed  acres,  and  there  are  100,- 
240  acres  of  state  land  and  421,242  acres  in  national  forests.  Non-irrigated 
and  grazing  land  is  valued  at  from  $15  to  $30  an  acre  and  improved  land  at 
from  $20  to  $50  an  acre,  while  unimproved  irrigated  land  is  selling  at  from 
$35  to  $50  an  acre  and  improved  irrigated  farms  range  in  value  from  $50 
to  $150  an  acre. 

LIVESTOCK  AND  DAIRY  INTERESTS 

• 

Toward  the  mountains,  where  there  is  to  be  found  the  more  open  range 
country  of  Cascade  County,  the  livestock  industry  flourishes  and  scores  of 
prosperous  stockmen  are  to  be  found.  The  dairy  cow,  each  day  considered 
of  more  importance  to  the  modern  farm,  thrives  in  Cascade  County.  Dairy- 
ing, in  fact,  has  long  passed  the  experimental  stage  and  is  rapidly  becoming 
one  of  the  state's  leading  industries.  The  silo,  modern  landmark  of  agri- 
cultural prosperity,  can  be  found  in  ever-increasing  numbers,  and  every 
season  finds  an  abundance  of  good  forage  crops  stored  for  the  use  of  the 
dairy  cow,  alfalfa,  corn  and  cereals  being  among  the  leading  crops  used  for 
ensilage.  Many  good  dairies  are  located  around  the  City  of  Great  Falls, 
and  one  of  these,  electrically  operated  in  every  particular,  is  accounted  one 
of  the  most  modern  in  the  world.  There  are  six  prosperous  creameries 
and  two  cheese  factories  located  in  the  county,  two  at  Great  Falls,  and  one 
each  at  Eden,  Cascade,  Belt,  and  Red  Butte.  Pure-bred  cattle  raising  is 
greatly  stabilizing  the  cattle  industry  of  the  county,  and  the  recent  com- 
pletion of  a  $30,000  livestock  pavilion  and  sales  arena  at  Great  Falls  has 
been  an  incentive  to  stock  growers  of  this  region. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  683 

Although  drought  years  have  reduced  the  number  of  livestock  in  the 
county,  in  1920  there  were  27,367  head  of  cattle,  61,956  head  of  sheep  and 
13,088  head  of  horses  in  Cascade  County,  proximity  to  the  grazing  lands 
of  the  national  forest  making  this  an  excellent  cattle  raising  country.  The 
breed  of  livestock  is  rapidly  reaching  a  higher  standard  and  the  old  range 
steer  is  being  replaced  by  the  better-bred  and  more  carefully  handled 
animal  which  is  now  commanding  a  top-notch  price  in  the  stock  markets. 
Fine  pure-bred  herds  are  to  be  found  in  Cascade  County  and  while  the 
farmer  is  forcing  the  large  stockman  to  seek  his  range  in  the  national  forests 
and  on  the  hills  rather  than  running  his  stock  over  the  f  ertile§  prairies,  this 
does  not  seem  to  have  handicapped  the  beef-raising  industry  to  any  consider- 
able extent.  The  large  increase  in  the  amount  of  hay  raised  helps  to  tvccount 


SniiKp  RANCH 


for  the  fact  that  although  the  so-called  "open  range"  may  be  considered  a 
thing  of  the  past  the  livestock  industry  maintains  its  high  standard,  and  Cas- 
cade County  continues  to  contribute  its  full  share  to  the  average  of  200,000 
head  of  beef  cattle  shipped  each  year  to  the  packing  plants  of  the  big 
cities. 

MINING  OF  COAL  AND  SILVER 

Under  the  head  of  mining  in  Cascade  County  are  to  be  mentioned  lead, 
copper,  silver,  gold,  zinc,  coal  and  large  gypsum  deposits.  Of  all  the  coun- 
ties of  Montana,  Cascade  ranks  first  in  the  number  of  coal  mines  operated. 
The  larger  producing  companies  are  located  in  the  Belt  and  Sand  Coulee 
fields,  a  short  distance  from  Great  Falls,  making  fuel  readily  available  to 
industries  in  the  city.  Throughout  the  county,  coal  outcroppings  provide 
fuel  for  farming  purposes.  The  county  is  also  one  of  the  large  producers 
of  silver,  and  in  the  Neihart  district  there  are  rich  silver  mines  which  are 
being  developed  on  a  large  scale,  the  most  productive  being  the  Ripple 
group,  Florence,  Moulton,  Broadwater,  Snow  Drift,  Big  Seven  and  Queen 


684  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  the  Hills.  The  opening  of  three  oil  fields,  two  to  the  north  and  one  to 
the  east,  has  recently  proven  a  matter  of  the  greatest  interest  to  the  people 
of  Great  Falls,  the  fields  being  close  in  on  the  territory  directly  tributary 
to  that  city. 

GREAT  FALLS  REDUCTION  WORKS 

The  Great  Falls  reduction  department  of  the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining 
Company  is  one  if  the  important  concomitants  of  the  mining  industry  of 
the  county,  and  a  brief  history  of  this  enterprise  may  not  be  inapropos. 
Ground  was*  broken  early  in  1891  by  the  Boston  &  Montana  Consolidated 
Copper  &  Silver  Mining  Company  for  a  copper  reduction  works  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Missouri  river,  across  the  river  from  the  east  end  of  the 
city  of  Great  Falls,  where  are  located  Black  Eagle  Falls,  the  purpose  of 
the  works  being  to  treat  ore  from  the  company's  mines  at  Butte  yielding 
copper  and  reletively  small  amounts  of  silver  and  gold.  About  a  year  later 
a  concentrator  was  in  condition  to  begin  operations,  and  this  was  followed 
by  roasting  furnaces  and  reverberatory  smelting  furnaces,  Bessemer  con- 
verters and  a  blast  furnace  plant  for  the  retreatment  of  converter  slag, 
the  last-named  installed  in  1893.  An  electrolytic  copper  refinery  and  fur- 
nace refinery  were  built  in  1892,  at  which  time  it  was  made  possible  to 
carry  the  treatment  from  ore  to  finished  commercial  shapes  of  refined  cop- 
per. During  the  year  1910  the  properties  of  the  Boston  &  Montana  Con- 
solidated Copper  &  Silver  Mining  Company  were  taken  over  by  the  Ana- 
conda Copper  Mining  Company,  and  since  then  the  works  at  Great  Falls 
have  been  known  first  as  the  Boston  &  Montana  Reduction  Department 
and  more  recently  as  the  Great  Falls  Reduction  Department  of  the  Ana- 
conda Copper  Mining  Company.  In  1916  a  plant  was  completed  for 
the  production  of  electrolytic  zinc  from  ore  mined  at  Butte  and  con- 
•centrated  at  Anaconda.  Also,  in  1918,  a  ferro-manganese  plant  was  com- 
pleted for  the  production  of  ferro-manganese  from  Butte  ore,  and  in  the 
same  year  a  mill  was  finished  for  the  manufacture  of  copper  rods,  wire 
and  cable,  which  are  made  from  the  refined  copper  produced  by  the 
furnace  refinery.  The  completion  of  this  mill  brings  the  copper  industry 
at  Great  Falls  to  the  point  of  a  product  ready  for  the  consumer. 

During  a  few  years  prior  to  1918  the  work  of  copper  concentrating  and 
smelting,  for  which  the  original  works  were  built,  was  gradually  reduced, 
until,  in  1918,  this  work  was  discontinued  entirely,  so  that  now  the  operation 
is  changed  from  copper  concentrating  and  smelting  to  that  of  copper  refin- 
ing, copper  rod,  wire  and  cable  manufacture,  electrolytic  zinc  production  and 
ferro-manganese  production.  The  copper  smelting  equipment  remains  in 
place  and  may  be  used  when  there  is  occasion  to  do  so.  The  concern  re- 
ferred to  has  3,000  men  in  this  institution,  and  an  annual  payroll  of 
$3,300,000  in  Cascade  County — that  is,  during  normal  times.- 

POWER  DEVELOPMENT  AT  GREAT  FALLS 

Apart  from  agriculture,  stockraising  and  mining,  the  industries  or 
manufacturing,  milling,  packing  and  wholesaling,  augmented  by  large 


HYDRO-ELECTRIC  WATER  POWERS 


686  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

power  development  on  the  falls  of  the  Missouri  have  made  Great  Falls  and 
Cascade  County  a  leading  commercial,  financial,  industrial,  jobbing,  manu- 
facturing and  distributing  center.  Water  power  made  available  through  a 
drop  of  365  feet  in  the  Missouri  River  in  a  series  of  four  falls  near  the  city 
which  derives  its  name  therefrom  has  been  developed  to  the  extent  of 
165,  ooo  horse-power,  with  200,000  additional  horsepower  in  reserve.  Cur- 
rent produced  at  Great  Falls  plants  is  used  in  operating  a  transcontinental 
railroad  across  the  state,  as  well  as  mines  and  numerous  industrial  plants 
throughout  Montana.  Among  the  larger  industries  which  have  taken  ad- 
vantage of  the  cheap  power  and  commercial  opportunities  are  two  flour 
mills  with  a  daily  capacity  of  1,500  barrels;  the  largest  packing  plant 
between  Minneapolis  and  Spokane,  a  tire  factory  and  numerous  smaller 
industries.  In  the  matter  of  the  lumber  industry,  Cascade  has  some  comr 
mercial  timber,  heavy  wooded  areas  being  found  in  the  Little  Belt  moun- 
tains, in  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  with  timber  in  adjoining  moun- 
tain ranges,  all  within  the  Jefferson  National  forest,  and  along  the 
principal  streets  of  the  county. 

In  spite  of  the  great  development  work  that  has  already  been  carried 
through  to  a  successful  conclusion,  there  are  numerous  undeveloped  re- 
sources in  Cascade  County,  chief  among  them  being  in  the  rich  area  trib- 
utary to  the  city  of  Great  Falls.  An  important  industry  which  should  be 
successful  is  the  woolen  manufacturing  business,  for  the  wool  here  is  of 
high  grade.  There  is  likewise  an  opportunity  for  flax  fibre  mills,  with 
related  manufactures,  and  Montana  grain  is  of  such  quality  that  cracker 
and  oatmeal  factories  should  prosper.  Other  industries  capable  of  devel- 
opment have  to  do  with  the  manufacture  of  agricultural  implements,  twine, 
stock  food,  barbed  wire,  clothing  and  other  articles  required  by  the  farmers 
residing  on  the  great  agricultural  domain  of  5,000,000  acres  tributary  to 
the  city  of  Great  Falls. 

INTERESTING  POINTS  AND  TRANSPORTATION 

The  derivation  of  the  name  of  Cascade  County  should  not  be  hard 
to  understand,  especially  by  those  who  have  seen  the  wonderful  cas- 
cades of  the  Missouri  River  in  the  vicinity  of  Great  Falls,  the  name  hav- 
ing suggested  itself  long  before  the  creation  of  the  county,  September  12, 
1887.  The  county  is  a  center  of  tourist  travel,  being  located  within 
a  few  hours'  drive  of  any  one  of  four  mountain  ranges,  each  of  a  dif- 
ferent type  of  scenery.  A  particularly  interesting  setting  for  the  many 
tourist  attractions  is  given  by  the  fact  that  the  historic  Lewis  and  Clark 
expedition  followed  up  the  Missouri  River  past  the  present  site  of  Great 
Falls,  discovering  Giant  Springs,  one  of  the  largest  fresh  water  springs 
in  the  world,  the  cold  water  sulphur  springs  near  Big  Falls,  and  other 
points  of  interest  in  and  about  Great  Falls  vicinity.  Visitors  from 
other  localities  have  no  trouble  in  reaching  this  region,  as  three  trans- 
continental railroads  operate  through  Great  Falls  and  Cascade  County, 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  the  Great  Northern  and  the  Chicago. 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul.  These  railroads  have  nine  branches  invading  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  687 

rich  mining  and  agricultural  regions  in  every  direction,  making  Great 
Falls  the  hub  of  a  wheel  from  which  radiate  a  number  of  spokes,  and 
when  the  projected  "Missouri  cut-off"  is  completed  there  may  be  through 
service  by  way  of  Great  Falls.  The  Soo  railway  has  established  a  perma- 
nent survey  through  this  city,  passing  through  Valier  and  the  Blackfeet 
Indian  reservation  to  Canada.  Great  Falls  is  situated  on  the  Yellowstone- 
Glacier-Beeline  Highway,  the  short  route  between  the  Glacier  National 
and  Yellowstone  parks,  and  this  highway  forms  a  part  of  the  National 
Park-to-Park  Highway.  The  city  is  likewise  on  the  Custer  Battlefield 
Highway  and  the  Buffalo  Trail,  and  large  sums  of  money  are  being  ex- 
pended in  the  county  in  permanent  road  construction  in  building  a  system 
of  trunk  roads. 

SCHOOLS  OF  THE  COUNTY 

In  the  matter  of  education,  Cascade  County  is  a  leader,  as  befits  one 
of  the  largest  and  wealthiest  counties  of  the  state,  and  has  143  schools, 
six  high  schools,  one  junior  high  school,  three  parochial  schools,  an 
Ursuline  academy,  a  commercial  college  and  a  girls'  school.  The  schools 
in  the  county  are  operated  under  the  unit  system,  with  a  uniform  nine- 
months  school  term  for  every  child  in  the  county,  and  with  an  attractive 
salary  scale  for  the  instructors. 

GREAT  FALLS  HISTORICALLY  CONSIDERED 

Practically  in  the  geographical  center  of  the  state,  is  located  the  city 
of  Great  Falls,  the  county  seat  of  Cascade  County,  and,  because  of  its  posi- 
tion, as  well  as  its  natural  resources  for  development  and  transporta- 
tion, one  of  the  most  important  centers  of  trade  and  distribution  in  Mon- 
tana. There  are  those  who  claim  that  the  falls  of  the  Missouri  River  in 
this  locality  were  first  seen  by  the  Chevalier  Verendrye,  a  French  ex- 
plorer, in  1743,  but  careful  investigations  have  proven  that  the  most 
northwesterly  point  reached  by  the  intrepid  Frenchman  was  in  Western 
South  Dakota.  Therefore  it  may  be  assumed  that  the  first  to  scan  the 
wonderful  waters  of  this  region  were  the  members  of  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  expedition,  who  reached  this  point  in  June,  1805.  In  1846,  Capt. 
John  Mullan,  of  the  United  States  Army,  established  the  trading  post 
of  the  American  Fur  Company  at  a  point  on  the  upper  Missouri  which 
he  named  Fort  Benton  in  honor  of  Senator  Benton  of  Missouri,  and 
nine  years  later,  in  1855,  in  company  with  Gen.  Isaac  I.  Stevens,  also 
of  the  United  States  Army,  investigated  this  region  by  order  of  the 
Government,  to  whom  they  made  an  intelligent  and  comprehensive  re- 
port. The  army  officers  were  followed  in  about  1862  by  an  engineer, 
Milner  Roberts,  and  his  son,  Thomas  P.  Roberts,  who  named  the  two 
falls,  known  at  this  time  as  Rainbow  and  Black  Eagle,  and  who  also  gave 
the  name  of  The  Long  Pool  to  the  deep"  quiet  water  that  extends  ten 
or  fifteen  miles  above  the  head  of  the  rapids,  where  the  present  Great 


688  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Northern  Railway  bridge  now  spans  the  river,  and  in  which  the  group 
of  islands,  known  as  the  White  Bear  Islands,  is  situated. 

THE  COMING  OF  PARIS  GIBSON 

It  was  in  May,  1882,  about  ten  years  after  the  visit  of  Milner  Roberts, 
that  there  came  to  this  locality  the  Hon.  Paris  Gibson,  who  became  the 
founder  of  Great  Falls  and  later  was  sent  to  the  United  States  Senate.  In 
an  article  in  a  special  edition  of  the  Great  Falls  Leader,  published  in  1913, 
from  which  many  of  the  attendant  facts  and  figures  regarding  Great  Falls 
have  been  secured,  Senator  Gibson  said,  in  part :  "When  I  first  saw  the 
beautiful  tract  of  land  at  the  head  of  the  upper,  or  Black  Eagle,  falls,  I 
at  once  decided  to  found  a  city  there.  The  advantages  for  establishing  a 
great  industrial  and  commercial  center  at  that  point  appealed  to  me  so 
forcibly  that  I  decided  at  once  to  drop  the  business  in  which  I  was  engaged 
and  devote  all  my  time  and  such  energy  as  I  possessed  to  laying  the  founda- 
tion for  what  I  believed  would,  with  the  development  of  the  Northwest, 
become  a  great  city.  Having  succeeded  in  enlisting  the  powerful  aid  of 
James  J.  Hill  in  this  work,  a  thriving  town  soon  sprang  up,  which  in  a 
comparatively  short  time  contained  a  population  of  4,000.  I  will  not  dwell 
upon  the  early  history  of  Great  Falls  and  the  period  of  comparative  stagna- 
tion that  prevailed  in  this  young  city  from  1892  to  1908,  when  John  D. 
Ryan,  head  of  the  Amalgamated  Copper  Company,  and  his  associates  ac- 
quired control  of  the  affairs  of  the  Great  Falls  \Yater  Power  Company 
and  Townsite  Company.  *  *  *  It  would  be  difficult  to  find  another 
spot  in  all  the  great  Northwestern  empire  as  advantageously  situated  as 
Great  Falls  for  the  centralization  of  commerce  and  industry,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  for  the  creation  of  a  beautiful  residential  city.  Great  Falls 
was  laid  out  at  the  head  of  the  falls  with  ample  reservations  for  diversi- 
fied activities,  both  large  and  small,  which  can  in  no  way  interfere  with  its 
residence  districts,  which  are  so  situated  as  to  command  an  impressive 
landscape  view." 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  POWER  IN  THE  GREAT  FALLS  AREA 

Since  the  arrival  of  Captain  Lewis  and  his  band  of  devoted  followers, 
and,  indeed,  since  the  arrival  of  Senator  Gibson,  numerous  changes  have 
taken  place.  One  of  the  greatest  of  these,  naturally,  is  that  which  has 
to  do  with  the  development  and  transmission  of  high  voltage  current  over 
the  state,  derived  from  the  falls.  The  power  developed  at  Gre^t  Falls,  in  its 
home  city  is  utilized  in  street  and  avenue  lighting,  electric  railways,  flour 
milling,  water  supply,  ore  smelting,  coal  mining  and  in  a  hundred  other 
ways.  At  Butte,  Great  Falls  power  is  daily  hoisting  vast  quantities  of 
copper  ore  and  pumping  water  from  the  mines,  furnishing  the  power  for 
Butte  city  water  and  assisting  in  driving  its  street  railway  and  lighting  its 
streets.  It  also  drives  a  portion  of  the  smelter  at  Anaconda ;  operates  the 
flour  mill  at  Cascade,  lights  the  town;  furnishes  light  and  power  to  Fort 
Benton,  Havre,  Belt,  Stanford,  Hobson,  Moccasin  and  Lewistown,  as  well 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


689 


as  numerous  other  communities;  and  operates  the  Butte,  Anaconda  & 
Pacific  Railway  between  Butte  and  Anaconda.  It  is  now  known  as  one  of 
the  greatest  water  power  sites  in  the  United  States,  and  fully  developed 
will  yield  an  estimated  350,000  horse  power. 

Within  eight  miles  of  the  city  of  Great  Falls  the  Missouri  drops  a  total 
distance  of  365  feet ;  96  feet  at  the  Great  Falls,  47  at  Rainbow,  41  at  Black 
Eagle  Falls,  29  feet  at  the  Crooked  Falls,  12  feet  at  Colter's  Falls  and  a 
fall  of  140  feet  in  the  canyon  below  the  Great  Falls.  The  development 
of  these  power  sites  has  been  gradual.  The  dam  for  the  Black  Eagle 
power  plant  was  completed  in  1891  and  developed  14,000  horse  power. 
This  plant  furnishes  power  for  the  operation  of  the  smelter,  the  lighting 
of  the  city  of  Great  Falls  and  the  operation  of  its  street  railway  system. 
Since  that  time  as  the  market  for  the  power  has  developed,  two  new  and 


RAINBOW  FALLS  AT  GREAT  FALLS 


larger  plants  have  come  into  being,  one  at  Rainbow  and  the  other  at 
Great  Falls. 

The  installation  of  the  Rainbow  plant  occurred  in  1910  and  it  was 
made  necessary  by  the  need  for  electrical  power  to  make  more  economical 
the  operation  of  the  extensive  mines  at  Butte  and  the  large  reduction  works 
at  Anaconda.  This  plant  was  enlarged  in  1917  and  now  produces  50,000 
horse  power,  a  great  part  of  this  current  being  sent  to  Butte  over  a  steel 
tower  transmission  line.  That  power  not  used  at  Anaconda  and  Butte  is 
distributed  to  nearby  cities  and  towns  by  means  of  smaller  transmission 
lines.  When  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad  conceived  the 
idea  of  electrifying  its  road  from  Harlowton,  Montana,  to  Avery,  Idaho, 
it  turned  to  Great  Falls  for  aid  in  supplying  the  vast  amount  of  electrical 
energy  necessary  for  this  giant  undertaking.  The  response  of  the  Montana 
Power  Company  was  the  immediate  commencement,  in  1913,  of  the  con- 
struction of  the  Great  Falls  plant,  which  was  completed  in  1915  after  an 
expenditure  of  $5,000,000.  When  completed,  this  plant  produced  90,000 

Vol.  1—44 


690  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

horsepower,  nearly  twice  the  combined  horsepower  of  the  two  plants  already 
built.  The  huge  dam  of  this  engineering  enterprise  is  1,340  feet  in  length 
and  has  a  total  height  of  155  feet.  Its  construction  required  3,000  tons  of 
steel,  1,000,000  sacks  of  cement,  1,200,000  bricks,  210,000  cubic  yards  of 
concrete,  and  3,000,000  board  feet  of  lumber,  a  total  of  11,000  cars  of 
material.  A  private  railway  was  constructed  to  convey  this  enormous 
amount  of  material  requirements  to  the  site  of  the  dam,  and  an  army  of 
workmen  was  employed  during  the  two-year  period  required  for  its  con- 
struction. 

Thus  it  is  that  the  water  power  of  Great  Falls  has  been  developed 
until  the  energy  produced  is  driving  the  wheels  of  industry  in  all  parts  of 
Central  and  Northern  Montana.  It  is  a  peculiar  and  interesting  fact  that 
the  people  of  this  region  have  never  been  treated  to  the  spectacle  of  a 
freeze  in  the  Missouri  River  close  enough  to  the  dam  sites  to  interfere  with 
the  amount  of  power  generated  there.  The  mighty  Niagara  Falls  may 
cease  its  flow  because  of  winter's  cold,  but  such  a  happening  at  Great  Falls 
would  be  unheard  of  because  the  river  at  this  point  is  heated  to  prevent  the 
occurrence.  The  heat  comes  from  the  Giant  Spring,  which  flows  into  the 
river  about  a  mile  above  the  Rainbow  dam,  this  being  considered  the  largest 
fresh  water  spring  in  the  world,  with  an  estimated  capacity  of  36,300  cubic 
feet  a  minute.  The  fact  that  its  temperature  is  constantly  at  52^  degrees 
Fahrenheit,  winter  or  summer,  has  the  effect  of  preventing  the  formation 
of  anchor  or  frazil  ice  and  relieves  the  electrical  engineers  from  worry 
of  this  nature. 

Naturally  the  development  of  this  great  water  power  has  proven  a 
boon  not  only  to  Great  Falls  but  to  all  the  smaller  communities  of  this 
region  as  well,  for  in  addition  to  being  utilized  for  Great  Falls'  many  indus- 
tries and  municipal  needs,  the  mines  at  Butte,  the  smelter  at  Anaconda 
and  the  mighty  electric  engines  of  the  .Milwaukee  Railroad,  it  supplies 
power  and  light  to  many  smaller  cities,  and  twenty  towns  within  a  radius 
of  175  miles  are  benefited  by  the  current  generated.  In  addition  it  is  a 
great  factor  in  conserving  the  district's  supply  of  coal,  and  the  thousands 
of  tons  saved  daily  by  the  use  of  electrical  power  are  available  for  use  by 
those  industries  which  must  have  coal  with  which  to  operate  their  plants. 
A  large  part  of  the  city's  progress  and  prosperity  may  thus  be  traced  to 
the  falls  of  the  Missouri.  A  further  exposition  of  this  subject  will  be 
found  in  Chapter  XXIV. 

THE  CITY  OF  GREAT  FALLS 

The  City  of  Great  Falls  is  located  on  the  banks  of  the  Missouri  River 
and  its  name  is  derived  from  the  drop  in  the  stream  already  referred  to. 
Naturally,  the  fact  that  its  location  gives  it  such  great  power  would  bring 
around  the  idea  that  it  is  merely  an  industrial  center,  but  this  is  not  so  in 
the  degree  that  commerce  has  outstripped  the  residential  features  or  that 
many  of  the  factors  of  refined  existence  have  been  neglected.  Thanks  to 
the  foresight  of  the  citizens  of  the  community  the  city  is  one  of  great 
beauty,  there  being  something  like  640  acres  of  municipal  parks  distributed 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


691 


where  they  will  be  of  the  greatest  service  to  the  people,  in  addition  to  boule- 
varded  streets  and  avenues,  beautiful  lawns,  attractive  residences  and 
numerous  flower  gardens.  The  founders  of  the  city  made  it  a  point  to, 
lay  out  the  city  with  the  idea  of  beauty  and  convenience,  and  wide,  well- 
paved,  handsome  thoroughfares  are  the  outstanding  feature  of  the  design, 
while  laying  out  the  city  "on  the  square"  has  had  the  effect  of  obliterating 
at  the  outset  troublous  municipal  features  with  which  have  been  forced 
to  contend  the  city  fathers  of  other  communities  whose  founders  were  not 
so  far-sighted.  Within  the  limits  of  the  city  there  are  approximately  four- 


GREAT  FALLS  CITY  OF  TODAY 


teen  miles  of  paved  streets  and  a  frontage  of  284,710  lineal  feet,  or  equal 
to  122  acres  of  boulevarding,  or  32  miles  in  length  with  boulevard  and 
"trees  on  both  sides. 

The  growth  of  the  City  of  Great  Falls  is  one  which  can  be  pointed 
to  with  pride  by  its  citizens.  In  1910  the  city's  population  was  13,948. 
The  census  of  1920  gave  the  city  a  population  of  24,121,  making  it  the 
second  largest  city  in  the  state.  The  reason  for  much  of  this  growth  can 
be  directly  traced  to  the  industrial  development  of  the  city,  which  has 
rapidly  approached  the  position  where  it  can  lay  reasonable  claim  to  being 
the  principal  manufacturing  community  of  Montana.  Its  public  utilities 
have  kept  pace  with  its  industrial  growth,  and  a  feature  to  be  noted  is  its 


692  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

splendid  lighting  system,  secured  through  the  immense  amount  of  electric 
power  at  its  disposal.  With  the  approach  of  nightfall  numerous  handsome 
electric  signs  mark  its  big  business  establishments.  Its  five-light  cluster 
ornamental  poles  furnish  a  brilliant  setting  for  its  business  district,  and 
this  system  is  maintained  as  well  in  the  residence  sections,  where  its  long 
boulevards  are  marked  by  ample  facilities  in  this  direction  and  even  the 
alleys  are  furnished  with  electric  lights,  a  feature  to  be  found  in  but  few 
cities  anywhere  in  the  country.  Many  committees  from  other  large  munici- 
palities have  visited  Great  Falls  for  the  purpose  of  studying  its  lighting 
system  for  the  benefit  of  their  home  communities  and  the  lead  of  "The 
Electric  City,"  as  it  has  been  named,  has  been  followed  already  by  numerous 
big  cities  and  towns. 

The  same  great  power  that  furnishes  the  city  with  its  light  enables 
Great  Falls  to  support  one  of  the  most  modern  and  up-to-date  street  rail- 
way systems  in  the  Northwest,  the  rails  of  which  have  been  laid  to  cover 
the  city  to  the  very  best  possible  advantage,  and  the  frequency  of  the 
service  of  which  cannot  be  surpassed  by  any  city  of  the  same  size. 

The  impression  gained  by  the  visitor  to  Great  Falls  as  to  the  city's 
modernity  and  metropolitan  features  is  strengthened  by  its  modern  build- 
ings. The  public  buildings,  both  of  county  and  city,  have  been  constructed 
from  the  viewpoint  of  permanency  and  the  needs  of  the  future,  and  the 
school  buildings  are  all  handsome,  well  equipped  structures  which  would 
do  credit  to  any  of  the  large  metropolises.  The  course  of  instruction  given 
in  the  grade  schools  and  high  schools  are  the  equal  of  any  in  the  country, 
and  the  Montana  free  text  book  system  is  in  force.  Among  the  substantial 
and  modern  buildings  erected  in  recent  years  may  be  mentioned  the  fol- 
lowing :  First  National  Bank  Building,  eight  stories ;  Ford  Building,  five 
stories ;  Hotel  Rainbow,  five  stories ;  Park  Hotel,  five  stories ;  two  large  and 
attractive  passenger  stations  for  the  accommodation  of  the  traveling  public ; 
the  distributing  branch  of  Swift  &  Company;  the  Roberts,  Northwestern 
Auto  Supply  Company,  Great  Falls  Dairy  Products  Company,  Great  Falls 
Wholesale  Grocery  Company,  Federal  and  Rocky  Mountain  Fire  Insurance 
Company  buildings ;  the  Masonic  Temple,  the  Elks  Temple,  the  Tribune 
Publishing  Company's  Building,  the  Odd  Fellows'  Building,  the  Ursuline 
Academy,  the  Brown-Dunn  Building,  the  $150,000  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association  Building,  the  annex  to  the  Great  Falls  High  School,  the  Junior 
High  School,  two  handsome  public  schools,  a  large  wholesale  drug  house, 
several  large  apartment  houses  and  automobile  sales  buildings,  and  many 
other  commercial  structures. 

Development  at  Great  Falls  along  the  line  of  manufacturing  has  been 
extremely  rapid  during  the  past  decade,  a  fact  that  can  be  substantiated 
by  the  figures  of  the  1914  report  of  the  Government  Bureau  of  Census. 
The  report  quoted  stated  that  at  the  time  Great  Falls  possessed  fifty-four 
factories  in  which  there  was  invested  a  capital  of  $9,804,000,  and  that  its 
products  for  one  year  were  valued  at  $9,192,000,  in  the  production  of 
which  finished  articles  a  total  of  $5,430,000  worth  of  raw  materials  were 
consumed.  Since  that  time  there  has  been  a  healthy  and  consistent  increase 
both  in  the  number  of  factories  and  the  size  of  those  which  were  in  exist- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


693 


ence  at  the  time  the  report  was  made,  and  industries  which  three  or  four 
years  ago  were  struggling  along  have  substituted  substantial  brick  buildings 
for  their  former  frame  structures  and  the  number  of  men  employed  therein 
has  greatly  increased,  the  payrolls  of  these  concerns  having  now  reached 
a  point  whe^  they  form  a  substantial  basis  for  the  city's  prosperity. 
Heading  the  list  of  the  industrial  plants  of  Gre'at  Falls  is  the  smelter 
operated  by  the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company,  details  of  which  have 
been  given  already  in  this  chapter.  Next  in  importance  to  the  smelting 
industry  is  that  of  wheat  milling,  the  manufacture  of  flour  having  rapidly 
approached  the  status  of  one  of  the  state's  leading  industries  and  Great 


MONTANA  FLOUR  MILLS  COMPANY  PLANT 

Falls  being  the  chief  wheat  grinding  center  between  Minneapolis  and  the 
Pacific  coast.  Two  of  the  largest  mills  in  the  Northwest  are  operating 
here,  the  plant  of  the  Royal  Milling  Company  having  a  capacity  of  3,600 
barrels  a  day  and  the  mill  operated  by  the  Montana  Flour  Mills  Company 
having  a  rated  capacity  of  2,500  barrels  daily.  Lying  as  it  does  in  the 
center  of  a  vast  wheat  producing  area,  and  with  the  added  advantages  of 
economical  power  and  convenient  distributing  facilities,  it  is  logical  that 
Great  Falls  should  assume  a  foremost  place  in  the  industry  and  become 
the  wheat  center  of  the  Northwest.  In  the  spring  of  1919  there  was 
commenced  the  construction  of  the  present  commodious  state  terminal  ele- 
vator, for  which  bonds  amounting  to  $250,000  were  voted  by  the  citizens 
of  Montana  in  the  previous  November. 


694  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Much  of  the  wheat  produced  in  this  district  is  being  used  by  the 
large,  modern  macaroni  factory,  which  was  built  in  1917  and  which  has 
secured  excellent  results.  Another  large  plant  is  the  sugar  beet  factory, 
which  is  utilizing  in  its  product  the  beets  grown  on  a  large  acreage  ad- 
jacent to  the  city.  Great  Falls  has  the  largest  packing  jplant  between 
the  Twin  Cities  of  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis  and  the  Pacific  coast,  and 
the  most  modern  creamery  and  milk  station  west  of  the  Mississippi  River, 
this  latter  representing  an  investment  of  $250,000,  while  two  smaller 
creameries  are  also  busily  at  work.  Other  business  enterprises  which 
may  be  mentioned  as  being  in  a  flourishing  condition  are:  several  sash 
and  door  factories,  an  ice  plant,  mining  and  milling  machinery  factory, 
iron  works,  brass  and  babbitt  metal  factory,  cornice  works,  brick  and  tile 
plant,  gypsum  mill,  a  large  blank  book  and  publishing  house,  a  monu- 
mental stone  works,  two  bottling  works,  a  soda  water  factory,  three 
nurseries  and  greenhouses,  an  engraving  plant,  a  fur  manufacturing 
house,  an  optical  supplies  firm,  several  cigar  factories,  an  ammonia,  bluing 
and  polish  factory,  numerous  bakeries  and  laundries  and  other  semi- 
manufacturing  plants,  and  a  number  of  branch  establishments  of  manu- 
facturers of  national  reputation,  among  the  products  represented  being 
automobiles,  rubber  goods,  agricultural  machinery  and  implements,  lum- 
ber, coal,  woodenware,  drugs,  groceries  and  stationery. 

Located  in  the  Belt  Mountains,  about  fifty  miles  from  Great  Falls, 
are  stored  commercial  quantities  of  iron  ore  which  analysis  has  shown 
to  be  of  high  grade.  These  deposits  are  found  in  great  veins  which  lie 
within  the  Little  and  Big  Belt  Mountains  partly  in  Fergus  County, 
but  for  the  most  part  in  Cascade  County  which  they  traverse  from  one 
end  to  the  other  and  are  easily  reached  by  railroad.  Great  Falls'  altitude  is 
3,350  feet  and  that  of  Belt  Mountain  iron  ore  is  5,300  feet,  thus  furnishing 
a  descending  grade  for  its  transportation  to  the  Electric  City.  Manganese, 
essential  to  Bessemer  steel  making,  is  found  in  large  quantities  in  the 
Corbin  hills,  on  the  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway,  about  125  miles 
distant  from  Great  Falls. 

Another  raw  material  which  in  combination  with  the  other  advan- 
tages of  Great  Falls  should  lead  to  the  establishment  of  plants  to  reduce 
it  from  its  raw  state  to  the  finished  product,  is  wool,  and  that  of  this 
section  of  Montana  is  of  the  highest  grade. 

TRANSPORTATION  FACILITIES 

In  the  handling  of  all  of  the  products  which  can  be  manufactured  and 
produced  at  Great  Falls,  the  city  has  the  added  advantage  of  good  rail- 
road facilities.  The  Great  Northern,  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul, 
and  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  lines,  with  their  branches,  make  the 
city  the  center  of  a  network  of  rails  which  reach  out  in  every  direction 
into  the  best  districts  of  the  state.  The  "Missoula  cut-off"  has  been 
mentioned  before.  Another  branch  which  will  greatly  facilitate  the 
handling  of  freight  will  be  the  new  Rockford-Lewistown-Great  Falls 
cut-off.  The  Great  Northern  Railway  runs  numerous  trains  daily  out 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  695 

of  Great  Falls,  this  city  being  midway  on  the  Havre-Butte  main  line  of 
the  road  and  trains  from  here  connecting  with  the  "highline"  main  line 
of  the  Great  Northern.  Here  may  be  secured  all  transcontinental  trains 
for  the  Twin  Cities  and  Chicago,  good  service  being  given  also  to  Butte, 
with  connections  to  Salt  Lake  and  California  points.  Daily  train  service 
is  maintained  directly  to  Canadian  points,  while  double  through  service 
is  maintained  on  the  Lewistown  branch  and  that  city  is  connected  with 
the  larger  city  by  lines  that  traverse  a  prosperous  agricultural  country 
in  which  are  many  flourishing  little  communities.  Among  the  branch 
lines  to  the  smaller  towns  about  Great  Falls  are:  a  branch  to  the  big  coal 
camps  of  Sand  Coulee,  thirteen  miles ;  to  Stockett,  eighteen  miles  west  and 
south;  to  Belt,  seventeen  miles;  to  Armington,  nineteen  miles;  and  to 
Monarch  and  Neihart,  through  a  splendid  mining  and  agricultural  coun- 
try, sixty-seven  miles.  West  to  Gilman  a  branch  line  extends  fifty-two 
miles  through  the  Sun  River  district,  and  to  the  northwest  a  line  extends 
seventy-seven  miles  to  Chouteau  and  Pendroy,  passing  throngh  the 
fertile  Montana  benchlands.  To  the  north,  at  Conrad,  connections  are 
made  with  the  Montana  Western  Railway,  which  runs  to  Valier.  On  a 
line  which  connects  Shelby  at  the  north  with  Billings  on  the  distant 
southeast,  are  operated  the  through  trains  of  the  Burlington  route. 
Daily  trains  over  this  route  give  excellent  service  to  Glacier  National 
Park  and  its  wonderful  array  of  scenic  beauties.  From  Enid  in  the 
extreme  northwestern  portion  of  the  state  to  Lewistown  in  Central  Mon- 
tana, the  Great  Northern  cut-off  is  planned,  and  this  will  traverse  the 
large  areas  of  Dawson  and  Fergus  counties.  When  completed  it  will  form 
the  main  line  of  this  railroad  from  the  Twin  Cities  to  the  Pacific  coast, 
and  will  give  Great  Falls  added  prestige  as  a  railroad  point.  From  Great 
Falls  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  operates  daily  trains  to  Harlow- 
ton,  where  connections  can  be  made  with  the  main  line  from  Chicago 
to  Seattle.  The  same  line  operates  a  branch  line  seventy-two  miles  from 
Great  Falls  to  Agawam,  through  Chouteau  and  one  of  the  most  prosper- 
ous farming  and  stockraising  sections  of  the  state.  When  the  Soo  Line's 
plans  are  culminated,  Great  Falls  will  have  another  big  railroad. 

GREAT  FALLS  COMMERCIAL  CLUB 

An  organization  which  has  done  much  to  build  up  Great  Falls  indus- 
tries and  interests  at  home  and  to  laud  its  virtues  abroad  is  the  Great 
Falls  Commercial  Club,  which  has  been  in  existence  for  about  ten  years. 
This  operates  under  a  board  of  directors  of  representatives  selected  by 
the  Wholesalers'  and  Jobbers'  Association,  the  Real  Estate  Association, 
the  Merchants'  Association,  the  Retail  Merchants,  Hotel  and  Restaurant 
Association,  the  Bar  Association,  Lumber  Dealers'  Association,  the  Bank- 
ers' Association,  the  Doctors  and  Dentists'  Association,  the  Implement 
Dealers'  Association  and  the  Builders'  Association,  three  directors  at  large 
appointed  by  the  president,  and  the  president,  vice  president,  treasurer 
and  secretary  of  the  association.  The  organization  represents  every  busi- 
ness, industry  and  profession  in  the  city,  thus  making  the  achievements 


696  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  the  body  effective  and  broad  in  scope.     The  present  secretary  of  the 
association  is  L.  E.  Jones. 

CHURCHES,  CHARITIES  AND  FRATERNITIES 

While  Great  Falls  has  made  strides  along  material  lines,  its  religious, 
civic,  social  and  charitable  activities  have  been  constant.  Of  the  twenty- 
six  religious  denominations  represented  in  the  city,  all  have  comfortable 
and  appropriate  places  of  worship,  while  fourteen  are  provided  with 
handsome  church  edifices.  Nearly  all  of  these  denominations  have  large 
congregations  and  are  contributors  to  the  welfare  and  advancement  of 
the  city,  for  the  percentage  of  churchgoers  at  Great  Falls  is  large.  A 
list  of  the  churches  follows :  Adventist,  First  Baptist,  Swedish  Baptist, 
Catholic,  St.  Ann's  Cathedral,  Sacred  Heart  Chapel,  St.  Joseph's,  St. 
Peter  and  Paul's,  First  Christian,  First  Church  of  Christ  Scientist,  First 
Congregational,  Episcopal  Church  of  the  Incarnation,  Our  Saviour's 
Norwegian  Evangelical  Lutheran,  Swedish  Lutheran  Bethlehem,  United 
Norwegian  Lutheran,  Trinity  German  Evangelical  Lutheran,  African 
Methodist  Episcopal,  First  Methodist  Episcopal,  Immanuel  Scandinavian 
Methodist  Episcopal,  Warren  Methodist  Episcopal,  First  Presbyterian, 
Grace  Presbyterian,  Zion  Church,  Unitarian  and  Salvation  Army.  Two 
of  the  denominations  referred  to  conduct  large,  well-equipped  hospitals 
at  Great  Falls,  and  these  are  modern  institutions  in  every  respect. 

GREAT  FALLS  Y.  M.  C.  A  AND  Y.  W.  C.  A. 

A  contributing  factor  to  the  moral  welfare  of  the  city  is  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association.  The  Great  Falls  Y.  M.  C.  A.  building  was 
dedicated  February  20,  1916,  the  men  in  charge  of  the  state  work  of 
the  association  at  that  time  being:  Charles  Puehler,  state  secretary;  and 
F.  B.  Reynolds,  Billings,  state  committee  chairman.  The  movement  was 
started  by  J.  B.  Long,  who  made  a  standing  offer  of  $25,000  to  "start 
the  ball  rolling,"  and  his  contribution  to  the  building  fund  was  followed 
by  those  of  other  generous  and  public-spirited  citizens.  The  building 
committee  consisted  of  the  following:  Dr.  A.  F.  Longeway,  chairman; 
C.  E.  Hubbard,  Thomas  Couch,  K.  B.  Mclver,  J.  W.  Sherwood  and  Lee 
M.  Ford.  The  officers  of  the  board  at  the  time  of  the  building's  open- 
ing were :  I.  W.  Church,  president ;  A.  M.  Hart,  vice  president ;  F.  C. 
Bauer,  secretary;  L.  W.  Suhr,  treasurer;  and  H.  A.  Templeton,  first 
president  of  the  board  of  directors.  The  present  board  of  trustees  are: 
J.  W.  Sherwood,  chairman;  L.  H.  Hamilton,  I.  W.  Church,  Sam  Stephen- 
son,  Dr.  A.  F.  Longeway  and  Fred  Long.  The  first  general  secretary 
was  Lynn  H.  Fox,  who  was  succeeded  by  A.  E.  Yount,  the  latter  in  turn 
being  succeeded  by  the  present  secretary,  Ralph  R.  Wolf.  E.  E.  Holde- 
man  is  the  present  physical  director. 

The  building,  which  cost  $150,000  to  complete  and  equip,  is  one  of 
the  handsome  structures  of  the  city,  and  offers  an  ideal  home  for  the 
young  men  of  the  city,  as  well  as  affording  a  place  where  both 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  697 

young  and  older  men  find  healthful  recreation  and  amusement.  The 
present  membership  of  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  is  813  members. 

The  Young  Women's  Christian  Association  of  Great  Falls  is  also  a 
helpful  influence  in  the  life  of  the  city,  and  the  organization,  a  flourishing 
one,  is  housed  in  a  building  devoted  exclusively  to  this  work. 

Practically  every  fraternal  order  of  any  importance  has  representa- 
tion at  Great  Falls,  the  fraternal  life  of  the  city  being  one  of  its  impor- 
tant features  and  several  of  the  lodges  having  handsome  homes  of  their 
own,  the  Masons,  Elks  and  Odd  Fellows,  particularly,  having  erected 
structures  which  contribute  to  the  architectural  beauty  of  the  city.  The 
city  has  numerous  unions,  likewise,  and  a  number  of  these  hold  their 
meetings  in  Carpenters'  Hall  which  is  owned  by  that  branch  of  the  city's 
artisans. 

PUBLIC  RECREATION  GROUNDS  AND  BUILDINGS 

Great  Falls  has  seven  modern  theatres  and  is  visited  by  all  the  good 
road  shows,  as  well  as  stock  companies  and  headline  vaudeville  acts. 
It  likewise  has  725  acres  of  public  parks  and  playgrounds  and- these  are 
located  in  such  a  manner  that  there  is  not  a  district  in  the  city  which 
is  more  than  a  ten-minute  walk  removed  from  some  park.  The  board 
is  appointed  by  the  governor  and  has  absolute  control  over  these  public 
meeting-places.  Public  band  concerts  and  community  singing  are  features 
of  these  recreation  grounds  and  large  crowds  of  the  citizens  of  Great 
Falls  enjoy  these  summer  evening  concerts  to  the  utmost.  Many  of  the 
75,000  trees  under  the  care  of  the  board  have  been  planted  and  raised  in  the 
nurseries  maintained  in  connection  with  the  park  system,  and  there  are  now 
about  20,000  trees  planted  in  the  parks  of  the  city,  these  not  including 
the  thousands  of  elm,  maple,  ash,  poplar  and  other  shade  trees  planted 
^long  the  boulevards  or  in  the  residence  lawns.  Another  popular  place 
of  public  amusement  and  recreation  is  the  city  natatorium,  a  handsome 
structure,  as  well  as  commodious  in  size  and  complete  in  all  its  appoint- 
ments. 

CITY  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS 

In  1886  the  public  school  system  of  Great  Falls  consisted  of  a  one- 
room  frame  building  with  eighteen  pupils.  Today  it  consists  of  ten  sub- 
stantial brick  and  stone  buildings  of  modern  design  and  equipment,  with 
an  enrollment  of  4,778  pupils,  and  a  faculty  of  141  instructors  and  prin- 
cipals to  superintend  the  147  class  rooms  of  the  city  schools.  In  the 
high  school  alone  there  are  enrolled  639  pupils.  Twenty  large  play  rooms 
are  provided  for  the  purpose  of  looking  after  the  physical  welfare  of 
the  children,  and  playgrounds  are  adjuncts  of  every  school.  Practically 
every  subject  offered  by  any  of  the  public  schools  of  the  country  is  in- 
cluded in  the  curriculum  of  the  Great  Falls  schools,  and  in  the  course  of 
study,  extending  from  the  kindergarten  through  high  school,  every  effort 
is  made  to  offer  the  students  a  choice  of  .subjects  according  to  the  voca- 


698  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

tions  which  they  desire  to  follow.  Courses  in  music,  drawing,  home 
science,  art,  physical  culture,  manual  training  and  commercial  and  bank- 
ing trainings,  in  addition  to  the  regular  subjects,  are  given,  and  particu- 
larly practical  are  the  home  science  and  business  courses  and  the  manual 
training  department.  The  first  named  of  these  three  trains  children  along 
practical  lines  and  equips  the  girls  better  for  the  duties  which  will  devolve 
upon  them  later  in  life,  while  the  courses  in  commercial  work  fit  the 
student  for  a  career  in  the  business  world  should  his  inclinations  be  so 
directed,  and  the  manual  training  department  is  also  intensely  practical 
and  is  intended  to  develop  the  mechanical  ability  with  which  many  chil- 
dren are  endowed.  In  the  grades  this  course  includes  the  care  and  use  of 
tools  and  the  making  of  simple  articles,  while  in  the  high  school  it  is 
extended  to  mechanical  and  architectural  drawing,  cabinet  work,  wood 
turning,  pattern  making,  forge  work  and  machine  shop  practice.  A  course 
in  automobile  repairing  has  been  recently  added  with  the  intention  of 
preparing  students  for  this  industry.  The  home  science  and  art  courses 
give  the  girls  a  thorough  training  in  the  economics  of  the  home.  In  the 
grades  plain  sewing  and  cutting  and  plain  cooking  come  under  the  head 
of  this  course,  but  in  the  high  school  it  is  extended  to  cover  dressmak- 
ing, cooking,  serving,  millinery,  home  economy  and  home  decoration. 
An  illustration  of  the  practical  work  done  in  this  department  is  the 
senior  class  which  makes  its  own  graduating  dresses  and  thereby  gains 
practical  experience  as  well  as  bringing  about  greater  democracy  among 
the  girls. 

GREAT  FALLS  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

The  Great  Falls  Public  Library,  located  at  Great  Falls,  was  founded 
June  28,  1889,  as  tne  Valeria  Library  and  Art  Association.  On  May  i, 
1903,  an  appropriation  was  received  from  Andrew  Carnegie,  from  which 
funds  the  present  handsome  structure  was  erected,  and  at  the  same  time 
the  name  was  changed  to  its  present  style.  Those  most  prominent  in 
the  establishment  of  the  library  in  1889  were  Jessie  S.  Ladd,  H.  O. 
Chowen,  A.  E.  Dickerman,  Theodore  Gibson,  J.  B.  Leslie  and  C.  M.  Web- 
ster. The  successive  librarians  have  been:  Robert  S.  Williams,  Miss 
Eloise  Petit,  Miss  Lutie  Weitman,  Miss  Bella  Brown  and  Miss  Jennie 
M.  Conner,  and  the  present  incumbent  of  the  position,  Miss  Louise  M. 
Fernald.  The  library  at  this  time  has  26,325  volumes,  and  the  total  cir- 
culation for  the  year  past  was  159,030  volumes. 

GREAT  FALLS  NEWSPAPERS 

Great  Falls'  newspapers  are  the  Tribune  and  the  Leader.  The  latter 
is  the  older  of  the  two,  having  been  established  June  16,  1888,  when  the 
city  was  still  in  its  infancy,  and  has  always  been  recognized  as  the  lead- 
ing republican  newspaper  of  Northern  Montana.  It  has  an  extensive 
circulation,  takes  the  full  daily  report  of  the  Associated  Press,  and  em- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


699 


ploys  a  large  force  of  news-gatherers  in  supplying  the  matter  for  two 
editions,  daily  and  weekly. 

EDUCATION  OUTSIDE  OF  GREAT  FALLS 

Excellent  educational  advantages  are  found  in  Cascade  County  out- 
side of  the  county  seat,  for  every  effort  has  been  made  to  provide  for 
the  best  possible  education  for  the  children,'  and  there  are  125  rural 
schools  in  the  county  under  the  supervision  of  a  county  superintendent. 
These  compare  favorably  with  the  rural  schools  anywhere  and  offer  a 
thorough  course  of  instruction.  Some  of  the  smaller  towns  also  offer 
high  school  training,  which  is  exceptional,  considering  the  size  of  the 
communities  in  which  they  are  located,  and  the  rural  school  inspector 
of  the  state  department  of  education  gives  suggestions  and  aids  in  the 
supervision  of  these  schools. 

Cascade  County,  in  conjunction  with  the  federal  government,  employs 
an  agent  whose  duties  include  advising  with  the  farmers  and  studying  the 
best  systems  of  farming,  stock  raising  and  farm  management  in  this  dis- 
trict, giving  the  farmers  the  result  of  his  investigations  and  the  benefit  of 
his  experience.  Recently,  the  State  Legislature  provided  for  a  free  cir- 
culating library  that  is  rapidly  being  popularized  among  the  rural  com- 
munities, books  being  distributed  free  of  charge.  This  is  a  county  insti- 
tution and  the  county  agent  aids  in  handling  the  distribution  of  the  read- 
ing matter. 

TOWNS  OF  CASCADE  COUNTY 

Among  the  thriving  and  flourishing  towns  of  Cascade  County,  aside 
from  Great  Falls,  may  be  mentioned:  Cascade,  a  progressive  farming 
and  shipping  center ;  Stockett,  a  large  coal  mining  town ;  Belt,  which  is 
surrounded  by  an  excellent  farming  community;  Geyser,  an  important 
grain  shipping  point;  Neihart,  where  are  located  important  silver  inter- 
ests ;  and  Monarch,  Armington,  Raynesford,  Spion  Kop  and  others. 


CHAPTER  XXVIII 

CHOUTEAU,  CUSTER,  DANIELS,  DAWSON,  DEER  LODGE, 

FALLON 

One  of  the  oldest  counties  in  Montana  is  that  which  bears  the  name 
of  the  Chouteau  brothers,  Auguste  and  Pierre,  American  pioneers,  fur 
traders  and  founders  of  the  city  of  St.  Louis.  As  the  head  of  naviga- 
tion on  the  Missouri  River,  its  associations  of  former  years  make  it  an 
exceedingly  interesting  subject  of  study  to  the  student  of  history,  and 
from  the  time  of  its  creation,  February  21,  1865,  until  something  like  a 
decade  ago  it  remained  as  an  important  stockraising  center,  in  its  evolu- 
tion passing  through  all  the  stages  that  have  marked  the  gradual  develop- 
ment of  this  section  from  a  range  country  into  an  agricultural  domain. 
In  its  early  days  Chouteau  County  experienced  much  Indian  fighting,  and 
during  the  period  in  which  river  navigation  was  almost  entirely  depended 
upon,  this  locality  held  a  prominent  place  in  the  fur  trade,  Fort  Benton, 
one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  Montana,  having  been  the  chief  fur  trading 
point  in  the  American  northwest.  This  community  is  still  one  of  great 
interest,  a  part  of  the  old  fort  still  remaining  to  mark  what  was  at  one 
time  the  frontier  of  pale-face  settlement,  and  is  rich  in  its  Indian  lore 
and  pioneer  traditions. 

PHYSICAL  FEATURES  OF  CHOUTEAU  COUNTY 

Chouteau  County  is  situated  in  the  north  central  part  of  Montana, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Hill  and  Toole  counties,  on  the  west  by 
Teton  County,  on  the  south  by  Cascade  and  Fergus  counties  and  on  the 
east  by  Elaine  County.  Along  the  southern  boundary  are  the  Highwood 
Mountains,  while  in  the  northeastern  corner  are  the  Bear  Paws,  and 
right  at  the  western  border  is  the  eastern  end  of  the  Teton  Ridge.  For 
the  most  part,  the  county  consists  of  broad,  rplling  prairies,  although 
along  the  streams  the  country  presents  a  broken  surface.  The  Missouri 
River  enters  Chouteau  County  from  the  south,  Maria's  from  the  north 
and  the  Teton  from  the  west,  and  the  confluence  of  these  waterways 
is  at  Loma,  near  the  center  of  the  county,  where  they  join  the  Missouri. 
The  southeastern  boundary  of  the  county  is  formed  by  the  Arrow  River, 
and  there  are  a  number  of  other  streams  of  lesser  importance,  such  as 
Shonkin,  Birch  and  Eagle  creeks. 

RURAL  INDUSTRIES 

* 

For  many  years  Chouteau  county's  4,432  square  miles  of  land  area 
was  devoted  almost  entirely  to  stockraising,  and  it  is  still  one  of  the 

700 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  701 

important  industries,  there  being  numerous  large  sheep  and  cattle  ranches 
still  in  flourishing  operation.  However,  during  recent  years,  agricul- 
ture has  been  coming  more  and  more  into  favor,  and  gradually  the  farmer 
is  displacing  the  cattleman,  finding  the  chocolate  loam  soil  excellent  for 
the  raising  of  wheat,  rye,  oats,  barley  and  flax.  Corn  has  also  been 
raised  with  success,  as  well  as  sunflowers  for  silage.  The  prairies  have 
produced  good  crops  without  irrigation,  and  it  has  been  only  in  recent 
years  that  this  has  been  engaged  in.  Private  pumping  plants,  electrically 
driven,  now  irrigate  about  5,000  acres,  and  a  large  part  of  this  territory 
is  being  devoted  to  alfalfa.  Land  values  have  advanced  in  this  county 
during  recent  years,  and  irrigated  land  is  now  held  at  from  $75  to  $125 
per  acre  and  non-irrigated  land  from  $15  to  $50  an  acre,  depending 
upon  the  location  and  the  improvements  which  have  been  made  thereon. 
As  to  its  other  resources,  they  are  of  a  secondary  character,  although 
good  lignite  coal  has  been  found  in  appreciable  quantities,  and  prospect- 
ing for  gas  and  oil  has  gotten  under  way.  Cottonwood  timber  abounds 
along  the  streams,  and  there  are  32,602  acres  of  the  Jefferson  National 
forest  in  the  county. 


For  its  transportation  facilities  Chouteau  County  has  the  Havre-Butte 
branch  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  which  supplies  the  area  from 
the  northeast  to  the  southwest;  and  the  Lewistown-Great  Falls  branch 
of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad,  which  makes  a  loop 
through  the  southern  part.  The  highway,  which  connects  Great  Falls 
with  Havre,  runs  parallel  to  the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  and  there  are 
also  good  secondary  roads.  The  matter  of  education  has  not  been  neglected 
by  the  people  of  this  county,  there  being,  in  addition  to  a  good  rural 
school  system  and  common  schools  in  all  the  community  centers,  a  county 
high  school  at  Fort  Benton  and  another  high  school  at  Big  Sandy,  both 
accredited  for  four-year  terms.  This  county  also  has  the  distinction  of 
being  the  first  in  the  state  to  establish  a  county  library,  which  is  located 
at  Fort  Benton,  and  has  upwards  of  12,000  volumes,  maintaining 
branches  in  a  number  of  the  leading  towns. 

FORT  BENTON 

During  the  earlier  history  of  the  county,  Fort  Benton,  the  county  seat, 
was  considered  a  community  of  much  importance.  Situated  as  it  is  on 
the  Missouri  River,  and  being  the  head  of  navigation  thereof,  it  was  a 
trading  point  for  all  the  surrounding  country.  When  river  navigation 
passed  it  lost  much  of  its  prestige,  but  this  it  is  regaining  today  with 
the  continued  growth  and  development  of  agriculture,  it  being  in  the 
center  of  a  large  and  prosperous  farming,  live  stock  and  wool  growing 
country.  Incorporated  in  1884,  the  city  secured  special  delivery  service 
two  years  later,  and  in  its  government,  business  and  general  improve- 
ments is  now  rated  as  a  modern  community  in  every  respect.  It  has  a 


702  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

live  Commercial  Club,  of  which  James  Murtry  is  secretary,  and  main- 
tains two  newspapers,  four  hotels,  two  banks,  three  churches,  two  hos- 
pitals, a  graded  and  high  school  and  a  flour  mill,  in  addition  to  other 
modern  industries  and  mercantile  establishments.  Located  on  the  Great 
Northern  Railroad,  forty-four  miles  northeast  of  Great  Falls,  it  is  in 
close  touch  with  the  outside  world,  and  being  conveniently  reached,  at- 
tracts numerous  tourists  every  year  who  come  to  view  the  historic  old 
fort,  located  in  the  heart  of  the  city.  Another  city  which  has  enjoyed 
a  steady  and  rapid  growth  is  Big  Sandy,  midway  between  Fort  Benton 
and  Havre,  which  is  the  trading  center  for  a  wide  and  growing  agricul- 
tural district.  The  trading  center  for  the  southern  part  of  the  county 
is  Geraldine,  and  other  worth-while  communities  are  Loma,  Carter,  High- 
wood,  Floweree,  Montague  and  Square  Butte. 

CUSTER  COUNTY 

Created  February  2,  1865,  as  one  of  the  original  counties  of  Mon- 
tana, Custer  County  was  for  many  years  known  as  the  center  of  the 
stockgrowing  industry  in  the  Northwest.  As  has  been  the  case  in  almost 
all  the  other  counties  of  the  state,  much  of  the  prestige  which  it  pos- 
sessed because  of  its  cattle  and  sheep  has  passed  away,  but  in  the  case 
of  Custer  what  it  has  lost  in  one  direction  it  has  gained  in  another,  for 
of  recent  years  agriculture  has  developed  and  is  becoming  more  and 
more  important  yearly,  and,  with  numerous  favorable  conditions,  includ- 
ing the  longest  growing  season  of  any  county  in  the  state  (from  126  to 
148  days),  it  will  in  all  probability  continue  its  advancement  in  this 
direction. 

While  old-time  western  cattle  ranges  are  still  operating  in  the  county, 
in  the  southern  end,  and  while  the  largest  remount  station  operated  by  the 
federal  government  is  situated  at  Fort  Keogh,  prominent  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  Montana,  the  resistless  drive  of  the  agriculturist  is  gradually 
s weeping  away  other  industries,  and  the  deep  loam  soil,  with  a  clay  sub- 
soil that  produces  abundant  crops,  is  causing  the  rolling,  broken  country, 
with  its  pronounced  brakes  along  the  Tongue  and  Yellowstone  rivers,  to 
blossom  like  the  proverbial  rose.  In  the  3,930  square  miles  included  in 
the  county,  there  are  25,000  acres  under  irrigation  and  plans  at  present 
are  being  made  to  utilize  the  waters  of  the  rivers  to  a  much  greater  extent. 
The  county  is  a  well-watered  one,  as  the  Yellowstone  River  flows  north- 
easterly through  the  county  and  the  Tongue  and  Powder  rivers  northerly 
into  the  Yellowstone,  in  addition  to  which  there  are  numerous  tributaries. 
A  considerable  portion  of  the  land  is  tillable,  and  corn  has  proven  an 
especially  good  crop,  with  more  acres  being  devoted  thereto,  primarily  to 
make  silage  for  stock.  Also,  wheat,  oats,  alfalfa,  millet  and  all  kinds 
,of  root  crops  and  vegetables  grow  well. 

Aside  from  agriculture  and  stockraising,  the  industries  are  few,  al- 
though some  manufacturing  is  done  at  Miles  City  and  large  railroad 
shops  are  located  there.  Custer  County  possesses  no  commercial  tim- 
ber, although  cottonwood  is  found  along  the  streams,  while  about  all  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  703 

mineral  resources  which  the  county  boasts  are  confined  to  lignite  coal 
lying  under  many  districts,  furnishing  an  economical  and  easily  accessible 
fuel.  Irrigated  land  is  held  at  $100  an  acre  up;  improved  non-irrigated 
land  from  $40  to  $60  an  acre;  non-improved,  non-irrigated  land  from  $15 
to  $35,  and  grazing  land  from  $5  to  $12  an  acre. 

Custer  County,  which  is  named  in  honor  of  Gen.  George  Armstrong 
Custer,  the  famous  Indian  fighter  and  hero  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  lies 
in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  state,  and  has  excellent  railroad  facilities, 
as  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railways 
parallel  the  Yellowstone  River  through  the  county,  and  the  Yellowstone 
Trail,  from  Plymouth  Rock  to  the  Puget  Sound,  also  crosses  the  county. 
In  all  communities,  good  rural  schools  are  found,  while  Miles  City  has 
a  good  graded  school  and  the  Custer  County  High  School,  accredited  for 
a  four-year  term,  which  in  addition  to  the  regular  courses  gives  com- 
mercial, home  economics  and  manual  training  work.  The  State  Indus- 
trial School  for  Boys  is  also  located  at  Miles  City,  and  what  may  be 
regarded  also  as  an  educational  institution  is  the  Snow  Creek  Game  Pre- 
serve, which  was  created  through  the  efforts  of  W.  T.  Hornaday  of  the 
New  York  Zoological  Society,  and  which,  although  lying  in  Garfield 
County,  is  best  reached  from  Miles  City.  Among  the  live  and  growing 
communities  in  Custer  County  may  be  mentioned  Ulmer,  Calabar,  Beebe, 
Shirley,  Kinsey  and  Miles  City,  the  last  named  being  the  county  seat  and 
the  principal  town  in  either  Custer  County  or  Southeastern  Montana. 

SKETCH  OF  MILES  CITY 

Miles  City  is  situated  at  the  junction  of  the  Tongue  and  Yellowstone 
rivers,  and  is  a  division  point  for  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul  railroads,  the  latter  maintaining  large  shops  at  this 
place.  One  of  the  old  cowtowns  of  the  state,  many  wealthy  ranchmen 
make  it  their  home,  and  it  is  a  range  center  for  the  horse,  cattle  and 
sheep  country  of  the  heart  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley,  and  maintains  an 
important  wool  market.  Situated  2,370  feet  above  the  sea  level,  it  pos- 
sesses a  fine  climate,  and  its  citizens  have  added  to  this  attractive  feature 
that  of  providing  numerous  parks  and  public  playgrounds.  Riverside 
Park,  located  at  the  foot  of  Main  Street,  is  one  of  the  finest  public  parks 
in  Montana,  combining  natural  beauty  of  ancient  cottonwoods  and  arti- 
ficial embellishment  of  winding  walks  and  floral  beds.  Wibaux  Park, 
the  bequest  to  the  city  of  the  late  Pierre  Wibaux,  is  located  in  an  attrac- 
tive residence  neighborhood.  A  small  playground  known  as  Triangle 
Park  occupies  a  fractional  block  on  Montana  Avenue,  and  another  natural 
grove  of  forty  acres,  bordering  the  Yellowstone,  is  being  preserved  for 
future  development  as  a  public  park. 

MUNICIPAL  LIGHT  AND  WATER  SYSTEMS 

The  light  and  water  systems  of  Miles  City  are  municipal  institutions 
and  are  profitable  features  of  its  civic  affairs.  The  city  is  famous  for 


704  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

its  artesian  wells.  There  are  two  strata  under  the  city,  one  at  a  depth 
of  100  feet,  from  which  the  water  rises  to  within  eight  feet  of  the  sur- 
face, whence  it  is  pumped  by  city  water  service;  while  the  other  is  at  a 
depth  of  400  feet,  from  which  come  flowing  wells.  The  water  is  im- 
pregnated with  soda,  is  known  as  fine  boiler  water,  and  requires  hardly 
any  cleaning.  Miles  City  maintains  five  newspapers,  of  which  two  are 
dailies. 

THE  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

The  Carnegie  Library  is  a  public  institution  which  is  supported  by  the 
city,  the  building  occupying  a  central  location  on  Main  Street.  The 
City  Hall,  a  modest  but  attractive  building  of  brick  and>stone,  occupies 
a  corner  at  Bridge  and  Eighth  streets,  and  in  addition  to  housing  the  city 
offices  and  council  rooms,  furnishes  accommodations  for  the  modern  fire 
department  and  the  city  jail.  Other  public  buildings  include  the  United 
States  Land  Office  and  the  United  States  Observatory. 

The  Miles  City  Hospital  was  established  and  built  by  Custer  County, 
but  after  about  a  year  of  operation  it  was  leased  to  the  Sisters  of  Charity, 
who  have  since  been  its  sponsors.  The  original  building  cost  $35,000, 
but  the  increase  of  its  patronage  has  made  it  necessary  that  it  be  enlarged. 

OTHER  PUBLIC  BUILDINGS  AND  INSTITUTIONS 

Miles  City  contains  some  most  attractive  buildings.  The  new  county 
high  school  is  a  credit  to  the  community,  and  the  Washintgon  and  Gar- 
field  public  schools  are  likewise  handsome  and  commodious  structures, 
while  the  gymnasium  and  manual  training  building  was  erected  at  a  cost 
of  $13,000,  and  is  a  yellow  brick  and  concrete  building  which  houses  the 
latest  gymnasium  apparatus  and  equipment  for  manual  training. 

The  Ursuline  Sisters  Convent  was  founded  in  1884  by  Mother  Mary 
Amadeus  of  the  Sacred  Heart  and  occupies  a  handsome  brick  structure 
just  west  of  the  county  high  school. 

The  State  Industrial  School,  formerly  known  as  the  Reform  School, 
is  one  mile  east  of  Miles  City,  and  has  eight  large  buildings.  The  wards 
of  this  institution  are  all  given  schooling,  the  loo-acre  farm  supplies  the 
table,  and  the  older  pupils  are  given  half  of  each  day  to  learn  whatever 
trade  they  are  interested  in ;  the  manual  training  department  teaching  car- 
pentry, blacksmithing,  painting,  tailoring,  printing,  shoemaking,  launder- 
ing, etc.,  while  the  girls  are  taught  cooking,  housework,  sewing  and  music. 
The  boys  have  their  own  band,  baseball  and  football  teams,  and  their 
own  newspaper,  The  Boy's  Messenger,  and  the  school  is  run  on  the 
merit  system,  whereby  the  pupils,  by  good  behavior  and  reasonable  dili- 
gence in  school  work,  are  eligible  for  parole  within  a  year. 

THE  Y.  M.  C.  A.  OF  MILES  CITY 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  at  Miles  City  was  organized 
in  1909,  some  of  the  principal  factors  in  its  founding  being  G.  M.  Miles, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  705 

S.  Fred  Cale,  H.  B.  Wiley,  C.  W.  Butler,  J.  B.  Collins,  J.  E.  Farnum 
and  Jack  Evans.  The  two-story-and-basement  brick  building  was  erected 
in  1910  at  a  cost  of  approximately  $35,000,  and  there  are  twenty-nine 
dormitory  rooms,  a  good-sized  lobby,  a  gymnasium,  a  swimming  pool 
and  locker  and  banquet  rooms.  The  successive  secretaries  of  the  associa- 
tion have  been  Messrs.  Fox,  Percy,  Rouse,  S.  L.  Hedrick  and  H.  L. 
Ankeny,  the  last-named  being  the  present  incumbent  of  the  office.  At 
the  present  time  there  are  approximately  450  senior  and  sustaining  mem- 
berships and  about  250  junior  memberships,  the  leader  membership  being 
on  the  service  basis.  At  the  present  time  the  association  is  entirely  free 
from  debt,  is  paying  its  responsibilities  promptly  and  is  growing  every  day. 
An  interesting  feature  of  the  association  is  the  Boys'  Camp,  which 
is  one  of  the  best  in  the  Northwest.  It  is  located  on  a  36o-acre  island 
in  the  Yellowstone  River,  owned  by  the  Government,  and  the  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association  has  exclusive  use  of  it  through  the  courtesy 
of  the  military  authorities.  The  need  for  a  large  public  meeting  and  recre- 
ation hall  was  met  by  the  erection  of  the  Auditorium,  which  adjoins  the 
Young  Men's  Christian  Association  building  and  is  a  substantial  and  digni- 
fied structure. 

CHURCHES  AND  FRATERNITIES 

There  are  seven  churches  at  Miles  City,  including  those  of  the  Catho- 
lic, Episcopal,  Lutheran,  Methodist  and  Presbyterian  denominations. 

Thirteen  fraternal  organizations  are  represented  at  Miles  City,  and 
several  of  these  have  their  own  homes.  The  Elks  Club  building,  erected 
in  1914,  is  one  of  the  handsomest  in  the  city,  costing  $68,000  and  is  located 
opposite  the  Federal  building  one  block  from  Main  Street.  It  is  used 
exclusively  for  lodge  and  club  purposes,  and,  as  there  are  numerous  mem- 
bers of  this  fraternity  at  Miles  City,  is  the  scene  of  many  social  gather- 
ings. The  Masonic  order  occupies  an  imposing  building  on  Main  Street, 
a  structure  of  buff  sandstone  and  reinforced  concrete.  The  lower  floors 
are  utilized  for  business  purposes,  and  the  upper  for  the  lodge  rooms  and 
hall.  The  Knights  of  Columbus  council  occupies  comfortable  clubrooms 
in  the  basement  of  the  postoffice  building,  and  the  Fraternal  Order  of 
Eagles  also  has  its  own  home.  The  Miles  City  Club,  organized  in  the 
early  '8os,  the  oldest  club  in  Montana,  occupies  the  second  floor  of  the 
Wibaux  Block.  Once  a  year  the  club  holds  open  house  in  honor  of  the 
visiting  stockmen  who  attend  the  annual  conventions  of  the  Montana 
Stock  Growers'  Association.  This  body  has  entertained  many  distin- 
guished visitors  during  its  many  years  of  existence  and  has  a  well-merited 
reputation  for  open-handed  hospitality.  The  various  industries  carried  on 
in  the  limits  of  the  municipality  may  be  estimated  when  it  is  known  that 
twenty-eight  unions  have  members  employed  in  various  trades. 

• 
CENTER  OF  HORSE  TRADE 

Tourists  from  the  East  who  are  seeking  the  real  western  atmosphere 
will  find  it  at  Miles  City  in  the  Remount  Depot,  situated  at  Fort  Keogh. 

Vol.  1—45 


706 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Conducted  by  the  War  Department,  the  Military  Reservation,  which  is 
now  used  as  a  range  for  the  horses,  is  ten  miles  square,  being  the  largest 
depot,  or  concentration  horse  camp,  in  the  United  States.  There  are 
only  two  other  depots  of  the  kind  in  the  country,  neither  of  which  approach 
the  size  of  the  Fort  Keogh  station.  Here  western  horses  are  brought 
direct  from  the  range  and  broken  and  trained  according  to  the  United 
States  Army  regulations,  although  the  only  soldiers  are  the  commanding 
officer  and  several  orderlies,  the  employes  being  civilians  and  the  wranglers 
all  cowboys  and  expert  riders.  Many  visitors  will  also  find  much  of 
interest  in  the  annual  Miles  City  Round  Up,  a  frontier  exhibition  held 
each  year  as  a  great  outdoor  pageant,  in  which  contestants  from  all  over 


HORSE  MARKET  AT  MILES  CITY 

the  state  compete  in  feats  of  skill  and  daring.  Miles  City  maintains  a 
large  and  well-patronized  horse  market.  The  original  sales  yards  were 
erected  by  the  late  A.  B.  Clark,  just  south  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Rail- 
way tracks  and  occupied  some  eighteen  acres  of  land.  The  business  even- 
tually passed  into  other  hands  and  the  size  of  the  yards  was  doubled  by 
the  construction  of  new  and  more  substantial  yards  and  buildings  north 
of  the  tracks.  During  the  World's  war  Miles  City  furnished  thousands  of 
mounts  to  the  French,  Italian  and  English  governments,  as  well  as  to  the 
United  States,  and  the  animals  from  the  Miles  City  Horse  Market  proved 
their  worth  in  the  severe  test  of  war. 

STAGE  LINES  AND  HIGHWAYS 

Three  stage  lines  operate  out  of  Miles  City.    The  Jordan  line,  ninety- 
nine  miles  in  length,  leaves  Miles  City  every  Monday  morning  and  arrives 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA        .  707 

at  Jordan  Tuesday,  at  8  P.  M.   The  Brandenberg  line  is  eighty-eight  miles 
in  length,  and  the  Mizpah  line  eighty-two  miles  long. 

The  horse,  in  many  ways,  has  been  succeeded  by  the  automobile,  and 
in  this  connection  the  matter  of  the  automobile  highway  comes  to  atten- 
tion. This  was  projected  as  an  association  at  Miles  City  in  1912,  the  idea 
being  originally  conceived  by  Judge  J.  E.  Prindle,  of  Ismay.  It  started 
at  the  Twin  Cities  and  the  original  project  took  it  to  Yellowstone  National 
Park,  but  the  men  behind  the  movement  took  up  as  their  slogan:  "A" 
Good  Road  from  Plymouth  Rock  to  Puget  Sound,"  and  this  has  since 
been  realized.  The  road  was  originally  called  the  Twin  City-Aberdeen- 
Yellowstone  Park  Highway,  but  Miles  City's  suggestion  that  it  be  called 
the  Yellowstone  Trail,  while  originally  rejected,  was  finally  adopted, 
although  it  is  also  known  as  the  Electric  Highway.  Thousands  of  tour- 
ing parties  pass  annually  over  this  highway  and  appreciate  the  huge  sums 
of  money  that  Custer  County  has  spent  in  developing  and  improving  it. 

BANKS 

As  a  wealthy  city,  this  community  has  three  banks,  the  oldest  of  which 
is  the  First  National  Bank,  which  was  organized  in  1882,  and  of  which 
G.  M.  Miles  is  president.  The  present  cashier,  H.  B.  Wiley,  has  occupied 
this  post  for  many  years.  The  State  National  and  Commercial  National 
Banks  were  consolidated  January  21,  1921,  and  form  a  strong  institution 
operating  under  the  latter  name. 

ANNUAL  COUNTY  FAIR 

Custer  County  holds  its  annual  County  Fair  at  Miles  City,  and  this 
is  becoming  an  increasingly  popular  annual  event.     It   is  thought  that 
Custer  County  was  the  first,  and  perhaps  the  only,  county  in  the  state 
to  have  full  control  of  its  own  fair.    The  fair  is  conducted  and  managed 
by  a  board  of  county  fair  commissioners  who  are  appointed  each  year, 
and  the  annual  appropriation  and  gate  receipts  afford  a  good  margin  for 
prizes,  purses  and  special  events.     Miles  City  likewise  holds  an  annual 
corn  show,  now  known  as  the  Montana  State  Corn  Show.     This  was 
inaugurated  in  1914  by  M.  L.  Wilson,  identified  with  the  United  States 
Experiment  Station  at  Bozeman,  whose  hobby  had  always  been  corn  and 
whose  belief  it  was  that  this  crop  could  be  successfully  grown  in  Mon- 
tana.   He  was  given  his  choice  of  locations,  and  selected  Miles  City,  partly 
because  he  felt  that  this  city  was  in  the  center  of  his  theoretical  corn  belt 
and  partly  because  there  were  many  skeptics  in  this  city  whom  he  wished 
to  bring  about  to  his  way  of  thinking.     Through  his  labors  this  event 
became  a  decided  success  and  did  much  to  promote  the  growing  of  a 
crop  that  is  proving  annually  of  more  and  more  value  to  the  county  and 
its  agriculturists.     Another  result  of  his  work  at   Miles   City  was  the 
establishment  of  the  office  known  as  the  County  Agricultural  Agent,  with 
headquarters  in  the  courthouse.    This  department  is  maintained  jointly  by 


708  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  county,  state  and  federal  governments  and  is  playing  an  important  part 
in  the  prosperity  of  the  county. 

DANIELS  COUNTY 

The  history  of  Daniels  County,  under  its  present  name,  is  a  short  one, 
inasmuch  as  it  was  created  recently,  the  date  being  August  28,  1920.  In 
its  formation  there  was  removed  the  western  half  of  Sheridan  County 
and  a  small  portion  of  Valley  County,  and  the  land  area  of  1,422  square 
miles  is  now  included  in  a  territory  that  has  a  maximum  length  of  forty- 
eight  miles  east  and  west  and  a  maximum  width  of  thirty  miles  wide 
north  and  south.  During  a  long  period  of  time  the  country  that  is  now 
included  within  the  boundary  lines  of  Daniels  County  was  a  big  cattle 
range,  the  heavy  and  nutritious  grass  furnishing  excellent  forage  for  live- 
stock, but  in  recent  years  there  has  been  a  great  influx  of  settlers  of  the 
farming  class  and  as  a  result  a  large  part  of  the  range  has  been  broken 
up  into  farms.  There  is  still  some  livestock,  but  the  old  days  of  the  .big 
ranches  have  passed  here  as  well  as  in  other  portions  of  the  state,  and 
the  soil,  for  the  most  part  a  fertile  chocolate  loam,  tillable  practically 
throughout  the  county,  is  producing  big  crops  of  flax,  wheat,  oats,  corn 
and  wild  hay,  with  some  sunflowers  for  silage. 

Practically  none  of  the  land  in  Daniels  County  is  irrigated,  although 
this  could  be  easily  accomplished  as  the  water  supply  is  plentiful,  the 
Poplar  River,  rising  in  Canada,  flowing  southerly  through  the  middle  of 
the  county,  Wolf  Creek  angling  through  the  southwestern  corner  of  the 
county  in  a  southeasterly  direction  and  there  being  a  number  of  smaller 
streams.  Along  these  waterways  are  found  willow  and  cottonwood,  but 
the  county  possesses  no  commercial  stand  of  timber,  and  its  mineral  re- 
sources are  few,  for  while  lignite  coal  is  found,  it  is  of  no  commercial 
importance.  Land  in  this  county  sells  from  $10  to  $60  an  acre,  depend- 
ing upon  its  location  and  the  improvements  which  have  been  made. 

While  growing  rapidly  as  to  population,  Daniels  County  still  has  room 
for  many  more  settlers,  who  will  find  opportunities  in  the  development  of 
the  agricultural  industry  in  its  various  branches.  Wherever  the  branch 
lines  of  the  railroads  are  extended  west  there  will  be  increased  activity 
in  this  direction.  At  the  present  time  a  branch  line  of  the  Great  North- 
ern Railway,  leaving  the  main  line  at  Mondak,  runs  through  Roosevelt  and 
Sheridan  counties  and  then  turns  westerly,  its  present  terminus  being  at 
Scobey.  Whitetail,  north  of  Scobey,  is  the  terminus  of  a  branch  of  the 
Soo  Line,  which  enters  the  county  from  the  east. 

Educational  facilities  in  Daniels  County  are  ample,  and  in  addition  to 
a  good  rural  system  county  there  are  graded  schools  and  a  high  school, 
accredited  for  the  four-year  term,  at  Scobey,  the  county  seat.  This  is 
the  largest  and  most  important  community  in  the  county  and  is  the  main 
distributing  point  for  the  surrounding  country.  The  next  largest  town  is 
Whitetail,  and  Madoc,  Navajo,  Julian,  Orville,  Kraft  and  Flaxville,  are 
other  prosperous  and  growing  towns. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  709 

DAWSON  COUNTY  (GLENDIVE) 

Irregular  in  form,  with  a  maximum  length  of  fifty  miles  east  and  west 
and  a  maximum  breadth  of  sixty  miles  north  and  south,  Dawson  County 
covers  2,430  square  miles  of  land  area  in  the  extreme  eastern  portion 
of  Montana,  being  from  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  west  of  the  Dakota  line. 
This  is  one  of  the  older  counties  of  the  state,  having  been  created  Janu- 
ary 15,  1869,  and  from  early  days  has  been  a  splendid  stock  county, 
because  of  the  native  cover  of  a  heavy  and  nutritious  grass.  Unlike  some 
other  parts  of  the  state,  the  livestock  industry  has  not  died  out  here.  On 
the  contrary,  pure-bred  stock  raising  is  being  carried  on  in  industrious 
manner,  dairying  is  growing  rapidly,  the  county  having  the  finest  dairy 
farm  in  the  state,  and  the  production  of  hogs  and  poultry  has  become  a 
factor  in  adding  to  the  county's  wealth  and  prestige.  Agriculture,  how- 
ever, in  spite  of  the  tenacity  of  the  stockgrowing  industry,  cannot  be 
denied,  and  its  history  here  is  much  the  same  as  in  other  parts  of  the 
state,  in  regard  to  its  steady  and  continuous  growth.  While  there  is 
some  broken  land  around  the  Sheep  Bluffs,  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  county,  and  east  of  the  Yellowstone,  smooth  prairies  and  rolling  land 
predominate  in  the  county,  making  conditions  excellent  for  farming  pur- 
poses, and  the  dark  sandy  loam  soil,  with  a  heavy  clay  subsoil,  is  a  big 
producer. 

The  principal  crops  produced  by  the  agriculturists  consist  of  barley, 
oats  and  wheat.  During  recent  years  as  high  as  900,000  bushels  have 
been  shipped  in  a  single  season  from  the  county  seat,  Glendive,  with 
other  communities  likewise  contributing  large  shipments.  Sixty  per 
cent  of  the  land  is  tillable  and  the  remainder  affords  good  grazing.  .  At 
Intake,  Dawson  County,  are  situated  the  headgates  of  the  Lower  Yellow- 
stone irrigation  project,  which  irrigates  approximately  90,000  acres,  some 
of  which  forms  a  part  of  Dawson  County,  and  another  project  soon  to 
be  realized,  which  will  cover  about  30,000  acres,  lies  north  of  the  Yellow- 
stone River  between  Fallen  and  Glendive.  Unirrigated  land,  however, 
has  produced  excellent  crops,  and  as  high  as  400  bushels  of  potatoes  have 
been  raised  in  one  acre  of  unirrigated  land.  This  product  has  become 
one  qf  the  leading  sources  of  profit  for  the  agriculturists  who  have  not 
irrigated  their  farms.  Another  crop  which  is  rapidly  increasing  in  acre- 
age is  corn,  and  it  is  estimated  that  the  1920  acreage  in  this  staple  product 
in  Dawson  County  alone  was  as  great  as  the  acreage  for  the  entire  state 
in  1910.  This  is  a  commentary  upon  the  advance  of  agriculture  and 
the  fact  that  the  farmers  are  coming  to  a  realization  of  the  possibilities 
of  the  state  in  the  way  of  corn  growing.  This  is  not  exactly  an  inno- 
vation in  Dawson  County  as  in  19.15  this  county  won  first  and  second 
prizes  on  Northwestern  Dent  corn  at  the  St.  Paul  Corn  Show,  and  in 
December  of  the  following  year,  at  the  First  National  Corn  Show,  held 
at  the  same  city,  took  first  and  second  prizes  and  three  third  prizes. 

Lying  in  the  heart  of  the  western  third  of  the  Fort  Union  region, 
Dawson  County  is  so  plentifully  supplied  with  lignite  coal,  and  it  is  so 
readily  mined,  that  the  settlers  have  no  difficulty  in  securing  fuel,  in  addi- 


710  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

tion  to  which  this  product  is  used  quite  extensively  in  the  towns.  For 
some  years  past  natural  gas  secured  in  the  home  locality  has  supplied 
Glendive,  and  the  region  gives  promising  evidence  of  being  a  good  oil 
field,  although  it  is  probable  that  deep-well  drilling  will  have  to  be  re- 
sorted to.  Excellent  clays  for  pottery  and  brick-making  are  found  in 
the  county. 

The  principal  sources  of  the  water  supply  in  Dawson  County  are  the 
Yellowstone  River,  which  bisects  the  southeastern  half  of  the  county, 
and  the  Redwater  River,  which  flows  through  its  extreme  northwest 
townships.  Numerous  large  and  small  creeks  are  tributary  to  these 
streams,  furnishing  abundant  and  accessible  facilities  not  only  for  water- 
ing livestock,  but  also  for  small  individual  irrigation  enterprises,  and 
water  conservation  projects.  In  the  upper  bench  lands,  the  matter  of 
artesian  well  irrigation  has  received  considerable  attention. 

The  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  runs  about  half  way 
across  Dawson  County,  and  the  Sidney  branch  of  the  same  road  covers 
about  twenty-five  miles  of  the  county  northwesterly  from  Glendive. 
While  at  present  the  Great  Northern  terminates  at  Richey,  entering  the 
county  from  the  extreme  northern  portion,  when  extended  westward  this 
road  may  become  a  main  line  of  the  system.  Dawson  County  is  trav- 
ersed by  the  National  Parks  Highway  or  Red  Trail,  the  Black  Trail,  the 
Green  Trail  and  the  Blue  Trail,  all  of  which  pass  through  Glendive. 

GLENDIVE 

Among  the  thriving  communities  of  Dawson  County  are  Richey,  Sti- 
pek,  Intake,  Bloomfield,  Union  and  Lindsay.  In  all  of  these  communi- 
ties there  are  good  educational  facilities,  and  in  Dawson  County  there 
are  more  than  100  public  grade  schools.  The  largest  city  in  the  county, 
and  in  the  extreme  eastern  portion  of  the  state,  is  Glendive,  the  county 
seat,  an  important  distributing  point  and  the  center  of  500  miles  of  rail- 
road. It  is  the  headquarters  of  the  Yellowstone  division  of  the  North- 
ern Pacific,  and  500  men  are  employed  here  in  the  various  departments 
of  the  company,  the  annual  payroll  being  about  $800,000.  The  company 
has  erected  a  new  railroad  depot,  costing  approximately  $100,000,,  and 
the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  Hospital,  which  cost  $125,000,  is  located 
at  this  point.  Glendive,  which  was  incorporated  in  1903,  has  enjoyed 
a  steady  growth  in  population,  and  is  a  modern,  hustling  city.  Situated 
on  the  Yellowstone,  it  has  a  large  river  traffic,  and  water  from  that  river 
is  pumped  into  settling  tanks  on  the  side  of  a  high  hill  known  locally  as 
"Hungry  Joe."  The  city  maintains  a  prosperous  wool  and  grain  mar- 
ket, and  has  four  sound  financial  institutions,  a  good  hotel  and  three 
newspapers.  Its  chamber  of  commerce  is  an  energetic  organization  which 
has  contributed  much  to  the  city's  welfare. 

Five  churches  are  located  at  Glendive,  and  three  public  schools  which 
furnish  not  only  the  usual  grade  education  but  manual  training  as  well. 
Glendive  is  the  scene  of  the  annual  Dawson  County  Fair.  It  has  sub- 
stantial business  blocks,  beautiful  homes  and  paved  and  graveled  streets 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  711 

and  is  lighted  by  electricity  and  natural  gas,  the  latter  being  piped  to  the 
city  from  wells  situated  about  twelve  miles  distant  in  the  vicinity  of  Cedar 
Creek.  It  also  owns  and  operates  an  excellent  municipal  water  system 
and  has  two  hospitals,  four  grain  elevators,  a  modern  flour  mill,  a  cream- 
ery and  four  department  stores,  in  addition  to  dry  goods,  men's  furnish- 
ing and  clothing  stores,  a  number  of  jobbing  and  distributing  houses  and 
mercantile  establishments  of  various  kinds. 

DEER  LODGE  COUNTY  (ANACONDA) 

Copper  has  been  known  since  prehistoric  times,  and  there  are  many 
who  believe  that  there  may  have  been  a  copper  age  before  that  of  bronze. 
The  word  copper  occurs  once  in  the  Old  Testament  (Ezra  viii:27),  the 
metal  was  in  use  in  ancient  Assyria,  and  the  classical  nations  were  familiar 
with  it,  the  Greeks  bringing  it  from  Cyprus,  where  the  mines  were  located 
at  Tamassus,  near  Famagosta.  It  was  left  for  the  New  World  and  a  new 
nation  to  rise  to  the  peak  in  the  production  of  this  valuable  metal,  and 
since  the  census  year  1880  the  United  States  has  become  the  largest  copper 
producer  in  the  world,  outstripping  by  far  any  other  country.  Likewise, 
the  State  of  Montana  leads,  by  a  large  margin,  any  other  section  of  the 
country,  and  it  is  in  connection  with  this  great  industry  that  Deer  Lodge 
County,  while  one  of  the  smallest  in  the  state,  is  at  the  same  time  one  of 
the  richest,  because  of  the  presence  at  Anaconda  of  the  Washoe  smelter, 
the  largest  and  most  modern  ore  reducing  plant  in  the  world. 

One  of  the  original  nine  Montana  counties,  Deer  Lodge  was  created 
February  2,  1865,  and  is  situated  on  the  western  edge  of  the  Continental 
divide,  in  the  mid-western  portion  of  the  state.  Originally  of  consider- 
able size,  as  new  counties  have  been  formed  and  lopped  from  its  terri- 
tory, it  has  dwindled  down  to  a  land  area  of  but  746  square  miles,  this 
being  largely  a  mountainous  region,  agriculture  and  truck  gardening  being 
confined  to  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley,  along  Warm  Springs  Creek  and  the 
Big  Hole  River.  The  tillable  portions  of  the  county,  as  noted,  are  in  the 
northern  end  and  southwestern  portion  of  the  county,  where  hay,  grain  and 
vegetables  are  the  chief  crops,  Butte  and  Anaconda  furnishing  a  ready 
market  for  the  last  named.  The  remainder  of  the  county  is  either  graz- 
ing, mineral  or  timber  land.  Considerable  timber  is  cut  each  year,  and 
there  are  305,140  acres  of  the  county  included  within  the  Deer  Lodge  Na- 
tional Forest.  Among  the  smaller  industries,  a  good  start  has  been  made 
in  establishing  pure  herds  of  sheep  and  dairy  cattle,  and  the  Deer  Lodge 
County  assessor's  report  for  1919  brought  out  the  fact  that  there  were 
152,507  acres  of  patented  grazing  and  farming  land.  Prices  for  irrigated 
land  range  from  $50  to  $100  an  acre,  non-irrigated  farms  bring  from  $15 
to  $50  an  acre,  and  grazing  land  is  valued  at  from  $6  to  $10  an  acre. 

For  its  water  supply,  Deer  Lodge  County  depends  upon  the  Big  Hole 
River,  forming  a  portion  of  the  southern  boundary  of  the  county,  and  the 
Deed  Lodge  River,  through  the  northern  part,  and  numerous  tributaries 
rising  in  the  high  mountains  which  feed  these  streams.  The  county  is 
traversed  by  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul 


712 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Railways,  whose  main  lines  pass  through  the  northern  part  of  the  county, 
making  connections  with  the  Butte,  Anaconda  &  Pacific  that  serves  Ana- 
conda. Many  trains  are  operated  daily  both  ways  between  Anaconda  and 
Butte  and  give  the  former  city  connection  with  the  Oregon  Short  Line, 
Great  Northern,  Northern  Pacific  and  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul. 
Deer  Lodge  County  boasts  among  the  finest  highways  in  the  state,  includ- 
ing a  highway  paved  with  concrete  between  Anaconda  and  Butte,  the  only 
hard-surfaced  road  in  Montana  connecting  two  cities. 

ANACONDA 

Anaconda,  the  county  seat  of  Deer  Lodge  County,  which  lies  at  the 
mouth  of  a  canyon  where  plain  and  mountain  meet,  is  indebted  for  its 


ANACONDA  REDUCTION  WORKS 

existence  to  the  late  Marcus  Daly,  founder  of  the  copper  industry  in  Mon- 
tana, who  was  attracted  to  this  region  by  the  presence,  so  near  Butte,  of  a 
plentiful  supply  of  water.  This  community  has  grown  into  a  handsome 
city,  with  one  of  the  most  costly  hotel  edifices  in  the  state,  many  large 
business  blocks,  handsome  dwellings,  a  daily  newspaper  and  a  plant  for  the 
manufacture  of  fire  and  building  brick.  The  county  courthouse,  the  Hearst 
Library  and  the  Margaret  Theatre  would  do  credit  to  a  city  of  much  larger 
size.  From  the  Montana  Fish  Hatchery,  located  at  Anaconda,  are  sent 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  713 

each  year  thousands  of  fry  to  repopulate  the  lakes  and  streams  of  Mon- 
tana. Naturally,  however,  the  enterprise  which  gives  the  city  its  chief 
importance  is  the  Anaconda  Reduction  Works,  where  about  one-fourth 
of  the  copper  ore  treated  in  the  United  States  is  smelted.  At  Butte,  the 
first  mining  shafts  were  sunk  in  silver  ore,  but  silver  became  of  secondary 
importance  when  deeper  deposits  were  found  to  be  rich  in  copper,  and 
from  that  time  forward  the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company  has  been 
the  chief  producer  in  the  district.  From  1882  to  1884,  37,000  tons  of  ore 
averaging  forty-five  per  cent  copper  was  shipped  to  Swansea,  Wales, 
which  was  then  the  world's  principal  center  of  copper  smelting.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1884,  the  Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company  began  treatment  of 
its  ore  locally,  and  in  1892  a  full  installation  of  converters  was  provided, 
and  since  then  the  size  and  the  capacity  of  the  plant  have  steadily  increased. 
During  the  past  five  years  the  output  of  this  plant  has  been  sixteen  per 
cent  of  the  copper  produced  in  the  United  States  and  more  than  nine  per 
cent  of  the  world's  production.  The  first  plant  at  Anaconda  was  built 
on  the  north  side  of  Warm  Springs  Valley,  while  the  present  site,  where 
operations  were  commenced  in  February,  1902,  was  chosen  on  the  south 
side  of  the  valley,  and  is  situated  a  mile  east  of  the  residential  limits,  on 
a  hill-slope.  The  ores  are  brought  from  the  mines  at  Butte,  twenty-eight 
miles  distant,  directly  to  the  smelter,  by  the  Butte,  Anaconda  &  Pacific 
Railway,  which  was  built  for  this  traffic  and  is  operated  by  electricity. 
An  extensive  sulphuric  acid  plant  is  operated  in  connection  with  the  smel- 
ter, and  a  plant  was  erected  in  1920  for  the  manufacture  of  super-phos- 
phate fertilizer,  which  is  being  developed  into  a  big  enterprise.  A  feature 
of  the  Anaconda  plant  always  noted  by  tourists  and  visitors,  is  the  585- 
foot  smokestack,  the  highest  in  the  world. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Anaconda  the  scenery  is  of  a  character  to  bring 
forth  expressions  of  the  warmest  admiration.  Thirteen  miles  away,  up 
the  canyon,  lies  Silver  Lake,  a  beautiful  body  of  mountain  water,  from 
which  the  city,  as  well  as  the  big  smelting  plant,  derives  its  water  supply. 
Georgetown  Lake,  two  miles  further  on,  is  seven  miles  in  circumference, 
and,  like  Silver  Lake,  is  surrounded  by  snow-capped  mountains  whose 
peaks  are  reflected  in  the  crystal  waters.  Georgetown  Lake  is  also  noted 
as  a  fishing  center  and  in  season  is  the  mecca  of  duck-hunters.  The  tourist 
who  goes  over  the  hill  to  the  west,  passes  within  sight  of  the  old  Cable 
mine,  one  of  the  richest  gold  mines  of  the  early  days,  and  by  the  roadside 
there  still  remain  a  number  of  old  arrastres,  or  waterpower  mills  of  former 
days,  for  reducing  free  milling  gold  ore  to  a  commercial  product. 

FALLON  COUNTY 

The  county  has  for  its  eastern  boundary,  the  South  Dakota  line,  and 
covers  the  southern  extremity  of  the  Cedar  Creek  Anticline.  At  the  north- 
ern end  is  the  Glendive  gas  field  and  at  the  lower  extremity  that  which  has 
been  developed  at  and  around  Baker,  the  county  seat  of  Fallen.  Both  the 
oil  and  gas  resources  of  the  county  are  considered  among  its  greatest 
assets.  Good  flows  of  gas  have  been  encountered  in  wells  near  Baker, 


714  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  it  has  been  piped  into  the  town  for  heating,  lighting  and  power  pur- 
poses. 

Fallon  County,  with  its  area  of  1,685  square  miles  and  its  population 
of  4,548,  is  just  south  of  the  center  of  the  eastern  tier  of  counties  in 
Montana,  and  was  legislatively  created  on  December  9,  1913.  There  are 
no  rivers  of  importance  in  the  county,  but  Fallon  and  Fennel  creeks  flow 
through  it  into  the  Yellowstone.  In  the  broad  valleys  of  these  and  other 
streams  is  much  good  land,  as  well  as  in  stretches  of  bench  land  back  of 
them.  There  is  little  irrigated  land  in  the  county,  fully  ninety-five  per 
cent  of  that  which  can  be  cultivated  being  farmed  by  non-irrigated  methods. 
Most  of  the  loamy  land,  which  was  for  years  given  over  to  grazing,  has 


LAST  FALLON  COUNTY  SOD  SCHOOL 

been  reclaimed  to  agriculture,  and  produces  good  crops  of  wheat,  oats,  flax, 
corn  and  alfalfa. 

There  are  special  opportunities  in  the  county  for  diversified  farming, 
dairying  and  manufactories  that  can  utilize  the  flow  of  the  natural  gas 
wells.  Land  prices  vary  from  $15  to  $75  an  acre,  depending  upon  location 
and  improvements. 

The  main  line  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  traverses 
the  county  east  and  west,  and  the  Yellowstone  trail  also  enters  the  county 
from  South  Dakota.  The  regular  county  highways  add  to  these  transpor- 
tation facilities. 

Baker,  the  county  seat,  is  the  most  important  town  in  Fallon  County, 
and  is  the  distributing  point  for  a  large  territory.  Kingmont,  Westmore 
and  Plevna  are  other  towns  on  the  line  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  Railway.  Besides  the  rural  schools  in  the  country  districts,  com- 
mon schools  are  found  in  the  towns.  Baker  itself  has  not  only  good  graded 
schools,  but  a  high  school  accredited  for  the  four  year  term. 


CHAPTER  XXIX 
FERGUS,   FLATHEAD   AND   GALLATIN   COUNTIES 

Fergus,  the  largest  county  in  the  state  of  Montana,  is  situated  geo- 
graphically and  agriculturally  in  the  very  heart  of  the  commonwealth,  and 
more  counties  border  on  Fergus  than  on  any  other  in  the  state.  Its  east- 
ern boundary  is  the  Musselshell  River,  its  northern  boundary  is  formed 
by  Crooked  Creek  and  the  Arrow  River,  on  the  west  it  reaches  nearly  to 
Baldy  Ridge  and  on  the  south  are  found  the  Big  Snowy  Mountains  and 
Flatwillow  Creek.  Judith  Basin,  so  attractive  for  its  varied  scenery  and 
noted  for  productiveness  as  a  wheat  country,  lies  in  the  center  of  Fergus 
County,  extending  sixty  miles  north  and  south  and  over  eighty  miles 
east  and  west,  and  having  2,000,000  acres  of  fertile  land.  The  Basin  is 
surrounded  by  mountain  ranges  which  protect  it  from  severe  winter  con- 
ditions, to  the  north  being  the  Little  Rockies,  to  the  west  the  Highwood 
and  Belts,  to  the  east  the  Big  Snowies  and  to  the  south  the  Great  Belt 
range  of  mountains.  The  eastern  portion  of  the  county  is  more  broken 
and  rolling,  this  section  being  the  western  border  of  the  Great  Western 
Plains  area.  The  watershed  and  drainage  system  of  Western  Fergus  is 
carried  by  the  Judith  River  and  branch  streams.  In  the  eastern  part 
the  Musselshell  River  and  Flatwillow  Creek  with  their  tributaries  carry 
the  drainage  waters  into  the  Missouri. 

JUDITH  BASIN 

Judith  Basin  is  not  the  only  attractive  section  of  the  county  for  tour- 
ists. Fergus  County's  varied  scenery  makes  it  a  picturesque  visiting  place 
for  discriminating  travelers,  and  the  different  mountain  groups,  with  their 
excellent  visibility  throughout  the  country,  are  very  impressive.  Caves, 
sinks,  arches  and  natural  bridges  abound  to  delight  the  seeker  of  sights. 
There  are  ice  caves  in  the  Snowies  west  of  Half  Moon  Pass  where  ice  is 
formed  throughout  the  summer.  Crystal  Lake,  a  beautiful  tourist  camp- 
ing ground,  lies  in  the  Snowies,  in  the  west  fork  of  Rock  Creek  Canyon. 

THE  COUNTY  IN  GENERAL 

Fergus  County  has  a  length  of  122  miles  at  its  longest  point  and  a 
maximum  width  of  seventy  miles,  its  land  area  being  7,146  square  miles. 
It  was  named  after  James  Fergus,  the  widely  known  pioneer,  late  of 
Meagher  County  and  first  president  of  the  Montana  Society  of  Pioneers. 
The  county  was  created  December  i,  1886. 

715 


716  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Fergus  has  always  been  known  as  a  good  agricultural  country,  the 
soil  being  a  dark  brown  loam  underlaid  with  clay  formation,  mixed  with 
lime  gravel  subsoil.  Six  hundred  thousand  acres  are  under  cultivation, 
while  1,755,750  acres  are  potential  farm  land.  One  hundred  thousand 
acres  are  now  or  will  be  under  irrigation,  mostly  for  hay  crops.  Projects 
on  Judith  River,  and  Flatwillow  and  Box  Elder  creeks  in  Eastern  Fergus, 
are  now  under  way,  and  a  large  project  is  in  course  of  construction  on 
Warm  Springs.  The  Flatwillow  project  will  eventually  irrigate  25,000 
acres.  These  matters  are  more  fully  described  in  the  chapter  devoted 
to  the  irrigation  enterprises  of  the  state.  In  addition  to  agriculture,  the 
main  industries  of  the  county  are  stock  raising,  manufacturing  and  min- 
ing. Good  grade  coal  is  mined  in  Central  Fergus ;  gold  mining  is  carried 
on  at  Kendall,  and  silver  and  gold  are  found  in  the  Judith  Mountains. 
The  large  sapphire  mines  in  the  Little  Belts  of  Western  Fergus  supply 


WHEAT  HARVEST  OF  FERGUS  COUNTY 

a  large  portion  of  the  world  markets.  There  are  eighty-seven  elevators 
in  the  county,  which  in  number  and  business  compare  favorably  with  any 
other  part  of  the  country  of  similar  size. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  OIL  FIELDS 

The  latest  industry  is  oil,  which  promises  to  exceed  the  total  of  all 
others  in  the  magnitude  of  its  potential  production.  It  is  being  developed 
on  a  great  scale  in  all  directions  from  Lewistown,  particularly  in  the 
Eastern  part  of  the  county.  Large  tracts  in  the  Snowies  and  on  the 
slopes  of  the  Judith  Mountains  are  covered  with  suitable  lumber  timber. 
The  Cat  Creek  oil  field,  east  of  Lewistown,  had,  in  April,  1921,  thirty 
producing  wells,  of  the  highest  grade  of  oil  known  to  any  oil  fields.  Its 
extraordinarily  high  gasoline  content,  in  the  opinion  of  some  geologists, 
indicates  that  the  oil  is  migrant  from  a  mother  pool,  which  when  found 
will  beyond  peradventure  establish  the  Lewistown  fields  among  the  im- 
portant oil  fields  of  the  country.  The  Cat  Creek  structure  is  but  one  of 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  717 

many,  there  being,  among  others,  the  Dog  Creek,  Arrow  Creek,  Sager 
Canyon,  Garneill,  Gilt  Edge,  Box  Elder,  Brush  Creek,  Button  Butte, 
Devil's  Basin,  Howard  Coulee,  Big  Wall,  Willow  Creek,  Square  Butte, 
Blood  Coulee,  Bauley,  Woodhawk,  Valentine,  Piper,  Black  Butte  and 
Flatwillow,  as  being  considered  prospecting  ground  by  competent 
geologists. 

The  oil  industry  of  Fergus  County  has  brought  into  prominence  the 
little  town  of  Winnett  and  other  towns  have  shown  marked  growth  and 
development  in  recent  years.  Moore,  Garniell  and  Straw  on  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad,  south  of  Lewistown,  are  in  the  center  of  a 
rich  farming  section.  Denton,  the  largest  town  in  Northwestern  Fergus, 
has  a  flour  mill,  elevator  and  up  to  date  stores  and  hotels.  Buffalo,  on  the 
Great  Northern  Railroad,  is  surrounded  by  splendid  farms  and  ranches. 
Hanover  has  a  large  cement  factory,  and  north  of  Lewistown  lie  Roy 
and  Winifred,  adjacent  to  which  are  immense  grain  growing  and  stock- 
raising  sections.  Kendall,  a  gold  mining  camp  five  miles  from  Hilger, 
has  produced  over  $5,000,000  in  gold.  Grass  Range  and  Teigen  lie  in 
Eastern  Fergus  and  are  surrounded  by  agricultural  and  stockraising 
country. 

GOVERNMENT  EXPERIMENT  STATION 

A  point  of  great  interest  to  visiting  tourists  to  the  county,  and  par- 
ticularly those  who  are  interested  in  agricultural  matters,  is  the  United 
States  Government  experimental  station,  a  tract  of  640  acres  in  the 
Judith  Basin,  which  was  established  in  1908.  This  is  located  two  miles 
west  of  the  town  of  Moccasin  in  the  Western  part  of  the  county,  and  the 
work  is  under  the  supervision  of  agricultural  experts  who  are  employed 
by  the  Government.  Experiments  are  carried  on  in  the  different  methods 
of  tilling  the  soil  and  in  growing  the  different  kinds  of  hay  and  grain 
crops.  The  records  thus  far  show  that  the  average  yield  of  Turkey 
Red  winter  wheat  grown  at  the  station  for  a  period  of  seven  consecutive 
years  is  34.1  bushels  per  acre;  they  also  show  that  the  average  rainfall 
for  a  period  of  eight  years  was  18.53  inches,  and  more  than  fifty  per  cent 
of  each  year's  precipitation  was  received  in  the  growing  season  from 
April  ist  to  July  3ist.  Each  summer  a  farmer's  picnic  is  held  at  the 
station  and  farmers  gather  from  all  parts  of  the  Basin  to  inspect  the 
farming  methods  as  conducted  at  the  station,  and  to  listen  to  instructive 
talks  by  the  Government  experts  in  charge  and  other  agricultural  experts 
from  different  parts  of  the  country. 

Fergus  County  has  become  a  point  of  great  attraction  to  hunters 
and  fishermen,  being  amply  supplied  with  game,  both  large  and  small. 
Prairie  chickens,  pheasants,  sage  hens,  blue  grouse,  jackrabbits  and 
other  small  game  abound  in  the  foothills  in  countless  numbers,  while  in 
the  mountains  are  found  the  larger  species  of  game,  principally  deer  and 
bear.  In  1914,  Fergus  County  shipped  two  carloads  of  elk  from  the 
Yellowstone  National  Park  and  put  them  in  the  Belt  Mountains,  where 
they  have  been  and  will  be  protected  until  the  time  when  they  are  more 
numerous.  The  many  mountain  streams  furnish  excellent  sport  for  the 


718  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

fisherman,  as  they  are  well  stocked  with  trout  and  whitefish,  and  it  is  not 
an  uncommon  occurrence  to  catch  speckled  trout  in  Big  Spring  Creek  that 
weigh  from  ten  to  twelve  pounds. 

EDUCATION  AND  POPULATION 

Indicative  of  the  intelligence,  good  judgment  and  public  spirit  of 
its  people,  who  have  accomplished  so  much  in  the  comparatively  short 
time  that  Fergus  County  has  been  in  being,  are  its  excellent  schools.  In 
addition  to  good  graded  and  high  schools  at  Lewistown,  there  are  graded 
schools  in  the  towns  and  rural  districts,  in  which  the  best  standards  are 
required  and  maintained  and  only  competent  teachers  are  employed.  The 
187  school  districts  of  the  county  have  a  total  of  over  280  school  build- 
ings, in  which  over  400  teachers  are  employed.  Church  privileges  are 
general  in  the  towns  and  in  many  parts  of  the  rural  districts  high  moral 
standards  prevail  generally. 

The  population  figures  given  in  the  United  States  census  for  1920 
show  28,344  souls  living  within  its  borders;  17,385  for  1910.  It  is  be- 
lieved that  the  newly-developed  oil  industry  will  contribute  greatly  to  the 
population  of  the  county  and  that  other  industries  which  will  naturally 
follow  will  also  add  thereto.  Land  values  in  Fergus  County  are  difficult 
of  standardization.  They  run,  however,  from  $20  to  $80  per  acre  for 
unirrigated  and  up  to  $100  for  irrigated  bottom  lands,  while  grazing  lands 
bring  from  $10  to  $20  per  acre.  The  percentage  of  grain  and  hay  land 
largely  accounts  for  the  variation  in  price. 

The  census  also  furnishes  some  interesting  figures  as  to  the  compara- 
tive urban  and  rural  population  since  and  including  1910.  In  the  latter 
year  the  rural  population  amounted  to  14,393  an<^  tne  urban  to  2,992 ;  or 
17.2  per  cent  of  urban  in  the  total  population.  In  1920,  the  percentage  had 
increased  to  21.6 — that  is,  22,224  rural  population  as  compared  with  6,120 
urban,  which  goes  to  show  that  notwithstanding  the  business  and  industrial 
opportunities  afforded  by  Lewistown  and  other  urban  centers,  the  call  to 
the  farms  and  rural  occupations  was  gathering  strength.  As  noted,  the 
development  of  the  oil  industries  is  bringing  a  noteworthy  increase  of 
population  to  the  county,  and  as  the  promising  fields  are  in  the  rural  dis- 
tricts, this  transfer  of  the  population  of  the  county  from  the  larger  centers 
to  the  country  districts  will  probably  be  more  pronounced  in  1921-22  than 
it  was  in  1920. 

In  the  1920  census  the  population  of  Lewistown  City  is  given  as  6,120, 
divided  by  wards  as  follows:  Ward  I,  2,402;  Ward  II,  1,717;  Ward  III, 
2,001.  With  the  improvement  of  both  the  urban  and  rural  schools,  the 
educational  advantages  enjoyed  by  town  and  country  pupils  are  being  con- 
stantly equalized;  which  fact  may  also  account  for  the  good  showing  in 
population  increase  made  by  the  out-of-town  districts. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  719 

WATER  POWERS  AND  PUBLIC  WAYS 

In  the  matter  of  water  powers  and  public  ways,  Fergus  County  is 
well  supplied.  Among  the  largest  of  the  hydro-electric  plants  are  the 
two  belonging  to  the  Montana  Power  Company,  one  within  the  city  limits 
of  Lewistown  and  the  other  six  miles  east  of  Lewistown  on  Pig  Spring 
Creek,  which  runs  through  Lewistown  and  is  one  of  the  finest  and  largest 
mountain  streams  in  Montana.  This  company,  incidentally,  furnishes 
the  electric  power  for  the  new  plant  of  the  Three  Forks  Portland  Cement 
Company,  at  Hanover,  this  plant,  together  with  the  town,  having  been 
erected  at  a  cost  of  approximately  $1,000,000.  Hanover  has  its  own  water 
system,  the  water  being  piped  to  all  parts  of  the  plant  and  city. 

From  a  transportation  standpoint,  Fergus  County  is  well  located  strate- 
gically, six  railroad  lines  traversing  the  Basin  in  all  directions,  these 
including  the  Great  Northern  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul. 
Fergus  has  an  aggregate  of  6,500  miles  of  highway  bringing  the  various 
communities  into  perfect  touch  with  one  another.  Lewistown  is  on  the 
Red  Trail  from  Chicago  and  Minneapolis,  and  on  the  Custer  Battlefield 
Highway  from  Omaha  to  Glacier  Park.  Of  the  6,500  miles  of  open  high- 
ways, more  than  possessed  by  any  other  Montana  County ;  920  miles  con- 
sist of  crowned  roads.  The  Central  Montana  Highway,  the  Park-to- 
Park  Highway  and  the  Wheat  Line  Highway  are  more  or  less  local  thor- 
oughfares, but  the  Custer  Battlefield  Highway,  which  was  recently  brought 
through  Lewistown  through  the  untiring  efforts  of  the  president  of  the 
Chamber  of  Commerce  of  that  city  and  his  fellow-members,  is  becom- 
ing one  of  the  most  traveled  highways  in  the  state  and  is  bringing  tourists 
from  all  over  the  world.  This  trail  starts  at  Omaha  and  ends  at  Glacier 
Central  Park.  Another  great  thoroughfare  is  the  National  Parks  High- 
way from  Chicago  to  Seattle.  This  crosses  the  Yellowstone  at  Glendive 
and  goes  through  Central  Montana  via  Lewistown  to  Helena  and  all 
the  parks,  and,  in  time,  is  expected  to  be  Montana's  gateway  to  the 
Pacific  Coast. 

THE  CITY  OF  LEWISTOWN 

Lewistown,  the  county  seat  of  Fergus  County,  located  in  the  heart 
of  the  famous  Judith  Basin,  is  situated  in  practically  the  geographical 
center  of  the  state  of  Montana,  admirably  located  on  two  transcontinental 
lines  of  railway,  with  several  branch  lines  leading  in  and  out  to  all  parts 
of  the  county.  The  city's  substantial  growth  within  recent  years  has 
been  largely  due  to  the  development  of  the  natural  resources  of  the  trib- 
utary country,  but  a  great  share  of  the  credit  for  the  growth  lies  with  the 
people,  whose  enterprise  and  public  spirit  have  been  commendable  and 
unfailing.  Incorporated  August,  1899,  although  it  had  secured  special 
delivery  service  to  all  parts  of  the  Union  in  October  1886,  it  has  grown 
from  a  small  and  struggling  village  into  a  city  of  importance  and  beauty, 
with  over  seven  and  one-half  miles  of  boulevard,  twenty-five  miles  of 


720 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


cement  sidewalk,  large  schools  and  other  buildings,  including  a  library, 
and  consisting  of  three  wards  and  thirteen  additions. 

While  situated  in  the  heart  of  a  rich  farming  country,  Lewistown  may 
be  said  to  be  a  business  city.  It  has  four  prosperous  banking  institutions, 
the  First  National  Bank,  the  Empire  Bank  and  Trust  Company,  the  Bank 
of  Fergus  County  and  the  Lewistown  State  Bank.  These  banking  con- 
cerns represent  combined  deposits  of  $6,000,000  and  enjoy  an  excellent 
reputation  in  the  county  and  in  banking  circles  generally  throughout  the 
state.  One  of  the  leading  industries  of  more  recent  date,  as  before  noted, 
is  the  Three  Forks  Portland  Cement  Company,  which  is  employing  about 
300  men,  with  a  large  pay-roll  and  a  modern  plant  in  tjhe  outlying  dis- 
tricts of  Lewistown.  The  United  States  Gypsum  Company  is  another 
concern  which  is  well  represented,  and  others  which  are  in  a  flourishing 
condition  are  a  flour  mill,  brick  and  tile  works,  bottling  works  and  two 


THE  HIGHLAND  PARK  SCHOOL 

creameries,  in  addition  to  which  there  is  conducted  a  wool  market  and 
sugar  beet  raising  has  been  found  profitable. 

The  city  is  continuing  to  grow  apace,  and  its  citizens,  strongly  backed 
by  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  have  worked  effectively  with  the  city  offi- 
cials in  securing  numerous  public  improvements.  Several  which  are  now 
in  prospect  are  a  water  service  extension  to  cost  $65,000;  two  bridges  in 
the  city,  one  to  cost  $24,000  and  the  other  $15,000;  and  a  new  school 
building  to  be  erected,  which  will  contain  an  auditorium  seating  1,200 
persons.  The  city  water  is  to  be  secured  from  a  large  spring  in  a  con- 
creted cave,  which  will  be  operated  upon  the  gravity  system,  with  100 
pounds  pressure,  the  water  never  seeing  the  daylight  and  thus  being  free 
from  polluting  influences. 

Like  other  enlightened  communities  whose  citizens  are  possessed  of 
modern  tendencies,  Lewistown  has  given  much  attention  to  the  matter  of 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  721 

education.  At  the  present  time  the  school  enrollment  is  1,375  pupils.  Six 
rural  schools  are  located  in  the  remote  parts  of  the  Lewistown  District, 
and  these  schools  are  visited  by  the  superintendent,  the  school  nurse  and 
the  special  supervisors  in  music,  etc.  Four  transportation  wagons  bring 
the  rural  children  from  the  nearby  farms  to  the  city  schools.  In  the 
city  there  are  five  buildings  including  the  South  Lewistown  School.  The 
Hawthorne  School,  one  of  the  .first  constructed,  recently  has  been  wrecked 
to  make  way  for  a  first-class  modern  one-story  grade  and  kindergarten 
building,  and  this  leaves  the  Garfield  as  the  oldest  building  in  use.  This 
building,  while  presenting  an  excellent  exterior  appearance,  is  not  a 
modern  fire-proof  building.  The  Highland  Park  building  is  the  latest  and 
most  modern  school,  a  one-story  building,  modern  in  heating,  ventilating, 
arrangements,  location  and  construction. 

For  administrative  and  instructional  purposes,  the  Lewistown  School 
system  has  three  departments,  the  primary,  intermediate  and  junior  high. 
Aside  from  the  regular  curriculum  having  to  do  with  the  usual  subjects, 
special  supervisors  in  music,  art,  domestic  art,  industrial  arts,  health  and 
physical  education  are  employed.  Increasing  emphasis  will  be  placed  in 
the  future  upon  the  health  and  physical  education. 

The  new  building  program,  for  which  an  appropriation  has  been  voted, 
calls  for  the  construction  of  two  new  buildings.  The  new  grade  building 
for  the  Hawthorne  site  will  be  rnodern  in  every  respect.  The  new 
junior  high  school  structure  will  also  represent  the  latest  in  that  type. 
It  will  be  a  two-story  fire-proof  building,  and  the  class  rooms  will  be 
grouped  around  the  auditorium  and  gymnasium,  the  latter  being  so  ar- 
ranged that  it  can  be  made  a  part  of  the  stage.  For  a  mass  meeting  or 
other  public  gathering,  the  gymnasium  and  auditorium  will  seat  1,200 
people. 

Directly  in  line  with  the  fine  work  being  accomplished  by  the  schools 
is  what  is  being  done  by  the  Public  Library.  The  first  step  toward  secur- 
ing free  reading  matter  for  the  citizens  of  Lewistown  was  taken  by  the 
Sunset  Club,  an  organization  formed  in  the  winter  of  1893-94,  for  the 
purpose  of  social  enjoyment  and  intellectual  advancement.  In  January, 
1897,  F.  E.  Smith  was  elected  chairman  and  J.  M.  Parrent  secretary 
of  a  committee  to  commence  the  work  of  organizing  a  Public  Library. 
They  started  modestly  with  329  books  and  a  cash  capital  of  $126.50,  and 
at  the  start  the  trustees  were:  F.  E.  Smith,  chairman;  E.  K.  Cheadle, 
secretary;  Halsey  Watson,  treasurer;  Rev.  Albert  Pfaus,  Rev.  Vigus, 
Mrs.  E.  E.  Wright,  Mrs.  G.  J.  Wiedeman  and  Mrs.  F.  C.  Stiles.  On 
April  24,  1901,  the  city  council  passed  an  ordinance  to  establish  and  main- 
tain a  Free  Public  Library,  and  in  the  following  September  Mrs.  M.  A. 
Sloan  was  elected  librarian.  In  the  same  year  she  was  succeeded  by  Mrs. 
A.  Pfaus,  who  served  until  October,  1906,  when  Archie  Farnum  was 
elected  librarian.  In  1908,  Mr.  Farnum  resigned  and  was  succeeded 
by  Mrs.  A.  Pfaus,  who  acted  in  that  capacity  until  1913,  when  she  re- 
signed and  Mrs.  Guy  Wait  was  elected  in  her  place.  The  latter  resigned 
in  1913,  at  which  time  the  present  librarian,  Miss  Clara  Main,  was  elected. 
She  has  served  ably  and  acceptably.  At  the  present  time  the  Lewistown 


LEWISTOWN  OF  TODAY 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  723 

Public  Library  has  over  8,000  books,  and  on  its  lists  of  subscribers  are 
i, 600  adults  and  1,000  children.  The  present  Board  of  Trustees  consists 
of  the  following :  Grant  Robinson,  chairman ;  Mrs.  Helen  L.  Warr,  sec- 
retary ;  Mrs.  C.  R.  McLave,  Mrs.  Bert  d'Autremont,  Mrs.  Anna  Crowley, 
Judge  Von  Tobel  and  E.  O.  Kindschy. 

That  Lewistown  is  a  moral  city  may  be  seen  in  the  fact  that  its 
citizens  support  no  less  than  eight  churches,  all  of  which  are  engaged 
in  movements  making  for  still  higher  standards  and  better  citizenship. 
The  city  has  two  up-to-date  newspapers,  the  Fergus  County  Argus,  estab- 
lished in  1883,  and  the  Fergus  County  Democrat.  Since  April,  1905,  the 
Judith  Club  has  been  a  factor  in  the  upbuilding  and  development  not  alone 
of  the  city  of  Lewistown,  but  also  of  Fergus  County  and  its  industries  and 
institutions,  and  another  factor  is  the  Lewistown  Woman's  Club.  There 
are  also  twenty-nine  secret  and  benevolent  lodges  in  the  city,  all  of  which 
are  in  a  prosperous  condition.  In  fact,  Lewistown  is  a  thoroughly 
modern  city.* 

FLATHEAD  COUNTY  (KALISPELL) 

West  of  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  in  almost  the  extreme 
northwestern  corner  of  Montana,  and  directly  south  of  British  Columbia, 
lies  Flathead  County.  To  its  northeast  is  the  wild,  beautiful  and  pictur- 
esque Glacier  National  Park,  with,  the  Continental  Divide  forming  its 
southeastern  border  line,  and  in  its  southern  central  part  are  found  the 
Flathead  and  Mission  ranges  of  mountains.  Lincoln  County  forms  the 
greater  part  of  its  western  border,  its  extreme  southwestern  corner  be- 
ing flanked  b)*  Sanders  County.  Magnificent,  timbered  mountain  ranges, 
fine,  fertile  valleys,  over  300  lakes,  several  national  forests  and  a  part  of  the 
former  Flathead  Indian  reservation  combine  to  make  it  one  of  the  most 
interesting  of  Montana's  counties.  Owing  to  its  location  and  its  general 
topography,  its  early  history  is  one  of  absorbing  interest,  having  been  char- 
acterized by  the  labors  of  the  Catholic  Missionaries  among  the  mild  and 
friendly  Flathead  Indians;  but  that  period  of  the  history  is  covered  in 
other  chapters  of  this  work,  and  the  present  sketch  will  be  confined  to 
more  modern  events. 

Flathead  is  another  one  of  the  counties  of  Montana  decidedly  irregular 
in  shape.  At  its  widest  point,  east  and  west,  it  is  sixty-five  miles  across, 
while  its  greatest  length,  north  and  south,  is  approximately  101  miles, 
and  its  land  area  is  6,109  square  miles,  making  it  one  of  the  larger 
counties  of  the  state.  The  date  of  its  creation  was  March  i,  1893,  and  its 
name  is  derived  from  the  Flathead  tribe  of  Indians.  Owing  to  the  fact 
that  a  large  part  of  the  county  is  mountainous,  agriculture  was  somewhat 
slow  in  development  and  the  cultivable  land  is  mostly  rolling,  the  soil  be- 
ing a  deep  sandy  loam.  There  are  about  150,000  acres  of  logged-off 


*  Since  the  above  was  written,  Judith  Basin  County  has  been  created  from  the 
western  part  of  Fergus  and  the  southeastern  part  of  Cascade  counties.  The  new 
county  comprises  more  than  one-half  of  the  Judith  Basin  and  is  probably  the  most 
highly  developed  agricultural  county  in  'Montana.  Stanford  is  the  county  seat. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


lands  in  the  county,  which  now  raise  all  kinds  of  crops.  It  is  estimated 
that  it  costs  $75  an  acre  to  clear  the  lands,  a  large  portion  of  which  is 
sub-irrigated.  What  is  known  as  the  Flathead  project  is  located  in  the 
counties  of  Flathead,  Sanders  and  Missoula,  and  is  on  the  Pacific  slope 
in  the  drainage  area  of  the  Flathead  and  Jocko  rivers  on  the  former 
Flathead  Indian  reservation.  The  irrigable  area  of  the  project  is  134,500 
acres,  and  of  this  amount  the  Government  Reclamation  Service  has  works 
completed  for  98,000  acres. 

The  county  is  in  the  Flathead  Basin,  drained  by  the  Flathead  River 
system,  and  domestic  water  is  obtained  mostly  from  springs  and  wells, 
the  latter  being  at  an  average  of  forty  feet.  The  principal  crops  are 
small  grain,  wheat,  oats,  barley  and  rye.  Alfalfa,  clover  and  timothy  do 
exceptionally  well  and  the  acreage  in  these  grasses  is  being  enlarged. 
Vegetables  also  thrive,  and  during  the  past  year  potato  growing  has  been 
launched  on  a  large  scale,  there  being  more  than  2,000,000  acres  de- 


Tow  N  OF  POLSON  « 

voted  to  the  tuber.  The  hardier  kind  of  fruits  and  berries  are  successfully 
raised,  although  up  to  the  present  apples  have  been  the  only  fruit  raised 
on  a  commercial  scale. 

The  mountains  in  Flathead  County  are  known  to  contain  various  kinds 
of  minerals,  but  exploration  and  development  have  not  been  carried  far 
enough  to  determine  their  possibilities.  Aside  from  agriculture,  horti- 
culture and  stockraising,  lumbering  is  the  chief  industry  of  the  county, 
for  Flathead  is  one  of  the  best  timbered  counties  in  the  state.  There  are 
2,232,418  acres  included  in  national  forests,  200,000  acres  in  state  timber 
land  and  more  than  100,000  acres  of  timber  belonging  to  the  Indians,  in 
addition  to  which  there  are  large  private  holdings. 

A  number  of  flourishing  and  progressive  towns  have  been  developed 
in  the  Flathead  Basin.  Big  Fork,  on  the  shore  of  Flathead  Lake,  the 
largest  fresh  water  lake  in  the  United  States  exclusive  of  the  Great  Lakes, 
is  twenty-three  miles  southeast  of  the  county  seat  of  Kalispell,  and  is  the 
location  of  the  power  plant  of  the  Northern  Idaho  and  Montana  Power 
Company.  Another  growing  community,  recently  established,  is  Chau- 
tauqua,  four  miles  south  of  Somers,  on  the  west  bank  of  the  same  lake. 
An  important  shipping  point  is  Poison,  at  the  south  end  of  Flathead  Lake, 
on  the  bank  of  the  Pend  d'Oreille  River.  Under  a  project  of  the  United 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  725 

States  Government  Reclamation  Service,  this  river  is  becoming  a  decided- 
ly important  factor  in  the  development  of  a  great  agricultural  region.  Its 
falls  are  being  developed  by  dam  and  tunnel  and  water  is  being  pumped 
from  Flathead  Lake  over  the  ridge  south  of  the  city  where  it  is  distribut- 
ed over  several  thousand  acres.  Naturally,  Poison  is  able  to  secure  ade- 
quate power  for  its  industries,  which  at  present  include  flour  and  sawmills, 
three  grain  elevators  and  a  modern  electric  light  and  water  works.  Steam- 
boat service  daily  is  maintaned  between  that  point  and  Dayton,  Somers 
and  Big  Fork.  Poison  also  has  three  banks,  five  hotels,  a  public  library,  a 
commercial  club  and  four  churches.  Somers,  at  the  north  end  of  Flathead 
Lake,  is  known  chiefly  as  a  lumber  shipping  point.  Whitefish,  which 
was  incorporated  in  1905,  has  a  population  of  about  3,000,  and  is  chiefly 
noticeable  as  a  division  point  and  a  lumber  market.  Dayton  and  Rollins 
are  also  towns  on  Flathead  Lake,  with  good  locations  and  fair  pros- 
pects. 

THE  MONTANA  SOLDIERS'  HOME 

Columbia  Falls,  at  the  junction  of  the  main  line  and  the  Flathead 
branch  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway,  at  the  mouth  of  Bad  Rock  Canyon, 
and  at  the  junction  of  the  north,  south  and  middle  forks  of  the  Flathead 
River,  fifteen  miles  northeast  of  Kalispell,  is  a  town  of  about  975  popula- 
tion. It  has  considerable  interests  in  lime,  coal,  lumber,  farming  and 
grazing,  and  has  two  hotels,  a  commercial  club,  a  weekly  newspaper  and 
two  churches. 

Columbia  Falls,  however,  is  principally  of  interest  as  the  location  of 
the  Montana  Soldiers'  Home.  This  home,  which  is  a  notable  monument 
to  the  gratitude  and  patriotism  of  the  people  of  Montana,  had  its  in- 
ception in  1895,  and  so  rapidly  were  plans  pushed  through  that  on 
Memorial  Day,  May  30,  1896,  the  cornerstone  was  laid  by  Governor 
J.  E.  Rickards  with  appropriate  ceremonies.  A  large  crowd  gathered 
from  the  surrounding  country,  and  the  occasion  was  patriotic  and  im- 
pressive. On  August  4,  1896,  Capt.  J.  R.  Hillman  was  the  unanimous 
choice  for  commandant  of  the  home,  a  post  which  he  retained  until  the  fall 
of  1902  when  he  tendered  his  resignation.  Capt.  H.  S.  Howell,  who  was 
elected  in  his  stead,  died  at  the  home  September  n,  1911,  and  Capt.  J.  E. 
Sprague  was  chosen  to 'succeed  him.  He  died  May  14,  1920,  and  was 
succeeded  by  Col.  G.  I.  Reiche  and  John  S.  Axtell.  The  present  officers 
are:  Simon  Hauswirth,  commandant;  A.  D.  Thomas,  adjutant;  W.  C. 
Allison,  M.  D.,  surgeon;  R.  W.  Nelson,  chaplain.  The  board  of  man- 
agers include:  John  O.  Morton,  president;  Dr.  A.  T.  Munro,  Judge 
James  R.  Goss  and  James  M.  Page,  Grand  Army  of  the  Republic  mem- 
bers. The  late  secretary,  Hon.  Charles  S.  Warren,  of  Butte,  died  April 
13,  1921.  At  the  time  of  the  last  report,  December  i,  1920,  the  home 
had  102  members,  with  thirty  inmates.  The  first  application  for  mem- 
bership in  the  Montana  Soldiers'  Home  was  approved  June  17,  1897,  and 
since  then  over  500  members  have  been  enrolled,  of  whom  forty  served 
in  the  Spanish-American  War  and  three  were  Indian  fighters  during  the 
years  1876-77  in  the  Territory  of  Montana.  Not  only  are  old  soldiers 


726  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  sailors  admitted  to  membership,  but  their  wives  and  widows  as  well. 
The  buildings  now  in  use  are  the  Main  Building,  already  referred  to;  the 
Administration  Building,  orginally  constructed  for  a  hospital;  the 
Women's  Building;  the  Hospital,  and  the  Service  and  Headquarters 
Building,  which  has  been  constructed  recently  at  a  cost  of  nearly  $20,000. 
These  buildings  are  substantially  constructed  of  brick,  stone  and  con- 
crete, and  are  two  stories  in  height,  with  basement. 

Flathead  County  is  well  supplied  with  educational  institutions  and 
facilities,  reflecting  in  this  direction  the  progressiveness  of  its  people.  All 
schools  in  the  county  are  graded,  and  there  are  county  high  schools  at 
Kalispell,  Columbia  Falls,  Whitefish  and  Poison. 

In  the  matter  of  population,  the  1920  census  figures  show  21,705, 
against  18,785  for  1910.  Kalispell,  the  county  seat  and  largest  town, 
dropped  from  5,549  in  1910,  to  5,147  in  1920. 

First-class  farm  land  in  the  county,  well  improved,  sells  at  $100  to 
$125  per  acre,  although  considerable  farm  land  can  be  bought  at  $75  to 
$80  an  acre,  and  100,000  acres  of  cut  over  or  stump  land  at  $5  to  $25  per 
acre.  Irrigated  land,  according  to  its  location,  is  worth  $200  to  $300 
an  acre. 

The  main  line  of  the  Great  Northern  traverses  the  county  east  and 
west  and  furnishes  the  only  transportation  out  of  the  county  except 
over  Flathead  Lake  to  the  south,  connecting  with  the  Northern  Pacific 
at  Poison.  Steamboats  operate  between  Somers,  at  the  north  end  of  Flat- 
head  Lake,  and  Poison,  at  the  southern  end,  which  is  the  terminus  of 
a  branch  from  the  south  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  The  county  has  more 
than  3,000  miles  of  highway.  It  is  crossed  by  the  National  Parks  High- 
way, the  Yellowstone-Glacier  Park  Bee  Line  Highway,  and  has  an  auto- 
mobile boulevard  out  of  Kalispell  around  Flathead  Lake,  115  miles  long, 
one  of  the  most  scenic  roads  in  the  Northwest.  There  are  automobile 
roads  to  the  Glacier  National  Park,  Swan  Lake,  Whitefish  Lake,  Mc- 
Gregor Lake,  Bitter  Root  Lake,  Stillwater  Lake,  Lake  Ronan,  Camas 
Hot  Springs  and  Thompson  Lake,  and  hard-surfaced  roads  to  White- 
fish,  Somers  and  Big  Fork.  Magnificent  scenery,  excellent  hunting  and 
fishing  and  boating  are  some  of  the  attractions  for  tourists.  More  sum- 
mer homes  have  been  erected  on  the  shores  of  the  various  lakes  in  Flat- 
head  County  than  in  all  other  Montana  counties  combined.  Many  wealthy 
people  from  the  East  have  been  so  charmed  by  the  scenery  that  they  have 
built  permanent  summer  homes.  The  winters  of  the  county  are  milder 
than  those  of  Iowa  or  Kansas,  while  the  annual  rainfall  is  approximately 
eighteen  inches,  and  the  annual  wind  velocity  is  only  4.8  miles  per  hour, 
the  lowest  of  any  place  in  the  United  States  except  one.  . 

KALISPELL 

Kalispell,  the  county  seat  of  Flathead  County,  is  a  city  of  three  wards, 
and  was  incorporated  in  April,  1902.  It  is  a  thriving  community,  with 
three  banking  institutions,  the  oldest  of  which  is  the  First  National  Bank, 
which  was  founded  in  1891.  It  maintains  four  newspapers  and  eleven 
churches,  and  its  industries  are  of  sufficient  importance  to  warrant  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  727 

presence  of  four  labor  unions.  Its  Chamber  of  Commerce,  of  which 
P.  N.  Bernard  is  secretary,  is  a  live  organization  which  has  done  much  to 
promote  the  city's  welfare.  Among  other  public  buildings  is  a  well- 
equipped  Carnegie  library.  In  its  connection  with  the  outside  world, 
Kalispell  has  the  facilities  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway,  as  well  as  four 
stage  lines,  including  the  Kalispell,  Kila  &  Pleasant  Valley,  the  Kalispell 
&  Somers,  the  Kalispell,  Holt  &  Big  Fork  and  the  Kalispell  &  White- 
fish.  Motor  bus  service  is  maintained  to  Big  Fork  and  Swan  Lake,  and 
there  are  several  automobile  and  boat  lines.  Its  special  delivery  service 
to  all  points  in  the  country  was  established  in  October,  1886.  That  its 
people  are  sociable  by  inclination  is  shown  in  the  fact  that  there  are 
twenty-two  secret  and  benevolent  lodges  having  membership  at  the  county 
seat.  In  the  way  of  educational  advantages,  the  youth  of  the  city  are 


BIRD'S  EYE  VIEW  OF  KALISPELL 

granted  excellent  advantages,  there  being  a  free  county  high  school  with 
an  enrollment  of  700  pupils,  as  well  as  the  Central,  North  Side  and  West 
Side  graded  schools. 

The  oldest  residents  of  Kalispell  include :  D.  R.  Peeler,  president  of 
the  Bank  of  Commerce;  H.  C.  Keith,  president  of  the  First  National 
Bank;  C.  D.  Conrad,  president  of  the  Conrad  National  Bank;  James 
Ford,  Andrew  Swaney,  John  Foy,  Mrs.  J.  A.  Kimerley,  C.  O.  Ingals, 
George  F.  Stannard,  August  Lagoni  and  Richard  Greig,  all  of  Kalispell ; 
and  J.  E.  Lewis,  now  of  Columbia  Falls. 

GALLATIN  COUNTY  (BOZEMAN) 

Gallatin  is  one  of  the  oldest  of  Montana's  counties,  having  been  created 
February  2,  1865.  Located  just  west  of  the  Bridger  range  of  mountains, 
in  south  central  Montana,  its  southern  boundary  extends  to  the  Yellow- 
stone National  Park  and  the  State  of  Idaho,  and  its  2,507  square  miles 
are  included  in  an  area  about  100 'miles  in  length  and  approximately  twenty- 


SCENES  IN  THE  GALLATIN  VALLEY 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  .  729 

five  miles  in  width.  Included  in  the  county  is  the  Gallatin  Valley,  a 
garden  spot  of  the  state,  located  among  the  headwaters  of  the  Missouri 
River  at  the  northwestern  corner  of  the  Yellowstone  National  Park. 
More  than  half  a  million  acres,  the  larger  portion  under  cultivation,  lie 
in  this  fertile  region,  which  on  every  side  is  walled  in  by  snow-capped 
mountains.  Down  the  sides  of  the  Rockies,  the  Gallatin,  the  Bridger  and 
the  Madison,  course  many  streams  which  irrigate  the  soil  and  serve  to 
develop  the  agriculture  of  the  county. 

Like  other  Montana  counties,  Gallatin  depended  largely  for  its  early 
settlement  upon  the  ranchmen,  but  these  were  soon  succeeded  by  the  farm- 
ers, who  found  the  rich  and  fertile  soil  productive  of  large  and  unfailing' 
crops.  Thus  it  is  that  the  Gallatin  Valley  has  come  to  be  termed  the 
"Egypt  of  America."  About  half  the  total  area  of  the  farming  land  is 
under  irrigation,  while  the  remainder  is  dry  farmed,  a  method  that  has 
been  in  vogue  for  thirty  years,  having  originated  in  this  region. 

The  Gallatin  Valley,  in  spite  of  being  primarily  an  agricultural  country, 
boasts  of  a  number  of  thriving  and  growing  cities,  principal  among  which 
are  Bozeman,  Three  Forks,  Belgrade,  Manhattan,  Willow  Creek  and 
Salesville.  Three  Forks,  with  two  railroads,  has  a  population  of  2,000 
and  is  a  little  city  with  its  own  water  plant  and  electric  lighting  system. 
Manhattan  is  a  milling  and  shipping  point,  its  malting  works  being  its 
leading  industry.  Belgrade  has  flour  mills  and  elevators.  Willow  Creek 
is  in  the  heart  of  a  prosperous  agricultural  district.  At  Trident  is  a  large 
cement  factory.  Beautiful  mountain  scenery,  many  streams  and  lakes, 
good  hunting  and  fishing,  and  proximity  to  the  Yellowstone  Park,  have 
made  Gallatin  County  headquarters  for  summer  tourists  for  many  years ; 
a  not  inconsiderable  source  of  revenue  for  residents. 

Much  timber  of  commercial  value  is  to  be  found  on  the  Gallatin  and 
Bridger  ranges  of  mountains,  but  lumbering  has  never  been  conducted  on  a 
large  scale,  although  there  are  several  small  mills  in  the  timbered  region. 
Agriculture,  stock  growing  and  the  manufacture  of  flour  and  cereal 
products  are  the  chief  industries.  Large  herds  of  cattle  and  bands  of 
sheep  range  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  flour  mills  are  operated  in 
practically  all  of  the  towns  and  the  raising  of  peas  for  seed  and  canning 
purposes  is  an  important  industry,  as  is  also  the  manufacture  of  dairy 
products;  but  Gallatin  County  is  most  widely  noted  for  its  production  of 
grains  and  grasses.  Spring  and  winter  wheat,  oats,  barley,  peas,  clover 
and  alfalfa,  are  the  principal  crops  raised.  In  1919  (census  of  1920)  the 
76,071  acres  in  the  county  which  raised  cereals  produced  968,644  bushels, 
of  which  640,466  were  wheat  and  259,204,  oats.  Under  the  head  "hay 
and  forage,"  70,124  tons  were  raised  from  51,046  acres. 

Gallatin  County,  as  a  whole,  has  a  splendid  school  system.  In  addition 
to  high  schools  in  the  smaller  towns,  the  county  high  school  is  located  at 
Bozeman,  the  county  seat,  and  that  city  is  likewise  the  seat  of  the  State 
College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts  and  the  United  States  Ex- 
periment Station.  In  fact,  the  matter  of  good  schools  has  always 
been  a  question  of  prime  consideration  by  the  people  of  this  county. 
Modern  school  buildings,  well  furnished  with  the  necessary  equipment  for 


730  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

school  work,  well  lighted,  heated  and  with  good  water,  have  been  provided 
rapidly  and  with  a  lavish  hand.  The  requirements  for  teachers  are  high. 
The  state  course  of  study  which  provides  for  work  along  all  academic 
lines  and  in  addition  thereto,  courses  in  agriculture  and  suggestive  work  in 
morals  and  manners,  nature  study,  etc.,  forms  the  basis  for  the  work  in 
the  rural  schools. 

As  to  population,  Gallatin  County  has  15,864  inhabitants — 14,079  in 
1910.  Bozeman,  its  largest  town,  has  a  population  of  6,183. 

Good  irrigated  land  in  Gallatin  County  may  be  purchased  for  from 
$100  to  $300  per  acre,  while  non-irrigated  land  sells  for  from  $50  to  $100 
per  acre,  the  wide  difference  in  price  being  due  to  location  and  improve- 
ments. 

Gallatin  County  places  great  value  upon  its  drainage  and  water 
supply.  The  valley  lands  are  irrigated  from  the  waters  of  the  West 
Gallatin  River  and  its  tributaries.  The  Missouri  River  finds  its  source 
in  the  Gallatin  Valley,  at  the  confluence  of  the  Jefferson,  Madison  and 
Gallatin  rivers  near  Three  Forks.  As  to  transportation  facilities,  the 
main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  traverses  the  entire  length  of  the  Galla- 
tin Valley.  The  main  line  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  Pugent  Sound 
crosses  the  northern  end  of  the  county  and  is  fed  by  a  branch  line  origi- 
nating at  Bozeman.  Other  lines  are  the  Gallatin  Valley  Railway,  Yellow- 
stone Park  Railway,  Oregon  Short  Line  and  Camp  Creek  Railway,  and 
an  electric  railway  is  operated  between  Bozeman  and  Salesville. 

The  Yellowstone  Trail  traverses  the  Gallatin  Valley,  and  Gallatin 
County  was  one  of  the  first  to  build  hard-surfaced  roads.  A  scenic 
highway  is  being  constructed  from  Bozeman  to  Yellowstone,  up  the 
West  Gallatin  Canyon  to  the  western  entrance  of  the  Yellowstone  National 
Park.  This  is  known  as  the  Gallatin  way  and  is  considered  one  of  the 
most  attractive  scenic  drives  of  the  West.  '  Gallatin  County  has  a  road- 
building  program  involving  an  expenditure  of  $1,000,000. 

Probably  few  farming  districts  have  more  natural  attractions  on  their 
borders.  The  Bridger  mountains,  the  highest  peaks  of  which  reach  an 
elevation  of  10,000  feet,  lie  along  the  eastern  side  of  the  valley,  and  at 
the  foot  of  these  mountains  and  within  three  or  four  miles  of  the  sum- 
mits are  cultivated  fields.  To  the  southwest  a  few  miles  are  the  Spanish 
Needles,  more  lofty  and  more  rugged,  and  everywhere  on  the  lower 
slopes  of  these  mountains  are  large  areas  of  timber.  A  drive  along  the 
foot  of  the  mountains  in  any  direction  will  bring  the  tourist  to  dozens 
of  beautiful,  shady  canyons,  each  with  its  overhanging  crags  and  cliffs, 
sparkling  springs  and  streams  of  clear,  pure  water.  Most  of  these  streams 
are  stocked  with  mountain,  rainbow  and  eastern  brook  trout. 

THE  CITY  OF  BOZEMAN 

The  metropolis  of  the  Gallatin  Valley,  the  city  of  Bozeman,  which 
is  also  the  county  seat,  is  located  in  the  heart  of  the  Rocky  mountains  and 
in  the  midst  of  one  of  the  most  picturesque  spots  in  Montana.  Known 
locally  as  the  "city  of  homes,"  it  is  also  becoming  popular  as  a  summer 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


731 


home  for  the  tourist  and  sportsman.  On  the  main  line  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  and  a  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  it  is  the 
seat  of  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  which  has 
an  attendance  of  from  500  to  600  students.  In  addition  to  having  several 
most  attractive  residence  streets,  the  city  possesses  a  well-equipped  Young 
Men's  Christian  Association,  an  Elks'  Home,  a  handsome  Federal  building, 
good  schools  and  many  churches.  The  municipal  water  works  draw  the 
city's  supply  from  a  mountain  lake  six  miles  distant.  The  Bozeman 
Chamber  of  Commerce  is  a  useful  and  industrious  body,  with  neat  and 
really  artistic  headquarters,  which  serve  as  exhibit  and  rest  rooms  and  a 
place  for  society  and  public  meetings.  The  city  has  an  unusual  number  of 
well  paved  and  lighted  streets  for  a  place  of  its  size. 

In  respect  to  educational  advantages,  Bozeman  ranks  high.     Its  pub- 
lic  schools   offer   special   courses    in    writing,    drawing,    music,    domestic 


PUBLIC  SCHOOL  AT  BOZEMAN 

science  and  manual  training,  and  pupils  going  from  the  Bozeman  schools 
into  other  states  find  themselves  well  equipped  for  taking  up  the  work 
in  the  institutions  which  they  enter.  Pupils  who  finish  the  eighth  grade 
in  the  public  schools  are  entitled  to  enter  the  Gallatin  County  High  School 
where  tuition  is  free.  This  is  a  first-class  educational  institution  of  sec- 
ondary grade,  its  course  of  study  being  modern  and  full  credit  being 
granted  to  it  by  all  of  the  higher  institutions  of  learning  in  the  state  and 
by  many  of  the  leading  colleges  and  universities  of  the  country. 

In  addition  to  these  advantages,  Bozeman  has  the  distinction  of  being 
the  home  of  an  institution  of  higher  learning  which  maintains  the  largest 
faculty  and  has  a  greater  number  of  students  than  any  other  educational 
institution  of  the  state,  the  State  College  of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic 
Arts.  This  offers  to  its  students  all  of  the  advantages  that  may  be 
secured  in  any  similar  institution  in  the  United  States.  The  State  College 
of  Agriculture  and  Mechanic  Arts,  of  which  Alfred  Atkinson  is  president, 
was  established  February  16,  1893,  and  consist  of  the  Colleges  of  Agricul- 


732  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ture,  Engineering,  Applied  Science  and  Household  and  Industrial  Arts; 
Courses  for  Vocational  Teachers,  the  School  of  Music,  the  Summer  Quar- 
ter, the  Secondary  Schools  of  Agriculture,  Home  Economics  and  Mechanic 
Arts,  the  Agricultural  Experiment  Station  and  the  Agricultural  Exten- 
sion service.  A  more  extended  notice  of  the  State  College  of  Agricul- 
ture appears  in  the  educational  chapter. 

Among  the  factors  which  have  made  for  higher  morals  and  better  citi- 
zenship at  Bozeman,  the  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  is  worthy  of 
mention.  The  Bozeman  local  was  organized  in  November,  1913,  the 
first  directors  being  W.  E.  Harmon,  H.  S.  Buell,  F.  M.  Brown,  R.  J. 
Cunningham,  A.  E.  Westlake  and  P.  C.  Waite,  and  the  first  trustees  E. 
B.  Martin,  George  P.  Dier,  A.  C.  Roecher,  A.  J.  Walrath  and  W.  S. 
Davidson.  The  site  was  purchased  in  December  of  the  same  year,  plans 
were  ordered  drawn,  a  campaign  for  funds  was  inaugurated  and  $65,000 
raised  for  the  erection  of  the  structure.  Later,  an  additional  sum  of 
$7,500  was  raised  for  the  furnishing  of  the  building.  Charles  Puehler 
was  state  secretary  and  O.  C.  Colton  building  secretary.  After  the 
completion  of  the  building,  Mr.  Colton  was  retained  as  the  first  local 
secretary,  and  he  was  succeeded  in  turn  by  Oliver  Price,  J.  C.  Snowden, 
P.  A.  Ten  Haf  and  H.  J.  Williams,  the  last  named  being  the  present 
secretary.  The  present  board  of  directors  consists  of  G.  L.  Martin,  E. 
J.  Parkin,  O.  A.  Lynn,  C.  S.  Kenyon,  R.  E.  Esgar,  G.  R.  Powers,  F.  M. 
Brown,  W.  M.  Cobleigh,  J.  R.  Parker,  William  Hollingsworth,  W.  F. 
Day  and  R.  J.  Cunningham,  while  the  present  trustees  are  A.  C.  Roecher, 
E.  B.  Martin,  Nelson  Story,  Jr.,  W.  S.  Davidson,  F.  O.  Wilton  and 
Walter  Aitken.  The  present  membership  consists  of  353  men,  174  boys, 
eighty-four  women  and  thirty-eight  girls,  a  total  of  649,  in  addition  to 
which  there  are  ninety-three  subscribers  who  make  donations  toward  the 
support  of  the  Association,  making  a  total  list  of  742  subscribers. 

Bozeman  is  a  well-to-do  city  which  maintains  four  banks  with  deposits 
of  over  $4,000,000.  As  a  business  center  it  is  a  distributing  point  for  the 
entire  Gallatin  Valley.  Large  cereal  and  flouring  mill  interests  are  cen- 
tered at  the  county  seat,  in  addition  to  which  there  is  a  pea  canning  factory, 
many  elevators  and  warehouses  and  several  wholesale  and  jobbing  houses. 

The  city  holds  out  numerous  attractions  to  the  tourist.  Only  four 
miles  from  the  city,  in  Bridger  Canyon,  is  to  be  seen  a  most  interesting 
institution,  the  United  States  Government  Fish  Hatchery.  There  are 
many  mountain  canyons  within  a  short  distance  of  the  city,  with  good 
roads  leading  to  almost  all  of  them.  Splendid  trout  fishing  may  be  had 
in  each  of  these  canyons,  and  there  are  also  numerous  mountain  streams 
and  mountain  lakes  within  a  short  distance  of  the  city.  The  city  maintains 
camping  grounds  for  auto  tourists,  and  supplies  free  wood,  water,  light 
and  other  conveniences  for  those  who  would  tarry  there.  The  grounds  are 
located  two  blocks  south  of  Main  Street  and  are  entered  from  Church 
Avenue. 

One  of  the  city's  amusement  features  each  year  is  the  event  known 
as  the  Bozeman  Roundup,  the  largest  and  most  spectacular  entertainment 
of  its  kind  staged.  It  is  a  reproduction  of  the  frontier  days  of  Montana, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  733 

and  spectators  come,  year  after  year,  from  all  parts  of  the  country ;  while 
contestants,  not  only  from  the  state  but  from  other  sections  of  the  West, 
enter  the  lists  to  test  their  skill,  daring,  strength  and  endurance  in  such 
contests  as  "broncho-busting,"  "steer-roping"  and  "bull-dogging." 


CHAPTER  XXX 

GARFIELD,    GLACIER,    GOLDEN    VALLEY,    GRANITE,    HILL, 
JEFFERSON,  JUDITH  BASIN 

Garfield  County,  situated  in  the  east  central  part  of  Montana,  with 
the  Missouri  River  for  its  northern  boundary  and  the  Musselshell  River 
for  its  western,  was  created  April  i,  1919.  Though  one  of  the  infant 
counties  of  the  state,  it  has  already  given  evidence  of  lusty  growth  and 
the  promise  of  a  well  rounded  maturity.  The  surface  of  the  county  is 
generally  rolling,  with  breaks  along  the  Missouri  River  and  some  rougher 
country  in  the  northern  part  in  the  neighborhood  of  Piney  Buttes.  The 
most  fertile  spots  are  found  on  the  bottom  lands,  but  there  are  also  good 
agricultural  possibilities  on  the  benches,  where  the  soil  is  for  the  most 
part  a  chocolate  loam. 

NATURAL  AND  ACQUIRED  FEATURES  OF  GARFIELD  COUNTY 

The  central  part  of  the  county  is  elevated,  and  there  many  small 
streams  take  their  source,  flowing  to  all  points  of  the  compass  and  empty- 
ing into  the  Musselshell  and  Missouri  rivers  and  into  Dry  Creek.  In 
most  places  good  well  water  may  be  obtained  at  depths  varying  from  ten 
to  fifty  feet.  In  some  districts  artesian  wells  have  been  bored  to  depths 
of  150  to  175  feet,  tapping  a  supply  of  clear  pure  water.  There  is  little 
commercial  timber  in  the  county,  such  as  there  is  consisting  of  the  small 
pine  along  the  Missouri  and  Musselshell  rivers.  The  small  creeks  are 
generally  fringed  with  cottonwood. 

Garfield  County  being  yet  in  the  pioneer  stage,  stockraising  has  hither- 
to been  the  chief  industry,  though  other  spheres  of  industrial  activity  are 
being  actively  developed  with  good  promise  for  the  future.  Scenes  char- 
acteristic of  the  Old  West  with  its  picturesque  cowboys  and  extensive 
cattle  ranges,  may  still  be  seen  here.  Agriculture  is  undergoing  a  slow 
development,  owing  to  the  lack  of  transportation  facilities,  there  being 
as  yet  no  railroad  in  the  county.  This  handicap  is  certain  to  be  removed 
at  no  distant  date,  as  the  Great  Northern  has  surveyed  a  new  main  line 
that  will  cross  the  county  east  and  west,  and  which  has  been  completed 
in  the  adjoining  counties  of  Richland  and  Ferguson.  A  gap  of  150  miles 
remains  to  be  filled  up,  and  the  work  will  doubtless  be  undertaken  as  soon 
as  financial  conditions  permit.  Still  another  transcontinental  line  has  been 
surveyed  through  the  county,  but  its  construction  as  yet  is  uncertain. 
Should  it  materialize  it  would  place  the  county  in  an  especially  favor- 
able condition  as  to  rail  communication.  The  motorist  traveling  east  or 
west  through  the  county  can  avail  himself  of  the  Green  Trail,  and  a  good 
highway  is  also  maintained  from  Miles  City,  Custer  County,  to  Jordan. 

734 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  735 

The  present  lack  of  rail  facilities,  while  a  handicap  to  those  already 
on  the  ground,  is  an  advantage  to  new  settlers,  as  it  gives  them  the  oppor- 
tunity of  buying  land  at  lower  prices  than  could  be  easily  secured  nearer 
a  railroad  line.  Irrigated  lands  sell  from  $40  to  $100  an  acre,  non- 
irrigated  farm  lands  from  $10  to  $20,  and  grazing  lands  from  $5  to  $10 
an  acre.  Alfalfa,  wheat,  oats,  corn  and  rye  are  the  principal  crops,  which, 
owing  to  the  inaccessibility  of  markets,  are  raised  in  quantities  merely 
sufficient  to  satisfy  local  needs. 

Though  not  pre-eminently  a  mining  county,  Garfield  is  not  devoid  of 
mineral  wealth.  Coal  has  been  found  in  all  parts,  but  is  chiefly  of  the 
lignite  variety.  Chalk  has  also  been  found  in  commercial  quantities,  and 
potash  deposits  have  been  reported.  The  operations  of  oil  prospectors 
have  recently  opened  up  a  new  and  dazzling  field  of  opportunity,  having 
resulted  in  some  producing  wells,  with  good  prospects  for  a  wider  de- 
velopment of  this  industry,  and,  with  each  new  well  brought  in,  scenes  of 


RURAL  FLOUR  MILL,  GARFIELD  COUNTY 

excitement  have  been  witnessed  like  those  characteristic  of  the  oil  fields 
of  Pennsylvania  and  Texas. 

The  tourist  seeking  the  beauties  of  nature  can  find  them  in  abundance 
in  Garfield  County.  The  romantic  scenery  of  Hell  Creek  Canyon  has 
become  widely  known,  and  is  fully  matched  by  the  Snow  Creek  Game 
Preserve  along  the  Missouri  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  This 
preserve  was  created  through  the  efforts  of  W.  T.  Hornaday  of  the  New 
York  Zoological  Society,  and  in  addition  to  its  wild  natural  scenery,  it  is 
well  stocked  with  wild  game,  including  some  species  now  nearly  extinct. 

In  1920  Garfield  County  had  a  population  of  5,368.  The  county  seat 
is  Jordan,  which  has  an  estimated  altitude  of  2,800  feet  and  a  population 
(1920)  of  813.  It  is  the  largest  community  in  the  county  and  the  prin- 
cipal trading  center.  From  here  an  auto  stage  runs  to  and  from  Miles 
City  carrying  daily  mail,  and  telephone  and  wireless  communication  with 
the  same  point  are  also  maintained.  Among  local  institutions  are  a  high 
school  accredited  for  the  four  years  course.  Altogether  the  county  has 
ninety-five  schools,  well  organized  and  superintended  in  a  state  of  satis- 
factory efficiency.  Among  the  other  towns  of  the  county,  Mosby  in  the 
western  part  is  enjoying  a  rapid  growth,  chiefly  owing  to  the  oil  develop- 


SCENES  AT  THE  BLACKFEET  SUN  DANCE 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  737 

ments  in  that  vicinity.  Edwards  and  Sand  Springs  are  good  trading 
points  m  the  same  end  of  the  county.  The  chief  trading  center  south  of 
Jordan  is  Cohagen.  With  the  coming  of  the  railroad,  and  the  further 
development  of  agriculture,  mining  and  the  oil  industry,  Garfield  County 
is  due  to  enjoy  a  long  period  of  prosperity  and  substantial  growth. 

GLACIER  COUNTY 

Glacier  County  acquired  its  political  entity  as  a  county  of  Montana 
on  April  i,  1919.     It  has  a  land  area  of  1,309  square  miles,  cut  out  of 


SCENE  IN  GLACIER  COUNTY 


the  northwestern  part  of  the  state,  with  the  Canadian  line  for  its  north- 
ern boundary,  and  for  its  western  and  eastern  edge  of  the  Glacier  Na- 
tional Park.  Most  of  the  county  forms  a  part  of  the  old  Blackfeet 
Indian  reservation,  and  the  aborigines  still  own  the  greater  part  of  the 
land.  As  the  terms  of  their  ownership  preclude  prospecting  by  whites, 

Vol.  I— 47 


738  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

little  is  known  of  the  county's  mineral  resources,  beyond  the  fact  that 
it  contains  coal  and  that  its  geological  formation  indicates  the  possibility 
of  oil. 

Glacier  ,County  is  one  of  the  best  watered  counties  in  the  state.  The 
northern  part  consists  of  broad  rolling  prairies,  with  low  lying  hills  on 
the  horizon,  the  rich  and  abundant  grasses  making  it  an  ideal  region  for 
stockraising,  which  occupation  has  been  extensively  followed  there  for 
many  years.  The  western  part  of  the  county  is  somewhat  rougher,  owing 
to  the  outlying  spurs  of  the  Glacier  Mountains.  In  the  southern  part  the 
surface  is  level,  and  for  the  most  part  is  favored  with  a  good  soil  and  a 
longer  growing  season,  extending  to  about  102  days.  In  this  part  of  the 
county  is  found  the  Blackfeet  irrigation  project,  comprising  the  greater 
part  of  its  total  area  of  122,000  acres.  Indian  ownership  has  caused  slow 
agricultural  development,  though  much  of  the  land  is  leased  to  white 
settlers.  In  those  parts  of  the  county  where  land  can  be  purchased,  it 
ranges  from  $15  to  $50  an  acre,  according  to  whether  it  is  improved  or 
irrigated  or  suitable  only  for  grazing  purposes.  The  principal  crops  raised 
are  wheat,  oats,  barley,  flax  and  alfalfa.  Flax  in  particular  has  proved  a 
successful  crop,  and  the  claim  is  made  that  the  county  has  produced  the 
largest  yield  per  acre  that  has  been  recorded  of  any  land  in  the  world. 

Glacier  County  forms  part  of  a  great  continental  watershed.  In  gen- 
eral the  streams  flow  to  the  north  and  east,  the  waters  of  St.  Mary's 
River  eventually  finding  their  way  into  Hudson's  Bay  and  those  of  Milk 
River  into  the  Gulf  of  Mexico.  About  one  hundred  square  miles,  or  one- 
thirteenth  of  the  total  surface  of  the  county  is  covered  with  timber. 
This  includes  32,256  acres,  or  about  fifty  square  miles,  of  the  Lewis  and 
Clark  National  Forest.  But  a  small  proportion  of  the  timber  on  the  other 
fifty  square  miles  is  of  commercial  value. 

Glacier  County  has  rail  communication  east  and  west  by  means  of  the 
Great  Northern  railway,  by  which  "it  is  traversed,  while  the  Roosevelt 
Memorial  Trail,  running  in  the  same  general  direction,  is  available  for 
motor  cars  and  other  road  vehicles.  Another  fine  highway  runs  along 
the  eastern  side  of  the  Glacier  National  Park,  connecting  it  with  the  local 
Glacier  roads.  At  the  main  entrance  to  the  park  is  located  the  small  and 
picturesque  village  of  Glacier  Park,  containing  the  largest  hotel  in  the 
park. 
. 

CUT  BANK  AND  OTHER  TOWNS 

The  principal  town  or  city  in  Glacier  County  is  Cut  Bank,  which  is 
also  the  temporary  county  seat.  It  has  an  altitude  of  3,698  feet  above 
sea  level,  and  a  population  of  about  fifteen  hundred.  In  municipal  im- 
provements it  is  well  up  to  date,  having  good  water,  sewer  and  electric 
light  systems  and  well  cared  for  streets  and  walks.  Its  business  interests 
include  two  banks  and  a  newspaper,  besides  a  number  of  flourishing  mer- 
cantile establishments,  operated  by  enterprising  business  men  who  under- 
stand local  needs  and  maintain  a  high  standard  of  business  efficiency  and 
integrity  conducing  to  their  own  prosperity  and  that  of  the  town.  Cut 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  739 

Bank  has  two  churches,  a  Catholic  and  a  Protestant,  and  its  school  system 
is  particularly  well  organized  and  efficient.  It  includes  a  high  school 
accredited  for  the  four  year  term. 

In  the  center  of  the  reservation  and  about  two  miles  from  the  railroad 
is  the  town  of  Browning,  which  is  the  headquarters  of  the  Indian  agency 
and  contains  about  six  hundred  people.  It  was  recently  incorporated, 
the  government  having  thrown  open  the  townsite,  and  a  number  of  im- 
portant improvements  are  now  under  way.  On  the  reservation  the  tour- 
ist may  find  interesting  scenes  and  study  the  habits  and  manners  of  the 
original  owners  of  the  soil,  while  good  hunting  and  fishing  may  be  found 
in  various  parts  of  the  county.  In  the  principal  communities  there  are 
good  common  schools,  while  an  adequate  number  of  rural  schools  con- 
veniently located  throughout  the  country  districts  provide  educational 
facilities  for  the  youth  of  the  county. 

GOLDEN  VALLEY  COUNTY 

Golden  Valley  County  is  one  of  the  most  happily  named  counties  in 
Montana,  by  reason  both  of  its  natural  and  artificial  advantages.  It  was 
created  October  4,  1920,  from  the  western  part  of  Musselshell  County 
and  the  northern  part  of  Sweet  Grass  County,  and  is  comparatively  small 
in  area,  containing  i,in  square  miles.  On  the  north  stretch  the  Snowy 
Mountains,  two  townships  of  which  are  included  within  the  limits  of  the 
county.  East  and  west  it  is  traversed  by  the  Musselshell  River,  which 
is  fed  by  a  number  of  small  streams  coming  both  from  north  and  south. 
Among  the  largest  of  them  are  Careless  Creek  and  Currant  Creek  from 
the  north,  and  Fish  Creek  and  Big  Coulee  Creek  from  the  south. 

These  streams  furnish  abundant  water  for  irrigating  throughout  the 
season,  and,  with  a  growing  season  of  100  to  130  days,  both  irrigated  and 
non-irrigated  farming  have  been  carried  on  successfully  for  the  past  ten 
years.  About  eighty-five  per  cent  of  the  land  is  suited  to  agricultural 
purposes,  and  a  large  part  of  this  area  is  already  under  the  plow.  The 
soil  is  mostly  a  rich  clay  loam,  that  on  the  benches  being  already  mixed 
with  sand,  while  along  the  creeks  and  in  the  valleys  it  partakes  of  the 
nature  of  gumbo,  a  name  given  by  geologists  to  the  stratified  portion  of 
the  till  of  the  Mississippi  Valley. 

Coal  of  excellent  quality,  both  for  domestic  and  steam  use,  has  been 
found  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  and  there  are  now  five  small  coal 
mines  operated  for  commercial  purposes.  A  considerable  start  has  also 
been  made  in  oil  development,  the  local  exploitation  of  this  industry  dat- 
ing back  to  the  first  discovery  of  oil  in  the  state,  which  was  made  at  what 
is  known  as  Woman's  Pocket  in  September,  1919.  Drilling  operations 
are  proceeding  in  five  distinct  structures  within  the  county's  borders, 
known  respectively  as  the  Pole  Field  Creek,  the  Woman's  Pocket  Anti- 
cline, the  Dead  Man's  Basin  Dome,  the  Fish  Creek  Structure  and  the 
Big  Coulee  Dome. 

The  activities  above  mentioned  form  but  a  part  of  the  county's  general 


740  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

commercial  interests.  Within  its  limits  may  be  found  fourteen  grain 
elevators  and  a  flour  mill,  while  the  town  of  Ryegate  has  a  very  successful 
creamery,  which  last  year  turned  out  $75,000.00  worth  of  butter.  The 
county  assessor's  report  for  1920  shows  land  values  ranging  from  $20  to 
$200  per  acre,  though  grazing  land  can  be  purchased  for  $6  to  $10  per 
acre. 

Golden  Valley  County  is  also  fortunate  in  its  road  and  rail  communi- 
cation. From  east  to  west  it  is  crossed  by  the  main  line  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway,  while  the  Great  Northern  road  crosses 
it  from  north  to  south.  It  also  enjoys  the  tourist  travel  of  two  impor- 
tant highways.  The  Buffalo  Trail  Highway  from  Cody,  Wyoming,  to 
Billings,  Great  Falls  and  the  Glacier  National  Park,  is  a  park-to-park 
highway,  crossing  the  Shoshone  Irrigation  Project,  the  Yellowstone  Val- 
ley, the  Musselshell  Valley,  the  oil  fields,  the  Great  Judith  Basin,  the  Great 
Falls  of  the  Missouri  and  the  High  Line,  thus  affording  the  tourist  many 
notable  attractions  indicative  of  the  wealth  and  importance  of  the  state. 
The  Electric  Highway,  which  crosses  the  county  east  and  west,  affords 
a  short  cut  from  Forsyth  to  Helena  and  Missoula.  Abundant  possi- 
bilities exist  for  the  further  development  of  agriculture,  dairying,  mining 
and  the  oil  industry.  The  tourist  traffic  is  gradually  expanding  and  al- 
ready calls  for  additional  hotels. 

The  population  of  Golden  Valley  County  was  estimated  in  1920  at 
5,000.  Ryegate,  with  a  population  of  405,  is  the  county  seat.  Other 
important  community  centers  are  Lavina,  Belmont  and  Barber.  Each  of 
these  towns  can  boast  of  a  fine  new  high  school,  and  educational  necessi- 
ties are  promptly  recognized  and  provided  for  by  the  citizens. 

GRANITE  COUNTY 

Like  most  of  the  counties  of  Montana  first  opened  up  through  the 
mining  industry  Granite  County  has  had  a  longer  political  existence  than 
the  majority  of  those  devoted  chiefly  to  agriculture.  It  was  created 
March  2,  1893,  and  has  an  area  of  1,728  square  miles ;  yet  it  is  not  thickly 
settled,  its  population,  according  to  the  recent  census,  being  4,167. 

Granite  County  is  situated  in  the  middle  western  part  of  the  state, 
with  the  Continental  Divide  crossing  its  southeastern  border,  its  western 
boundary  line  being  marked  by  a  spur  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  The  high 
mountains  in  the  southern  end  of  the  county  give  rise  to  two  consider- 
able streams,  Rock  Creek  and  Flint  Creek,  which,  fed  by  numerous  small 
tributaries,  empty  into  the  Hell  Gate  River,  a  stream  running  westerly 
through  the  northern  end  of  the  county.  The  valleys  of  these  three  prin- 
cipal streams  are  protected  by  high  mountains  and  favored  with  a  rich  and 
deep  alluvial  soil,  which  places  them  among  the  most  fertile  parts  of  the 
state.  The  abundant  supply  of  water  affords  admirable  opportunities  for 
irrigation,  which  is  widely  practiced  throughout  the  farming  districts  of 
the  county.  Improved  irrigated  land  brings  from  $50  to  $100  an  acre, 
unimproved  irrigated  land  from  $20  to  $40,  and  unimproved  non-irri- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  741 

gated  land  from  $10  to  $20  an  acre.  Wheat,  oats,  barley,  flax,  vegetables, 
alfalfa,  timothy  and  clover  are  the  principal  crops. 

Though  agriculture,  stockraising  and  dairying  have  made  considerable 
progress  within  recent  years,  mining  was  the  industry  to  which  the  county 
owes  its  start,  and  which  is  still  in  full  and  successful  operation,  the  most 
important  mineral  products  being  silver  and  manganese.  Gold,  lead  and 
zinc  have  been  produced  in  lesser  quantities.  The  Granite  Bi-metaliic 
Mine  at  Philipsburg  is  credited  with  a  production  of  over  fifty  million 
dollars  to  date,  chiefly  of  silver.  A  large  amount  of  manganese  was 
mined  during  the  war.  Lignite  coal  has  been  found  in  Granite  County 
and  large  phosphate  beds  have  also  been  discovered,  but  the  commercial 
value  of  the  latter  product  has  not  yet  been  ascertained.  The  West  Park 
district  is  specially  noted  for  a  large  deposit  of  sapphires,  larger,  it  is 
claimed,  than  even  the  famous  source  of  supply  of  that  gem  in  Burmah. 

Another  source  of  wealth  in  Granite  County  is  its  large  area  of  com- 
mercial timber.  Some  of  this  is  under  private  ownership,  but  677,236 
acres  are  contained  in  the  Missoula  National  Forest  and  54,760  acres  in 
the  Deer  Lodge  National  Forest.  Hunting  and  fishing  are  tourist  attrac- 
tions which  may  be  found  to  perfection  in  many  parts  of  the  county. 

Granite  county  is  crossed  in  its  northern  part  by  two  great  railways, 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  and  the  Northern  Pacific,  the  latter 
of  which  has  a  branch  line  running  southerly  from  Drummond  on  the 
main  line  to  Philipsburg.  A  highway  has  also  been  projected  which  will 
cross  the  county  westerly  from  Anaconda  to  Hamilton  in  the  Bitter  Root 
Valley. 


Philipsburg,  the  county  seat  and  principal  town,  is,  as  already  inti- 
mated, the  terminus  of  a  branch  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  It  enjoys 
a  commanding  position  on  a  terrace  of  Flint  Creek  Valley  and  has  a 
population  of  about  fifteen  hundred.  Its  altitude  is  5,175  feet.  Among 
its  advantages  are  a  good  system  of  public  utilities,  including  drainage, 
waterworks  and  electric  lights.  Its  court  house,  business  blocks  and  resi- 
dences are  well  constructed  and  attractive,  and  its  two  banks  can  boast 
aggregate  deposits  of  over  one  million  dollars.  Here  also  is  the  county 
high  school,  with  an  accredited  four  years  course  and  additional  courses  in 
agriculture  and  teachers'  training.  Drummond,  at  the  other  end  of  the 
branch  line,  where  it  connects  with  the  main  tracks  of  the  Northern 
Pacific,  is  the  trading  center  for  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  Among 
its  local  institutions  are  a  newspaper,  and  a  high  school  accredited  for  the 
two  years  course.  It  has  a  number  of  good  stores  representing  the  most 
important  branches  of  mercantile  enterprise,  and  has  recently  advanced 
to  the  dignity  of  a  manufacturing  town  by  the  erection  of  a  large  saw 
mill  with  up  to  date  equipment. 

The  town  of  Hall  is  located  in  the  Flint  Creek  Valley,  in  the  center 
of  a  populous  farming  section,  and  but  a  short  distance  frorn^  lignite  coal 
mines.  It  enjoys  a  growing  trade  from  the  surrounding  district. 


742 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


HILL  COUNTY 


Hill  County,  pre-eminently  noted  for  its  stockraising  interests  and 
extensive  ranches,  is  a  section  of  Montana  abounding  in  beautiful  scenery 
and  replete  with  historical  associations.  It  occupies  a  north  central  posi- 
tion, with  Canada  just  across  the  northern  border,  and  in  shape  is  almost 
square,  its  length  and  width  being  equally  sixty  miles,  though  the  regu- 
larity of  the  square  is  broken  in  the  southeast  corner  where  it  extends  into 
the  Bearpaw  Mountains.  It  is  in  this  southeast  portion  that  the  Rocky 
Bay  Indian  Agency  is  located. 

Hill  County  was  created  February  28,  1912,  by  the  division  of  Chou- 
teau  County,  and  the  recent  census  showed  a  population  of  13,958.  With 
the  exception  of  the  mountain  region  above  noted,  the  county  is  a  rolling 
prairie,  interspersed  with  bench  lands  and  with  coulees  in  those  parts 


HILL  COUNTY  POTATOES 

adjacent  to  streams.  A  rich  and  fertile  sandy  loam  is  the  characteristic 
soil,  producing  various  crops,  the  most  extensive  acreage  being  devoted 
to  wheat  and  flax.  Aside  from  these,  oats,  barley,  rye  and  speltz  are 
grown  successfully,  and  potatoes  do  particularly  well  both  as  to  yield  and 
quality.  The  growing  of  corn  and  sunflowers  for  silage  is  receiving  more 
attention  than  formerly. 

From  northwest  to  southeast  the  county  is  traversed  by  the  Milk 
River,  one  of  the  largest  streams  in  Montana,  which  receives  a  number 
of  small  tributaries.  Sage,  Box  Elder  and  Beaver  creeks  are  also  streams 
of  importance,  furnishing  water  for  irrigation.  The  amount  of  land  thus 
artificially  watered  for  the  year  ending  July  12,  1920,  was  3,025  acres, 
ranging  in  value  from  $30  to  $100  an  acre.  At  the  same  time  the  county 
assessor's  report  showed  a  total  of  1,016,189  acres  of  non-irrigated  farm 
land  and  16,705  acres  of  state  land,  most  of  the  latter  under  sale  con- 
tract. The  dry  land  is  worth  from  $8  to  $50  an  acre.  Dry  land  farming 
has  been  carried  on  since  the  early  settlement  of  the  county,  but  still 
affords  ample  opportunity  for  expansion,  especially  with  the  aid  of 
modern  methods.  Irrigation  is  being  introduced  more  widely  where  per- 


743 

mitted  by  the  nature  of  the  surface  and  contiguity  to  a  water  supply,  two 
large  projects  having  recently  been  planned.  Stockraising  is  followed 
with  profitable  results,  and  dairying  and  market  gardening  are  making 
good  progress,  but  are  capable  of  much  further  development.  At  Fort 
Assiniboine,  near  the  county  seat,  is  located  the  Northern  Montana  Agri- 
cultural Experiment  Station,  which  is  maintained  by  the  state.  The 
growing  season  is  from  101  to  126  days. 

The  deposits  of  coal  in  Hill  County  are  large  enough  to  encourage  its 
commercial  exploitation,  especially  in  view  of  its  good  quality,  and  mining 
is  carried  on  profitably,  some  of  the  mines  operating  all  the  year  round, 
and  others  being  worked  only  in  the  winter  when  the  labor  from  the 
farms  can  be  utilized.  In  drilling  for  oil,  natural  gas  has  been  found 
and  oil  prospecting  is  Mill  proceeding  vigorously  with  unknown  possi- 
bilities for  the  future. 

The  tourist  visiting  Hill  County  can  find  many  objects  of  interest, 
both  natural  and  historical.  Among  the  most  peculiar  and  picturesque 
are  the  "Bad  Lands"  along  the  Milk  River,  which  occupy  a  large  region 
in  the  vicinity  of  Havre.  Though  not  so  well  known  as  the  correspond- 
ing formations  in  Dakota  and  Eastern  Montana,  they  are  fully  as  inter- 
esting and  as  well  worthy  of  inspection.  The  beautiful  scenery  in  the 
Bearpaw  Mountains  is  one  of  attractions  possessing  historical  associations, 
for  it  was  there  that  General  Howard's  troops  finally  captured  Sitting 
Bull  after  a  long  and  hazardous  campaign. 

OLD  FORT  ASSINIBOINE 

The  agricultural  station  at  Fort  Assiniboine  has  many  features  of 
interest  to  dry  land  farmers,  and  the  old  fort  itself,  many  buildings  of 
which  are  still  in  repair,  recalls  memories  of  frontier  days  in  the  North- 
west, of  Indian  raids  and  military  expeditions,  when  life  was  a  romance 
tinged  with  danger  and  only  the  strong  and  brave  were  likely  to  survive. 
The  United  States  troops  stationed  here,  and  those  at  Forts  Missoula  and 
Helena,  co-operated  with  the  Canadian  mounted  police  to  render  the  Mon- 
tana and  Canadian  border  safe  for  the  pioneers  and  early  settlers  of  the 
state,  some  of  whom,  still  surviving,  retain  vivid  memories  of  those  event- 
ful days.  Now  Hill  County  is  traversed  east  and  west  by  the  main  line 
of  the  Great  Northern  Railway,  the  Great  Falls-Butte  branch  running 

southwest  from  Havre  to  Glacier  Park. 

'  • » 

HAVRE 

Havre,  the  county  seat,  is  an  incorporated  city  with  three  wards  and 
a  population,  according  to  the  last  census,  of  5,429.  It  was  until  recently 
a  railway  division  point  on  the  Great  Northern,  having  the  largest  round- 
house and  railway  machine  shop  in  the  state,  but  a  re-arrangement  of 
divisions  on  that  road  has  diminished  its  importance  as  a  railroad  center. 
It  is,  however,  a  busy  commercial  town  with  modern  improvements,  in- 
cluding ten  miles  of  boulevard  illuminated  with  clustered  tungsten  lights. 


744  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Havre  has  three  banks,  three  graded  schools — one  for  each  ward — 
and  high  school,  giving  employment  altogether  to  more  than  sixty  teach- 
ers. Another  important  educational  establishment  is  the  large  parochial 
school  connected  with  St.  Jude  Thaddeus  Church.  Prominent  among 
local  institutions  is  a  tasteful  and  well  constructed  Carnegie  Library  con- 
taining 3,500  volumes.  Three  newspapers  are  published  in  Havre,  there 
are  twelve  societies  represented,  and  the  Masons  have  erected  a  commodi- 
ous temple.  The  United  States  land  office  also  has  quarters  here.  Four 
miles  northwest  of  the  city  is  the  county  hospital,  near  which  are  found 
cement  deposits  of  commercial  value.  Of  the  five  churches  in  Havre, 
three — the  Catholic,  Methodist  Episcopal  and  Presbyterian — are  of  early 
origin,  having  been  established  between  1891  and  1893.  Local  interests 
are  watched  over  and  assiduously  promoted  by  -a  well  organized  com- 
mercial club,  with  T.  E.  McCroskey  as  secretary.  The  Roosevelt  High- 
way runs  through  Havre  on  its  way  to  Glacier  Park. 

The  report  of  the  county  superintendent  shows  that  there  are  104 
public  schools  in  Hill  County,  and  at  Rocky  Bay  Indian  Agency  there  is 
a  school  with  120  pupils. 

Along  the  Theodore  Roosevelt  International  Highway  in  Hill  County 
there  are  a  number  of  prosperous  towns,  including  Hingham,  Kremlin, 
Gildford,  Rudyard  and  Fresno.  Laredo  and  Box  Elder  are  towns  on  the 
Great  Falls  branch  of  the  Great  Northern.  Other  towns  and  villages  are 
springing  up  in  various  parts  of  the  county,  some  of  which  may  be  des- 
tined to  future  importance. 

JEFFERSON  COUNTY 

Jefferson  County,  having  a  population,  according  to  the  last  census,  of 
5,203,  has  enjoyed  a  political  existence  of  fifty-six  years,  having  been 
created  February  2,  1865,  just  as  the  Civil  war  was  approaching  its  ter- 
mination and  about  nine  months  after  Montana  had  t)een  separated  from 
Idaho  and  made  a  separate  territory.  At  that  time  it  was  to  the  dwellers 
in  the  eastern,  southern  and  middle  states  a  practically  unknown  region, 
occupied  by  Indian  tribes  generally  hostile,  and  full  of  danger  for  the 
solitary  explorer  or  adventurous  pioneer.  But  the  discovery  of  gold  at 
Alder  Gulch,  in  what  is  now  Madison  County,  worked  a  transformation, 
and  the  greed  for  wealth,  or  what  would  now  be  called  the  "get-rich- 
quick"  craze,  became  an  agency  for  good  in  the  settlement  and  final  civili- 
zation of  a  vast  territory  which,  thirty-four  years  later,  was  admitted  into 
the  sisterhood  of  states  comprising  the  American  Union. 

In  this  new  territory,  now  a  state,  Jefferson  County  occupies  geographi- 
cally a  west  central  position.  Sixty  miles  long  north  and  south  by  forty 
wide,  it  has  an  area  of  1,642  square  miles.  For  the  most  part  the  surface 
is  rugged  and  mountainous,  the  elevation  above  sea  level  ranging  from 
4,100  feet  in  the  Jefferson  Valley  at  the  southern  end,  to  7,000  feet  or 
more  in  the  mountain  ranges.  The  climate,  though  sometimes  severe  in 
winter,  is  sufficiently  warm  and  mild  in  summer  to  permit  of  a  growing 
season  of  82  to  121  days,  and  agriculture,  stock  raising  and  dairying  are 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  745 

followed  successfully  with  due  regard  to  local  conditions  of  soil,  surface 
and  water  facilities. 

The  Continental  divide  forms  the  western  boundary,  several  of  its 
small  spurs  jutting  into  the  county.  The  Jefferson  River,  flowing  along 
the  southeastern  boundary,  is  the  largest  stream.  The  second  in  impor- 
tance is  Boulder  River,  which  has  its  source  in  the  northern  part  and 
flows  south,  emptying  into  the  Jefferson  at  Cardwell.  These  rivers,  to- 
gether with  Prickly  Pear  Creek  and  a  number  of  smaller  streams,  furnish 
good  drainage  and  water  supply,  and  their  valleys,  having  for  the  most 
part  a  rich  alluvial  soil,  yield  satisfactory  returns  to  the  enterprising 
farmer.  The  southern  part  of  the  county  is  more  adapted  to  agriculture 
than  the  northern.  Wheat,  oats,  rye  and  potatoes  are  the  chief  crops,  and 
Butte  and  Helena  the  principal  markets.  Irrigation  is  practiced  where 
needed,  the  price  of  irrigated  lands  ranging  from  $50  to  $150  an  acre. 
Non-irrigated  lands  bring  from  $10  to  $35  an  acre  and  grazing  lands  $7 
to  $12  an  acre.  Of  commercial  timber  the  county  contains  more  than 
500,000  acres,  of  which  354,720  are  contained  in  the  Deer  Lodge  National 
Forest,  and  147,835  acres  in  the  Helena  National  Forest. 

Mining  was  the  first  industry  in  Jefferson  County  and  for  many  years 
continued  to  be  the  most  important.  Silver,  lead  and  gold  have  been  the 
chief  mineral  products,  and  the  output  of  the  silver  mines  at  Corbin, 
Wickes,  Elkhorn  and  other  camps  has  amounted  to  millions  of  dollars. 
Some  zinc  has  also  been  mined  and  granite  used  in  the  state  capitol  at 
Helena  was  obtained  in  Jefferson  County.  In  course  of  time,  after  the 
shallower  or  more  easily  worked  deposits  had  been  exploited,  mining  activi- 
ties waned  and  there  was  a  period  of  depression,  but  more  recently  interest 
has  revived,  new  prospects  have  been  discovered  and  are  now  in  course  of 
development,  with  favorable  opportunities  for  the  further  production  of 
metals  and  an  extension  of  the  building  stone  industry. 

The  southern  end  of  Jefferson  County  is  traversed  by  the  main  line 
of  the  Northern  Pacific  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railways. 
The  former  is  paralleled  by  the  Yellowstone  Trail,  while  the  Banff-Grand 
Canyon  road  parallels  the  Great  Northern.  Branches  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  leave  the  main  line  at  Sappington  and  Whitehall  and  run  south 
into  Madison  County.  The  Havre-Bunte  branch  of  the  Great  Northern 
runs  north  and  south  through  the  county. 

The  peculiar  geological  formation  of  this  region  finds  expression  here 
and  there  in  thermal  springs,  of  therepeutic  value,  which  have  led  to  the 
establishment  of  three  well-patronized  health  and  pleasure  resorts— the 
Boulder  Hot  Springs  at  Boulder,  the  Pipestone  Hot  Springs  near  White- 
hall, and  the  Alhambra  Hot  Springs  at  Alhambra. 

BOULDER  AND  WHITEHALL 

The  chief  towns  in  Jefferson  County  are  Boulder  and  Whitehall. 
Boulder,  located  near  the  center  of  the  county,  is  the  county  seat,  and, 
though  small  as  to  population,  is  a  good  market  town  with  important  live- 
stock and  mining  interests.  Here  is  located  the  State  School  for  the  Deaf 


746  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

and  Blind,  and  the  county  high  school  accredited  for  the  four  years  course, 
which  also  provides  a  course  in  agriculture  under  the  provisions  of  the 
Smith-Hughes  Act. 

Whitehall  is  the  center  of  the  irrigated  agricultural  district  and  draws 
considerable  trade  from  Madison  County.  Like  Boulder  it  has  a  high 
school  accredited  for  the  four  year  term.  Good  rural  schools  have  been 
established  throughout  the  country  districts,  the  pupils  in  which  are  show- 
ing satisfactory  progress. 

JUDITH  BASIN  COUNTY 

Judith  Basin  County,  politically  created  December  10,  1920,  lies  in 
Central  Montana  and  contains  within  its  area  the  great  Judith  Basin 
from  which  it  derives  its  name,  and  which  is  recognized  as  the  best  non- 
irrigated  farming  district  in  the  state. 

Stretched  out  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  county  are  the  Highwood 
Mountains,  which,  with  the  Little  Belt  Range  along  the  southern  border, 
form  areas  of  rough  and  broken  land.  The  eastern  half  of  the  county  is 
drained  by  the  Judith  River  flowing  northward,  a  direction  followed  by  all 
the  numerous  mountain  streams  which  traverse  the  county.  In  many  dis- 
tricts are  found  springs  of  pure  water,  and  an  additional  supply  can  usu- 
ally be  obtained  from  wells  at  a  depth  of  15  to  75  feet. 

Judith  Basin  County  is  pre-eminent  in  its  opportunities  for  non-irri- 
gated farming,  the  eastern  two-thirds  being  the  richest  agricultural  district. 
The  top  soil  is  a  brown  or  chocolate  colored  loam,  with  a  subsoil  of  clay, 
both  intermixed  with  lime.  Wheat,  oats,  barley  and  hay  are  the  principal 
crops.  These  are  distributed  according  to  location  and  the  character  of 
the  land,  hay  and  root  crops  being  grown  along  the  streams,  grain  on  the 
bench  lands  and  timothy  and  native  grasses  in  the  foothills.  Stockraising 
is  carried  on  successfully  and  is  one  of  the  chief  industries.  Grain  lands 
range  in  price  from  $50  to  $125  an  acre;  stock  ranches  and  diversified 
farms  bring  $25  to  $50  an  acre.  In  some  parts  of  the  county  coal  is  found 
and  has  been  commercially  exploited.  About  one-fifth  the  area  of  the 
county  is  included  within  natural  forests. 

Judith  Basin  County  is  dotted  wtih  many  small  towns  and  villages, 
most  of  which  by  their  big  grain  elevators  and  scenes  of  business  activity 
give  practical  indication  of  the  agrarian  wealth  held  in  the  bosom  of  the 
surrounding  country.  Crop  failures  are  few,  and  the  farmer  who  knows 
his  business  has  success  within  his  grasp.  Stanford  and  Hobson  are  the 
principal  community  centers,  the  former  being  the  temporary  county  seat. 
In  each  of  these  two  villages  is  a  high  school  accredited  for  the  two  year 
course.  A  third  high  school,  accredited  for  the  two  year  course,  is  located 
at  Moccasin.  At  Lehigh  is  a  coal  camp.  Other  towns  are  Mendon,  Wind- 
ham,  Spion  Kop,  Benchland  and  Utica. 

The  Great  Northern  line  from  Billings,  used  by  the  Burlington  for 
its  transcontinental  trains,  enters  the  county  near  the  southeast  corner  and 
runs  north  to  Junction,  whence  a  branch  line  runs  east  to  Lewistown,  the 
main  line  continuing  across  the  continent  in  a  northeast  direction.  High- 
ways connect  the  county  with  Lewistown,  Great  Falls  and  points  south. 


CHAPTER   XXXI 
LEWIS  AND  CLARK  COUNTY  (HELENA) 

Lewis  and  Clark  County  lies  in  the  great  Missouri  Valley  of  Western 
Montana,  its  chief  natural  drainage  being  through  the  Prickly  Pear  in 
the  Helena  district  of  the  south,  the  Dearborn  River  which  flows  through 
the  central  part  and  the  Sun  River  Valley  of  'the  north.  As  the  main  range 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains  passes  through  the  county  somewhat  west  of 
its  center  there  is  also  a  drainage  down  their  western  slopes  into  Clark's 
fork  of  the  Columbia,  directly  through  the  Blackfoot  River  and  the  Mis- 
soula.  The  main  body  of  the  Missouri  River,  which  forms  a  portion  of  the 
southeastern  boundary  of  Lewis  and  Clark  County,  breaks  through  the 
massive  Big  Range  belt,  running  parallel  with  the  Continental  Divide, 
and  forms  a  gloomy  and  magnificent  exit  known  as  the  Gate  of  the 
Mountains.  It  is  located  a  few  miles  below  the  junction  of  the  Prickly 
Pear  Creek  with  the  Missouri  and  just  within  the  county  boundaries. 

THE  GATE  OF  THE  MOUNTAINS 

The  Gate  of  the  Mountains  has  drawn  thousands  of  photographers 
and  artists  to  its  grandeurs  and  beauties,  which  have  impressed  them- 
selves upon  every  beholder  with  the  same  vividness  as  upon  the  first 
white  men  to  fittingly  record  them,  Lewis  and  Clark,  the  godfathers  of 
the  county  itself.  That  feature  of  the  story,  as  it  relates  to  this  section 
of  the  county,  and  the  discoveries  of  the  famous  expedition  hereabouts, 
are  covered  in  other  chapters  of  this  work.  In  fact,  the  pioneer  times 
and  characters  are  necessarily  excluded  from  this  sketch,  which  treats  of 
modern  events  woven  into  a  narrative  aiming  to  etch  a  picture  of  the 
present. 

THE  COUNTY  AND  THE  CAPITAL 

Lewis  and  Clark  County 'is  more  than  a  hundred  miles  from  north 
to  south  and  some  sixty  miles  from  east  to  west — these  being  its  max- 
imum dimensions.  It  is  so  irregular  in  shape,  however,  running  to 
sharp  points  both  north  and  south,  that  its  area  is  3,476  square  miles,  or 
slightly  more  than  the  average  of  the  fifty-four  Montana  counties.  It 
is  one  of  the  oldest  counties  in  the  state,  being  originally  Edgerton 
County,  and  named  after  the  first  territorial  governor,  Sidney  Edgerton. 
At  first,  the  county  depended  on  mining,  although  not  to  such  an  extent 
as  the  districts  centering  in  Bannack  and  Virginia  cities  and  Butte.  But 
the  beautiful  and  fertile  valleys  of  the  Sun,  Dearborn,  Blackfoot  and 
Prickly  Pear,  suggested  other  and  more  permanent  riches.  Stock  growing 

747 


HELENA 


. 


IN  THE  PICTURESQUE  HELENA  DISTRICT 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  749 

soon  developed;  Helena  became  the  permanent  capital  of  the  territory 
and  the  chief  trade  and  commercial  center  for  the  mining  districts  to  the 
southwest,  and  even  before  irrigation  was  attempted  the  uplands  of 
Prickly  Pear  Valley  were  covered  with  productive  farms.  With  its  trade 
advantages  and  political  and  social  attractions  as  the  territorial  and  state 
capital,  Helena  developed  into  a  substantial  and  handsome  city.  The  Sun 
River  Valley,  in  the  northern  part  of  Lewis  and  Clark  County,  was  set- 
tled by  ranchmen  at  an  early  day.  Afterward,  the  farmers  took  up  the 
good  work  of  developing  its  great  agricultural  possibilities,  and  the 
State  and  the  United  States  Governments  instituted  several  large  irri- 
gation projects.  At  the  present  time,  upwards  of  75,000  of  the  3,000,000 
acres  of  tillable  land  in  the  county  are  irrigated,  chiefly  in  the  Sun  River 
Valley  and  in  the  Prickly  Pear  Valley  at  Helena.  The  so-called  Sun 
River  Project,  the  scope  of  which  embraces  several  counties  interlaced 
by  the  Missouri  and  its  tributaries,  has  already  been  described  in  the 
chapter  devoted  to  the  irrigation  enterprises  of  the  state. 

TOWNS  AND  CONSERVATION  OF  NATURAL  WEALTH 

Several  prosperous  and  growing  towns  have  developed  in  the  Sun 
River  Valley,  the  largest  being  Augusta  and  Gilman.  Augusta,  especially, 
is  both  old  and  stable.  Other  communities  are  Marysville,  Rimini,  Wolf 
Creek,  Craig,  Canyon  Ferry  and  Lincoln.  The  last  named,  on  the  Big 
Blackfoot  River,  is  becoming  quite  a  summer  resort.  There  are  many 
attractions  in  the  county  for  tourists,  including  not  only  grand  scenery, 
but  health-giving  springs  and  fishing  and  hunting  grounds.  In  the  north- 
ern part  of  the  county,  along  Sun  River,  is  one  of  the  nine  game  preserves 
established  in  Montana  to  protect  its  game  from  ruthless  and  thoughtless 
slaughter.  Farther  east  is  the  smaller  preserve  on  Willow  Creek  for  the 
special  protection  of  birds.  In  the  central  part  of  the  county  is  the  Twin 
Ruttes  game  preserve,  on  the  eastern  slopes  of  the  Rockies,  and  in  the 
southern  part  of  the  county  is  the  Helena  National  forest.  So  that 
Lewis  and  Clark  County,  with  Helena  as  the  center  of  the  State  Govern- 
ment, is  really  typical  of  the  commonwealth,  in  the  stability  and  diversity 
of  its  interests,  and  its  striking  evidences  of  artificial  and  mechanical 
aids  to  the  natural  advantages  of  soil  and  drainage,  as  well  as  the  wise 
conservation  of  its  vegetable  and  animal  life,  originally  poured  out  with 
such  prodigality. 

Largely  on  account  of  this  forethought,  which  so  many  of  the  older 
states  and  counties  in  other  commonwealths  have  neglected  to  put  in  force, 
although  much  timber  of  commercial  value  is  found  in  Lewis  and  Clark 
County,  logging  and  lumbering  operations  have  never  been  conducted  on 
a  large  scale.  Besides  the  Helena  National  forest  of  243,418  acres  there 
are  49,000  acres  of  the  Flathead  National  forest  in  the  county,  422,152 
acres  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  National  forest  and  162,905  acres  of  the 
Missoula  National  forest.  In  the  past  many  mining  districts  within  the 
county  have  produced  abundantly,  and  may  again.  Gold  mining  has  vir- 
tually been  at  a  standstill  for  many  years,  although  there  is  some  activity 


750  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

in  the  silver  districts.  Lead,  zinc  or  copper  are  usually  found  with  the 
"precious"  metals.  Many  sapphires  have  been  found  on  the  Missouri 
River,  but  the  deposits  have  not  been  developed  commercially. 

Lewis  and  Clark  County,  the  center  of  so  much  activity  and  intel- 
ligence, is  naturally  well  supplied  with  educational  institutions,  public 
and  sectarian.  Besides  good  graded  schools  at  Helena  and  in  other  parts 
of  the  county,  there  are  consolidated  high  schools  at  the  state  capital  and 
at  Augusta,  the  leading  town  in  the  Sun  River  Valley.  At  Helena,  there 
are  also  the  Montana  Wesleyan  College,  Methodist;  Mount  St.  Charles 
College,  Catholic;  the  Deaconess  School  for  children,  a  Catholic  high 
school  and  St.  Vincent's  academy,  a  girls'  boarding  school. 

WHAT  THE  CENSUS  FIGURES  SHOW 

The  population  figures  given  in  the  United  States  census  for  1920 
indicate  that  Lewis  and  Clark  County,  like  most  of  the  districts  in  Mon- 
tana which  are  not  supported  by  a  country  productive  of  either  good 
'crops  or  live  stock,  has  been  almost  stationary  for  the  past  ten  years  or 
has  even  deteriorated ;  and,  throughout  the  state,  the  rural  population  has 
been  gaining  on  the  urban.  Of  the  larger  cities,  the  only  one  which  shows 
a  notable  increase  for  the  decade  1910-20  is  Great  Falls,  with  its 
fine  water-power.  Lewis  and  Clark  County  has  decreased  in  population 
during  that  period,  from  21,853,  to  18,660 — while  Helena  herself  has 
fallen  off  a  few  hundred,  having  12,515  people  in  1910,  against  12,037 
in  1920. 

The  land  area  of  Lewis  and  Clark  County  amounts  to  2,206,080  acres, 
of  which  754,135  acres  are  included  in  farm  lands  and  132,576  acres 
improved.  The  average  acreage  per  farm,  in  1920,  was  882,  and  the 
average  acreage  of  the  improved  farms,  155.1.  The  property  represented 
by  each  farm  averaged  $20,887,  and  the  land,  per  acre,  $16.30.  Of  the 
855  farms  in  the  county,  698  were  operated  by  their  owners,  the  remain- 
der being  operated  by  managers  or  tenants. 

All  the  domestic  animals,  or  live  stock,  in  Lewis  and  Clark  County, 
were  valued  at  $5,455,672 ;  of  which  there  were  7,607  horses,  valued  at 
$499,078;  33,422  cattle,  worth  $1,840,957;  72,874  sheep,  valued  at  $753,- 
593;  3-378  swine,  $54,778;  poultry  35,750,  $38,141 ;  dairy  products,  value 
$227,315;  eggs  and  chickens,  $113,224;  wool  produced,  725,508  pounds, 
valued  at  $357,902. 

The  principal  crops  of  the  county  were  cereals,  other  grains  and 
seeds,  hay  and  forage,  vegetables  and  fruits  and  nuts,  and  their  total 
value  was  $1,391,325.  Of  this  amount,  the  value  of  the  cereals  was 
$170,759;  hay  and  forage,  $957,502;  vegetables,  $261,651.  Alfalfa  is  a 
good  crop  in  the  county,  14,616  acres  being  devoted  to  it  and  the  product, 
21,614  tons,  while  the  9,074  acres  growing  prairie  or  wild  grasses  raise 
6,495  tons  of  tnat  forage.  Montana  potatoes  have  a  reputation  through- 
out the  United  States  for  their  size  and  "mealiness,"  minus  the  "core." 
Ravalli  is  the  banner  county  in  their  production,  and  Lewis  and  Clark 
comes  second,  with  its  1919-20  crop  of  88.391  bushels. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  751 

As  to  the  prevailing  prices  of  farm  lands  and  those  particularly 
adapted  to  the  raising  of  live  stock,  the  State  Department  of  Publicity 
(and  Agriculture)  estimates  irrigated  lands  as  varying  from  $75  to  $200 
an  acre,  non-irrigated  farming  lands  from  $15' to  $50  an  acre,  and  graz- 
ing lands  from  $7  to  $12. 

WATER  POWERS  AND  PUBLIC  WAYS 

Montana,  in  common  with  all  the  advanced  states  of  the  Union  looks 
upon  her  water-powers  as  most  tangible  sources  of  wealth,  and  engineers 
claim  that  the  Missouri  River  in  Lewis  and  Clark  County  furnishes  about 
one  fourth  of  the  electrical  energy  generated  in  the  entire  state.  The 
hydro-electric  plants  within  the  limits  of  the  county — the  Holter,  Hauser 
Lake  and  Canyon  Ferry — generate  about  65,500  kilowatts  of  electrical 
power.  This  electrical  energy,  generated  from  great  dams  on  the  Mis- 
souri Rivers,  three  of  which  are  located  near  Helena,  supplies  power 
not  only  to  the  mining  region  but  to  the  cities  and  towns  of  the  county, 
and  especially  to  the  diverse  forms  of  manufactures  found  in  the  capital. 

Helena  is  the  center  of  a  fine  system  of  railroads  and  highways, 
radiating  to  the  Yellowstone  Park,  via  Bozeman  and  Livingston;  to 
Glacier  Park,  on  the  far  northwestern  border  of  the  state;  and  to  Butte, 
Missoula  and  Great  Falls,  representing  shorter  spokes  of  the  wheel  of 
conveniences  and  attractions  which  pivots  on  the  state  capital. 

The  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  traverses  the  southern  portion 
of  the  county,  the  Havre-Butte  branch  of  the  Great  Northern  runs 
through  it  north  and  south,  and  the  latter  has  also  a  spur  from  Great 
Falls  which  taps  the  Sun  River  Valley.  The  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  railroad  has  projected  a  line  through  the  county  from  Great  Falls 
to  Missoula,  which  will  add  to  the  facilities  furnished  by  the  Northern 
Pacific  and  Great  Northern,  which  are  now  chiefly  relied  upon  by  res- 
idents of  Lewis  and  Clark  for  outside  connections  by  rail.  On  the  other 
hand,  a  number  of  automobile  lines  are  in  operation.  In  summer,  a 
40O-mile  auto  stage  is  crowded  with  tourists  enjoying  the  wonderful 
scenery  from  the  Yellowstone  to  Glacier  park,  with  the  hospitality  of  the 
half-way  station  on  the  Geysers-to-Glacier  Motor  Trail,  at  Helena.  The 
season  of  sight-seeing  usually  commences  June  2Oth.  On  the  outskirts  of 
Helena  is  one  of  the  finest  tourists'  hotels  in  America,  known  as  the 
Broadwater.  One  of  its  unique  attractions  is  the  largest  covered  hot 
water  plunge  in  the  world,  the  contents  of  which  are  renewed  by  ever- 
flowing  hot  springs.  Near  by  is  Fort  Harrison,  recently  converted  into 
a  United  States  Public  Health  Service  hospital. 

To  be  precise,  Helena  is  187  miles  from  Gardiner,  the  entrance  to 
Yellowstone  Park,  and  197  miles  from  the  southern  limits  of  Glacier 
National  Park,  at  Highgate,  and  the  Geysers-to-Glaciers  trail,  or  motor 
highway,  which  connects  these  wonderful  public,  grounds  of  the  nation, 
is  believed  -to  represent  the  most  wonderful  and  varied  scenic  highway 
in  America.  In  May,  1919,  the  late  Franklin  K.  Lane,  secretary  of  the 
interior,  designated  this  trail  as  the  approved  government  road  binding 


752  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  two  great  national  parks,  one  of  which  is  entirely  within  the  limits 
of  Montana,  and  the  other,  although  overlapping  its  territory  but  a  few 
miles,  identified  with  it  by  many  historic  associations. 

There  are  fully  1,200  miles  of  good  auto  roads  in  Lewis  and  Clark 
County,  and  many  excellent  trails  or  bridle  paths  for  those  intent  on  more 
intimate  explorations  of  the  picturesque  surrounding  country  than  are 
afforded  by  the  highways,  or  for  those  who  prefer  to  wander  afield  in 
search  of  game.  For  the  benefit  of  such  A.  H.  Abbott,  supervisor  of  the 
Helena  National  Forest,  has  issued  a  map  and  descriptive  guide  showing 
saddle  horse  and  fishing  trips  within  and  near  that  preserve ;  and  the 
excursions  of  that  nature  most  desirable  are  in  the  region  indicated, 
southwest  of  Helena. 

PICTURESQUE  EXCURSIONS 

Many  of  the  trails,  away  from  the  auto  highways  now  taken  by 
pleasure  seekers  in  the  Helena  region,  were  laid  out  years  ago  by  prospec- 
tors and  miners,  which  fact  makes  them  interesting  of  themselves,  irre- 
spective of  the  charming,  historical  and  picturesque  country  through  which 
they  lead.  A  large  mileage  of  the  trails  is  maintained  by  the  United 
States  Forest  Service  for  use  in  the  administration  of  the  forests  and  in 
their  protection  from  fire. 

One  of  the  most  popular  trips  is  that  which  leads  west  and  south  of 
Helena  to  Nelson  gulch,  where  the  largest  gold  nugget  in  the  world 
was  found,  and  thence  beyond  Ten  Mile  Creek  to  Grizzly  and  Oro  Fino 
Gulches.  This  excursion  of  seventeen  miles  takes  one  along  the  placer 
diggings  of  the  Helena  district.  A  longer  trip,  farther  to  the  south,  is 
up  the  famous  Colorado  gulch  and  over  the  divide  to  the  head  of  Travis 
Creek,  and  thence  to  the  great  Chessman  reservoir,  the  source  of  the 
city's  water  supply,  and  return.  There  is  also  a  trail  north  of  the  res- 
ervoir which  leads  to  Colorado  Mountain,  from  the  top  of  which  is 
obtained  a  splendid  view  of  the  Elkhorn  and  the  Beg  Belt  Mountains  and 
the  Valley  of  the  Prickly  Pear  north  of  Helena.  The  scenery  along  the 
route  to  and  from  Colorado  Mountain  is  beautiful,  and  as  there  is  an 
excellent  spring  near  the  summit  of  the  elevation  it  is  a  favorite  locality 
for  large  parties  of  excursionists.  An  interesting  and  charming  western 
excursion  is  through  McDonald  pass,  over  the  continental  divide  to  the 
Little  Blackfoot  River,  the  waters  of  which  mingle  with  the  Columbia 
River  system — the  return  being  by  way  of  Whiskey  Creek. 

One  of  the  longest  trips  in  the  county,  and  one  of  the  most  fascinat- 
ing, is  that  taken  along  the  Black  Mountain  trail.  One  can  go  to  Marys- 
ville,  northwest  of  Helena  on  the  Northern  Pacific  railway,  and  thence 
take  saddle  horses  southwesterly  to  Spring  Gulch  Ranger  station,  almost 
on  top  of  the  continental  divide,  where  the  trail  properly  begins.  To 
reach  the  top  of  Black  'Mountain,  which  has  an  elevation  of  between 
8,000  and  9,000  feet,  the  tourist  follows  the  old  stake  road  westerly  for 
a  distance  of  six  and  a  half  miles  and  thence  northwesterly  about  half 
that  distance.  From  the  top  of  the  mountain  one  can  see  the  Anaconda 


Tol.  1—48 


754  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

smelter  nearly  fifty  miles  to  the  southwest  and,  on  a  clear  day,  it  is  said 
that  the  outlines  of  the  Canadian  mountains  may  be  traced  some  150  miles 
due  north.  On  the  south  side  of  the  mountain  about  half  way  down, 
there  is  a  crystal  cave,  the  bottom  of  which  has  never  been  fully  explored. 
Three  miles  below  Black  Mountain  in  a  southwesterly  direction  is  the 
remainder  of  what  was,  in  the  early  days,  one  of  the  richest  placer 
veins  in  Montana,  now  called  the  Ophir.  The*  schoolhouse  still  stands 
where  William  A.  Clark  taught  school  in  1862.  The  old  stage  road,  now  a 
section  of  the  Black  Mountain  trail,  is  a  portion  of  the  early-day  stage 
route  which  ran  from  Salt  Lake  City  to  Fort  Benton. 

Another  trip  which  carries  one  back  to  the  days  when  the  Helena 
district  was  rich  in  gold  production  may  be  taken  by  auto  in  a  comfort- 
able day's  journey.  It  bears  toward  the  southeast  up  the  valley  of  the 
Missouri  and  ends  at  the  little  hamlet  of  Canton,  standing  upon  the  site 
of  the  old  mining  town  of  Diamond  City.  The  famous  Confederate  gulch 
made  the  city,  which  once  boasted  some  800  people  and  was  the  county 
seat  of  Meagher  County.  The  gulch  was  first  prospected  in  the  early 
'6os,  and  a  conservative  estimate  places  its  production  at  $75,000,000. 

If  one  is  interested  in  fishing,  a  number  of  streams  around  Helena 
afford  excellent  sport.  The  headwaters  of  the  Little  Blackfoot  River 
offer  brook  trout  and  white  fish,  largely  through  the  forethought  of  the 
good  sportsmen  of  Elliston  who  have  put  new  stock  into  the  stream.  On 
the  eastern  side  of  the  divide,  there  is  good  fishing  in  the  Little  Prickly 
Pear,  in  Ten  Mile,  Trout  and  Beaver  Creeks,  and  other  streams  within 
auto  distance  of  Helena.  An  evidence  of  the  interest  taken  in  hunting 
and  fishing  is  the  status  of  the  Lewis  and  Clark  Rod  and  Gun  Club, 
which  has  a  membership  of  600. 

A  WONDERFUL  TRIP  SUGGESTED 

For  the  benefit  of  those  who  would  enjoy  the  wonderful  Montana  out- 
of-doors  to  the  limit,  the  Rod  and  Gun  Club  suggests  a  motor  and  fishing 
trip  of  a  hundred  miles,  outside  the  area  of  the  Helena  National  Forest, 
which  embraces  imposing  stretches  of  country  south  and  southwest  of 
the  capital,  and  a  great  tract  east  of  the  Missouri  River  to  the  Big  Belt 
Mountains.  The  suggestion  for  a  full  day's  trip  has  the  Big  Blackfoot 
country  as  the  objective,  and  is  this:  Leaving  Helena,  take  the  Silver 
road  to  14-mile  post,  thence  due  west  up  Canyon  to  Virginia  Creek,  with 
its  remains  of  the  old  placer  diggings  and  its  present-day  good  fishing 
grounds.  The  next  point  of  interest  is  the  old  mining  camp  of  Stemple, 
situated  almost  on  the  ridge  of  the  continental  divide,  and  then  you  drop 
down  into  McClellan  Gulch,  on  the  western  slope,  to  Poorman's  Creek  and 
the  big  trees  of  the  Blackfoot.  You  are  now  in  the  heart  of  the  best 
fishing  country  in  the  West.  Native  trout,  bull  trout  and  white  fish 
especially  abound  in  the  Big  Blackfoot  River  and  Keep  Cool,  Beaver  and 
Little  Spring  Creeks.  Lincoln,  in  the  far  western  part  of  the  county  and 
on  the  south  fork  of  the  Big  Blackfoot,  has  a  hotel,  a  store,  supplies  and 
other  accommodations.  The  return  is  usually  by  way  of  Flesher  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  755 

Canyon  Creek.    The  spokesman  for  the  Rod  and  Gun  Club  says:  "The 
roads  are  perfect.    So  is  the  fishing,  if  you  are  a  fisherman."  - 

CITY  OF  HELENA  ITSELF 

The  main  body  of  the  city  of  Helena  lies  at  the  foot  of  an  imposing 
mount  to  which  its  name  is  given,  and,  with  its  growth,  its  outlying  dis- 
tricts have  straggled  along  the  foothills  of  the  Rockies  in  the  near  back- 
ground. Although  a  city  of  little  more  than  12,000  people,  it  presents 
an  elegant  appearance,  which,  added  to  its  picturesque  site  near  the  many- 
hued  masses  of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  endows  it  with  such  unexaggerated 
christenings  as  the  "Queen  City  of  the  Rockies"  and  the  "City  of  the 
Golden  Glow."  The  latter  title  is  fairly  earned  in  the  early  glow  of  the 
setting  sun,  during  early  spring  or  late  fall,  before  the  verdure  of  the 
summer  months  has  invaded  the  yellow  grass  lands  of  the  valley  of  the 
Prickly  Pear,  or  the  early  snows  have  mottled  its  goldeiv  stubble.  Then 
the  golden  glow  not  only  spreads  over  the  tops  of  the  Rockies  and  is 
reflected  over  the  gemlike  city,  but  turns  the  valley  lands  stretching  to  its 
feet  into  sheets  of  light  silvery  yellow.  In  the  southern  fringe  of  the 
city,  beyond  the  peak  of  Mount  Helena,  is  the  massive  yet  elegant  cap- 
itol,  and  farther  east  the  two  substantial  red  brick  buildings  of  the  Mon- 
tana Wesleyan  College  and  the  imposing  depot  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
railroad. 

At  the  summit  of  one  of  the  foothills,  over  which  climbs  one  of  the 
city's  streets,  is  the  large  building  which  stands  for  the  St.  Vincent's 
academy  (Catholic),  and  several  blocks  to  the  east  on  lower  ground,  but 
still  overlooking  the  business  section  of  Helena,  is  the  Helena  Cathe- 
dral, a  majestic  structure  with  two  spires  which  represents  the  Catholic 
diocese  of  Helena  having  a  membership  of  3,000.  On  an  opposite  height  of 
the  valley  in  which  rest  most  of  the  business  houses  of  the  city  rises  the 
Algerian  Temple,  a  splendid  structure  of  ornate  oriental  architecture, 
characterized  by  its  delicate  and  graceful  minaret  bearing  aloft  the 
Crescent.  The  Temple,  one  of  the  most  noteworthy  pieces  of  architec- 
ture in  Montana,  also  evinces  the  strength  of  the  Shriners  in  Helena.  A 
stranger  remarked  not  long  ago  when  first  viewing  the  beautiful  city  from 
one  of  the  surrounding  heights :  "Helena  is  unique  in  several  ways,  and 
in  none  more  strikingly  than  in  the  physical  opposition,  on  these  noble 
city  heights,  of  the  Cross  and  the  Crescent." 

Within  a  city  block  is  the  handsome  depot  of  the  Great  Northern 
railroad,  and  on  its  line,  not  far  distant  to  the  north,  is  Mount  St.  Charles 
college  for  boys,  which  was  opened  as  late  as  1911. 

These  are  but  a  few  of  the  many  institutions  of  a  religious  and  an 
educational,  as  well  as  of  a  charitable  and  benevolent  nature,  which 
makes  Helena  a  powerful  center  for  higher  activities.  Its  twenty 
churches  represent  all  the  strong  religious  beliefs.  A  dozen  well  managed 
public  schools  enroll  more  than  2,000  pupils,  and,  besides  the  colleges  and 
academies  mentioned,  are  several  Catholic  and  Lutheran  parochial  schools 
and  two  training  schools  for  nurses.  The  latter  are  connected  with  St. 


00 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  757 

John's  Catholic  hospital  and  St.  Peter's  hospital  (Episcopal).  The 
County  hospital  is  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  city.  Both  the  Odd 
Fellows  and  the  Masons  have  homes — the  former,  four  miles  northwest 
and  the  latter,  seven  miles  north.  The  Florence  Crittenden  Home  and  the 
House  of  the  Good  Shepherd  are  located  at  Kenwood,  one  of  Helena's 
suburbs.  The  latest  of  the  public  institutions  of  an  educational  and  re- 
formatory character  to  become  located  in  the  Helena  district  is  the 
State  Vocational  School  for  Girls.  Dr.  Maria  L.  Dean,  backed  by  the 
Federated  Women's  clubs  of  'Montana,  originated  the  movement  which 
is  designed  to  provide  both  a  school  and  a  home  for  delinquent  girls. 
Dr.  Dean  died  before  the  Legislature  passed  the  bill  establishing  it  in 
April,  1919.  The  site  of  the  institution  is  seven  and  a  half  miles  north 
of  Helena,  on  a  two  hundred  and  forty  acre  ranch,  and  one  unit  (a  cot- 
tage) of  the  proposed  buildings  has  been  built,  capable  of  accommodating 
thirty  girls. 

HELENA  PUBLIC  LIBRARY 

Among  the  uplifting  forces  which  have  been  operating  for  many  years 
are  the  Helena  Public  library  and  the  State  Historical  library.  The 
Helena  Public  library  is  the  oldest  of  its  kind  in  Montana,  founded  four 
years  after  the  close  of  the  Civil  war — in  1868.  In  addition  to  its  age  it 
is,  perhaps,  the  most  important  library  in  the  state,  in  many  respects, 
having  a  splendid  Montana  collection,  second  only  to  that  of  the  State 
Historical  Society  library ;  a  large  reference  library  of  valuable  bound 
magazines  and  government  documents  of  very  early  date. 

The  history  of  the  library  may  be  divided  into  three  periods,  namely— 
its  foundation  as  a  library  association  in  1868,  next  the  change  to  a  free 
public  library  in  1886,  and  lastly,  the  time  of  expansion  to  its  present  quar- 
ters, from  1892  to  the  present. 

In  the  autumn  of  1868,  Judge  Cornelius  Hedges,  Col.  Wilbur  F.  San- 
ders, J.  W.  Whitlach  and  Ben  Stickney,  Jr.,  composed  a  committee  to 
solicit  subscriptions  during  which  time  Judge  Hedges,  who  was  chairman 
of  another  committee  to  draft  a  constitution,  worked  up  the  organization 
side  of  what  was  later  to  be  known  as  the  Helena  Library  Association. 
James  King  was  elected  first  president,  Judge  Hedges,  vice  president  and 
T.  L.  Douglas,  secretary.  The  library  was  installed  in  the  first  floor  of  the 
Whitlach  Building  and  Ben  R.  Dittes  was  appointed  first  librarian. 

In  1870  Judge  Hedges  was  chosen  president  and  the  Library  Asso- 
ciation moved  to  new  quarters,  in  a  stone  and  brick  building  owned  by 
Holter  and  Hedges,  on  upper  Main  Street,  West  Side,  second  and  third 
lots  above  Wall  Street,  and  reopened  January  i,  1870.  This  year  also 
marked  a  change  of  librarians,  W.  A.  Hedges  being  appointed  to  this 
position.  On  his  resignation  a  year  later,  Robert  H.  Wilson  was  given 
this  position  which  he  held  until  the  disastrous  fire  of  1874. 

Col  Wilbur  F.  Sanders  had  only  succeeded  Judge  Hedges  as  pres- 
ident, when  on  January  9.  1874.  that  historic  fire  totally  destroyed  the 
library,  which  had  about  2.500  books,  together  with  all  its  important 


758  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

record  books  containing  its  history  for  the  first  four  years.  The  library 
association  had  many  friends  besides  those  mentioned  but,  unfortunately, 
the  original  list  of  subscribers  is  supposed  to  have  shared  the  fate  of 
the  other  library  records  in  the  fire. 

The  pioneers,  undaunted,  called  a  meeting  of  the  directors  and  some 
few  months  later,  August  24,  1874,  the  library  association  began  anew, 
with  that  ever  stanch  friend,  Judge  Hedges,  again  as  president.  The 
pioneer  figure  of  Judge  Hedges  was  interwoven  with  the  history  of  the 
library  from  its  inception  to  his  death,  April  29,  1907,  thirty-eight  years 
later;  furthermore,  during  all  these  years  his  hearty  interest  and  services 
increased  in  behalf  of  the  library  as  an  institution. 

At  the  time  of  the  reorganization  of  the  library,  George  M.  Woods 
served  as  librarian  until  his  resignation  the  following  November  2,  1874, 
when  Miss  Lou  Guthrie  succeeded  him.  Miss  Guthrie  was  the  last 
librarian  of  the  Helena  Library  Association.  A.  J.  Smith  became  pres- 
ident in  1877  and  Hon.  D.  S.  Wade  in  1878. 

The  value  of  a  library  having  been  demonstrated,  the  people  by 
popular  vote  demanded  and  obtained  a  library  maintained  by  the  city 
with  one-half  mill  tax,  and  under  city  ordinance  No.  79,  organized  a 
Free  Public  Library  May  8,  1886.  The  Helena  Library  Association 
turned  over  2,000  books  to  the  newly  organized  Free  Public  Library, 
which  reopened  August  7,  1886  in  the  Murphy  Block  with  the  first 
trustees  appointed  May  8,  1886 — W.  E.  Cullen,  president ;  H.  M.  Parchen, 
Cornelius  Hedges,  S.  C.  Ashby,  S.  H.  Crounse  and  R.  H.  Howey. 
Charles  H.  Snell  was  elected  first  librarian  (1886),  and  in  1888  was 
succeeded  by  Leslie  Sulgrove,  who  held  the  position  for  several  years ; 
upon  his  resignation  in  1892,  Frank  C.  Patten,  a  graduate  of  the 
New  York  State  Library  School  at  Albany  and  a  librarian  of  many 
years'  experience,  became  librarian.  At  this  time  the  library  occupied  the 
second  floor  of  the  Ashby  Building,  now  known  as  the  location  of  "Sanden 
and  Ferguson"  store. 

The  third  and  present  era  was  one  of  expansion,  beginning  in  1892 
under  the  able  librarianship  of  Mr.  Patten,  when  the  library  moved  into 
a  larger  and  better  permanent  home  in  the  new  building  adjacent  to  the 
auditorium.  At  this  time  there  were  less  than  9,000  volumes,  but  so  rapid 
was  the  increase  that  there  were  16,000  books  in  1896.  Because  of  the 
increased  usefulness  and  larger  number  of  books,  it  became  necessary 
to  remodel  the  basement  floor  and  add  extra  space  to  the  library  build- 
ing during  April,  1897.  On  May  22,  1897,  the  library  reopened  for 
business. 

The  library  remains  housed  in  the  same  building,  at  present  writing 
(1921),  but  there  is  a  decided  need  for  a  new  building  that  would  more 
adequately  meet  the  present  needs.  There  are  now  over  60,000  volumes 
including  the  bound  magazines  and  bound  government  documents,  be- 
sides the  usual  picture  and  clipping  collection,  bird  and  mineral  museum. 
In  addition  to  serving  the  general  public,  the  library  is  functioning  some- 
what, as  an  educational  library,  for  Helena  is  forging  ahead  as  an  im- 
portant educational  center.  The  Helena  Public  Library  serves  the 


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760 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


public  and  high  schools,  Mount  St.  Charles  College,  Montana  Wesleyan 
University,  Deaconess  School,  and  other  private  schools.  This  January 
(1921),  the  library  received  one  and  one-half  mill  tax,  which  was  a -three- 
quarter  mill  increase  voted  at  spring  election,  in  April,  1920.  As  for  the 
previous  seven  years,  the  library  had  been  greatly  hampered  by  a  lack 
of  funds  and  this  crisis  was  passed  only  by  the  careful  administration 
of  the  present  Board  of  Trustees  whose  names  follow :  Fred  S.  Sanden, 
president ;  Judge  A.  J.  Horsky,  vice  president ;  Mrs.  F.  J.  Lange,  treas- 
urer; Rev.  James  F.  McNamee,  secretary;  Dr.  .O.  M.  Lanstrum,  Mrs. 
C.  B.  Nolan,  Mayor  John  Dryburgh  (City  Council  member). 

The  following  is  a  list  of  presidents  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  and 
librarians,  with  the  dates  of  their  taking  office  from  establishment  of 
Library  Association  to  the  present  writing  in  1921  : 

PRESIDENTS  LIBRARIANS 


1868 — James  King.     Elected   Dec. 

5,  1868. 
1870 — Cornelius   Hedges.     Elected 

Dec.  1 8,  1870. 
1874 — Col.     Wilbur     F.     Sanders. 

(January,  time  of  fire.) 
1874 — (August)  Cornelius  Hedges. 
1877— A.  J-  Smith.    (Col.) 
1878—0.  S.  Wade. 

HELENA   PUBLIC   LIBRARY    1886 

1886— W.  E.  Cullen. 

1887—0.  S.  Wade. 

1893 — Cornelius  Hedges. 

1907— T.  J.  Walsh. 

1913 — Rev.  N.  H.  Burdick. 

1914- 1921— Fred  S.  Sanden. 


!  868— Ben  R.  Dittes. 
1870— W.  A*.  Hedges. 
1871 — Robert  H.  Wilson  (until 

total   destruction   of   library 

by  fire  in  1874). 
1 874 —  ( Reorganized    August    24. ) 

George  M.  Woods. 
1874 — (Nov.  2.)    Miss  Lou  Guth- 

rie. 

1878 — Miss  Lou  Guthrie. 
1880 — Miss  Lou  Guthrie. 
1886— Charles  H.  Snell. 
1888 — Leslie  Sulgrove. 
1892 — Frank  C.  Patten. 
1899 — Mary  C.  Gardner. 
1903 — Marguerita  Bowden. 
1908 — Nina  McKenna. 
1910-  1921 — Josephine  M.  Haley. 


STATE  HISTORICAL  COLLECTIONS 

The  State  Historical  Library  has  a  large  collection  of  books  relating 
to  Montana,  and  a  remarkably  complete  file  of  newspapers  covering  the 
main  publications  of  the  state.  Its  classified  collection  of  photographs, 
bearing  upon  all  phases  of  Montana's  history,  is  also  noteworthy,  and  its 
museum  of  Indian  curios,  natural  history  and  minerals,  with  gallery  of 
paintings  and  other  portraits  of  historical  characters,  makes  the  quarters 
of  the  State  Historical  Society  in  the  basement  of  the  capitol  an  in- 
valuable resort  for  everyone  interested  in  any  feature  of  Montana's  de- 
velopment, past,  present  or  future.  The  State  Bar  Association  also  con- 
trols a  professional  library  which  was  developed  into  one  of  the  best  in 
the  new  Western  states. 

The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  has  a  large  building  and 
a  growing  body  of  workers  in  Helena,  and  the  Young  Women's  Christian 
Association  is  well  provided  with  conveniences  and  comforts. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  761 

The  two  organizations  which  have  supplied  the  greatest  impetus  to 
the  progress  of  Helena,  along  the  paths  of  material  advancement,  are 
the  Montana  Club,  one  of  the  oldest,  richest  and  most  influential  bodies  of 
the  kind  in  the  Northwest  and  the  Helena  Commercial  Club.  The  latter 
which  is  an  outgrowth  of  the  Helena  Business  Men's  Association,  was 
organized  in  1897,  and  during  the  twenty-four  years  of  its  life  has  had 
seven  presidents:  N.  Kessler/F.  S.  P.  Lindsay,  Sherwood  Wheaton 
T.  C.  Powers,  N.  B.  Holter,  H.  G.  Pickett  (1906-1918),  and  George  L. 
Ramsay.  The  secretary-treasurers  have  been  E.  W.  Fiske,  L.  W.  Heath 
.  A.  Macrum,  C.  H.  Boynton,  W.  T.  Hull,  and  C.  A.  Mead.  L.  M! 
Rheem  and  E.  W.  Prosser  then  served  as  secretary  and  treasurer,  re- 
spectively, for  a  number  of  years,  and  since  1919  M.  Max  Goodsill  has 
been  secretary-manager  and  E.  W.  Prosser,  treasurer.  In  May,  1921, 
the  membership  of  the  club  was  divided  as  follows:  Men's  division, 
IJ47;  Women's  division,  133;  Junior  Commercial  Club,  955.  Total 
membership,  2,235. 

In  every  modern  city,  like  Helena,  its  newspapers  always  stand  in 
the  van  of  its  promotional  forces;  and  the  dailies  of  the  capital,  the 
Record-Herald  and  the  Independent,  are  "live  wires"  in  that  regard. 

It  is  said  that  Helena  is  the  richest  city  of  its  size  in  the  United 
States,  and  that  its  bank  assets  alone  amount  to  more  than  $1,000  per 
capita.  Its  people  of  means  are  public-spirited  and  patriotic.  The 
World's  War  proved  that;  for  Lewis  and  Clark  county,  with  but  two  per 
cent  of  the  state's  population,  subscribed  ten  per  cent  of  Montana's 
Liberty  bonds.  Helena's  five  banks,  the  two  transcontinental  lines  which 
accommodate  the  city  and  the  three  great  power  dams  near  it  make  it  a 
natural  industrial  and  distributing  center.  It  is  said  to  be  one  of  the 
most  stable  labor  markets  in  the  West.  Helena  is  a  distributing  head- 
quarters of  such  famous  industries  as  the  International  Harvester  Com- 
pany, Studebaker  Corporation  and  the  American  Tobacco  Company,  and 
its  factories  include  plants  of  the  National  Biscuit  Company,  Western 
Clay  Manufacturing  Company,  Caird  Engineering  Works,  B.  E.  Mathews 
Fixture  Company,  Reinig  Coffee  Mills,  Northwestern  Milling  Com- 
pany and  the  C.  T.  Perry  Soap  Works.  Helena  is  the  division  telephone 
office  for  Montana  and  Northern  Wyoming,  with  150  employes.  The 
city  is  the  home  of  the  largest  greenhouse  and  nursery  between  the 
Twin  Cities  and  the  Pacific  Coast  (State  Nursery  and  Seed  Company) 
and  is  the  headquarters  of  the  Montana  State  Fair.  The  annual  fair, 
which  is  an  event  of  importance  even  outside  the  state,  is  held  in  Sep- 
tember, the  large  grounds  and  substantial  exhibition  buildings  being  just 
outside  Helena.  Further,  the  state  capital  is  headquarters  of  internal 
revenue  for  the  district  of  Montana.  Idaho  and  Utah,  and  United  States 
Government  assay  office  is  located  at  Helena,  in  a  large  separate  building. 

MINING,  SMELTING  AND  ORE  TESTING 

The  exciting  and  productive  days  of  gold  mining  in  the  Helena 
mining  region  are  probably  a  feature  of  the  past,  but  with  the  prevailing 


762 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


high  prices  of  silver  many  of  the  old  silver-lead  properties  are  being 
profitably  reopened  and  not  a  few  new  mines  are  being  opened.  Mineral 
geologists  and  practical  experts  claim  that  the  region  comprises  the 
most  varied  deposits  of  gold,  silver,  lead,  copper  and  zinc  of  any  area 
of  equal  extent  in  the  West,  and  it  is  not  beyond  the  scope  of  the  prob- 
able that  silver  and  some  of  the  other  precious  metals  may  revive  the 
productiveness  of  1833-93,  when  the  Helena  mines  produced  nearly 
$200,000,000,  for  their  owners. 


TYPICAL  MINES  IN  THE  HELENA  REGION 


Conditions  for  the  development  of  the  mining  industries  of  the 
Helena  district  are  now  far  more  favorable  than  they  were  in  the  '8os, 
or  even  the  '905.  Electric  transmission  lines  traverse  it  in  all  directions 
and,  as  one  experienced  operator  put  it,  "it  is  a  difficult  thing  to  get  as  far 
as  three  miles  away  from  a  power  line."  Helena  is  also  conveniently 
located  with  respect  to  productive  coal  fields  and  lumber  mills,  where 
quick  service  on  mine  necessities  is  readily  available.  Through  the  Nor- 
thern Pacific  and  Great  Northern,  with  their  branches,  and  the  good  roads 
of  the  district,  not  only  railroad  cars  but  motor  trucks  are  readily  avail- 
able for  the  transportation  of  the  ore  or  more  finished  products  of  the 
mines. 

Not  only  are  these  advantages  to  be  advanced  over  those  of  an  earlier 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  763 

period,  but  Helena  has  become  a  smelting,  milling  and  testing  center 
of  prominence. 

The  Helena  Commercial  Club  issued  a  booklet,  in  1920,  containing 
a  valuable  fund  of  information  which  sets  forth  the  strong  points  of  this 
phase  of  regional  development,  and  upon  that  authority  the  writer  bases 
many  of  the  statements  which  follow  and  which  have  already  been  made. 

At  East  Helena  is  located  the  American  Smelting  and  Refining  Com- 
pany, operating  the  only  lead  smelter  in  Montana  and  treating  ores  of  all 
kinds  produced  in  the  region  tributary  to  the  state  capital.  Under  nor- 
mal conditions,  the  plant  employs  between  four  and  five  hundred  men, 
with  a  payroll  of  $50,000  a  month.  The  great  smelter,  which  was  started 
in  1888,  treats  custom  ores  exclusively  and  purchases  lead,  silver  and  gold 
ores.  The  plant  is  able  to  handle  all  the  Montana  lead  ores,  besides  a 
considerable  tonnage  from  the  Coeur  d'Alene  District  in  Idaho.  Its  elec- 
tric power  comes  from  the  Canyon  Ferry  Dam,  twelve  miles  east  on  the 
Missouri  River.  The  plant  comprises  four  large  blast  furnaces  for 
smelting,  with  a  total  capacity  of  from  800  to  900  tons  daily.  Mines  in 
the  Helena  region  also  have  convenient  access  to  the  copper  smelter  at 
Anaconda,  one  hundred  miles  distant  by  rail  from  Helena. 

Helena  has  the  important  advantage  of  possessing  the  New  York- 
Montana  Testing  and  Engineering  Company.  It  operates  the  only  plant 
of  the  kind  in  the  Northwest,  where  ores  are  treated  in  carloads.  The 
company  offers  not  only  engineering  and  testing  service  to  the  mining  men 
of  the  Helena  District,  but  treats  complex  ores  and  ores  of  low  grade  for 
direct  smelting.  The  plant  has  been  in  operation  for  three  years,  during 
which  it  has  treated  and  tested  ores  from  all  over  the  state.  During  a 
portion  of  that  period  it  has  produced  some  of  the  highest  grade  man- 
ganese in  the  country.  •  The  plant  has  a  completely  equipped  laboratory 
for  the  testing  of  small  samples,  both  as  to  their  feasibility  for  milling 
and  smelting  and  also  as  a  guide  for  treatment.  Ores  are  tested  free 
of  charge  for  prospective  shippers. 

Another  advantage  Helena  offers  to  the  miner  of  today  is  her  roster 
of  experienced  assayers  and  mining  engineers,  both  those  operating  in 
a  private  capacity  and  those  connected  with  the  United  States  Assay 
Office.  The  government  office  at  Helena  is  one  of  five  of  a  national 
character,  the  other  four  being  located  at  Deadwood,  South  Dakota ; 
Seattle,  Washington;  Boise,  Idaho;  and  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah.  In  1919 
the  business  transacted  at  the  Helena  office  ($835,644)  was  exceeded 
only  by  the  receipts  of  the  Seattle  office.  These  offices  were  established, 
primarily,  to  afford  the  miner  a  ready  market  for  his  product,  and  as  a 
means  whereby  the  Government  could  secure  gold  and  silver  for  coin- 
age purposes. 

The  Helena  office  purchases  bullion  to  the  amount  of  about  $1,000,000 
annually.  It  may  be  deposited  in  any  quantity  and  is  usually  paid  for 
the  second  day  after  receipt.  This  is  of  special  advantage  to  the  small 
operator  and  to  the  concern  trying  out  a  plant  or  opening  new  ground, 
where  test  runs  are  made  upon  which  quick  returns  are  desired.  The 


A  MINING  CAMP  NEAR  HELENA 


ONE  OF  HELENA'S  BUSY  MINES 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  765 

saving  in  time  and  the  cost  of  transportation  to  the  nearest  mint  is  in 
some  cases  of  vital  importance. 

When  bullion  is  deposited,  it  is  melted  and  assayed,  dnd  a  Govern- 
ment check  drawn  to  the  depositor  for  the  net  proceeds.  The  gold  con- 
tained is  paid  for  at  the  regular  price  of  $20.671  per  fine  ounce,  and 
the  silver  at  the  market  price.  The  Government  makes  only  such  charges 
as  are  estimated  to  be  necessary  to  fit  the  bullion  for  coinage.  They  are 
the  same  at  all  federal  mints  and  assay  offices,  as  follows:  $i  for  melt- 
ing, 21-2  cents  per  ounce  for  the  amount  of  copper  required  for  alloy, 
and  a  refining  charge  depending  upon  the  weight  and  fineness,  averag- 
ing 4  cents  per  ounce  of  bullion.  In  the  case  of  refractory  bullion,  an 
extra  charge  may  be  made  to  cover  the  additional  cost.  Each  check 
in  payment  for  a  deposit  is  accompanied  by  a  report  showing  the  weight 
received,  weight  after  melting,  gold  or  silver  fineness  and  value,  silver 
price,  charges  and  net  value. 

It  is  not  necessary  for  Helena  miners,  as  in  some  districts,  to  carry 
large  stocks  of  tools,  machinery  and  other  equipment,  as  there  are  exten- 
sive hardware  stores  and  distributing  houses  in  the  city  to  furnish  all 
needed  supplies,  as  well  as  engineering  works  and  foundries  to  manufac- 
ture and  repair  all  kinds  of  mining  and  milling  machinery. 

Helena  is  the  headquarters  of  the  Montana  Mining  Association,  the 
state  organization  of  mining  men  formed  to  advance  and  protect  the  in- 
dustry, and  to  furnish  practical  information  relating  to  all  the  mineral 
districts  of  the  state  for  the  benefit  of  investors  and  investigators. 
Which  is  an  additional  fact  tending  to  establish  the  Helena  District  as 
pre-eminent  in  the  mining  development  of  Montana. 

MINERAL  PRODUCTION  OF  THE  HELENA  REGION 

Various  estimates  have  been  made  of  the  total  production  of  the 
Helena  Mining  Region,  as  the  district  is  officially  designated.  The 
latest  figures  to  be  prepared  by  the  United  States  Geographical  Survey 
(Bulletin  527)  are  as  follows: 

Last  Chance  Gulch $35,000,000 

Whitlatch  Mine 6,000,000 

Big  Indian  , 1 10,000 

King  Solomon •  •  •  •  100,000 

Little  Nell 400.000 

Alta 32,000,000 

Blizzard    150,000 

Blue  Bird 250,000 

Comet  • 13,000.000 

Gregory    8,000,000 

Minah 2.000,000 

Ruby 1,250,000 

Drumlummon    15,000,000 


766  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Later  figures,  compiled  by  L.  S.  Ropes,  a  well  known  mining  engi- 
neer of  the  region,  shows  the  approximate  production  of  the  Helena  min- 
ing territory  by  districts.  The  estimates  are  substantially  up  to  date, 
and  are  as  follows : 

Unionville $  4,110,000 

Scratch  Gravel   992,000 

Grass  Valley  495,000 

Montana  City  343,ooo 

Rimini 6,200,000 

Porphyry  Dike    1,525,000 

Marysville    57,140,000 

Elliston . 470,000 

Clancy 655,000 

Lump  Gulch   2,500,000 

Warm  Spring  Creek 805,000 

Maupin 228,000 

Wickes-Corbin 57,915,000 

Basin    6,635,000 

Elkhorn 15,215,000 

Canyon  Ferry   815,000 

Winston 3,560,000 

Indian  Creek 265,000 

Park    247,000 

Radersburg    3,200,000 

Placers  in  the  Helena  Region  have  recorded  the  following  produc- 
tions : 

City  of  Helena $32,625,000 

Marysville    3,200,000 

Montana  City   18,000,000 

Maupin 50,000 

Engineers  have  not  been  able  to  secure  reliable  data  upon  which  to 
base  figures  on  the  riches  also  removed  from  placers  in  the  Blackfoot, 
Elkhorn,  Clancy,  Basin  and  Boulder  districts  of  the  Helena  Region. 

Great  fortunes  have  been  taken  from  the  mountains  and  streams  of 
Helena  and  vicinity,  "and  yet,"  as  prophesied  by  a  practical  writer, 
"the  stores  of  wealth  have  been  but  slightly  tapped."  It  seems  probable 
that  the  revival  of  the  silver  industry  will  start  a  swelling  stream  of 
wealth  toward  the  already  prosperous  "Queen  City  of  the  Rockies,"  or 
"City  of  the  Golden  Glow." 


CHAPTER  XXXII 

LIBERTY,  LINCOLN,  MADISON,  McCONE,  MEAGHER 

MINERAL 

Liberty  County,  politically  created  February  n,  1920,  and  therefore 
one  of  the  newest  counties  in  Montana,  is  situated  in  the  north  central 
portion  of  the  state,  and  is  a  county  possessing  many  attractions  for  the 
ambitious  farmer.  Its  land  area  of  1,458  square  miles  is  contained  within 
a  somewhat  elongated  parallelogram,  having  a  length  north  and  south  of 
sixty  miles  and  a  width  east  and  west  of  twenty-four  miles.  Its  northern 
boundary  is  the  Canadian  Province  of  Alberta. 

STATUS  OF  LIBERTY  COUNTY 

The  surface  of  Liberty  County  is  in  general  level  or  slightly  rolling, 
the  more  elevated  portion  being  included  within  the  region  of  the  Sweet 
Grass  Hills  in  the  northern  part,  a  region  attractive  to  tourists  by  rea- 
son of  its  pleasing  scenery  and  its  good  natural  facilities  for  hunting  and 
fishing.  Even  in  that  region  fifty  per  cent  of  the  land  is  tillable,  while 
the  cultivable  land  in  the  county  amounts  to  about  ninety  per  cent  of 
its  entire  area,  an  exceptionally  high  aggregate.  The  drainage  and  water 
supply  of  the  county  are  especially  good,  and  are  furnished  by  a  number 
of  streams  the  most  important  of  which  are  Maria's  River,  Eagle  Creek, 
Willow  Creek,  Cottonwood  Creek  and  Pondera  Coulee. 

Though  there  is  some  irrigated  land  in  the  county,  most  of  it  is  non- 
irrigated;  yet  under  ordinary  conditions  it  produces  abundant  and  ex- 
cellent crops  without  the  additional  expense  attached  to  artificial  water- 
ing. Agriculture  and  stockraising  are  the  chief  industries,  yet  these  are 
still  in  their  infancy,  and  40,000  acres  of  tillable  land,  well  supplied  with 
water,  which  is  everywhere  obtainable,  can  be  purchased  at  prices  vary- 
ing from  $15  to  $25  an  acre,  or,  in  the  case  of  grazing  land,  as  low  as  $10 
an  acre.  Improved  irrigated  lands  sell  from  $25  to  $75  an  acre.  Wheat, 
oats  and  flax  are  raised  successfully  and  in  considerable  quantities,  as  also 
are  garden  vegetables,  while  sunflowers  are  raised  for  silage  purposes.  The 
timber  in  the  county  is  confined  almost  entirely  to  the  cottonwood  along  the 
streams. 

Liberty  County  possesses  other  resources  which  may  in  time  be  de- 
veloped into  valuable  commercial  assets.  Coal  exists  in  considerable  quan- 
tities, while  among  the  lesser  mineral  deposits  are  gold,  silver,  lead  and 
marble.  The  discovery  of  oil  and  gas  are  among  the  possibilities  of  the 
future.  No  commercial  development  of  the  mineral  deposits  has  yet  taken 
place,  but  their  existence  spells  opportunity  for  those  who  are  able  to  grasp 
it.  In  the  meanwhile  the  land,  the  climate,  with  its  growing  season  of  101 

767 


768  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

days,  and  the  convenient  markets  and  shipping  points  found  in  neigh- 
boring towns  guarantee  to  the  active  and  capable  farmer  the  practical  cer- 
tainty of  a  good  livelihood  with  gradually  increasing  wealth.  Transpor- 
tation facilities  are  supplied  by  the  main  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Rail- 
way, which  crosses  the  county  east  and  west,  and  the  Roosevelt  Memorial 
Highway,  running  parallel  with  the  railroad. 

The  rural  dweller  in  any  part  of  the  county  can  find  a  town  or  village 
at  no  great  distance  wherein  to  obtain  supplies  or  market  a  part  of  his 
produce.  Chester,  the  county  seat,  which  has  an  altitude  of  3,132  feet 
above  the  sea  level,  is  the  most  important  town  in  the  county.  It  is  situ- 
ated on  the  Great  Northern  Railway  and  has  good  banking  and  mercantile 
facilities.  Among  its  more  important  institutions  is  a  high  school  ac- 
credited for  the  two  years  course.  Its  citizens 'are  up-to-date  and  disposed 
to  aid  one  another  in  securing  for  the  community  a  place  in  the  vanguard 
of  progress.  A  first-class  hotel  would  be  a  valuable  addition  to  local 
improvements  and  would  doubtless  be  well  patronized.  Joplin  and  Lothair 
are  also  growing  communities  on  the  railroad,  while  Whitlash,  Alma  and 
Laird  are  important  inland  towns. 

A  good  foundation  has  been  laid  for  the  education  of  youth  in  the 
forty-six  schools  now  established  in  the  county,  and  the  extension  of  school 
facilities  will  take  place  in  accordance  with  local  needs.  Such,  in  brief, 
is  Liberty  County,  an  integral  portion  of  the  great  Northwest — the  land 
of  opportunity — a  home  for  busy  men  and  women  with  bright  hopes  and 
abundant  promise  for  the  future. 

LINCOLN  COUNTY 

The  varied  resources  of  the  great  State  of  Montana  are  occasionally 
illustrated  within  the  limits  of  a  single  county,  where  we  may  find  exten- 
sive grazing  lands,  a  rich  agricultural  soil,  with  timber  and  mineral  wealth 
sufficient  to  make  many  substantial  fortunes.  Such  a  description  well 
applies  to  Lincoln  County,  a  political  division  of  the  state  created  July  i, 
1909,  and  containing  the  liberal  land  area  of  3,660  square  miles. 

Lincoln  County  is  found  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Montana,  British 
Columbia  lying  to  the  north  and  the  State  of  Idaho  on  the  west.  It  is 
a  mountainous  and  well  timbered  region,  most  of  which  still  preserves  the 
original  wildness  oi  nature.  A  considerable  amount  of  good  agricultural 
land  may,  however,  be  found  in  the  valleys.  The  largest  of  these  is  the 
Tobacco  Plains  Valley  in  the  northeastern  part,  which  is  virtually  the  only 
one  clear  of  timber,  and  through  which  flows  the  Tobacco  River,  one  of 
the  principal  streams.  The  Kootenai  River,  carrying  a  larger  volume  of 
water  than  the  Missouri,  traverses  the  county  for  a  distance  of  100  miles, 
entering  from  Canada  and  flowing  southwards  for  more  than  half  the 
length  of  the  county  and  then  taking  a  westerly  direction  until  it  passes 
into  Idaho.  Its  valley  is  the  longest  in  the  county,  but  is  narrow.  In  some 
places  between  the  valleys  and  the  mountains  are  found  a  series  of  benches 
which,  when  cleared,  are  tillable  farm  lands.  Smaller  valleys  are  found 
in  connection  with  the  numerous  small  creeks.  In  the  valleys  the  soil  is 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  769 

usually  deep  and  black,  while  on  many  of  the  benches  it  is  a  light  red 
volcanic  ash,  frequently  underlaid  with  gravel.  A  gray  loam  is  found  in 
places  both  m  the  valleys  and  on  the  benches.  The  larger  portion  of 
Lincoln  County  is  covered  by  the  mountains,  which  are  high  and  densely 
ed.  Grand  and  picturesque  scenery  is  spread  out  in  almost  every 


SCENE  IN  LINCOLN  COUNTY 

direction,  and  the  opportunities  for  big  game  hunting  and  for  fishing  are 
such  as  to  make  the  region  a  paradise  for  tourists  and  sportsmen. 

The  wealth  of  timber  is  unusually  great,  and  it  is  said  that  more  of 
the  area  of  Lincoln  County  is  included  within  national  forests  than  that 
of  any  other  county.  Within  its  limits  is  included  the  entire  Kootenai 
Forest  of  1,617,140  acres,  also  398,666  acres  of  the  Blackfeet  and  8,371 
acres  of  the  Cabinet  National  Forests.  The  lumbering  industry  is  ex- 
tensively carried  on  and  here  may  be  found  some  of  the  largest  saw  mills 
in  the  state. 

Vol.  1—49 


770  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Mining  is  another  important  industry,  the  ores  and  formations  being 
•similar  to  those  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  district  of  Idaho.  Placer  mining 
has  been  carried  on  for  many  years  and  certain  large  areas  are  said  to  be 
suitable  for  mining  by  hydraulic  methods.  The  principal  metals  which 
have  been  successfully  mined  so  far  are  silver  and  lead,  but  gold,  zinc 
and  copper  are  also  found.  Promising  mining  properties  are  now  in  process 
of  development  by  several  large  concerns. 

The  growing  season  for  crops  is  estimated  at  from  forty-six  to  ninety- 
seven  days.  The  county  is  excellent  for  grass,  clover  and  timothy  in  par- 
ticular, and  many  of  the  farmers  give  their  chief  attention  to  hay  and 
the  hardier  vegetables.  Various  kinds  of  fruit  are  also  grown  success- 
fully, including  apples,  pears,  plums,  cherries,  and  in  the  Troy  section 
peaches.  Land  costs  from  $10  to  $100  an  acre,  the  price  depending  upon 
the  character  of  the  ground,  its  location  and  the  amount  of  clearing  and 
other  improvements  effected. 

Railroad  communication  is  furnished  by  the  main  line  of  the  Northern 
Pacific,  and  a  branch  line  running  from  Rexford  to  the  Fernie  coal  fields 
in  British  Columbia.  The  National  Park  Highway  runs  through  the 
county  east  and  west,  supplying  good  road  facilities  in  that  direction, 
while  the  Electric  Highway,  which  begins  in  Southeastern  Montana,  has 
its  present  terminus  in  Lincoln  County. 

LIBBY  AND  OTHER  TOWNS 

In  1920  Lincoln  County  had  a  population  of  7,797.  Its  most  impor- 
tant town  is  Libby,  the  county  seat,  which  has  an  altitude  of  2,053  ^eet 
above  sea  level.  It  is  a  modern  community,  with  good  sewer  and  light 
systems,  cement  walks,  graded  streets,  substantial  business  blocks  and 
handsome  and  commodious  residences.  It  also  has  a  good  high  school 
accredited  for  the  four  year  term.  Next  in  importance  to  Libby  is 
Eureka,  a  city  located  in  the  Tobacco  Plains  section,  which  at  present 
is  the  chief  agricultural  district.  It  rivals  the  county  seat  in  municipal 
improvements  and  is  the  home  of  the  county  high  school,  which,  like  that 
at  Libby,  is  accredited  for  the  four  years  term  and  gives  additional  courses 
in  agriculture  and  normal  training.  Troy  and  Warfield  are  also  busy 
and  prosperous  centers  of  population. 

Lincoln  County  possesses  many  attractions  for  the  ambitious  and  in- 
dustrious settler,  especially  to  one  having  some  capital.  The  falls  of  the 
Kootenai  River,  between  Libby  and  Troy,  are  capable  of  being  developed 
into  a  superb  waterpower,  there  are  great  mining  possibilities,  and  a 
number  of  opportunities  for  establishing  profitable  tourist  resorts.  Log- 
ging operations  have  left  considerable  areas  of  cut-over  or  stump  lands 
which,  when  cleared,  will  produce  abundant  crops.  While  the  land  is 
being  cleared  expenses  can  be  met  and  even  a  profit  made  by  carrying  on 
stockraising  and  dairying,  the  abundance  of  grass  and  clover  affording 
excellent  grazing.  In  such  a  country  industry  backed  by  intelligence 
brings  its  due  reward,  and  the  pioneer  of  today  is  likely  before  many 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  771 

years  have  passed,  to  be  numbered  among  its  substantial  and  well  to  do 

citizens. 

MADISON  COUNTY 

Madison  County  lies  in  Southwestern  Montana  and  has  a  land  area  of 
3,588  square  miles.  Its  history  dates  back  to  the  Civil  War  period,  the 
early  settlement  of  the  region  being  due  to  the  discovery  of  the  placer  gold 
at  Alder  Gulch,  May  26,  1863.  After  that  event  the  population  increased 
so  rapidly  that  in  a  short  time  county  organization  was  found  expedient 
and  accordingly,  on  February  2,  1865,  Madison  County  was  created. 

The  settlement  established  at  the  head  of  Alder  Gulch,  just  below  the 
spot  where  gold  was  first  discovered,  was  named  Virginia  City.  It  was 
incorporated  by  a  special  act  of  the  territorial  legislature  in  the  '6os 
and  became  the  territorial  capital.  It  lies  on  the  west  bank  of  the  gulch, 
and  about  half  way  between  its  mouth  and  its  source.  The  gulch  is  about 
ten  miles  in  length  and  has  been  placer  mined  from  end  to  end.  Silver, 
copper  and  lead  have  been  found  in  paying  quantities,  in  addition  to  gold. 
During  the  past  twenty  years  the  ground  that  was  mined  in  the  '6os,  from 
Virginia  City  to  Ruby  Valley  in  Alder  Gulch,  has  been  worked  over  by  big 
dredges  by  the  Conrey  Placer  Mining  Company  and  a  large  amount  of 
additional  wealth  secured.  This  company  has  kept  from  one  to  five  of 
these  dredges  in  operation,  though  only  one  is  now  in  use,  as  nearly  all 
the  ground  that  could  be  worked  at  a  profit  in  this  manner  has  been  ex- 
hausted. Two  companies  are  engaged  in  quartz  mining — the  Greenback 
Mining  Company  and  the  Barton  Gilch  Mining  Company.  These  com- 
panies, which  are  managed  by  Mr.  A.  H.  Jones,  employ  approximately 
sixty  men,  and  each  mill  has  a  capacity  of  fifty  tons  a  day. 

This  region  is  marked  by  the  rough  but  impressive  scenery  characteris- 
tic of  the  usual  mining  district.  At  the  head  of  Alder  Gulch  stands  Baldy 
Mountain,  a  considerable  elevation  with  an  extended  summit  constituting 
a  geological  ridge  or  backbone.  Stretching  away  from  it  in  a  more  or 
less  irregular  course,  may  be  seen  the  gulch  or  narrow  valley,  its  steep 
sides  here  and  there  forest-clad,  but  in  many  places  devoid  of  vegetation 
and  possessing  interest  chiefly  for  the  geologist  or  miner.  Similar  scenes 
may  be  seen  in  other  parts  of  the  county,  the  chief  mining  districts,  aside 
from  Virginia  City,  being  found  near  Twin  Bridges,  Rochester,  Sheridan, 
Pony,  Norris  and  Red  Bluff. 

The  mountainous  districts  of  Madison  County  occupy  more  than  half 
its  surface,  and  between  the  mountain  ranges  are  some  very  good  valleys 
in  which  agriculture  and  stock  raising  can  be  carried  on  successfully.  North 
and  south  through  the  middle  of  the  county,  between  the  watersheds  of 
the  Madison  and  Jefferson  rivers,  stretches  the  Tobacco  Root  Range. 
Farther  to  the  east  is  the  Madison  Range,  while  the  Snow  Crest,  the 
Ruby  and  the  McCarty  ranges  are  found  near  the  western  side.  The 
Madison  and  Jefferson  rivers  have  cut  out  deep  valleys  connecting  with 
those  of  their  numerous  tributaries  on  either  side.  The  other  important 
streams  are  the  Beaverhead,  Ruby,  Big  Hole  and  South  Boulder  rivers, 
each  with  its  tributaries  issuing  from  mountain  sources,  and  providing 


772  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

a  water  supply  probably  equal  to  that  of  any  county  in  the  state.  Between 
the  mountain  ranges  and  the  valleys  are  benches  and  low  lying  foot  hills, 
where  some  non-irrigated  farming  is  practiced,  though  they  are  chiefly 
used  for  grazing  purposes.  On  Madison  River  are  two  hydro-electric 
plants  operated  by  the  Montana  Power  Company  and  having  a  combined 
installed  capacity  of  12,000  kilowatts.  The  company  has  also  two  storage 
reservoirs  on  this  stream  covering  17,430  acres,  with  a  combined  storage 
capacity  of  14,915,000,000  cubic  feet. 

The  abundance  of  beautiful  scenery  in  Madison  County  with  the  fine 
hunting  and  fishing,  make  it  an  attractive  region  to  sportsmen,  who  come 
from  all  parts  of  the  United  States  to  fish  on  Madison  River.  Irrigated 
land  in  the  valleys  is  worth  from  $40  to  $125  an  acre;  grazing  and  non- 
irrigated  land  from  $5  to  $40  an  acre.  The  Northern  Pacific  Railway  has 
two  branch  lines  in  the  county,  one  running  from  Whitehall  to  Alder 
through  the  Jefferson  and  Ruby  valleys  and  the  other  from  Sappington 
to  Norris  and  Pony  through  "the  Madison  Valley.  The  Vigilante  Trail,  a 
highway  of  great  historical  interest,  and  now  a  state  road,  connects  with 
all  transcontinental  highways.  It  branches  off  from  what  is  known  as 
the  Yellowstone  Trail  at  Cedar  Point,  about  twenty  miles  east  of  Butte, 
thence  takes  a  general  southerly  direction  through  the  old  town  of  Silver 
Star,  Iron  Rod,  Twin  Bridges,  Sheridan,  Ruby,  Virginia  City,  from  which 
place  it  passes  over  the  range  into  the  Madison  Valley  to  Ennis,  and 
thence  up  the  valley  to  Yellowstone  on  the  west  boundary  of  the  Yellow- 
stone Park.  This  trail  is  being  greatly  improved  for  travel  and  today 
work  is  progressing  on  a  hard  surface  road  leading  from  Virginia  City 
over  the  mountains  fourteen  miles  to  Ennis.  Along  this  road  and  in  other 
parts  of  the  county  are  still  standing  log  buildings  of  historical  interest, 
some  of  them  .associated  with  tragical  occurrences  of  early  days. 

VIRGINIA  CITY  OF  TODAY 

Virginia  City,  the  county  seat  of  Madison  County,  has  an  altitude  above 
sea  level  of  5,822  feet.  Its  present  population  is  about  500.  As  pre- 
viously mentioned,  its  incorporation  dates  back  to  the  '6os.  It  is  divided 
into  three  wards  and  has  a  mayor  and  six  councilmen.  Business  and 
commercial  enterprises  are  up-to-date  and  thriving.  The  Elling  State 
Bank  has  a  capital  of  $50,000,  a  surplus  of  $50,000  and  total  deposits  of 
approximately  $600,000.  The  Madison  State  Bank  has  a  capital  of 
$50,000,  a  surplus  of  the  same  amount  and  total  deposits  of  approximately 
$300,000.  The  mercantile  establishments  are  those  of  J.  Albright,  cloth- 
ing; Buford  Mercantile  Co.,  groceries  and  hardware;  R.  Vickes,  dry 
goods,  and  C.  W.  Rank,  druggist.  The  Anaconda  Hotel  and  the  Virginia 
City  Hotel  afford  good  accommodations  for  the  traveling  public,  and  the 
Virginia  Garage  is  well  established  in  its  line  of  business.  The  medical 
profession  is  worthily  represented  by  Drs.  L.  F.  Molleur  and  L.  C. 
LeClar,  and  the  legal  by  M.  M.  Duncan,  one  of  the  old  residents  and 
practicing  lawyers  of  Montana,  George  R.  Allen,  L.  H.  Bennett,  H.  P. 
Beckett  and  E.  P.  Reid. 


HISTORY 'OF  MONTANA 


773 


Virginia  City  is  supplied  with  water  by  the  Virginia  City  Water  Com- 
pany, owned  by  Mrs.  Sallie  Bickford,  a  colored  lady  who  has  resided 
here  for  upward  of  fifty  years.  The  water  is  derived  from  springs  lying 
immediately  above  the  town.  During  the  last  two  years  or  so  Col.  Wil- 
liam Boyce  Thompson  of  New  York,  who  was  born  in  Virginia  City,  has 
had  under  process  of  construction  here  a  fine  library  building  to  be  known 
as  the  Thompson-Hickman  Library,  which  he  proposes  to  turn  over  to 
the  town  this  summer  (1921),  and  which  will  be  an  important  addition 
to  local  institutions.  One  room  of  the  library  building  will  be  devoted  to 


FIRST  BANK  IN  MONTANA,  VIRGINIA  CITY 

a  collection  of  interesting  relics  connected  with  the  history  of  this  region, 
which  the  citizens  have  collected  during  the  last  few  years  and  which  are 
now  on  exhibition  in  a  small  building. 

Virginia  City  was  the  cradle  of  Masonry  in  Montana,  and  there  are 
now  two  lodges  located  here,  Virginia  City  Lodge  No.  i,  and  Montana 
Lodge  No.  2.  It  is  also  the  home  of  Virginia  City  Chapter  No.  I,  Vir- 
ginia City  Commandery  No.  i,  and  a  chapter  of  the  Eastern  Star.^  Vir- 
ginia City  has  the  unique  distinction  of  being  the  smallest  town  in  the 
United  States  to  have  an  Elk  lodge.  It  is  known  as  Oro'  y  Plata  Lodge, 
Benevolent  and  Protective  Order  of  Elks,  No.  390. 

The  oldest  resident  of  the  town  is  Robert  Vickers,  proprietor  ^ of 
the  clothing  store  previously  mentioned,  who  came  here  in  the  spring 
of  1865  and  is  now  about  ninety-two  years  old.  There  are  few  of  the  old 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  775 

historic  structures  still  standing.  Among  those  which  are  may  be  men- 
tioned the  building  in  which  the  five  road  agents  were  hung  on  January 
14,  1864;  the  Gilbert  Brewery,  which  was,  it  is  believed,  the  first  brewery 
-constructed  in  Montana;  the  building  in  which  the  Montana  Post  was 
published,  and  a  portion  of  the  building  in  which  the  territorial  officers 
had  their  office  when  Virginia  City  was  the  capital. 

OTHER  MADISON  COUNTY  TOWNS 

Among  the  other  important  towns  of  Madison  County  are:  Twin 
Bridges,  a  busy  commercial  center  and  stock  shipping  point  at  the  junction 
of  the  Beaverhead  and  Jefferson  valleys ;  Sheridan,  situated  in  the  Ruby 
Valley,  surrounded  by  rich  farm  lands,  and  which  is  one  the  chief  stock 
shipping  and  mining  centers ;  Ennis,  a  distributing  center  in  the  midst  of 
a  stock  growing  section  in  the  Upper  Madison  Valley;  and  Pony  and 
Harrison  in  the  Lower  Madison  Valley,  which  are  trading  points  for  a 
wide  area.  The  State  Orphans'  Home  is  located  at  Twin  Bridges. 

SCHOOLS  AND  GENERAL  FEATURES 

Madison  County  possesses  an  excellent  school  system,  the  result  of 
many  years  of  careful  supervision.  Besides  the  rural  schools  of  the 
country  districts,  there  are  good  graded  schools  in  the  chief  community 
centers,  and  five  high  schools,  one  each  at  Virginia  City,  Sheridan  and 
Pony,  each  accredited  for  the  four  years  term ;  one  at  Twin  Bridges  accred- 
ited for  three  years,  and  one  at  Ennis,  accredited  for  the  one  year  term. 
The  county  presents  special  opportunities  for  the  development  of  the 
tourist  business,  stock  growing,  farming  and  mining.  The  crops  which 
have  been  most  successfully  grown  in  Madison  County  are  alfalfa,  clover, 
timothy,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye  and  potatoes.  Potatoes  raised  in  the 
county  have  won  numerous  prizes  at  state  and  national  expositions."  The 
Jefferson  Valley  in  particular  has  become  noted. as  a  potato  district. 

McCoNE  COUNTY 

McCone  County,  situated  in  Northwestern  Montana,  with  the  Missouri 
River  for  its  northern  boundary,  is  emphatically  a  land  of  present  oppor- 
tunity, due,  paradoxical  as  it  may  seem,  to  the  lack  of  that  convenience 
considered  nowadays  as  most  indispensable  to  progress — rail  communica- 
tion. There  is  at  present  not  a  mile  of  railroad  within  the  county,  though 
it  contains  several  good  towns  and  a  number  of  promising  villages ;  yet  so 
rich  is  the  land  and  so  suitable  for  farming  and  grazing  that  many  settlers 
have  been  already  attracted  and  in  1920  the  population  was  4,747.  Its 
boundaries  had  been  defined  and  county  government  established  April, 
1919.  Its  land  area  is  2,740  square  miles. 

The  surface  of  McCone  County  is  for  the  most  part  rolling  and  is 
interspersed  with  many  attractive  and  fertile  valleys.  The  soil  is  a  choco- 
late loam  richly  clothed  with  native  grasses.  Though  there  are  no  com- 


776  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

mercial  stands  of  timber,  cotton  wood  and  ash  are  found  along  the  streams. 
The  water  supply  is  adequate  and  for  the  most  part  reliable.  The  eastern 
part  of  the  county  is  drained  by  the  Redwater  River,  while  a  number  of 
smaller  streams  empty  into  the  Missouri  on  the  north  and  Dry  Creek  on 
the  west.  Lignite  coal  has  been  discovered  in  various  places  and  the  dis- 
covery of  oil  and  gas  is  a  possibility  of  the  future. 

The  natural  advantages  of  the  region,  modified  by  the  lack  of  rail 
communication,  caused  the  first  settlers  to  take  up  stock  raising  as  the 
most  convenient  and  remunerative  occupation,  and  it  has  since  continued 
to  hold  first  place,  though  of  late,  with  the  favorable  soil  and  a  growing 
season  of  in  to  125  days,  general  farming  has  made  good  progress  and 
is  likely  to  become  the  leading  occupation  in  the  future.  All  that  is  nec- 
essary to  stimulate  the  latter  industry  is  the  construction  of  a  railroad 
through  the  county  giving  access  to  profitable  markets,  and  this  improve- 
ment will  doubtless  eventuate  at  no  distant  date,  as  the  Great  Northern 
has  surveyed  a  main  line  through  the  county,  which  has  been  completed 
save  for  a  gap  of  about  150  miles,  the  temporary  suspension  of  work 
being  due  to  the  prevailing  tightness  of  the  money  market.  With  im- 
proved financial  conditions  the  closing  of  the  gap  is  a  practical  certainty 
and  will  mark  the  beginning  of  a  new  era  in  this  region.  The  long  hauls 
necessary  to  reach  a  railroad  cause  land  to  be  cheaper  in  McCone  County 
than  in  most  other  parts  of  the  state,  and  have  at  the  same  time  delayed 
heavy  settlement,  less  than  half  of  the  tillable  area  of  the  county  being 
now  under  cultivation. 

The  average  annual  precipitation  is  greater  in  McCone  than  in  most 
of  the  Eastern  Montana  counties,  and  therefore  non-irrigated  farming  is 
the  general  rule,  though  there  is  a  small  quantity  of  irrigated  land.  Corn 
of  excellent  quality  is  easily  raised  and  the  acreage  devoted  to  it  has  been 
for  some  time  steadily  expanding.  Other  profitable  crops  are  wheat,  oats, 
barley,  rye,  alfalfa  and  garden  produce.  The  county  possesses  good  local 
roads^and  two  highways,  one  running  north  and  south  and  the  other  east 
and  west,  have  been  projected  through  it. 

TOWNS  OF  McCoNE  COUNTY 

The  county  seat  and  largest  town  in  McCone  County  is  Circle,  which 
in  1920  had  a  population  of  452.  Its  chief  establishments  include  a  large 
flour  mill,  two  banks,  two  newspapers,  six  stores,  a  hotel  and  theatre,  two 
livery  barns,  two  garages,  two  restaurants,  rooming  houses,  blacksmiths' 
shops  and  other  lines  of  business.  It  has  three  churches  and  a  high 
school,  the  latter  accredited  for  a  one  year  term.  The  location  of  the 
town  on  the  proposed  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway  gives  it  a 
good  prospect  of  becoming  a  division  point. 

The  next  largest  town  in  McCone  County  is  Brockway,  which  is  also 
a  business  center,  having  good  general  stores,  a  bank,  flour  mill,  news- 
paper, garages,  amusement  hall  and  a  creamery,  the  last  mentioned  being 
the  only  enterprise  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  Brockway  has  also  a  high 
school  accredited  for  the  two  year  term.  Other  towns  in  the  county 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA        .  777 

are  Vida,  Nickwall,  Sand  Creek,  Terrace,  Riverside,  Weldon,  Prairie  Elk, 
Hamblin,  Redwater,  Paris,  Watkins,  Pattonhill,  Nina,  Bonin  and  Horse 
Creek.  The  coming  of  the  railroad  is  sure  to  open  up  opportunities  in 
some  of  these  towns  for  successful  business  enterprises. 

McCone  County  has  about  fifty  school  districts  and  seventy  schools, 
including  the  two  high  schools  already  mentioned.  Its  citizens  as  a  class 
are  enterprising  and  law-abiding,  with  good  neighborly  characteristics, 
hospitable  to  new  arrivals  and  willing  to  pull  together  in  all  things  calcu- 
lated to  promote  local  interests  and  the  general  prosperity  of  the  county. 

MEAGHER  COUNTY 

Meagher  County,  situated  close  to  the  central  part  of  Montana,  is  one 
of  the  oldest  counties  in  the  state,  having  been  created  November  16,  1867. 
Its  early  settlement  was  due  to  the  discovery  of  gold  in  Madison  County 
in  1863,  an  event  which  attracted  miners  and  prospectors  to  the  state  and 
resulted  in  the  discovery  of  other  various  sources,  of  mineral  wealth 
throughout  the  mountainous  regions,  including  Meagher  County.  The 
county  has  a  land  area  of  2,369  square  miles  and  a  general  elevation  of 
5,000  feet  above  sea  level,  more  than  half  its  surface  being  mountainous. 
The  principal  ranges  of  mountains  are  found  on  the  northern  and  southern 
boundaries,  the  northern  boundary  being  marked  by  the  crest  of  the 
Little  belt  range  and  the  southern  by  that  of  the  Big  Belt  range. 

The  drainage  and  water  supply  of  Meagher  County  are  exceptionally 
good.  The  principal  stream  is  the  Smith  River,  which,  rising  in  the 
Castle  mountains,  flows  through  the  county  in  a  northwesterly  direction 
and  is  fed  by  numerous  smaller  streams  having  their  sources  in  the 
mountain  ranges  to  north  and  south.  Its  valley,  some  fifty  miles  long  by 
twelve  to  fifteen  wide,  is  the  chief  farming  district  and  is  practically  all 
irrigated,  the  land  being  chiefly  in  the  possession  of  stockmen  operating 
on  a  large  scale  and  here  raising  their  forage  for  winter  feed.  The  valley 
soil  is  alluvial,  while  on  the  benches  it  is  a  chocolate  loam.  In  the  eastern 
part  of  the  county  some  non-irrigated  farming  is  practiced.  Another  im- 
portant stream  is  Sixteen  Mile  Creek,  which,  like  Smith  River,  rises  in 
the  Castle  Mountains  and  flows  west  through  a  magnificent  canyon,  finally 
joining  the  Missouri  at  Lombard. 

The  extensive  stock  industry  includes  the  raising  both  of  cattle  and 
sheep.  Though  hay  is  the  chief  crop  raised,  the  soil  produces  heavy  yields 
of  grain,  samples  of  which  have  proved  prize  winners  in  state  exhibitions. 
Garden  vegetables  also  thrive  well. 

As  already  intimated,  mining  was  taken  up  at  an  early  day,  silver,  lead, 
copper  and  gold  being  the  chief  minerals  found.  For  some  years  the 
industry  flourished,  but  after  the  surface  deposits  had  been  secured  interest 
declined  and  has  been  revived  only  recently.  The  application  of  modern 
methods  and  improved  machinery  will  doubtless  result  in  additional  profit. 
In  the  northern  end  of  the  county  are  some  undeveloped  coal  deposits. 

Meagher  county's  wealth  in  timber  is  chiefly  contained  in  the  national 
forests  included  within  its  borders,  and  aggregates  624,910  acres.  Of  this 


778  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

amount  77,722  acres  are  contained  in  the  Absaroka  Forest,  1,065  m  tne 
Gallatin  Forest,  133,489  in  the  Helena,  and  413,634  in  the  Jefferson  Forest. 
Some  lumbering  is  carried  on,  but  the  industry  has  not  yet  realized  its 
full  possibilities.  Like  most  mountainous  regions,  Meagher  County  can 
boast  of  attractive  scenery  and  there  is  excellent  fishing  in  many  of  the 
streams. 

Meagher  County  is  tapped  by  the  main  line  of  the  Milwaukee  Rail- 
road, which  crosses  the  southern  part  of  the  county  east  and  west,  a 
branch  line  running  from  Ringling  to  White  Sulphur  Springs  eighteen 
miles  north.  The  Y-G-Bee  Line  Trail  between  the  Yellowstone  and 
Glacier  parks  also  runs  through  the  county,  while  the  maintenance  of 
good  roads  and  state  highways  has  received  careful  attention. 

WHITE  SULPHUR  SPRINGS 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  the  county  seat,  is  the  chief  distributing  point 
in  the  county  and  the  only  town  of  importance.  In  1920  it  had  a  popula- 
tion of  574.  Though  small  in  size  it  is  one  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the 
state  and  one  of  the  richest  per  capita.  It  is  well  built  and  provided  with 
good  modern  improvements.  Here  are  found  thermal  springs,  owned  by 
John  Ringling,  the  well  known  circus  proprietor,  which  are  said  by  physi- 
cians to  have  high  curative  properties.  The  town  also  has  a  good  high 
school  accredited  for  the  four  years  course.  Education  is  provided  for 
in  Meagher  County  by  an  adequate  number  of  rural  and  graded  schools, 
in  addition  to  the  high  school  above  mentioned,  and  all  are  kept  in  a  state  of 
satisfactory  efficiency. 

MINERAL  COUNTY 

Mineral  County,  having  a  land  area  of  1,224  square  miles,  was  created 
August  7,  1914.  It  is  situated  in  the  extreme  western  part  of  the  state, 
its  western  boundary  line  following  the  crest  of  the  Bitter  Root  range, 
on  the  other  side  of  which  lies  the  State  of  Idaho.  The  northern  boundary 
is  formed  by  the  crest  of  the  Coeur  d'Alene  Mountains.  A  large  part  of 
the  county's  area,  or  723,755  acres,  is  included  within  the  Lolo  National 
Forest,  which,  with  the  large  private  holdings,  makes  it  one  of  the  most 
heavily  timbered  counties  in  the  state. 

Mountains  predominate  throughout  the  county/  but  are  relieved  by 
the  valleys  of  the  two  principal  streams,  the  Missoula  and  Clark's  Fork 
of  the  Columbia,  which  are  fed  by  numerous  tributaries.  These  valleys 
are  long,  though  in  places  narrow,  and  possess  an  extremely  fertile  soil, 
and  are,  moreover,  backed  by  productive  bench  lands,  forming  together 
an  agricultural  region  hardly  to  be  excelled  in  the  state.  The  growing 
season  is  estimated  from  63  to  1 10  days,  and  several  kinds  of  grain,  clover, 
timothy,  vegetables  and  small  fruits  and  berries  are  profitably  raised. 
Agriculture,  however,  is  yet  in  its  infancy  here,  as  also  is  dairying, 
though  the  latter  is  making  rapid  progress.  The  excellent  pasturage 
afforded  by  the  cut-over  lands,  of  which  there  are  thousands  of  acres  in 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  779 

the  county,  and  a  plentiful  supply  of  the  purest  water,  together  with  con- 
venient and  reliable  markets,  make  this  industry  very  remunerative  along 
the  Missoula  and  Clark's  Fork  rivers.  The  abundance  of  hay  for  winter 
feeding  is  another  advantage  not  lost  sight  of  by  practical  dairymen,  and 
more  cows  are  being  brought  into  the  county  and  creameries  planned  in 
the  smaller  towns.  It  is  not  unlikely  that  these  efforts  will  result  in 
elevating  Mineral  County  to  a  place  among  the  best  dairying  districts  of 
the  state.  Cut-over  lands  sell  from  $10  to  $25  an  acre,  while  cleared  and 
well  improved  farms  bring  $50  to  $100  an  acre. 

At  present,  however,  lumbering  and  mining  are  the  chief  industries. 
The  largest  saw  mills  are  located  at  St.  Regis  and  Henderson,  that  at  the 
former  place  being  one  of  the  largest  in  the  state.  The  supply  of  timber 
is  ample  for  many  years'  operations,  and  this  industry,  therefore,  may 
be  expected  to  hold  its  own  for  an  indefinite  period. 

Mining  enterprise  has  resulted  in  profitable  finds  of  silver,  lead,  gold 
and  copper.  The  mining  districts  are  near  Superior  and  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county  near  Saltese.  Many  tourists  are  attracted  to  this  region 
by  the  magnificent  mountain  scenery  and  the  unusually  good  fishing  and 
big  game  hunting. 

Mineral  County  is  easily  reached,  being  traversed  by  two  important 
railroads,  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  and  the  Northern  Pacific. 
The  latter  road  has  also  a  branch  line  running  west  from  St.  Regis  to 
Wallace,  Idaho.  The  National  Parks  Highway  and  the  Yellowstone  Trail 
also  traverse  the  county. 

TOWNS  AND  SCHOOLS 

The  county  seat  of  Mineral  County  is  Superior,  which  is  also  the 
principal  town.  It  is  located  on  the  Clark's  Fork,  between  mountain 
ranges,  and  has  an  estimated  population  of  400.  In  addition  to  a  number 
of  retail  stores  it  contains  a  bank  with  deposits  of  more  than  $100,000,  a 
theatre,  churches  and  excellent  schools.  Two  weekly  newspapers  are  also 
published  here. 

The  other  important  towns  of  the  county  are  Deborgia,  St.  Regis  and 
Saltese,  all  having  railroad  communication. 

Education  has  been  provided  for  in  an  adequate  number  of  rural  and 
graded  schools,  supplemented  by  two  high  schools,  one  at  Superior,  accred- 
ited for  the  four  years  course,  and  the  other  at  St.  Regis,  accredited  for 
the  two  years  course. 


CHAPTER  XXXIII 
MISSOULA  COUNTY  (MISSOULA) 

Missoula,  the  name  both  of  the  county  and  its  seat  of  government,  is 
one  of  the  most  musical  words  of  the  Salish  tongue  connected  with  the 
Indian  nomenclature  of  Montana.  It  is  derived  from  the  native  In-mis- 
sou-let-ka,  the  English  translation  of  which  is  "The  River  of  Awe."  The 
phrase  especially  refers  to  the  River  Missoula,  the  waters  of  which  gath- 
ered from  five  great  valleys  pour  and  dash  through  the  beautiful  city  of 
Missoula  and  might  well  strike  awe  into  the  sensibilities  of  the  modern 
human,  to  say  nothing  of  the  primitive  Indian  who  had  greater  leisure 
than  the  man  of  today  to  consider  its  grand  and  ever  shifting  movements. 

COUNTY  OF  THE  FIVE  VALLEYS 

Not  all  of  the  counties  of  Montana  are  so  favored  as  is  Missoula,  nor 
have  all  of  them  the  natural  resources  of  this  county,  which  allow  its 
people  a  choice  of  various  occupations.  Located  midway  between  the 
north  and  south  boundaries  of  Western  Montana,  4it  has  been  known  as 
"the  County  of  the  Five  Valleys,"  and  of  these  five  all  are  productive. 
The  Bitter  Root  Valley  long  has  been  known  because  of  the  fine  quality 
of  its  apples ;  the  Blackfoot  Valley  is  noted  for  its  live  stock  and  wheat ; 
the  Flathead  Valley  is  one  of  the  best  farming  districts  in  the  state  for 
diversified  agriculture;  the  Missoula  Valley  raises  thousands  of  tons  of 
hay  and  grains  annually,  and  the  Flint  Creek  Valley  is  a  producer  of 
agricultural  crops  of  all  kinds. 

Missoula  County  is  practically  square  in  size,  being  fifty-five  miles 
long  from  north  to  south  and  fifty  miles  wide  from  east  to  west,  and  all 
of  the  county  is  in  a  mountainous  region,  with  the  Flathead  Valley  in  the 
northwest  section,  comprising  about  210,000  acres  of  agricultural  land, 
mostly  irrigated  and  rolling  country.  The  Missoula  and  Grass  valleys, 
situated  in  the  central  part  of  the  county,  are  irrigated  and  agricultural, 
comprising  70,000  acres.  The  Bitter  Root  Valley,  in  the  south  central 
part,  and  the  Blackfoot  Valley  in  the  east  central  district  are  narrow  and 
fertile,  that  part  of  the  former  in  Missoula  County  containing  about  20,- 
ooo  acres,  and  of  the  latter  25,000  acres. 

LUMBERING 

Naturally  Missoula  County  is  largely  agricultural  and  hay  and  grain 
are  among  some  of  the  principal  crops,  while  much  fruit  is  raised.  Tim- 
othy and  clover  are  raised  all  over  the  county  and  in  some  parts  of  the 
Flathead  Valley  alfalfa  is  a  principal  crop.  But  while  agriculture  has  a 

780 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  781 

leading  place  among  the  industries,  another  of  perhaps  equal  importance 
is  lumbering,  the  total  amount  cut  annually  for  the  county  being  approxi- 
mately 150,000,000  feet.  The  timber  lands  of  the  county  are  very  exten- 
sive, and  the  eastern  half  and  southwest  portion  of  the  county  are  almost 
solid  timber  land.  Pine,  fir  and  tamarack  are  the  chief  species.  The 
Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company  has  one  of  the  largest  and  most  up- 
to-date  mills  in  the  Northwest,  at  Bonner,  seven  miles  east  of  Missoula, 
the  annual  capacity  being  100,000,000  feet.  The  Western  Lumber  Com- 
pany also  has  a  large  mill  at  Milltown,  with  a  capacity  of  25,000,000  feet, 
and  Polleys  Lumber  Company  has  a  plant  at  Missoula  with  a  capacity  of 
20,000,000  feet.  There  are  several  other  plants  which  have  a  combined 
capacity  of  5,000,000  feet,  and  logging  camps  are  located  in  all  parts  of 
the  county.  Blooded  stock  raising  is  a  growing  industry,  and  other  enter- 


IRRIGATED  ORCHARD  NEAR  MISSOULA 


manu- 


prises  which  are  thriving  are  several  woodworking  plants,  and  a 
facturing  plant  at  Missoula  City  the  output  of  which  consists  of  culverts 
and  flumes. 

DRAINAGE  AND  WATER  SUPPLY 

Missoula  County  is  splendidly  provided  for,  as  to  drainage  and  water 
supply.  The  sources  of  water  supply  for  all  irrigation  purposes  are 
from  the  many  mountain  streams  fed  by  snow  and  glaciers.  The  prin- 
cipal stream  is  the  Missoula  (or  Hell  Gate)  River,  from  which  the  county 
derives  its  name,  which  enters  the  county  at  the  extreme  southeastern 
corner  and  follows  a  northwesterly  course  for  its  entire  width.  The 
Missoula  River  is  fed  by  the  Blackfoot  River  east  and  the  Bitter  Root 
River  which  runs  north  and  south,  four  miles  west  of  Missoula. 
Jocko  River,  which  runs  westerly  through  the  central  part  of  the  county, 
supplies  the  United  States  reclamation  projects  for  the  lower  part  of  the 


782  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Flathead.  The  Clearwater  River  runs  from  the  extreme  north  end  of 
the  county  in  a  southerly  direction  for  about  forty  miles,  where  it  empties 
into  the  Blackfoot,  and  both  the  Blackfoot  and  Clearwater  are  noted  as 
fishing  streams.  The  Rattlesnake  Creek  is  the  source  of  water  supply  for 
Missoula  City  and  is  one  of  the  finest  streams  in  the  Northwest  for 
domestic  purposes.  Government  tests  and  analyses  have  shown  the  water 
of  this  stream  to  be  chemically  pure.  In  rural  districts  the  domestic  water 
supply  is  from  wells  and  from  natural  springs  developed  into  gravity 
systems  for  community  use. 

EVOLUTION  OF  MISSOULA  COUNTY 

Missoula  County  antedated  the  territory  several  years.  In  December, 
1860,  the  Legislature  of  Washington  Territory  divided  the  County  of 
Spokane  and  created  the  County  of  Missoula,  with  the  county  seat  at  or 
near  the  trading  post  of  Worden  &  Company,  at  Hell  Gate  Ronde  It 
then  embraced  all  those  portions  of  the  present  counties  of  Missoula  and 
Deer  Lodge  lying  west  of  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains.  Mis- 
soula County  remained  a  portion  of  Washington  Territory  until  Idaho 
Territory  was  organized  on  the  3d  day  of  March,  1863,  when  it  became 
a  portion  of  the  latter.  On  the  26th  of  May,  1864,  Congress  created 
Montana  Territory  and  the  first  Assembly,  which  met  at  Bannack,  in 
February,  1865,  located  the  county  seat  at  Hell  Gate.  To  attain  its 
present  form,  parts  were  taken  from  Missoula  County,  in  1893,  to  form 
Flathead  and  Ravalli  counties  and  to  add  to  Sanders,  in  1906,  and  Min- 
eral, in  1914;  while  a  part  of  Powell  County  was  annexed  to  Eastern 
Missoula  County  in  1915. 

Missoula  County  is  well  settled,  being  the  fifth  in  population  of  the 
Montana  counties.  The  census  of  1920  gives  it  24,041,  as  compared  with 
23,596  in  1910.  Of  the  county  total,  the  city  itself  has  12,668.  The 
average  value  of  improved  irrigated  land  ranges  from  $65  to  $125  per 
acre,  and  improved  non-irrigated  land  is  valued  at  from  $45  to  $65  per 
acre.  Small  improved  tracts  adjacent  to  towns  sell  at  from  $350  to  $700 
per  acre.  Non-improved  cultivable  lands,  grazing  lands,  sell  for  approxi- 
mately $25  per  acre.  There  are  three  National  Forests  in  the  county, 
Lolo,  Lewis  and  Clark  and  Missoula. 

Missoula  County  enjoys  the  benefits  of  a  modern,  up-to-date  school 
system.  There  are  sixty-three  public  schools,  three  parochial  and  one 
Americanization  night  school,  and  in  the  city  of  Missoula  City  alone  there 
are  ten  grammar  schools  and  one  county  high  school.  Many  of  the  rural 
schools  have  been  consolidated  and  numerous  motor  busses  are  used  to 
transport  the  children  to  and  from  the  school  buildings.  In  addition  to 
the  University  of  Montana,  Missoula  City  has  a  first  class  business 
College. 

HIGHWAYS,  SCENERY  AND  TOURISTS'  TRIPS 

Two  transcontinental  railroad  lines,  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul,  electrified,  and  the  Northern  Pacific,  traverse  the  county,  the  latter 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


783 


having  a  divisional  terminal  here.  Local  daily  trains  are  made  up  at 
Missoula  and  operated  to  the  Bitter  Root  Valley,  to  Hell  Gate  Valley, 
Grass  Valley,  the  Coeur  d'Alene  and  the  Flathead.  There  are  also,  in 
summer,  many  automobile  stages  to  each  of  these  valleys.  One  electric 
line  runs  from  Missoula  to  Bonner,  seven  miles  distant,  and  the  principal 
state  highways  are  the  Yellowstone  Trail  and  the  National  Parks  High- 
way. Hunting  and  fishing  are  to  be  enjoyed  all  along  the  main  traveled 
highways,  and  ideal  natural  camping  grounds  along  good  streams  are 
available  in  all  sections.  The  Mission  range  of  mountains,  in  the  Flat- 
head  Valley,  with  its  glaciers  and  lakes,  is  unsurpassed  for  scenery.  The 
Bitter  Root,  Blackfoot  and  Flathead  Valleys  also  possess  wonderful 
scenery,  and  visitors  in  this  vicinity  are  generally  directed  to  visit  Lolo 


MONTANA  BUFFALO  STILL  RANGING 

Hot  Springs,  and  Salmon  and  Seely  lakes.  Automobile  tourists  who  pass 
through  the  county  will  find  ideal  camping  grounds  provided  for  them 
by  the  Missoula  Chamber  of  Commerce  in  the  City  of  Missoula. 

A  trip  that  finds  much  favor  among  the  tourists  in  this  region  is  that 
of  the  Western  Montana  Park-to-Park  Highway  Route.  Leaving  the 
western  gateway  of  the  Yellowstone,  the  trail  enters  a  scenic  wilderness 
where  arise  the  extreme  headwaters  of  the  Missouri  River.  Deer  and 
elk  are  found  in  the  hills,  and  the  fisherman  finds  his  labors  well  rewarded. 
The  road  follows  the  Centennial  Valley  along  the  Bitter  Root  Moun- 
tains into  Monida,  where  the  Oregon  Short  Line  and  the  principal  road 
to  Salt  Lake  City  are  met.  The  line  of  the  railroad  is  kept  to  Armstead, 
where  the  beautiful  memorial  to  Sacajawea,  in  honor  of  the  squaw  who 
piloted  Lewis  and  Clark,  has  been  erected  by  Montana  women.  From 
Armstead  the  way  leads  to  Dillon,  where  is  situated  the  State  Normal 
College.  Bannack,  the  first  capital  of  Montana  and  the  scene  of  early 
gold  discoveries  and  of  many  of  the  most  important  events  in  the  state's 
history,  lies  just  beyond.  Hangman's  Gulch,  where  the  Vigilantes  rid  the 


784  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

state  of  several  bandits,  is  near  Bannack  and  on  the  trail.  Here  begins 
the  fertile  Big  Hole  Valley,  rich  in  soil  and  possessed  of  natural  charms. 
Near  Wisdom,  farther  on,  is  the  Gibbon  battlefield,  the  scene  of  the 
defeat  and  downfall  of  Chief  Joseph  and  his  hardy  band  of  Nez  Perces. 
From  Wisdom  across  the  Continental  Divide  into  the  Bitter  Root  Valley, 
the  local  governments  and  the  United  States  Forest  Service  together 
built  a  scenic  road.  It  follows  an  easy  grade  through  the  mountains  and 
leads  at  last  into  the  Bitter  Root  at  Medicine  Hot  Springs.  Thence  the 
highway  runs  straight  down  the  valley  to  Missoula.  From  Missoula  the 
road  runs  across  the  former  Flathead  Indian  Reservation,  skirts  the 
bison  reserve  where  buffalo  still  range,*  and  penetrates  the  land  of  the 
Salish,  peace-loving  Indians  who  still  live  in  their  native  picturesqueness. 
The  Flathead's  wide  prairies  have  been  thrown  open  to  settlement  and 
white  farmers  have  made  the  land  blosson  beside  the  tepee  villages  of 
the  red  man.  The  highway  then  runs  along  the  banks  of  Flathead  Lake 
to  Kalispell  and  thence  through  an  attractive  country  to  the  gateway  of 
Glacier  Park. 

THE  CITY  OF  THE  FIVE  VALLEYS 

Missoula,  the  county  seat  of  Missoula  County,  is  known  both  as 
"Montana's  Garden  City,"  and  as  "The  Fine  Little  City  in  a  Fine  Big 
Country,"  likewise  as  "The  City  of  the  Five  Valleys."  It  had  its  incep- 
tion in  1865,  when  two  traders,  Frank  L.  Worden  and  Christopher  P. 
Higgins,  who  had  built  a  post  at  "Old  Hell  Gate,"  five  miles  west  of  the 
present  city  of  Missoula,  reached  the  conclusion  that  their  business  could 
be  transacted  to  better  advantage  at  the  meeting  point  of  Rattlesnake 
Creek  and  Hell  Gate  River,  and  accordingly  laid  the  cornerstone  for  the 
present  city  of  more  than  12,000  people.  The  city  was  incorporated  in 
1883,  reincorporated  in  1887  under  the  general  laws,  and  in  1917  adopted 
the  commission  form  of  government  of  three  men,  a  mayor  and  two 
commissioners. 

Missoula  lies  at  an  altitude  of  3,223  feet  above  the  sea  level,  which, 
while  not  too  high,  insures  a  cool,  dry,  health-giving  climate.  During 
the  summer  the  nights  are  cool,  with  breezes  descending  upon  the  valley 
from  the  snow-capped  mountain  peaks.  The  winters,  while  seldom 
severe,  afford  enjoyment  to  the  cold-weather  sportsman,  permitting 
sleighing  and  skating  during  a  considerable  season.  The  average  annual 
rainfall  is  15.5  inches. 

By  reason  of  its  location  and  natural  advantages,  Missoula  is  one  of 
the  important  mercantile  and  manufacturing  centers  of  the  Northwest 
and  is  a  leading  financial,  industrial,  wholesale,  commercial  and  railroad 
distributing  point  for  Western  Montana.  One  of  the  factories  of  the 
Great  Western  Sugar  Company  has  made  its  home  at  Missoula,  con- 
structing a  plant  there  which  cost  $1,500,000.  From  400  to  600  employes 


*  Remains  of  famous  Pablo  herd,  started  in  1880,  at  Ronan,  Missoula  County, 
and  sold,  although  not  all  delivered,  to  the  Canadian  government.  The  first  lot 
was  shipped  in  1907. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  785 

work  in  the  plant,  which  forms  an  incentive  to  the  best  sugar  growers  of 
this  region.  The  creamery  at  Missoula  has  a  daily  output  of  2,000 
pounds  of  butter,  and  other  important  industries  include  a  flour  mill,  a 
sash  and  door  factory,  a  potato  chip  factory,  vinegar  and  cider  factories, 
two  brick  and  tile  plants,  book  binding  and  book  making  plants,  and  a 
lithographing  establishment  doing  work  for  firms  throughout  the  North- 
west. There  are  three  live  and  progressive  newspapers. 

Missoula  is  a  well-governed  and  well-conducted  modern  city  and  its 
conveniences  and  utilities  compare  favorably  with  large  cities  through- 
out the  country.  For  the  most  part,  the  residence  streets  are  either 
boulevarded  or  parked  and  there  are  several  miles  of  paved  streets,  more 
than  loo  miles  of  cement  walk  and  more  than  twenty  miles  of  street 
railway  service  track.  Electricity  for  lighting  and  power  is  obtained  from 
a  power  plant  seven  miles  east  of  the  city,  where  approximately  25,000 
horse-power  can  be  produced.  Practically  all  the  buildings  in  the  busi- 
ness section  of  the  city  are  heated  by  steam  from  a  central  plant,  and  a 
gas  plant  furnishes  that  commodity  to  those  who  prefer  its  use.  The 
water  supply  has  been  chemically  proven  among  the  purest  in  Montana, 
and  is  handled  by  a  gravity  system.  The  city  maintains  a  strict  sanitary 
inspection,  extending  to  all  food-stuffs  which  are  sold,  and  rigid  dairy 
inspection. 

Architecturally,  Missoula  is  one  of  the  handsomest  cities  of  the  state. 
The  Montana  Building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $120,000,  the  Federal 
Building  $175,000,  and  the  courthouse,  one  of  the  finest  in  Montana, 
$250,000.  Among  the  fraternal  orders  the  Elks'  Temple,  Masonic  Tem- 
ple and  the  homes  of  the  Knights  of  Pythias  and  the  Odd  Fellows  are 
handsome  edifices.  The  Missoula  Chamber  of  Commerce,  a  well-organ- 
ized and  energetic  body  of  which  D.  D.  Richards  is  secretary,  owns  its 
own  home,  a  structure  valued  at  $30,000.  The  city  likewise  has  four 
strong  banking  institutions. 

Greenough  Park,  lying  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city,  is  a 
natural  playground  in  which  Rattlesnake  Creek  takes  its  tumbling,  crystal 
course  through  the  midst  of  virgin  woodland  which  has  been  cultivated 
only  in  so  far  as  to  remove  the  underbrush.  Sacajawea  Park,  in  the 
southwestern  part  of  the  city,  has  become  a  pleasing  reality  through  the 
efforts  of  the  Missoula  Women's  Club,  and  another  park  in  Hammond 
Division,  presented  to  the  city  by  the  South  Missoula  Land  Company, 
has  been  developed  and  adds  its  attractions.  The  Milwaukee  Railroad 
has  reclaimed  the  south  bank  of  the  river  in  the  vicinity  of  its  station, 
making  it  a  beautiful  little  park,  approached  by  rustic  bridges,  and  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  by  parking  and  installing  an  artistic  fountain 
and  statue  of  Capt.  John  Mullan,  has  made  the  vicinity  of  the  station 
extremely  attractive.  Missoula's  theater-goers  enjoy  some  of  the  best 
productions  staged. 

Missoula  offers  to  its  residents  the  benefits  of  a  Free  Public  Library, 
which  was  founded  in  1894  by  the  Library  Association,  and  endowed  in 
1902  by  Andrew  Carnegie.  In  1917  there  was  added  the  county  library 


Vol.  1—50 


786  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

> 

department,  available  to  all  residents  of  Missoula  County,  the  second  of 
its  kind  to  begin  operations  in  Montana  and  the  first  to  be  operated  in 
connection  with  an  old  establishment.  There  are  five  branches,  two 
located  in  the  public  schools  at  Ronan  and  St.  Ignatius,  two  in  the  stores 
at  Frenchtown  and  Potomac,  and  one  in  a  private  home  at  Carlton.  In 
addition  to  this  branch  system,  the  library  serves  its  out-of-town  patrons 
through  the  parcel  post,  the  sending  charges  for  which  the  library  pays. 
The  collection  now  contains  20,116  volumes,  and  Mrs.  Grace  M.  Stod- 
dard  is  librarian.  The  institution  is  under  the  supervision  of  a  governing 
board  of  trustees,  appointed  by  the  city  council. 

Missoula  has  three  hospitals,  the  Northern  Pacific  and  St.  Patrick's, 
and  the  hospital  at  the  County  Poor  Farm,  which  is  located  three  miles 
northeast  of  the  city.  In  the  city  is  located  a  well-organized  Young 
Women's  Christian  Association,  of  which  Mrs.  E.  E.  Kinsman  is  secre- 
tary; the  executive  office  of  the  Missoula,  Ravallf  and  Sanders  Counties 
Medical  Society,  of  which  Dr.  J.  J.  Tobinski  is  secretary-treasurer;  and 
the  Western  Montana  Fair  Association,  of  which  F.  P.  Keith  is  presi- 
dent. The  office  of  the  state  orchard  inspector  is  located  at  Missoula, 
and  from  this  office  there  is  a  rigid  prohibition  maintained  against  the 
importation  of  infected  fruit.  This  is  necessary,  as  the  region  is  an 
excellent  fruit  country  for  the  growing  of  pears,  plums,  cherries,  crab- 
apples  and  strawberries,  particularly  in  the  Rattlesnake  Valley,  which 
begins  to  the  northeast  of  Missoula,  twenty-five  miles  distant,  and  which 
was  thrown  open  to  settlement  in  1909.  The  winter  in  this  region  is 
moderated  by  the  Chinook,  or  warm  Pacific  coast  wind,  which  has  a 
salutary  effect  upon  the  growing  fruit. 

In  the  thirteen  churches  of  Missoula,  nearly  every  denomination  is 
represented.  The  credit  for  building  the  first  church  in  the  city  is  given 
to  Dr.  Thomas  Corwin  Iliff,  who  located  at  Missoula  in  1871,  and  Sep- 
tember 15,  1872,  dedicated  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  was 
attended  by  people  of  all  denominations.  Prior  to  this,  as  early  as  1863, 
Father  Grassi  had  built  a  log  church  about  six  miles  below  Missoula, 
three-quarters  of  a  mile  beyond  the  old  Town  of  Hell  Gate,  which  later 
became  the  Catholic  Church  of  St.  Francis  Xavier,  and  a  little  later  he 
and  Father  Menetry  erected  another  at  Frenchtown.  These  two  churches 
were  erected  many  years  before  a  church  was  built  at  Missoula,  but  it 
was  not  until  December  n,  1881,  that  the  first  Catholic  Church  was 
opened  for  service  within  the  city  limits,  Rev.  Joseph  Menetry  being  the 
pastor.  St.  Francis  Xavier  Catholic  Church  is  now  housed  in  an  edifice 
which  was  dedicated  on  October  9,  1892.  A  Presbyterian  Church  was 
organized  in  1877,  and  the  Christian  and  Baptist  (Immanuel)  churches 
followed  in  1884.  The  first  Methodist  Episcopal  was  formed  at  an  early 
day,  the  Swedish  Congregational  and  the  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran 
(Immanuel)  were  founded  in  the  '905,  and  the  Protestant  Episcopal, 
Church  of  Christ  (Scientist),  Trinity  Methodist  Episcopal,  African  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  and  others  were  established  at  a  still  later  date.  In  1916 
the  Presbyterian  and  the  Congregational  churches  at  Missoula  united. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  787 

EDUCATIONAL  SYSTEM 

Missoula  has  reason  to  be  proud  of  its  educational  system  which 
provides  ten  grammar  schools  and  the  Missoula  County  High  School, 
while  the  city  is  likewise  the  home  of  the  State  University,  of  Montana's 
College  of  Arts  and  Sciences,  and  Schools  of  Business  Administration, 
Forestry,  Journalism,  Law,  Music  and  Pharmacy.  The  Roman  Catholic 
denomination  provides  for  St.  Joseph's  School,  the  Sacred  Heart  Acad- 
emy and  Loyola  High  School.  The  grammar  schools  are  distributed  in 
various  parts  of  the  city  so  that  every  child  is  within  easy  walking  dis- 
tance of  his  place  of  educational  training,  Hawthorne,  Franklin,  Wil- 
lard  and  Roosevelt  schools  are  situated  on  the  south  side  of  the  city,  while 
Central,  Prescott,  Lincoln  and  the  City  Manual  Training  buildings  are 
in  the  eastern  part,  and  Whittier  and  Lowell  on  the  north  side.  The 
manual  training  building  also  provides  for  the  city's  domestic  science 
department  and  is  well  equipped  -for  both  subjects.  Every  one  of  the  ten 
schools  has  a  commodious  playground,  and  the  schools  are  presided  over 
by  the  city  superintendent.  They  also  have  a  supervisor  of  music  and 
one  of  drawing,  and  a  large  corps  of  competent  teachers  is  employed. 
Within  the  county  borders  there  are  thirty-nine  school  districts  and  most 
of  the  districts  maintain  standard  schools. 

The  Catholic  school  system  is  an  excellent  one,  in  which  St.  Joseph's 
School,  for  boys  under  the  high  school  age,  and  Sacred  Heart  Academy, 
for  girls,  are  presided  over  by  the  Catholic  Sisters.  Some  of  the  students  t 
of  these  institutions  are  from  Wyoming  and  Idaho,  but  50  per  cent  are 
residents  of  Missoula.  The  two  schools  have  an  excellent  playground. 
Loyola  High  School,  the  Catholic  school  for  boys,  is  conducted  by  the 
Fathers  of  the  Society  of  Jesus. 

The  Missoula  County  High  School  is  the  best  equipped  secondary 
school  in  Western  Montana,  and  the  present  buildings  represent  an  out- 
lay of  $150,000.  For  nearly  ten  years  the  high  school  has  maintained 
a  manual  training  department  in  which  the  boys  are  taught  mechanical 
drawing,  drafting,  architecture,  topographical  drawing,  etc.;  and  a 
domestic  science  department,  in  which  the  girls  are  taught  costume  design- 
ing, dressmaking,  cooking,  dietetics,  household  management  and  house- 
hold decoration.  The  commercial  department  is  well  organized  and  has 
been  a  regular  part  of  the  school  curriculum  for  eight  or  nine  years. 

STATE  UNIVERSITY 

While  the  first  years  in  the  life  of  the  University  of  Montana,  which 
was  created  by  an  act  of  the  State  Legislature  in  1893,  were  ones  of  hard- 
ship, the  institution  today  holds  place  among  the  best  of  the  western 
universities.  For  the  four  years  of  its  infancy  the  institution  held  its 
classes  in  the  rooms  of  one  of  the  city  public  schools,  under  Oscar  J. 
Craig,  the  first  president,  and  his  four  associates,  but  in  1897  the  Legisla- 
ture issued  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $100,000  for  two  buildings,  and  two 
Missoula  residents  donated  the  present  campus  site  which  includes  forty 


788  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

acres  at  the  foot  of  the  mountains  which  enclose  the  eastern  end  of  the 
valley,  and  520  acres  on  the  slopes  of  Mount  Sentinel.  This  mountain 
rises  abruptly  2,000  feet  above  the  plain.  Today  the  university  has  five 
large  and  well-equipped  buildings,  as  well  as  other  structures  of  a  tem- 
porary character  which  will  be  replaced  in  the  future  with  larger  and 
more  substantial  buildings.  University  Hall  is  the  administration  building 
in  which  are  also  located  the  assembly  hall  of  the  university  and  class- 
rooms, lecture  rooms  and  laboratories.  Science  Hall  is  occupied  by  the 
School  of  Pharmacy' and  the  Department  of  Chemistry.  Natural  Science 
Hall,  which  was  completed  in  January,  1919,  is  a  modern,  three-story 
laboratory  building,  containing  the  classrooms  and  laboratories  of  the 
departments  of  biology,  botany,  home  economics  and  physics,  as  well  as  a 


STATE  UNIVERSITY,  MISSOULA 

large  lecture  room,  equipped  with  stereopticon  and  motion  picture  appara- 
tus. Craig  Hall  is  the  women's  dormitory,  entirely  used  as  a  domicile  for 
the  women  students  of  the  institution.  The  gymnasium  is  equipped  for  the 
physical  education  of  all  students,  and  adjoining  it  is  Dornblaser  field,  the 
athletic  ground,  with  its  stands  and  tracks.  Library  Hall  contains  the 
university  library,  the  law  library,  the  classrooms  of  the  School  of  Law 
and  other  lecture  and  classrooms.  The  Forestry  and  Music  buildings  are 
frame  structures,  affording  temporary  quarters  for  these  schools.  The 
hospital  is  designed  for  the  isolation  and  treatment  of  students  who  may 
be  suffering  from  contagious  or  infectious  diseases.  Simpkins  Hall  and 
Cook  Hall  are  the  buildings  erected  for  barracks.  They  were  remodeled 
so  that  the  former  serves  as  a  men's  dormitory  and  the  latter  is  the 
armory  of  the  R.  O.  T.  C.  and  temporary  quarters  of  the  School  of 
Journalism. 

President  Craig  remained  at  the  head  of  the  university  until  1908, 
when  failing  health  compelled  his  resignation.  He  was  succeeded  by 
Clyde  A,  Duniway,  who  came  to  Montana  from  Stanford  University. 
During  the  administration  of  President  Duniway,  the  summer  session 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  789 

was  inaugurated  and  the  School  of  Law  established.  In  1912,  Edwin 
Boone  Craighead,  of  Tulane  University,  succeeded  President  Duniway. 
He  continued  in  office  until  1915,  and  under  his  presidency  the  schools  of 
Journalism  and  Forestry  were  established,  the  School  of  Pharmacy 
reorganized,  and  the  departments  of  Business  Administration  and  of 
Domestic  Science  were  added  to  the  College  of  Arts  and  Sciences.  In 
1915,  Prof.  Frederick  G.  Scheuch  was  appointed  acting  president  and 
continued  in  that  capacity  until  the  summer  of  1917.  Ed-ward  O.  Sisson 
was  appointed  president  of  the  university  in  1917,  coming  to  Montana 
from  Idaho,  where  he  had  held  the  office  of  state  commissioner  of 
education.  In  July,  1921,  Doctor  Sisson  was  succeeded  by  Dr.  Charles  H. 
Clapp,  former  president  of  the  Montana  State  School  of  Mines. 

MISSIONARY  WORK  OF  THE  RAILWAYS 

Missoula  is  situated  in  the  midst  of  a  rich  tributary  country,  being 
located  in  the  one  logical  spot  for  a  city  where  the  five  valleys  came 
together.  In  the  '8os,  during  the  construction  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railway,  the  directors  of  that  line  sent  out  prospecting  parties  to  examine 
all  the  passes  through  the  mountain  ranges  of  Western  Montana.  It  was 
natural  that  they  should  wish  as  direct  a  route  as  possible  from  Butte 
to  the  Pacific  coast,  but  the  preliminary  surveyors  were  left  no  choice 
in  the  matter.  They  found  that  there  was  but  one  way  open  to  the  rail- 
road, that  being  to  follow  the  lead  of  the  Indian  tribes,  of  the  Lewis 
and  Clark  expedition  and  of  the  Mullan  Military  Highway,  and  swing 
north  down  the  Hell  Gate  River  and  through  Hell  Gate  Canyon,  at  the 
mouth  of  which  the  little  town  of  Missoula  had  been  already  estab- 
lished. Later,  several  railroads  endeavored  to  pierce  the  mountains  in 
some  other  place,  but  failed,  and  in  1907  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St. 
Paul  found  its  only  course  to  pursue,  that  of  paralleling  the  Northern 
Pacific,  Missoula  thus  securing  its  second  transcontinental  railway. 

In  traversing  this  region,  the  railways  have  found  that  they  go  through 
a  rich  region.  The  Hell  Gate*  River  formed  two  valleys  from  which  they 
could  draw  upon  the  Hell  Gate  Valley  above  Missoula  and  the  broad 
Frenchtown  plains  below  the  city.  A  few  miles  to  the  east  of  Missoula, 
the  Blackfoot  River  joins  the  Hell  Gate,  making  its  immense  drainage 
basin  tributary  to  the  city  and  south  from  the  city  itself  for  ninety  miles 
lies  the  rich  valley  of  the  Bitter  Root  River.  A  few  miles  to  the  west  of 
Missoula,  on  the  other  side  of  a  low  pass  which  the  Northern  Pacific 
crosses,  the  broad  expanse  of  the  Flathead  Valley  stretches  northward 
forty  miles  from  the  railway  to  Flathead  Lake.  The  Bitter  Root  and 
Frenchtown  valleys  were  sparsely  settled  when  the  Northern  Pacific 
first  came  through  Missoula,  but  it  was  not  until  the  advent  of  railway 
transportation  that  the  development  of  this  part  of  the  state  really  had 
its  beginning.  In  those  days,  when  Montana  had  just  been  granted  state- 
hood, nearly  all  of  Western  Montana  was  included  in  the  one  County  of 
Missoula.  The  rapid  growth  of  this  region  can  be  demonstrated  in  no 
better  way  than  to  make  note  of  the  fact  that  instead  of  one  county,  this 


790  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

i 

territory  now  includes  five  counties  within  its  borders.  As  the  valleys 
increased  in  wealth  and  population,  they  dropped  away  from  the  mother 
county  and  set  up  governments  of  their  own,  but  Missoula  still  remains 
the  richest  and  most  populous  of  them  all,  for  it  contains  the  central  point 
from  which  they  all  radiate. 

DEVELOPMENT  OF  THE  VALLEYS 

% 

Included  in  the  Hell  Gate  Valley  is  the  district  along  the  Hell  Gate 
River  from  Garrison  to  Missoula,  a  distance  of  seventy  miles.  The 
valley  varies  from  a  narrow  canyon  with  hardly  room  for  the  railway 
tracks  to  a  width  of  six  or  eight  miles.  At  Drummond,  forty  miles  from 
Missoula,  the  Flint  Creek  Valley  branches  off  to  the  south,  and  in  it  are 
the  rich  farm  lands  and  mines  of  Granite  County.  Agriculture,  lumber- 
ing and  mining  form  the  principal  industries  of  Hell  Gate  Valley,  and 
primitive  mountain  scenery  greets  the  eye  on  either  side,  a  scenery  made 
more  inviting  by  the  fishing  and  big  game  hunting  which  are  included 
with  it.  The  valley  is  provided  well  with  railways  and  highways,  both 
the  Northern  Pacific  and  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railways 
traversing  its  entire  length,  while  at  the  present  time  automobile  traffic  is 
prolific,  coming  over  the  National  Parks  Highway  and  the  Yellowstone 
Trail.  Chief  among  the  numerous  small  towns  that  dot  the  valley  are 
Garrison,  Drummond,  Bearmouth,  Gold  Creek,  Bonita  and  Clinton. 

The  Blackfoot  Valley,  the  development  of  which  is  a  matter  of  com- 
paratively recent  date,  comes  into  Missoula  from  the  northeast.  The 
Anaconda  Copper  Mining  Company  built  the  first  railway  up  the  valley  in 
1911  as  a  logging  road  to  keep  its  Bonner  sawmills  supplied,  and  later 
the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  took  over  the  road  and  completed 
it  to  Potomac.  This  has  now  been  graded  to  Ovando,  a  distance  of  sixty 
miles  from  Missoula,  although  the  valley  extends  some  thirty  miles 
beyond  that  point.  While  there  had  been  some  ranches  in  the  valley 
prior  to  the  coming  of  the  railway,  that  innovation  held  out  a  greater 
inducement  and  was  the  means  of  attracting  numerous  homesteaders. 
Grain  ranches,  stock  farms  and  large  grazing  lands  are  the  principal 
assets  of  the  country  included  in  the  valley,  where  there  are  also  magnifi- 
cent forests.  The  beautiful  lake  regions  and  the  fishing  of  the  Blackfoot 
Valley  attract  many  summer  visitors,  an  increasing  number  of  whom 
have  established  regular  camps,  a  regulation  of  the  forest  service  pro- 
viding that  five-acre  tracts  may  be  taken  over  by  an  individual  for  this 
purpose.  In  the  autumn  months  hunters  flock  to  this  region.  The  larger 
of  the  towns  include  Bonner,  McNamara's  Landing,  Lincoln,  Sunset, 
Potomac,  Clearwater,  Ovando  and  Helmville.  Bonner  is  a  lumbering 
center,  seven  miles  east  of  Missoula. 

Extending  for  thirty  miles  along  the  Hell  Gate  River,  west  of  Mis- 
soula, is  the  Frenchtown  Valley,  an  old  and  established  community  which 
dates  its  settlement  from  1860,  when  Jesuit  priests  set  up  a  mission  at 
Frenchtown.  The  valley  is  naturally  almost  free  from  timber,  the  land 
is  gently  rolling,  and  geologists  explain  the  openness  and  flatness  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  791 

whole  region  by  stating  that  it  was  once  the  bottom  of  a  huge  lake.  As 
is  the  case  with  other  valleys  around  Missoula,  the  Frenchtown  district 
is  well  supplied  with  transportation  facilities,  both  of  Missoula's  trans- 
continental railways  extending*  through  it,  the  main  branch  of  the  Mil- 
waukee, and  the  Cceur  d'Alene  branch  of  the  Northern  Pacific.  Numer- 
ous automobile  roads  extending  through  the  valley  are  kept  in  the  best 
of  condition.  The  name  "Grass  Valley"  formerly  applied  to  the  French- 
town  district  indicates  the  product  it  is  especially  adapted  to,  which  makes 
it  an  excellent  livestock  country.  Hereford  cattle  from  the  Deschamps 
ranch  of  this  county  have  frequently  topped  the  Chicago  market.  Grain 
raising  is  also  becoming  an  important  industry,  and  most  of  the  crops  in 
the  valley  proper  are  under  irrigation,  although  dry  land  farmers  are 
getting  good  results  from  their  methods  of  cultivating  the  more  gentle 
rolling  foothills.  Frenchtown,  from  which  the  valley  takes  its  name,  is 
the  chief  town. 

There  has  been  in  existence  for  some  years  the  idea  that  the  Bitter 
Root  Valley  was  settled  by  General  Price's  left  wing,  such  an  impression 
having  been  founded  on  the  remark  of  a  veteran  of  the  Civil  war.  In 
fact,  the  date  of  its  settlement  goes  even  back  of  the  war  between  the 
states  many  years,  for  it  was  in  1841  that  Father  DeSmet  invaded  the 
valley  and  founded  St.  Mary's  Mission,  near  the  present  community  of 
Stevensville,  and  since  then  the  sunny  climate  of  the  Bitter  Root  and  the 
fertility  of  its  soil  have  led  to  its  becoming  one  of  the  most  populous 
valleys  of  the  state.  The  richness  of  the  Bitter  Root  was  early  recog- 
nized by  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  and  one  of  the  branch  "feeders" 
of  that  system  was  built  sixty  miles  up  the  valley  to  Darby,  although  some 
of  the  best  lands  lie  beyond  the  railway  terminal,  the  valley  extending 
thirty  miles  farther  south  to  the  Ross'  Hole  country.  An  excellent  high- 
way goes  the  length  of  the  Bitter  Root,  and  the  beauty  of  the  high,  rugged 
ridge  of  the  Bitter  Root  range,  with  its  occasional  Lolo  or  St.  Mary's 
reaching  above  the  other  peaks,  brings  much  travel  to  both  the  highways 
and  railway.  The  hundred  and  one  streams  which  pour  down  from  the 
mountain  snow  fields  furnish  the  tourist  with  all  the  trout  fishing  that  he 
can  desire.  The  valley  extends  directly  south  from  Missoula.  The 
gently-rolling  lowlands  are  practically  all  under  cultivation,  and  great 
irrigation  projects,  such  as  the  big  ditch  of  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  Irriga- 
tion Company  and  that  of  the  Marcus  Daly  Estate,  in  addition  to  numer- 
ous smaller  systems,  furnish  the  water  necessary  for  the  crops.  But, 
as  in  the  Frenchtown  district,  the  dry  land  farmers  have  shown  that  the 
cultivation  of  the  foothills  can  be  made  to  pay  even  without  irrigation 
ditches.  Horticulture  is  an  important  industry  of  the  valley  and  the 
Mclntosh  red  apple  and  the  Bing  cherry  have  made  the  name  of  the 
Bitter  Root  known  throughout  the  country.  Other  fruits  of  the  tem- 
perate zone  also  thrive  in  the  valley.  The  dairying  business  is  another 
important  pursuit  of  the  ranchers  and  grain  and  stockraising  also  come 
in  for  their  share  of  attention.  While  the  lumber  industry  is  not  as 
important  as  at  one  time,  it  still  adds  much  to  the  wealth  of  the  district. 
The  people  of  the  Bitter  Root  have  given  much  attention  to  the  subject 


792  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  education,  and  in  addition  to  an  excellent  graded  school  system,  high 
schools  are  maintained  at  Hamilton,  Victor  and  Stevensville.  The  first- 
named  is  the  county  seat  of  Ravalli  County  and  a  thriving  city  of  3,000 
population,  situated  fifty  miles  south  of  Missoula.  Other  leading  com- 
munities are  Corvallis,  Darby,  Lolo  and  Carlton. 

The  Flathead  Valley,  lying  northwest  from  Missoula,  was  one  of  the 
last  of  the  five  valleys  to  develop,  but  when  development  was  com- 
menced it  was  carried  on  with  a  rush  that  has  continued  right  up  to  the 
present.  Formerly  the  valley  was  held  as  a  reservation  for  the  Flathead 
tribe  of  Indians,  but  in  1910  it  was  thrown  open  for  settlement  to  the 
homesteaders,  and  its  rolling  prairies  have  been  transformed  into  broad 
fields  of  wheat  and  oats.  This  valley  includes  the  Jocko  Valley  and  that 
of  the  Flathead  River  from  Poison,  on  Flathead  Lake,  down  to  Perma, 
in  addition  to  which  there  are  the  smaller  side  valleys  of  the  Little  Bitter 
Root,  the  Moeise  and  Camas  Prairie.  In  the  lofty  Mission  Mountains 
and  in  Flathead  Lake,  the  valley  has  its  scenery,  which  as  is  almost  invari- 
ably the  case  in  Montana,  is  accompanied  by  good  hunting  and  fishing. 
Formerly  the  valley  was  not  well  equipped  with  transportation,  but  of 
recent  years  the  Northern  Pacific  has  built  .a  branch  up  from  Dixon  to 
Poison,  on  Flathead  Lake,  which  traverses  the  valley  and  thereby  con- 
nects up  with  the  Great  Northern  at  Kalispell,  through  Flathead  Lake. 
The  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  runs  through  the  Jocko  Valley. 
During  the  earlier  days  of  settlement  in  the  valley,  the  lack  of  suitable 
transportation  facilities,  as  to  railways,  had  a  beneficial  effect  upon  the 
highways,  as  good  roads  were  a  necessity  and  the  movement  thus  started 
has  been  continued  uninterruptedly,  the  slogan  of  "good  roads"  having 
been  a  popular  one  in  the  valley  for  a  number  of  years.  Several  auto- 
mobile stage  lines,  inaugurated  before  the  advent  of  the  railway,  continue 
in  operation,  and  the  entire  region  is  covered  with  a  network  of  high- 
ways. Grain  and  stock  are  the  chief  source  of  prosperity  on  the  Flat- 
head,  and  both  irrigated  and  dry  farming  are  followed  with  success.  The 
United  States  reclamation  service  has  placed  much  of  the  valley  under 
water  from  its  lateral  ditches.  The  leading  town  of  the  Flathead  Valley 
is  St.  Ignatius,  the  home  of  the  original  mission  for  the  Indians  estab-* 
lished  by  the  Jesuit  Fathers,  a  community  in  which  farming  is  the  lead- 
ing industry.  Arlee  and  Ravalli  are  other  more  or  less  important  points, 
while  Dixon  and  Perma  are  points  on  the  railroad  in  the  valley  proper. 
Ronan  is  devoted  largely  to  lumbering  and  farming,  and  is  a  community 
of  about  600  population,  located  on  the  automobile  roads  in  about  the 
center  of  the  valley. 

OPPORTUNITIES  FOR  DAIRYING 

While  Missoula  County  is  one  of  the  well-developed  and  fairly 
thickly  settled  counties  of  the  state,  there  are  still  numerous  opportuni- 
ties for  men  of  ambition  and  energy  to  be  found  in  this  region.  Its 
resources  are  so  numerous  and  its  advantages  of  such  a  superior  nature 
that  it  attracts  permanent  settlers  in  quest  of  a  field  of  activity  that  has 


793 

not  been  worked  out  by  over-development.  One  of  the  industries  in 
which  opportunities  are  presented  here  is  the  dairying  line.  Forage  for 
cattle  is  of  the  best  to  be  found  in  the  western  part  of  the  state,  and  the 
yield  of  milk  from  the  cows  fed  on  alfalfa,  clover  and  timothy  hay  is  of 
excellent  quality.  In  the  Bitter  Root  Valley  there  are  several  creameries, 
particularly  at  Hamilton  and  Stevensville,  as  well  as  the  large  industry 
of  this  kind  located  at  Missoula,  which  has  done  a  splendid  business  in 
the  sale  of  butter,  ice  cream  and  milk.  The  poultry  business  is  another 
one  which  pays,  this  being  especially  true  in  the  Bitter  Root  Valley. 
The  former  Flathead  Indian  Reservation  is  likewise  developing  into  a 
dairying  community.  Irrigation  in  various  sections  of  Missoula  County 
has  progressed  wonderfully  during  recent  years,  greatly  enlarging  the 
area  of  productive  land  and  thus  providing  a  wonderful  field  for  agri- 
culture, and  the  quality  of  the  products  raised  in  this  region  has  been 
proven  by  the  number  of  prizes  which  Missoula  County  vegetables, 
grains  and  fruits  have  taken  at  state,  sectional  and  national  fairs  and 
expositions.  Reliable  and  thorough  transportation  and  climatological  and 
power  resources  have  opened  opportunities  in  a  manufacturing  way,  as 
well  as  for  mining  development  and  agricultural  industry,  and,  all  in  all, 
the  county  would  seem  to  be  one  in  which  the  man  of  ambition  and  in- 
dustry should  find  the  opportunity  for  the  accomplishment  of  his  desires. 


MUSSELSHELL,  PARK,  PHILLIPS,  PONDERA,  AND  POWDER 

RIVER  COUNTIES 

While  by  no  means  one  of  the  larger  of  Montana's  counties,  Mussel- 
shell,  with  a  land  area  of  2,903  miles  is  by  no  means  one  of  the  least 
important.  One  of  the  best  of  the  dry  farming  counties,  it  likewise  pre- 
sents conditions  markedly  favorable  to  stock  raising  and  its  coal  produc- 
tion, in  proportion  to  its  size,  is  of  a  nature  that  gives  it  a  certain  prestige 
among  other  mining  districts.  Lately,  also,  the  county  has  assumed 
additional  importance  because  of  the  discovery  of  an  excellent  grade  of 
oil,  an  industry  which  promises  to  make  Musselshell  County  a  point  of 
much  interest  to  operators  and  investors  in  the  near  future. 

SETTLEMENT  OF  THE  MUSSELSHELL  COUNTRY 

The  permanent  settlement  of  this  region  began  between  1880  and 
1885,  when  a  number  of  cattlemen  located  along  the  streams.  Some 
years  before,  horse-stealing  had  been  carried  on  along  the  Musselshell, 
and  stock  had  ranged  on  the  rich  grazing  land,  which  was  formerly  an 
old-time  haunt  of  the  buffalo,  but  no  one  ever  attempted  to  get  title  to 
property.  Later,  when  the  sheep  and  wool  industry  partially  displaced 
cattle  raising,  land  was  taken  up  along  the  streams  in  order  to  secure 
control  of  the  water  rights  and  of  the  rich  bottom  lands  which  yielded 
bountiful  crops  of  blue  joint  and  timothy  hay.  The  value  of  the  bench 
lands  for  grain  and  other  crops  was  then  unknown.  In  1908,  the  Puget 
Sound  and  Billings  and  Northern  Railroad  were  completed  through  Mus- 
selshell Valley  and  the  transition  from  a  cattle  and  grazing  to  a  farming 
country  began. 

When  the  Northern  Pacific  Road  first  started  on  its  long  way  to  the 
Pacific  coast,  great  land  grants  were  made  to  the  corporation  by  Congress. 
Since  that  time,  each  odd-numbered  section  in  the  majority  of  townships 
in  Musselshell  County  has  been  owned  by  the  Northern  Pacific.  By  the 
summer  of  1911  most  of  the  government  land  had  been  taken  up  and 
developed  into  farms,  and  to  further  develop  the  country  the  commer- 
cial organizations  of  the  various  towns  began  to  make  insistent  demands 
upon  the  Northern  Pacific  for  the  opening  of  its  lands.  Recognizing 
the  justice  and  previous  benefit  of  that  policy,  the  railway  placed  these 
odd-numbered  sections  on  the  market.  These  lands  were  in  all  respects 
equal  to  those  which  had  been  homesteaded  and  have  produced  banner 
crops  of  wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley,  flax  and  vegetables.  The  movement 
of  settlers  to  the  lands  mentioned  had  its  effect  in  bringing  a  demand  for 

794 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  795 

a  new  county,  which  was  accordingly  organized  from  parts  of  Fergus, 
Meagher  and  Yellowstone. 

AGRICULTURE  AND  LIVE  STOCK  RAISING 

Musselshell  County  was  created  March  i,  1911,  and  was  named  after 
the  river  which  traverses  it  from  east  to  west.  It  is  located  just  south 
of  the  geographical  center  of  Montana,  and  is  approximately  sixty-five 
miles  from  east  to  west,  and  forty-two  miles  from  north  to  south.  The 
Musselshell  River  irrigates  about  12,000  acres  along  its  banks,  and  is 
the  principal  source  of  water  supply  for  the  county,  although  Willow 
Creek,  Flatwillow  Creek  and  Swimming  Woman  Creek  serve  to  irrigate 
several  thousands  of  acres  of  farm  lands  lying  in  the  north  end  of  the 
county.  Water  for  domestic  use  is  obtained  from  the  Musselshell  for 
several  towns  along  that  stream,  while  wells  for  domestic  purposes  fur- 
nish an  ample  supply  on  farms,  water  being  found  at  a  depth  of  from 
twenty  to  sixty  feet  in  most  sections  of  the  county. 

At  the  present  time  there  are  probably  about  15,000  acres  under  ditch 
and  much  of  the  remainder  of  the  county  can  be  irrigated,  but  for  the 
most  part  agriculture  is  carried  on  by  the  dry  farming  or  non-irrigated 
method,  and  this  has  produced  excellent  results.  The  soil  varies  in  differ- 
ent parts  of  the  county,  along  the  river  being  a  heavy  loam  which  pro- 
duces high  yields  of  all  grains,  corn,  alfalfa  and  garden  truck,  while  on 
the  benches  a  limestone  gravel  soil  predominates  which  is  easily  culti- 
vated and  is  particularly  suited  for  wheat  raising.  In  the  extreme  north- 
ern and  southern  parts  of  the  county  and  along  the  Bull  Mountains,  the 
land  is  rolling  and  in  some  places  mountainous,  suited  for  grazing,  and, 
where  open,  produces  good  crops.  All  classes  of  soil  in  Musselshell 
County  are  of  good  depth.  The  central  portion  of  the  county  is  for  the 
most  part  level,  with  frequent  benches,  which  are  particularly  suited  for 
conserving  moisture  and  usually  produce  splendid  wheat  crops.  The 
principal  crops  grown  are  wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley,  corn,  flax,  alfalfa, 
timothy,  clover,  potatoes,  beans  and  vegetables  of  all  kinds.  Much  corn 
and  sunflowers  are  being  planted  for  silage,  and  sweet  clover  is  also  prov- 
ing a  splendid  forage  crop.  Lands  in  Musselshell  County  are  reasonably 
priced  and  the  county  offers  opportunities  to  thrifty  agriculturists  who 
possess  sufficient  capital  to  establish  themselves.  For  raw  agricultural 
lands,  $15  to  $30  per  acre  is  asked,  and  for  improved  land  $20  to  $75 
per  acre.  Irrigated  land  brings  from  $40  to  $75  per  acre,  and  grazing 
land,  which  here  is  more  or  less  rough  and  unsuited  for  cultivation,  sells 
at  from  $5  to  $10  per  acre.  In  all  communities,  the  price  set  on  the 
various  kinds  of  land  depends  to  a  large  extent  upon  how  far  they  are 
situated  from  towns  and  railroads,  and  what  improvements  have  been 
made  by  their  former  owners. 

Aside  from  farming,  the  principal  industries  of  the  residents  of  Mus- 
selshell County  consist  of  cattle,  hog  and  sheep  raising  and  coal  mining. 
There  is  still  much  room  for  development  in  the  stock  raising  industry 
which  has  not  attained  its  highest  state  of  perfection  in  this  region,  but 


796  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

which  has  been  followed  with  success  by  growers  in  several  sections. 
An  excellent  grade  of  semi-bituminous  coal  is  obtained  in  the  Bull  Moun- 
tain coal  field,  and  the  largest  mine  at  Roundup  produces  approximately 
3,000  tons  daily,  while  the  coal  production  of  the  five  largest  mines 
reaches  6,000  tons  daily,  which  is  capable  of  increase  to  double  that 
amount.  An  industry  which  is  now  attracting  much  attention  is  oil  de- 
velopment, three  wells  sunk  in  1919  and  1920  having  produced  oil  of  an 
excellent  quality  and  many  more  being  drilled  in  various  parts  of  the 
county.  Thus  far,  coal  and  petroleum  have  been  the  only  minerals  found 
in  appreciable  quantities,  although  there  is  known  to  be  a  deposit  of  sap- 
phires in  the  county,  several  hundred  specimens  having  been  gathered. 
Timber  of  good  quality  is  found  in  merchantable  quantities  in  the  Bull 
and  Snowy  mountains. 

LINES  OF  TRANSPORTATION 

Musselshell  County  lacks  nothing  in  the  way  of  good  transportation 
facilities.  It  is  traversed  from  east  to  west  by  the  main  line  of  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway,  and  from  north  to  south  by 
the  Great  Northern  Railway,  running  from  Billings  to  Great  Falls,  and 
several  state  and  national  highways  intersect  the  county.  The  Custer 
Battlefield  Highway,  extending  from  Omaha  to  Glacier  Park,  crosses  the 
county  from  south  to  north,  passing  through  the  county  seat  of  Roundup. 
The  Montana  Electric  Trail  follows  the  line  of  the  Milwaukee  Railway 
from  west  to  east  across  the  county,  passing  through  Lavina,  Roundup, 
Musselshell  and  Melstone,  and  the  Glacier  Cutoff,  starting  at  Custer  on 
the  Yellowstone  Trail,  passes  through  Musselshell  and  Roundup  and 
northward  to  Glacier  Park.  As  attractions  to  tourists,  the  county  offers 
several  fine  fishing  streams  within  easy  reach  of  the  larger  communities 
and  highways;  in  the  Bull  Mountains  beautiful  scenery  is  to  be  found;  on 
the  beaches  there  are  wide  stretches  of  agricultural  land;  in  season  there 
is  to  be  secured  good  hunting  for  duck,  prairie  chicken,  sage  hens,  wild 
geese  and  even  deer;  the  oil  fields  can  be  seen  in  operation  from  the 
Custer  Battlefield  Highway,  an  hour's  trip  from  Roundup,  and  one  of  the 
largest  shaft  coal  mines  west  of  the  Mississippi  River  is  at  the  county 
seat. 

The  advantages  offered  in  the  way  of  educational  training  in  Mussel- 
shell  County  include  145  schoolhouses,  served  by  180  instructors.  Of 
these,  125  are  rural  schools,  twelve  are  graded  schools  and  eight  are  high 
schools. 

Roundup,  the  county  seat  of  Musselshell  County,  was  founded  in 
1909,  and  is  the  largest  coal  mining  camp  on  the  main  line  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  between  Miles  City  and  Butte.  It  is 
the  center  of  distribution  for  twelve  oil  fields  within  forty  miles  of  the 
city,  as  well  as  the  hub  of  a  large  farming  and  stock  raising  district,  and 
coal  mines  within  four  miles  of  the  city  have  a  pay  roll  of  $150,000  per 
month.  This  is  a  thriving  and  progressive  community  which  maintains 
four  churches,  and  has  paved  streets,  a  cluster  street  lighting  system, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  797 

modern  electric  light,  water  and  sewer  systems  and  a  new  reservoir  of 
1,000,000  gallons  capacity. 

Musselshell,  a  community  of  300  people,  has  farming  and  stock  rais- 
ing for  its  chief  developers,  although  there  are  a  number  of  active  coal 
mines  in  the  neighborhood.  It  is  the  oldest  town  in  the  county  and  is 
pleasantly  situated  on  the  south  bank  of  the  Musselshell  River  in  the 
Bull  Mountain  coal  field.  To  the  south  the  land  is  rolling  prairie  with 
many  beautiful  and  fertile  valleys.  A  trading  post,  which  planned  to 
become  a  great  commercial  center,  was  established  on  the  north  bank  of 
the  river,  about  opposite  the  present  town,  in  the  year  1877.  A  store 
and  postoffice  were  opened  on  the  town  site  of  today.  The  old  Fort 
Custer-Fort  Maginnis  road  crossed  the  river  at  that  point  and  for  a 
long  time  the  place  was  known  simply  as  the  Crossing.  Melstone,  with 
a  population  of  400,  is  a  railroad  division  point,  and  is  the  nearest  rail 
gateway  to  the  Mosby  oil  fields,  being  likewise  conveniently  situated  in  a 
community  in  which  farming,  stock  raising  and  coal  mining  are  prose- 
cuted. v  These  communities  all  offer  inducements  to  those  desiring  to 
make  a  permanent  home,  and  opportunities  are  numerous.  All  maintain 
good  school  systems,  Roundup  having  a  high  school. 

In  1907,  the  St.  Paul  Road  was  built  into  Musselshell  County  and  the 
event  was  followed  by  an  even  greater  growth  than  it  had  previously  en- 
joyed. Its  population  in  1920  was  12,030. 

PARK  COUNTY 

The  name  of  Park  County,  which  is  located  in  the  south  central  por- 
tion of  Montana,  is  taken  from  its  proximity  to  the  Yellowstone  National 
Park,  whose  northern  boundary  is  formed  by  the  county's  southern  line, 
and  access  to  which  from  the  north  is  had  through  this  county.  The 
county  is  practically  oblong  in  shape,  being  100  miles  in  length,  from 
north  to  south,  and  fifty  miles  in  width,  east  to  west,  and  has  a  land 
area  of  2,671  miles.  Gallatin  County  forms  its  western  border,  Meagher 
County  bounds  it  on  the  north  and  Sweet  Grass  County  on  the  east, 
with  the  exception  of  the  extreme  southeastern  corner,  where  Carbon 
County  forms  its  boundary  line.  Two  large  fertile  agricultural  valleys 
occupy  the  center,  of  the  county,  one,  the  Shields  valley,  varying  from 
fifteen  to  thirty  miles  in  width,  and  the  other,  the  Yellowstone,  from 
two  to  twenty  miles.  Upwards  of  100,000  acres  are  under  irrigation  and 
most  of  it  has  been  highly  developed.  The  Yellowstone  and  Shields 
rivers  are  the  chief  streams  and  both  have  numerous  tributaries  flowing 
the  year  round. 

Through  the  heart  of  Park  County  passes  the  transcontinental  line 
of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  and  a  branch  line  from  Livingston 
taps  the  Shields  River  Valley,  while  another  from  the  same  city  goes 
to  Gardiner,  the  official  entrance  to  the  Yellowstone  Park.  Many  im- 
portant highways  cross  the  county,  including  the  Yellowstone  Trail  and 
National  Parks  Highway  from  east  to  west,  and  the  Yellowstone-Glacier- 


798  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Bee  Line  Highway  and  the  Geyers-to-Glaciers  Highway  north  and  south. 
The  county  has  many  improved  roads. 

The  soil  in  the  valleys  of  Park  County  is  a  rich  black  loam  with  a  clay 
subsoil.  The  Crazy  Mountains  appear  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the 
county  and  most  'of  .the  southern  part  is  also  mountainous.  Outside  of 
the  city  of  Livingston,  the  main  industries  of  the  county  are  agriculture, 
dairying  and  stock  raising,  including  the  raising  of  registered  stock,  and 
mining  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county.  The  principal  crops  are  hard 
winter  and  spring  wheat,  oats,  barley,  rye,  seed  peas,  alfalfa,  timothy  and 
clover,  and  vegetables  and  sugar  beets  thrive.  Much  hay,  chiefly  timothy 
and  alfalfa,  is  grown,  and  the  county  has  been  noted  as  a  prize-winner 
in  national  as  well  as  state  competitions  on  practically  all  of  its  crops. 

Park  County  stands  high  in  mineral  resources.  Gold,  silver,  lead, 
zinc,  chrome,  black  manganese,  red  and  brown  hematite  iron,  tungsten, 
scheelite,  molybdenum  and  nickel  are  found  in  the  southern  half  of  the 
county,  and  there  are  also  deposits  of  coking  and  bituminous  coal, 
gypsum,  limes  and  high  grade  polish  granite.  Much  commerciaMimber 
is  found  in  the  county,  and  nearly  1,000,000  acres  are  included  in  national 
forests,  there  being  677,639  acres  of  Park  County  land  in  the  Absarokee 
Forest,  75,512  acres  in  the  Beartooth  Forest  and  188,960  acres  in  the 
Gallatin  Forest.  Improved  irrigated  land  sells  at  $75  to  $150  an  acre, 
improved  non-irrigated  bench  land  at  $25  to  $50  an  acre,  and  grazing 
land  at  $10  to  $15  an  acre. 

MINING  DAYS  IN  PARK  COUNTY 

As  a  country  rich  in  mineral  deposits,  Park  County  has  been  promi- 
nent in  the  history  of  Montana  since  the  early  days.  One  of  the  first 
placer  mining  camps  in  the  territory  was  at  Yellowstone  City,  which  was 
situated  near  the  modern  site  of  Emigrant,  in  the  western  part  of  the 
county.  Although  mining  has  lost  the  glamour  of  its  early  history,  it  is 
still  carried  on  there  by  individuals  and  a  few  minor  corporations.  At 
various  times,  new  mining  districts  have  been  developed — such  as  the 
New  World,  with  Cooke  City  in  the  southwestern  part  of  the  county  as 
its  center;  Crevasses,  Sheep  Eater,  Independence,  Natural  Bridge,  Jar- 
dine,  Boerum,  and  the  coal  fields  at  Electric,  Shields  River  Valley.  The 
New  World  mining  district  contains  some  large  ore  deposits,  the  devel- 
opment of  which  has  been  retarded  by  lack  of  transportation.  Gold, 
silver,  lead,  copper,  iron,  zinc  and  fire  clay  deposits  are  found  in  this 
district,  which  covers  about  two  hundred  square  miles. 

Capt.  William  Clark,  of  the  famous  expedition,  saw  the  country  of 
what  is  now  Park  County,  in  July,  1806,  and  Jim  Bridger,  the  famous 
scout  and  guide,  spent  the  winter  of  1844-45  in  what  became  known 
as  Emigrant  Gulch  with  a  band  of  Crow  Indians.  Various  government 
expeditions  crossed  the  county,  going  both  east  and  west,  and  in  1863 
the  prospectors  and  town  builders  commenced  to  filter  in.  Among  the 
most  famous  of  the  latter  incursions  was  the  party  led  by  James  Stuart. 
In  the  same  year,  Thomas  Curry  found  gold  in  Emigrant  Gulch,  but  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  799 

richer  prospects  of  Bannack  and  Virginia  cities,  diverted  the  settlers 
farther  west,  although  after  John  Bozeman  opened  his  new  overland 
route,  via  Bozeman  pass,  many  of  them  passed  through  Park  County, 
by  way  of  the  present  site  of  the  city  of  Livingston. 

Curry  and  his  companions  having  found  gold  in  Emigrant  Gulch  some 
twenty-five  miles  above  the  point  where  the  Bozeman  trail  left  the  Yel- 
lowstone, and  desiring  to  share  their  good  fortune  with  the  emigrants 
from  the  east,  met  some  of  the  first  parties  at  that  point  and  induced 
some  of  the  gold  seekers  to  abandon  the  trip  to  Virginia  City  and  try 
the  new  diggings  up  the  Yellowstone.  These  found  good  prospects  and 
at  once  went  to  work.  A  meeting  was  called  and  Curry  mining  district 
was  formed  about  the  middle  of  August.  It  was  not  long  before  there 
were  two  or  three  hundred  people  digging  up  the  ground  in  Emigrant 
Gulch.  When  coarse  gold  was  found  in  paying  quantities  preparations 
for  founding  a  town  at  the  mouth  of  the  gulch  were  made.  By  March, 
1865,  seventy-five  log  houses  had  been  built  and  the  settlement  had  a 
population  of  about  200,  and  a  few  miles  down  the  valley  a  saw  mill  was 
erected.  In  the  fall  of  the  year  so  many  left  Emigrant  Gulch  and  Curry 
District  for  the  more  promising  ShorthiU's  district  that  Yellowstone  City 
was  almost  abandoned.  The  years  1865-68  in  Park  County  were 
troublous  ones,  on  account  of  Indian  depredations,  and  in  the  latter  year 
the  boundaries  of  the  Crow  Reservation  were  so  changed  as  to  throw 
open  to  settlement  the  portion  of  the  county  east  of  the  Shields  River. 
Dr.  A.  J.  Hunter  had  developed  the  hot  springs  property  which  bears  his 
name,  various  parties  were  traversing  what  is  now  Park  County  on  their 
way  to  Yellowstone  National  Park,  and  by  the  treaty  of  1880  all  of  the 
territory  in  the  present  county  was  taken  out  of  the  Crow  Reservation. 

LIVINGSTON  FOUNDED  AND  COUNTY  CREATED 

In  1882,  the  agitation  was  begun  for  the  creation  of  a  new  county 
from  that  part  of  Gallatin  east  of  the  Belt  range  mountains ;  in  August 
of  that  year  the  first  business  house  was  opened  at  Clark  City,  the  present 
site  of  Livingston.  In  November,  the  town  site  of  Livingston  was  sur- 
veyed by  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  Company,  which  had  previously 
selected  the  site  upon  which  Clark  City  had  commenced  its  life.  The 
nucleus  of  Livingston  was  fixed  a  little  to  the  north  of  Clark  City  nearer 
the  railroad  track  (the  National  Park  branch  of  the  Northern  Pacific) 
in  August,  1883.  Livingston  then  quickly  absorbed  Clark  City,  and 
that  growing  community  led  the  movement  of  eastern  Gallatin  County 
for  the  formation  of  a  new  county.  Finally,  after  much  political  ma- 
neuvering, Governor  Preston  H.  Leslie  approved  the  bill  for  the  forma- 
tion of  Park  County  in  February,  1887.  Its  provisions  went  into  effect 
in  May,  and  during  the  intervening  period  the  territory  of  the  new  county 
was  attached  to  Gallatin  for  judicial  purposes.  At  that  time  the  popula- 
tion of  Park  County  was  4,500. 

Several  unsuccessful  attempts  have  been  made  to  move  the  county 
seat  from  Livingston  and  to  take  slices  from  the  county.  Livingston  has 


800  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

had  a  rapid  initial  growth,  as  a  division  town  of  the  Northern  Pacific, 
and  has  since  increased  in  a  substantial  way  both  in  population  and  public 
improvements.  Livingston  and  Park  County  played  an  important  part 
in  the  great  American  Railway  Union  strike  of  1894,  which  covered 
the  period  from  June  26th  to  July  I9th.  No  lives  were  lost,  but  blood- 
shed was  narrowly  averted  upon  several  occasions. 

TOWNS  OF  THE  COUNTY 

Livingston  is  a  modern,  growing  community  and  one  of  the  most 
important  cities  in  the  state.  The  trading  center  for  a  rich  agricultural 
and  stock  growing  territory,  it  is  situated  on  the  banks  of  the  Yellow- 


FIRST  HOUSE  ERECTED  IN  LIVINGSTON 

stone  River,  on  a  level  plateau,  4,491  feet  above  sea  level.  Livingston 
is  a  railroad  division  point,  being  on  the  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
and  the  junction  of  the  main  line  with  two  branches.  The  city  has  large 
local  railroad  shops  and  general  railway  offices,  flour  mills,  cigar  factory, 
creamery,  three  granite  cutting  yards  and  brick  yards,  as  well  as  four 
banks,  and  is  tributary  to  the  Shields  and  Paradise  Valleys,  which  are 
rich  in  minerals  and  lumber.  The  city  has  three  wards  and  is  a  well 
governed  and  maintained  community  with  paved  streets -and  local  im- 
provements of  modern  character,  among  its  principal  buildings  being  a 
Court  House,  City  Hall  and  Federal  building.  It  likewise  maintains  a 
Carnegie  Library,  two  newspapers  and  four  banks,  and  has  seven  public 
schools  and  a  high  school,  as  well  as  two  hospitals.  Its  Commercial  Club 
is  a  live  organization,  and  the  city  is  also  the  home  of  a  post  of  the  Grand 
Army  of  the  Republic  and  of  the  United  Spanish  American  War  Vet- 
erans. A  rifle  range  is  maintained  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city.  Nestled 
close  to  the  very  heart  of  the  Rockies,  Livingston  is  surrounded  by  kalei- 
doscopic mountain  scenery,  and  is  connected  by  an  attractive  automobile 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  801 

drive  up  the  beautiful  Paradise  Valley,  one  of  the  famed  mountain 
canyons  of  the  slate,  to  the  lava  arch  through  which  the  tourist  is  ad- 
mitted to  the  Yellowstone  National  Park.  Livingston  maintains  a  free 
automobile  camping  resort,  with  well-kept  grounds,  bordered  on  two 
sides  by  the  Yellowstone  River,  shaded  by  large  trees,  and  provided  with 
electric  lights,  city  water  and  wood  and  sanitary  conveniences.  These 
camping  grounds  are  across  the  river  from  the  business  district  of  the 
city. 

Gardiner,  second  to  Livingston  among  the  urban  centers  of  Park 
County,  is  the  gateway  to  the  Yellowstone  National  Park.  It  contains 
the  official  entrance  to  the  grand  public  grounds  of  the  nation  in  the 
form  of  an  impressive  stone  arch  through  which  pass  thousands  of  tour- 
ists annually.  Naturally,  the  town  derives  considerable  profit  from  this 
summer  procession  of  pleasure  seekers  and  finders ;  it  is  also  the  outfit- 
ting point  for  a  considerable  mining  district.  Gardiner  came  into  exist- 
ence in  1883  with  the  completion  of  the  Park  branch  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad,  and  takes  its  name  from  the  Gardiner  River  which 
empties  into  the  Yellowstone  near  the  place. 

In  addition  to  Livingston  and  Gardiner  there  are  a  number  of  smaller 
towns  in  Park  County  which  are  progressive.  Among  these  are  Wilsall, 
which  maintains  a  creamery  and  ten  miles  northwest  of  which  there  is  a 
cheese  factory;  Pray,  which  has  a  large  lime  kiln;  Emigrant,  with  a 
flourishing  stone  quarry ;  and  Clyde  Park,  which  is  the  trading  center  for 
a  prosperous  agricultural  district. 

In  addition  to  a  modern  high  school  and  four  large  grade  schools 
at  Livingston,  there  are  high  schools  at  Wilsall  and  Clyde  Park  and 
sixty-five  common  schools  in  the  rural  districts.  As  tourist  attractions, 
Park  County  presents  splendid  big  game  hunting  in  season,  and  fine 
fishing,  and  naturally  many  tourists  are  attracted  by  this  county  being 
the  gateway  to  the  Yellowstone  National  Park.  Hunters'  Hot  Springs 
is  one  of  the  best  known  resorts  in  the  state,  and  Chico  and  Corwin 
Hot  Springs  are  likewise  well  and  favorably  known  to  the  traveling 
arranged  among  themselves,  assigned  the  Civil  Practice  act  to  Chief 
public. 

PHILLIPS  COUNTY 

Among  the  counties  of  Montana  which  contribute  of  their  soil  to  both 
the  agricultural  and  mineral  wealth  of  the  state,  Phillips  County  has  its 
established  place.  With  the  exception  of  the  Little  Rocky  Mountains  in 
the  southwestern  part,  the  county  is  nearly  all  prairie  in  character  and  is 
practically  all  cultivable,  and  this  fact  serves  to  make  agriculture  the 
chief  industry,  but  the  mountainous  region  referred  to  has  produced  a 
large  amount  of  gold  and  various  parts  of  the  county  have  produced 
lignite  coal,  so  that  the  mineral  resources,  while  secondary,  are  by  no 
means  unimportant.  Like  various  other  parts  of  the  state,  Phillips 
County  bears  the  tinge  of  romance.  In  the  fastnesses  of  the  Little 
Rockies  the  notorious  Kid  Curry  and  his  gang  of  outlaws  lived  and 

Vol.  1—51 


802  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

defied  the  forces  of  law  and  order  in  the  early  days,  and,  surrounded  by 
the  beautiful  scenery  to  be  found  in  the  same  region,  are  to  be  found 
the  headquarters  of  some  of  the  old-time  western  cattle  outfits,  for 
Phillips  was  originally  a  cattle  county  prior  to  the  coming  of  the  agri- 
culturists. 

Phillips  County  was  created  February  5,  1915,  and  was  named  in 
honor  of  Wendell  Phillips,  the  American  orator  and  abolitionist.  It 
lies  in  the  north  central  part  of  Montana,  extending  from  the  Canadian 
boundary  on  the  north  to  the  Missouri  River  on  the  south.  The  broad 
and  fertile  Milk  River  Valley  cuts  through  the  center  of  the  county,  east 
and  west.  With  a  land  area  of  5,266  square  miles,  Phillips  is  one  of  the 
larger  counties  of  the  state,  and  is  101  miles  north  and  south  and  sixty- 
five  miles  east  and  west. 

The  soil  of  the  county  is  mostly  clay  loam,  although  some  gumbo  is 
found,  and  there  are  nearly  100,000  acres  of  irrigated  land,  chiefly  in  the 
Milk  River  Valley,  under  the  Government  reclamation  project.  The 
chief  crops  are  wheat,  oats,  flax,  alfalfa,  corn  and  beans,  and  these  are 
being  raised  in  goodly  quantities,  although  agriculture  along  the  Milk 
River  is  still  capable  of  much  development.  In  fact,  the  region  may  be 
said  to  be  new.  Settlers  are  only  practically  laying  the  foundations  at 
this  time,  and  diversified  farming  and  dairying  are  just  beginning.  Stock 
raising  is  an  industry  which  is  growing,  and  this,  likewise,  is  capable 
of  further  development.  Improved  irrigated  lands  sell  for  around  $75 
per  acre,  improved  non-irrigated  for  $25,  non-improved  lands  for  $15  and 
grazing  lands  for  $10. 

Thus  far,  as  noted,  the  chief  mineral  resources  seem  to  be  the  gold 
that  is  found  in  the  Little  Rockies,  and  the  lignite  coal  in  various  parts 
of  the  county.  However,  there  are  several  structures  thought  to  be  favor- 
able for  the  finding  of  oil,  and  if  such  proves  to  be  the  case,  a  new  indus- 
try will  be  opened  up  for  operators  and  investors.  In  the  southwestern 
part  of  the  county  is  the  Jefferson  National  Forest,  in  which  is  found 
timber  of  commercial  value,  and  cottonwood  is  reasonably  plentiful  along 
the  Missouri  and  Milk  rivers. 

The  Milk  River  is  the  principal  stream  of  Phillips  County,  and 
Beaver  Creek  and  other  tributaries  rising  in  the  Little  Rockies  flow  into 
it  from  the  south,  while  a  number  of  streams  that  rise  near  the  interna- 
tional boundary  line  flow  into  it  from  the  north,  notably  Whitewater 
and  Frenchman  creeks.  Water  for  domestic  purposes  is  found  in  wells 
ranging  from  12  to  300  feet,  depending  upon  the  locality.  The  main 
line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railway  passes  through  the  county  east  and 
west,  following  the  Milk  River  for  the  greater  part  of  the  way,  and 
this  is  the  only  railway  system  to  connect  with  the  county  at  this  time. 
However,  the  Canadian  Trail,  which  extends  across  Montana  in  a  south- 
westerly direction,  passes  through  the  county  and  the  mining  districts  of 
the  Little  Rockies.  The  Theodore  Roosevelt  Memorial  Highway 
parallels  the  Great  Northern  Railway  straight  across  the  county.  For  the 
tourist,  there  is  much  to  be  found  of  an  attractive  nature  in  this  section 
of  the  country.  Lake  Bowdein,  which  is  situated  a  few  miles  east  of 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  803 

Malta,  is  one  of  the  best  duck  hunting  localities  in  the  west.  Large  num- 
bers of  native  wild  fowl  nest  there,  and  it  is  one  of  the  stopping  places 
for  the  northern  ducks  when  the  flight  is  on  in  the  fall.  Visitors  invari- 
ably are  drawn  to  the  Little  Rockies  and  to  the  Fort  Belknap  Indian 
Reservation,  located  just  to  the  west  of  the  county  line. 

Phillips  County  has  112  graded  schools  and  three  accredited  high 
schools,  and  a  total  of  146  instructors  are  employed.  Malta,  the  county 
seat,  is  an  up-to-date  community  and  the  chief  trading  center.  Other 
good  towns  tributary  to  large  farming  districts  are  Bowdoin,  Dodson  and 
Saco. 

PONDERA  COUNTY 

While  Pondera  County  is  one  of  the  youngest  in  the  State  of  Mon- 
tana, having  been  created  April  i,  1919,  it  is  likewise  one  of  the  most 
progressive,  in  several  ways,  and  during  its  life  as  a  separate  county 
this  locality  has  made  rapid  strides.  It  is  situated  in  the  northwestern 
part  of  Montana  and  was  formed  from  several  other,  counties,  notably 
Teton,  and  has  a  land  area  of  1,658  miles,  being  eighty-four  miles  long 
east  and  west  and  from  eighteen  to  thirty  miles  wide  north  and  south. 
The  Continental  Divide  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  marks  its  western 
boundary,  and  the  Blackfeet  Indian  Reservation  and  Maria's  River 
its  northern  boundary  part  of  the  way.  This  is  one  of  the  regions  which 
still  retains  many  of  the  old  traditions  of  the  West  of  the  early  days, 
although  the  tendency  of  recent  years  has  been  toward  development  of  all 
the  resources  of  the  county  along  material  lines,  and  twentieth  century 
progress  has  largely  subjugated  the  free-and-easy,  open-handed  methods 
of  the  past. 

Pondera  County  takes  its  name  from  the  Pondera  River,  which  is 
found  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county.  The  principal  streams  in  the 
western  part,  running  north,  are  Birch  Creek,  Blacktail  Creek  and 
Dupuyer  Creek,  emptying  into  Maria's  River.  Well  water  is  found  at 
depths  ranging  from  20  to  200  feet,  depending  upon  the  locality.  About 
125,000  acres  are  under  irrigation,  the  majority  of  this  acreage  being 
included  in  a  Carey  project  of  the  Valier  Land  and  Irrigation  Company. 
The  eastern  two-thirds  of  the  county  is  tillable,  but  the  western  portion 
of  the  county  is  mountainous  and  is  valuable  chiefly  for  stock  raising  and 
grazing.  The  soil  is  a  black  loam  of  considerable  depth  in  most  places. 
At  the  present  time  wheat,  flax,  oats,  barley,  potatoes  and  alfalfa  are  the 
chief  crops,  but  the  county  is  still  in  a  state  of  early  development,  and  as 
settlers  on  the  irrigated  lands  are  becoming  better  established,  more 
diversification  in  crops  is  being  noted.  For  one  thing,  more  forage  is 
being  raised  and  dairying  and  stock  raising  are  being  included  in  the 
operations  of  the  more  progressive  agriculturists. 

These  two  vocations,  farming  and  stock  raising,  are  the  chief  occupa- 
tions of  the  residents  of  Pondera  County  and  will  probably  remain  so,  as 
the  county  for  the  greater  part  is  best  adapted  to  the  pursuits  of  the  soil. 
However,  coal  has  been  found  in  the  western  part  of  the  county  in  surB- 


804  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

cient  quantities  to  make  mining  profitable,  and  wells  are  being  drilled  for 
oil  on  several  formations  which  look  promising.  Naturally,  should  the 
latter  mineral  be  discovered  in  sufficient  quantities  it  may  change  the 
entire  aspect  of  the  industrial  situation  in  the  county.  As  to  timber  in 
Pondera  County,  some  commercial  wood  is  found  in  the  western  part  of 
the  county,  and  there  are  121,616  acres  of  Pondera  County  land  included 
in  the  Lewis  and  Clark  National  Forest. 

Transportation  facilities  in  Pondera  County  are  highly  acceptable. 
Through  Burlington  trains  from  Chicago  to  the  Pacific  coast  use  the 
Great  Northern  Railway  through  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  as  a  main 
line,  and  the  Montana  Western  Railway,  connecting  with  the  Great 
Northern  at  Conrad,  runs  northwesterly  to  Valier,  serving  the  irrigated 
district.  The  Geysers-to-Glaciers  Highway,  the  Y-G-Bee  Line  Highway 
and  the  Banff-Grand  Canyon  Road  traverse  the  county  north  and  south, 
and  local  roads  are  well  maintained.  Irrigated  land  in  Pondera  County 
sells  at  $90  to  $125  an  acre.  Non-irrigated  farming  lands  range  irom  $15 
to  $50  an  acre,  and  non-improved,  non-irrigated  lands  sell  at  from  $10  an 
acre  up. 

For  those  who  desire  to  settle  permanently  in  the  county,  develop- 
ment of  the  agricultural  and  stock  raising  industries  will  prove  the  most 
interesting  and  profitable  investment.  For  those  who  are  visiting  the  com- 
munity merely  as  tourists,  good  hunting  and  fishing  are  provided  in  the 
western  part  of  the  county,  while  the  Blackfeet  Indian  Reservation  on  the 
north  affords  opportunity  to  study  the  western  Indian  in  his  native 
environment. 

Conrad,  the  county  seat  of  Pondera  County,  is  the  most  important 
town  in  the  county,  and  is  the  distributing  center  for  a  rich  and  growing 
locality.  It  has  all  modern  improvements,  including  a  high  school 
accredited  for  four-year  terms,  in  which,  among  other  courses,  are  given 
manual  training,  domestic  science,  commercial  and  normal  training. 
Valier,  the  second  largest  town,  is  a  modern  community  and  a  growing 
one,  with  an  accredited  four-year-term  high  school,  and  is  in  the  heart 
of  the  irrigated  district.  Other  important  community  centers,  all  of 
which  have  good  graded  schools,  are  Dupuyer,  the  oldest  town  in  the 
county;  Brady,  Williams,  Manson,  Ledger  and  Fowler.  Williams  is  the 
headquarters  of  the  Community  Club  of  the  irrigation  project,  the  first 
organization  of  its  kind  in  the  county.  The  first  Project  Fair  was  held 
under  the  auspices  of  this  club,  and  the  first  Pondera  County  Fair  in 
connection  with  the  second  annual  Project  Fair.  The  county  fair  has 
been  made  a  permanent  annual  event  and  is  doing  much  to  stimulate 
interest  in  modern  methods  of  farming  and  stock  growing. 

POWDER  RIVER  COUNTY 

Prosperity  and  development  of  the  West  have  always  followed  the 
railroad.  Wherever  the  iron  horse  has  made  his  way  he  has  been  trailed 
by  the  forces  which  make  for  advancement  and  settlement,  but  until  his 
tracks  have  wended  across  a  stretch  of  country  that  locality  will  never 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  805 

realize  its  fullest  possibilities.  Lying  in  Southeastern  Montana,  its  south- 
ern boundary  marking  the  northern  boundary  of  Wyoming,  Powder 
River  County,  so-called  from  the  stream  of  that  name,  is  remote  from 
any  railroad,  and  stock  raising  is  the  chief  industry,  although  practically 
all  the  best  homestead  lands  have  been  entered  upon.  Surveys  have  been 
made  for  a  railroad  from  Belle  Fourche,  South  Dakota,  to  Miles  City, 
Montana,  and  whenever  the  line  is  built  there  will  be  a  rapid  development 
of  the  agricultural  industry  in  the  county,  and  the  communities,  all  small 
at  this  time,  will  offer  many  opportunities  in  various  business  ways. 

Powder  River  County  has  a  land  area  of  3,337  square  miles,  and  the 
northern  and  eastern  portions  of  the  county  consist  of  rolling  prairies 
with  pine  and  cedar  brakes.  The  western  and  southern  portions  are 
rough  and  broken  in  places,  with  hills  of  considerable  size,  and  this 
locality  will  in  all  probability  always  be  used  for  grazing  purposes.  The 
soil  in  the  districts  adapted  for  agriculture  is  chiefly  a  deep,  fertile  loam, 
and  alfalfa  and  corn  are  the  leading  crops.  Some  small  grain  is  raised, 
there  are  a  few  old  orchards  in  the  county  and  those  that  have  been  prop- 
erly cared  for  have  done  well,  and  small  fruits,  vegetables  and  melons  are 
successful. 

Cattle  raising  is  now  the  chief  industry  and  there  are  many  old-time 
big  cattle  outfits  operating  in  this  region.  Practically  all  the  irrigated 
land  in  the  county  belongs  to  these  ranches,  having  been  developed  to 
furnish  winter  forage.  The  Powder  River  flows  northeasterly  through 
the  county,  and  into  it  flows  the  Little  Powder,  which  drains  the  southern 
portion  of  the  county.  Otter  Creek,  Pumpkin  Creek  and  Mizpah  River 
are  other  streams  which  flow  more  or  less  during  the  year,  and  a  number 
of  artesian  wells,  developing  a.  good  flow,  have  been  brought  in. 

There  is  considerable  lignite  coal  in  the  county,  but  no  prospecting  has 
been  done  to  ascertain  what  other  mineral  resources,  if  any,  the  county 
possesses.  There  are  some  commercial  stands  of  timber,  cottonwood, 
wild  plum,  box  elder  and  ash  growing  along  the  streams,  while  pine  and 
cedar  are  found  in  the  hills.  There  are  395,000  acres  of  the  county 
included  in  the  Custer  National  Forest. 


CHAPTER  XXXV 
POWELL,  PRAIRIE,  RAVALLI  AND  RICHLAND  COUNTIES 

Powell  County  lies  on  the  western  slope  of  the  main  range  of  the 
Rocky  mountains  in  Western  Montana,  about  midway  between  the  north- 
ern and  southern  boundaries  of  the  state.  It  was  created  January  31, 
1901,  and  has  an  area  of  2,329  square  miles.  Most  of  the  surface  is 
mountainous,  but  there  is  quite  an  amount  of  good  farming  land  in  the 
Deer  Lodge  Valley  around  Deer  Lodge,  and  also  in  the  Big  Blackfoot 
Valley  around  Ovando.  Lesser  agricultural  areas  are  found  all  along 
the  streams.  The  soil  in  the  Deer  Lodge  Valley  varies  from  a  rich  black 
loam  to  a  light  chocolate,  and  is  underlaid  by  a  gravelly  sub-soil  which  in 
places  appears  on  the  surface. 

POWELL  COUNTY  IN  GENERAL 

The  county  is  well  watered  by  several  important  streams,  which  are 
fed  by  numerous  mountain  tributaries.  The  Deer  Lodge  River  flows 
northerly  and  then  westerly  through  the  southern  half,  the  Big  Black- 
foot  River  westerly,  and  the  Little  Blackfoot  River  and  Nevada  Creek 
in  a  southerly  direction  through  the  northern  half  of  the  county.  The 
south  fork  of  the  Flathead  River  has  its  source  among  the  high  moun- 
tains in  the  remote  northern  end  of  the  county  and  flows  northerly. 

Of  the  1,621,360  acres  contained  within  the  area  of  Powell  County, 
626,209  are  included  within  national  forests,  divided  as  follows:  169,765 
acres  in  the  Missoula  Forest,  70,930  acres  in  the  Deer  Lodge  Forest, 
271,000  in  the  Flathead  Forest  and  114,514  in  the  Helena  Forest. 

Agricultural  land  values  are  determined  by  the  location,  altitude,  mar- 
kets and  crop  adaptability,  and  vary  from  $20  to  $150  an  acre.  Alfalfa 
and  wild  hay  are  the  principal  crops,  but  wheat,  oats,  barley  and  flax  are 
also  raised,  as  well  as  dairy  products,  poultry,  swine  and  vegetables,  the 
last  four  named  products  finding  a  ready  market  at  Butte  and  Anaconda. 
The  valleys  in  the  northern  half  of  the  county  are  chiefly  devoted  to  hay 
to  furnish  winter  forage  for  the  live  stock. 

Mining  has  been  developed  in  the  southern  half  of  the  county,  the 
principal  mining  districts  lying  near  Elliston  on  the  Little  Blackfoot  and 
on  Nevada  Creek  near  Ophir.  There  has  also  been  some  mining  near 
Deer  Lodge.  Silver,  lead  and  gold  are  the  chief  minerals  developed. 
The  mineral  possibilities  of  the  northern  half  of  the  county  have  not  yet 
been  ascertained,  as  little  prospecting  has  been  done  there.  That  moun- 
tainous region,  with  its  good  hunting  and  fishing,  has  strong  attractions 
for  tourists,  especially  those  of  sporting  proclivities,  and  at  Ovando  may 

806 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  807 

be   found  experienced  guides   ready  to  take  parties   into   the  primitive 
wilderness. 


A  LITTLE  HISTORY 

Deer  Lodge  Valley,  along  the  river  by  that  name,  Deer  Lodge,  the 
county  seat,  and  other  names  and  features  of  the  region,  are  forcible 
reminders  of  the  days  of  Indian  occupancy  and  lore.  It  is  said  by  Gran- 
ville  Stuart  that  the  name  Deer  Lodge  is  derived  from  the  Hot  Spring 
mound  in  the  northern  part  of  what  is  now  Deer  Lodge  County — the 
mother  of  Powell,  Silver  Bow  and  Granite  counties.  The  Butte  men- 
tioned, in  the  upper  part  of  the  valley,  was  called  by  the  Snake  Indians 
the  Whitetailed  Deer  Lodge,  from  the  fact  that  the  variety  of  deer  men- 
tioned were  very  abundant  in  that  region,  and  that  the  steam  arising  from 
the  mound  resembled  smoke  issuing  from  a  native  lodge. 

The  settlement  of  what  is  now  Powell  County  was  an  outcome  of  the 
discovery  of  gold  at  Gold  Creek  by  a  party  led  by  the  Stuarts,  in  1858. 
Though  unable  at  the  time  to  develop  the  placer,  they  returned  and  began 
work  in  1862.  The  news  of  their  discovery  led  to  the  founding  of  Ban- 
nack  and  Virginia  City,  and  the  eventual  settlement  of  Western  Montana. 

CITY  OF  DEER  LODGE 

Deer  Lodge,  the  county  seat,  is  in  the  center  of  the  valley,  and  con- 
tains about  one-half  of  the  total  population  of  the  county,  which  amounts 
to  6,909  according  to  the  1920  census.  It  is  a  little  city  of  beautiful 
homes,  substantial  business  houses  and  such  modern  municipal  utilities 
as  a  gravity  water  system,  the  source  of  which  is  in  the  mountains  to 
the  east,  electric  lights  and  park  improvements.  In  several  sections  of 
the  city,  the  "lodge"  idea  has  been  brought  out  in  a  way  which  is  most 
artistic  and  sylvan.  In  that  respect,  Deer  Lodge  town  is  among  the  unique 
communities  of  Montana,  if  not  of  the  states.  Its  setting  is  majestic 
and  charming,  situated,  as  it  is,  between  the  main  range  of  the  Rocky 
mountains  in  the  east  and  a  spur  of  the  main  range  on  the  west,  at  the 
foot  of  Mount  Powell,  one  of  the  loftiest  of  Montana's  peaks. 

The  altitude  of  the  city  is  about  4,500  feet  above  sea  level,  and  is 
surrounded  by  mountains,  with  gentle  valleys  and  broad  benches  rising 
from  the  Deer  Lodge  River  to  the  adjacent  heights.  When  the  town 
was  originally  platted  by  the  pioneers  from  the  East,  it  was  designed 
that  Deer  Lodge  should  become  a  city  of  homes,  and  at  an  early  day 
trees  were  planted  along  the  streets  and  in  the  surrounding  districts. 
That  policy  was  also  in  line  with  the  prevailing  ambition  of  the  earlier 
days  to  bring  the  territorial  capital  to  Deer  Lodge.  Albeit  that  ambition 
was  not  realized,  the  result  has  been  to  make  Deer  Lodge  one  of  the 
most  delightful  shaded  cities  in  Montana. 

Surrounding  Deer  Lodge  are  some  of  the  largest  ranches  in  Montana, 
as  well  as  numerous  farms  productive  of  wheat,  oats,  barley  and  flax. 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  809 

It  is  within  an  hour's  ride  of  Butte  and  Anaconda,  and  the  great  mining 
district  of  the  state,  and,  as  its  transportation  facilities  are  good,  is  one 
of  the  large  shipping  points  of  the  state.  The  southern  part  of  Powell 
County  is  traversed  by  the  main  lines  of  the  Northern  Pacific  and  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  railroads,  and  the  Milwaukee  road  has 
made  surveys  for  another  line  through  the  northern  part,  between  Great 
Falls  and  Missoula.  The  principal  automobile  highways  running  east 
and  west  also  pass  through  the  county  and  are  kept  in  unusually  good 
condition.  The  main  roads  fork  at  Garrison,  one  branch  going  to  Butte 
and  the  other  to  Helena. 

A  few  years  ago  Deer  Lodge  was  made  a  division  point  on  the  Mil- 
waukee road,  since  which  time  it  has  developed  considerably.  It  has 
become  a  railroad  town  of  some  importance,  the  company's  shops  furnish- 
ing employment  to  a  considerable  number  of  men. 

MONTANA  STATE  PRISON 

The  Montana  State  Prison  was  located  at  Deer  Lodge  twenty-four 
years  ago,  and  is  an  imposing  pile  of  buildings.  The  records  show  that 
there  are  about  600  prisoners,  but  as  the  system  of  parole  and  employ- 
ment on  state  buildings  and  public  highways  is  in  force,  at  times  more 
than  a  half  have  spent  various  periods  in  valuable  labor  outside  the 
prison  walls.  Among  the  buildings  thus  erected  by  prison  labor  have 
been  the  office  of  the  prison;  men's  and  women's  dormitories  at  the 
State  Hospital  for  the  Insane  at  Warm  Springs,  Deer  Lodge  County, 
and  the  dairy  barn  and  power  house,  the  State  Tuberculosis  Sanitarium 
at  Galen,  same  county.  As  a  very  small  percentage  of  those  paroled 
is  reported  as  having  violated  their  privileges,  the  system  (in  view  of  its 
financial  returns)  appears  to  have  been  a  success. 

Deer  Lodge  furnishes  good  educational  facilities  in  thoroughly  or- 
ganized graded  schools  and  the  county  high  school  which,  in  addition 
to  the  regular  curriculum,  provides  a  course  in  agriculture  under  the 
provisions  of  the  Smith-Hughes  act;  also,  the  St.  Mary's  (Catholic) 
Academy  is  well  conducted. 

Other  towns,  besides  those  mentioned,  are  Elliston,  on  the  Little 
Blackfoot,  a  mining  center,  Ovando  and  Helmville.  The  last  named  is 
the  principal  town  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county. 

PRAIRIE  COUNTY 

Prairie  County  lies  in  Eastern  Montana,  midway  between  the  northern 
and  southern  boundaries.  It  was  created  February  5,  1915  and  has  a 
land  area  of  1,742  square  miles.  Its  maximum  length  east  and  west 
is  seventy-two  miles  and  its  maximum  breadth  twenty-one  miles.  In 
the  northwestern  part  of  the  county  are  the  Mountain  Sheep  Bluffs  and 
the  surface  is  more  or  less  broken.  In  the  remainder  of  the  county  it 
is  rolling. 


810  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  principal  stream  is  the  Yellowstone  River,  which  flows  in  a 
northeasterly  direction,  bisecting  the  county,  and  is  fed  by  a  number  of 
tributaries,  the  most  important  of  which  on  the  south,  in  Prairie  County, 
is  Powder  River.  Stock  raising  and  non-irrigated  farming  are  the  chief 
industries.  The  prevailing  type  of  soil  is  a  chocolate  loam  and  the  prin- 
cipal grain  crops  are  raised  including  wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley,  corn 
and  flax.  Alfalfa  and  considerable  wild  hay  are  also  raised,  and 
some  attention  is  being  given  to  corn  and  sunflowers  for  silage  pur- 
poses. Considerable  reclamation  is  projected,  including  the  irrigation 
of  30,000  acres  from  the  Yellowstone  and  Powder  rivers.  Farmers 
on  the  non-irrigated  lands  are  devoting  their  chief  attention  to  live  stock. 
Non-irrigated  land  can  be  purchased  at  from  $10  to  $75  an  acre  and  graz- 
ing land  from  $7  to  $15  an  acre.  Cottonwood  is  found  along  the  creeks, 
but  there  are  no  commercial  stands  of  timber.  A  considerable  quantity 
of  lignite  coal  of  good  quality  has  been  found  in  the  county,  and  some 
prospecting  has  been  done  in  districts  thought  favorable  for  oil  and  gas. 
The  population  of  Prairie  County  in  1920  was  3,684. 

The  transcontinental  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  traverses  the  county, 
keeping  close  to  the  Yellowstone  River.  The  main  line  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  enters  the  county  from  the  southeast  and  from 
Cato  west  follows  the  Yellowstone.  The  Yellowstone  and  Red  trails 
cross  Prairie  County  from  east  to  west,  merging  into  one  trail  at  Fallen. 
At  Terry  they  are  joined  by  the  Powder  River  Trail,  extending  from 
Moose  Jaw,  Canada,  to  Denver,  Colorado.  The  roads  out  of  Terry, 
Fallen  and  Mildred  are  graded. 

The  county  seat  of  Prairie  County,  which  is  also  the  principal  town, 
is  Terry.  It  is  situated  in  a  natural  artesian  basin  along  the  Yellow- 
stone River  between  the  mouth  of  Powder  River  and  Fallon  Creek.  Its 
altitude  is  2,250  feet.  In  1920  it  had  a  population  of  794.  Terry  is 
served  by  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Milwaukee  railroads  and  is  the  chief 
distributing  center  of  the  county.  It  is  a  modern,  up-to-date  town  with 
a  community  club  and  a  community  church,  and  is  the  headquarters 
of  the  Farm  Bureau,  the  County  Fair  Association  and  the  Roundup. 
Mildred  and  Fallon  are  growing  towns;  Mildred  on  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee and  St.  Paul  Railroad  and  the  Yellowstone  Trail,  and  Fallon 
on  the  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  at  the  junction  of  the  Yellowstone 
and  Red  trails.  Terry,  Fallon  and  Mildred  have  good  graded  schools. 
Terry  also  has  a  high  school  accredited  for  a  four  year  course  and  at 
Mildred  there  is  a  high  school  with  a  two  years'  course.  Forty  rural 
schools  are  distributed  throughout  the  country  districts  of  the  county. 
The  bench  lands  in  the  vicinity  of  the  principal  communities  have  been 
well  improved,  but  there  are  large  areas  of  railroad  and  other  lands  avail- 
able for  purchase. 

RAVALLI  COUNTY 

Ravalli  County,  created  by  separation  from  Missoula  County  April 
i,  1893,  has  a  land  area  of  2,391  square  miles.  It  lies  in  Western  Mon- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  811 

tana  and  comprises  the  greater  portion  of  the  Bitter  Root  Valley.  It 
is  bounded  on  the  west  by  the  Idaho  line,  which  follows  along  the  jagged 
range  of  the  Bitter  Root,  on  the  east  by  the  Granite  County  line,  marked 
out  by  a  spur  of  the  Rockies,  and  on  the  south  by  the  Continental  divide. 
With  a  length  north  and  south  of  approximately  seventy  miles.  It  has 
a  width  of  about  eighteen  miles,  and  is  hemmed  in  by  mountain  ranges 
on  all  sides  save  the  north.  The  Bitter  Root  River,  a  large  clear  moun- 
tain stream,  is  fed  by  numerous  tributaries  coming  down  from  the 
mountains  on  both  sides  of  the  valley,  and  the  tourist  may  here  find 
beautiful  scenery  with  splendid  hunting  and  fishing. 

HISTORIC  ASSOCIATIONS 

Bitter  Root  Valley  has  its  historic  associations.  In  1805  Lewis  and 
Clark,  crossing  over  from  the  Big  Hole,  passed  down  the  valley  on 
their  route  westward.  Here  also,  in  1841,  the  Jesuit  fathers  established 
the  first  church  in  Montana,  St.  Mary's  Mission,  which  still  stands  in 
what  is  the  town  of  Stevensville.  They  also  plowed,  seeded  and  har- 
vested the  first  acre  of  land  in  Montana.  The  Nez  Perces  in  their  out- 
break of  1877  swept  through  the  valley,  and  the  Flathead  Indians  made 
it  their  home  until  they  were  removed  to  the  Flathead  reservation  in 
1891.  It  was  here  that  Marcus  Daly  established  his  racing  stud  and 
bred  some  of  the  most  famous  winners  on  the  American  turf. 

RESOURCES  OF  RAVALLI  COUNTY 

Up  to  the  present  time  Ravalli  County  has  developed  no  mineral 
resources.  Its  pioneers  were  mostly  lumbermen,  who  established  what 
was  for  a  time  the  dominant  industry,  but  which  now  holds  a  secondary 
position.  Though  they  cut  over  thousands  of  acres  of  land  in  the  county, 
large  commercial  stands  of  timber  still  remain.  There  are  1,129,567 
acres  included  within  the  Bitter  Root  National  Forest  and  7,900  acres 
within  the  Lolo  National  Forest. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  who  came  here  to  cultivate  the  land  en- 
gaged extensively  in  fruit  growing,  which  industry  for  a  time  put  on 
the  aspect  of  a  "boom."  But  too  little  regard  was  paid  to  location  and 
the  character  of  the  soil,  and  as  a  result  some  met  with  failure.  Better 
judgment,  guided  by  experience,  has  served  to  stabilize  the  industry  and 
make  it  profitable,  and  there  are  now  about  35,000  acres  in  the  county 
laid  out  in  orchards.  Many  former  orchard  tracts  have  been  planted 
to  hay  and  grain,  for  dairy  herds  and  swine.  General  farming,  dairying 
and  flour  milling  are  also  carried  on  successfully.  Most  of  the  farming 
is  done  under  irrigation.  The  greater  part  of  the  land  surface  is  roll- 
ing, with  considerable  slope  near  the  foothills.  Here  and  there  the  slope 
is  broken  by  bench  lands  some  of  which  have  been  placed  under  the 
ditch.  The  soil  varies  from  a  gravelly  light  soil  to  a  deep  loam.  The 
farm  crops  in  general  consist  of  hay,  both  wild  and  tame,  wheat,  oats, 


812 

barley,  potatoes  and  other  vegetables,  apples  and  cherries.  The  price  of 
irrigated  land  is  from  $100  to  $200  an  acre;  non-irrigated  land  about 
$30  an  acre,  and  grazing  land  from  $7  to  $15  an  acre.  The  transporta- 
tion facilities  are  adequate  to  present  needs.  A  branch  line  of  the  North- 
ern Pacific  from  Missoula  runs  practically  the  entire  length  of  the  valley, 
which  is  also  traversed  by  the  Park-to-Park  road  link. 

Ravalli  County  has  made  ample  provision  for  education.  Besides 
the  rural  and  graded  schools  there  are  high  schools  at  Hamilton,  Stevens- 
ville,  Corvallis  and  Victor,  each  accredited  for  the  four  year  course. 
The  Hamilton  High  School  also  maintains  a  teachers'  training  depart- 
ment. 

Though  having  an  elevation  on  over  3,000  feet  on  the  Pacific  side 
of  the  divide,  the  climate  of  Ravalli  County  is  in  general  mild,  extremes 
of  temperature  being  comparatively  infrequent.  In  the  development  of 
the  tourist  trade,  dairying,  horticulture  and  the  raising  of  blooded  live 
stock,  new  settlers  may  find  abundant  opportunities  for  industry  with 
the  prospect  of  an  adequate  reward. 

HAMILTON  AND  VICINITY 

The  largest  city  in  Ravalli  County  is  Hamilton,  the  county  seat,  which 
is  a  town  of  modern  conveniences,  substantial  business  blocks  and  hand- 
some residences.  It  has  also  good  educational  and  religious  facilities. 
It  is  situated  near  the  center  of  Bitter  Root  Valley  in  the  midst  of  a 
fine  apple  country,  and  with  pine  forests  in  the  vicinity.  Among  its 
industries  are  a  large  sawmill,  a  sash,  door  and  box  factory  and  a  lath 
mill.  Adjoining  the  town  is  Bitter  Root  Stock  Farm,  founded  by  the 
late  Marcus  Daly,  now  owned  and  managed  by  Mrs.  Marcus  Daly.  This 
estate  contains  22,000  acres  and  is  one  of  the  finest,  if  not  the  finest,  in 
Montana.  A  picturesque  locality  near  town  is  known  as  Forest  Hill. 
The  City  of  Hamilton  contains  eight  churches,  among  which  the  most 
notable  are  the  Methodist  Episcopal  and  the  Presbyterian.  The  former 
was  erected  in  1893.  Three  substantial  banks  provide  adequate  financial 
accommodations  and  three  newspapers  are  here  published.  There  are 
two  good  hotels  and  an  active  Chamber  of  Commerce,  with  J.  E.  Shoudy 
as  secretary,  is  going  good  work  in  inaugurating  local  improvements  and 
keeping  the  citizens  imbued  with  progressive  ideas.  Another  important 
local  institution  is  the  Hamilton  Public  Library.  Three  and  a  half  miles 
from  the  city  the  County  Poor  Farm  is  located. 

The  other  community  centers  of  Ravalli  County  are  Stevensville, 
Corvallis,  Victor  and  Darby.  Stevensville,  with  a  population  of  1,250, 
is  the  second  city  in  point  of  size,  and  has  the  distinction  of  being  not 
only  the  oldest  town  in  the  county  but  also  in  the  state.  It  is  situated 
on  the  Bitter  Root  branch  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  twenty- 
eight  miles  south  of  Missoula  and  is  the  center  of  a  fine  fruit  country. 
Among  its  local  institutions  are  two  banks,  two  newspapers,  a  co-operative 
creamery,  flour  mill  and  seven  churches.  The  creamery  is  the  only  co- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  813 

operative  institution  of  the  kind  in  the  state  and  is  one  of  the  most 
successful  enterprises  of  that  character  in  the  United  States.  It  markets 
all  kinds  of  dairy  products,  including  poultry. 

RICHLAND  COUNTY 

Richland  County  is  situated  in  the  northeastern  part  of  Montana 
and  has  the  shape  of  an  irregular  right  triangle,  with  the  Missouri  River, 
flowing  eastward,  as  its  northern  boundary,  and  North  Dakota  as  its 
eastern.  It  was  created  May  27,  1914.  Its  land  area  is  about  1,900 
square  miles.  The  greater  part  of  the  surface,  indeed  nearly  all  of  it, 


YOUNG  APPLE  ORCHARD  IN  RAVALLI  COUNTY 

is  underlaid  by  lignite  coal,  which  is  to  be  had  for  the  digging  and  is 
sold  commercially  for  local  use. 

The  principal  streams  are  the  Yellowstone  toward  the  east,  flowing 
in  a  northeasterly  direction  to  join  the  Missouri  near  the  state  line;  the 
Missouri  on  the  north,  and  Redwater  Creek  on  the  west.  They  have 
numerous  tributaries,  many  of  considerable  size.  The  average  depth  of 
wells  is  40  feet.  A  range  of  hills  runs  northeasterly  through  the  county, 
marking  the  divide  between  the  Missouri  River  and  Yellowstone  River 
watersheds.  Along  the  course  of  these  streams,  long  before  gold  was 
discovered  in  Montana,  fur  traders  had  built  posts  and  lived  adventurous 
and  almost  solitary  lives,  their  exploits  and  experiences  adding  many  a 
fascinating  page  to  the  history  of  the  West. 

The  timber  in  Richland  County  consists  mostly  of  cottonwood,  which 
is  found  along  the  streams,  with  some  pine  and  cedar  in  the  rough 
portions,  but  there  are  no  commercial  stands  of  timber  in  the  county. 
Seventy-five  per  cent  of  the  surface  is  suitable  for  cultivation.  General 
farming  and  stock  raising  are  the  chief  industries,  the  latter  carried 
on  chiefly  in  the  northern  part  of  the  county.  Dairying  is  also  followed 


814  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

successfully  and  to  a  considerable  extent  in  the  irrigated  districts.  The 
land  in  the  Yellowstone  Valley  through  the  county  is  irrigated  from 
the  Lower  Yellowstone  Project,  constructed  by  the  United  States  Rec- 
lamation service  in  1908.  Along  the  tributaries  of  the  Yellowstone  more 
land  is  irrigated  from  private  ditches.  The  valley  land  is  practically 
level  and  is  characterized  by  a  rich  soil,  with  no  stones,  gumbo  or  sage- 
brush, except  in  spots.  The  Yellowstone  Valley  is  from  two  to  six 
miles  in  width  and  smaller  valleys  are  found  along  the  tributary  streams. 
The  bench  lands  for  the  most  part  are  rolling  and  somewhat  rough  along 
the  creeks  and  rivers,  but  quite  level  in  places.  The  soil  here  is  a  chocolate 
loam,  practically  free  from  stones,  and  underlaid  with  a  clay  sub-soil. 
On  these  lands  wheat,  corn,  oats  and  flax  are  grown  successfully.  The 
irrigated  districts  are  devoted  chiefly  to  alfalfa,  sugar  beets,  potatoes 
and  other  vegetables  and  some  grain.  The  average  value  of  improved 
irrigated  land  is  $150  an  acre,  improved  non-irrigated  farming  land  $40 
an  acre,  non-improved  bench  lands  $25,  and  grazing  land  $10  an  acre. 

Transportation  facilities  are  furnished  by  two  railway  systems,  the 
Great  Northern  and  the  Northern  Pacific,  and  other  lines  are  in  pro- 
jection. The  Great  Northern  has  a  branch  running  south  from  Mondak 
to  Sidney,  while  another  branch  of  the  same  system  enters  the  county 
from  Dakota  at  East  Fairview  and  connects  with  the  Mondak  line.  This 
is  part  of  a  proposed  new  transcontinental  cut-off  which  has  been  built 
west  in  Richland  County  as  far  as  Richey,  Dawson  County,  but  the 
construction  of  which  was  interrupted  by  the  war.  A  line  westward 
through  Sidney  has  been  projected  by  the  Soo  road,  and  the  Northern 
Pacific  has  projected  a  line  from  Sidney  to  Killdeer,  North  Dakota. 
The  county  roads,  which  include  several  state  highways,  are  kept  in 
good  shape. 

The  county  seat  of  Richland  County  is  Sidney,  which  in  1920  had 
a  population  of  1,400.  It  is  a  general  milling  and  market  town  and  is 
the  only  railroad  center  in  the  county.  Among  its  industries  are  a  creamery 
and  a  flour  mill.  It  has  a  modern  system  of  public  utilities,  including 
water  works,  sewerage  and  electric  lights.  Its  altitude  is  1,978  feet  above 
sea  level.  The  other  principal  towns  of  the  county  are  Fairview,  Lam- 
bert, Savage  and  Enid. 

Education  has  been  well  provided  for  in  Richland  County  and  there 
are  seventy-four  school  districts  under  efficient  superintendence.  Sidney 
had  a  good  high  school,  with  a  department  for  the  training  of  rural 
teachers.  The  population  of  the  county  in  1920  was  8,989. 


CHAPTER  XXXVI 

ROOSEVELT,  ROSEBUD,  SANDERS  AND  SHERIDAN 

COUNTIES 

The  county  which  possesses  the  distinction  of  being  named  in  honor 
of  the  great  American  president,  statesman,  soldier  and  naturalist,  Col. 
Theodore  Roosevelt,  is  one  of  the  youngest  of  Montana's  counties,  hav- 
ing been  created  February  18,  1919.  Its  early  history  is  that  of  Sheridan 
County,  of  which  it  was  formerly  a  part,  and  of  North  Dakota,  which 
state  forms  its  eastern  boundary  line.  Situated  as  it  is  in  the  north- 
eastern part  of  the  state,  during  the  early  days  it  was  the  scene  of  many 
conflicts  between  the  Indians  and  the  white  settlers,  but  this  matter  is 
covered  in  another  chapter  of  this  work,  dealing  with  the  settlement  of 
the  pioneers  who  pushed  over  the  line  of  the  territory  from  North  Dakota 
and  points  to  the  east  and  south. 

FARMING  AND  STOCK  RAISING 

Roosevelt  County  has  a  land  area  of  2,355  square  miles,  and  is  eighty 
miles  long  and  thirty  miles  wide.  Its  altitude,  1,922  feet,  is  the  lowest  in 
the  state.  It  is  exclusively  an  agricultural  and  stock  raising  county,  and 
while  non-irrigated  farming  predominates  over  the  irrigated  method,  when 
the  Fort  Peck  Indian  Reservation  Reclamation  Project  in  the  western 
part  of  the  county  is  completed  by  the  United  States  Government,  152,- 
ooo  acres  will  be  irrigated  in  one  body.  All  of  the  county  is  practically 
a  rolling  prairie  country,  with  a  soil  varying  from  a  deep  heavy  chocolate 
loam  to  a  light  sandy  loam,  well  adapted  for  large  scale  operations,  a  fact 
which  was  recognized  by  the  Montana  Farming  Corporation  (a  Morgan 
concern)  which  has  leased  several  thousand-  acres  on  the  Fort  Peck 
Reservation  and  is  raising  wheat  and  flax  on  a  big  scale.  In  addition  to 
these,  corn  and  hay  are  the  chief  crops,  although  before  the  coming  of 
the  agriculturally  inclined  settlers  this  region  was  noted  among  stockmen 
for  its  growth  of  heavy,  luxurious  and  nutritious  grasses. 

Aside  from  agriculture,  stock  raising  is  the  chief  industry,  and  much 
progress  has  been  made  in  establishing  pure-bred  cattle  herds.  A  Tri- 
County  Stock  Show  for  Sheridan,  Roosevelt  and  Richland  counties  is 
held  annually  at  Culbertson  and  is  considered  to  be  one  of  the  most  com- 
plete in  the  state.  The  Shorthorn  herd  owned  by  Lowe  &  Powers,  at 
this  point,  is  accounted  the  best  herd  in  Northeastern  Montana  and 
Western  North  Dakota. 

Aside  from  the  Missouri  River,  which  marks  the  county's  southern 
boundary,  the  principal  stream  in  Roosevelt  County  is  the  Poplar  River, 
flowing  southerly  through  the  county  and  emptying  into  the  Missouri, 

815 


816 


but  there  are  also  a  number  of  smaller  streams,  notably  Big  Muddy  Creek, 
all  tributaries  of  the  Missouri.  Non-irrigated  farms  in  this  county  sell 
from  $25  to  $50  an  acre,  irrigated  farms  considerably  higher,  and  grazing 
land  considerably  less.  Some  of  the  lands  under  the  ditches  of  the  Fort 
Peck  Indian  Project  are  being  sold  by  Indians  who  have  received  patent 
in  fee  to  their  allotments,  at  prices  ranging  from  $30  to  $50  an  acre,  the 
purchaser  assuming  the  construction  costs. 

MINERAL  RESOURCES 

In  the  matter  of  timber,  cottonwood  and  ash  are  to  be  found  along 
the  streams,  but  there  are  no  commercial  stands  of  marketable  lumber. 


TRACTOR  AT  WORK  IN  ROOSEVELT  COUNTY 


The  mineral  resources  are  much  more  valuable,  for  fine  beds  of  lignite 
coal  of  good  quality  are  found  throughout  the  county,  and  there  has  been 
considerable  prospecting  for  oil  and  gas.  The  indications  for  the  devel- 
opment of  these  industries  are  considered  promising.  In  case  that  such 
industries  develop,  there  will  be  no  serious  difficulties  in  the  way  of  secur- 
ing transportation  facilities,  as  the  main  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Rail- 
road parallels  the  Missouri  River  throughout  the  county,  and  a  branch 
line  runs  north  from  Bainville  into  Sheridan  County,  while  another 
branch  from  Snowden  runs  south  into  Richland  County.  The  Roose- 
velt Memorial  Highway  follows  the  main  line  of  the  Great  Northern. 

While  itself  still  a  county  in  its  infancy,  prior  to  its  creation  Roose- 
velt had  the  benefit  of  the  work  done  in  the  way  of  development  by 
Sheridan  County,  and  this  included  the  establishment  of  a  public  school 
system.  In  addition  to  rural  and  graded  schools,  there  are  four  high 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  817 

schools  in  the  county.  Those  at  Poplar,  Culbertson  and  Wolf  Point  are 
accredited  for  the  four-year  term,  and  the  school  at  Bainville  for  two 
years.  According  to  the  United  States  Census  of  1920,  Roosevelt  County 
has  a  population  of  10,347,  and  its  assessed  valuation  is  $20,060,127. 

WOLF  POINT  AND  OTHER  TOWNS 

The  largest  town  in  the  county  and  one  which  seems  to  have  a  bright 
future  before  it,  not  only  on  account  of  the  railroad  shops  but  also  be- 
cause of  the  large  territory  opening  up  around  it  in  the  Fort  Peck  Indian 
Reservation  Reclamation  Project,  is  Wolf  Point,  situated  in  the  south- 
western portion  of  the  county.  This  is  a  railroad  division  point  on  the 
main  line  of  the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  and  according  to  the  1920 
census  report  had  a  population  of  2,098.  In  1916  this  community  was 
only  an  Indian  agency  town,  with  a  population  of  300  inhabitants.  Today 
it  has  beautiful  homes,  fine  churches,  a  good  school  system  and  progres- 
sive business  establishments.  Poplar,  also  located  on  the  main  line  of 
the  Great  Northern  Railroad,  and  on  the  Missouri  River,  is  a  town  that 
is  growing  rapidly  and  by  the  1920  census  had  a  population  of  1,152. 
This  community  is  one  that  attracts  interest  because  of  the  unique  Indian 
Fair  held  every  year.  It  is  situated  on  the  river  whose  name  it  bears. 
The  little  town  of  Mondak,  in  the  extreme  southeastern  corner  of  the 
county,  was  made  the  temporary  county  seat  at  the  time  of  the  county's 
creation. 

One  of  the  oldest  towns  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  state  is  Culbert- 
son, which,  with  a  population  of  only  347,  has  taken  the  lead  in  encourag- 
ing the  growing  of  pure-bred  livestock,  and  holds  an  annual  stock  show 
at  which  exhibitors  come  from  various  parts  of  Roosevelt  and  the  ad- 
j'oining  counties  of  Sheridan  and  Richland.  Bainville,  another  town  in 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  had  a  population  of  396  at  the  last  census 
report,  but  is  growing  rapidly  because  of  its  good  railroad  facilities. 
This  town  is  also  the  site  of  a  flour  mill  with  a  capacity  of  550  barrels 
daily,  the  largest  in  Northeastern  Montana  or  Northwestern  North  Dakota, 
which  is  supplied  by  grain  due  to  its  railroad  facilities  and  is  in  constant 
operation.  The  town  is  also  becoming  quite  a  shipping  point  and  pre- 
sents an  opening  for  wholesale  branch  houses.  Other  thriving  little 
towns,  owing  their  importance  chiefly  to  the  fact  that  they  lie  in  the  midst 
of  rich  agricultural  districts,  are  Froid,  McCabe  and  Brockton. 

ROSEBUD  COUNTY 

Correctly  speaking,  the  Old  West  is  of  the  past.  There  are  some 
still  remaining  who  recall  the  days  of  Indian  fighting,  miles  of  cattle 
ranges,  daily  privations  and  primitive  conditions,  but  for  the  most  part 
the  ever  increasing  influx  of  settlers  from  the  more  eastern  communities, 
has  put  the  stamp  of  an  advanced  civilization  upon  even  the  most  re- 
motely situated  sections  and  day  by  day  the  old  customs  are  passing 
further  into  the  background  of  memory.  However,  in  several  isolated 


MODERN  WOLF  POINT  SCHOOLS 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


819 


cases  there  are  to  be  found  localities  which  have  clung  tenaciously  to  the 
long  past,  who  have  refused  to  accept  in  full  the  refinements  of  the  twen- 
tieth century  and  who  therefore  retain  some  of  the  glamour  of  the  Old 
West.  One  of  these  localities  lies  in  Rosebud  County,  where,  in  the 
southern  part,  is  situated  the  Tongue  River  Northern  Cheyenne  Indian 
Reservation.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  this  reservation  is  located  far  from 
any  railroad,  the  Government's  wards  on  this  reservation  have  not  had 
the  opportunity  of  becoming  spoiled  by  coming  into  contact  with  the 


AN  OLD-TIME  INDIAN  CEREMONIAL 

pleasures  and  vices  of  their  white  brothers  of  the  cities,  and  are  more  like 
the  Indians  of  forty  or  more  years  ago  than  almost  any  other  reservation 
Indians.  Also,  in  the  southern  end  of  the  county  are  to  be  found  a  number 
of  typical  old-time  western  cattle  ranches,  whose  owners  have  fought 
stubbornly  to  continue  their  operations  along  the  old  lines  and  who  have 
been  successful  in  their  determined  stand  because  of  their  remoteness  from 
railroad  connections. 

-NATURAL  AND  ACQUIRED  FEATURES 

Rosebud  County,  which  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Mon- 
tana, was  created  February  n,  1901,  being  formed  from  the  western  part 


820  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

of  Custer  County,  and  derives  its  name  from  Rosebud  Creek,  an  im- 
portant tributary  of  the  Yellowstone  River.  The  land  area  of  the  county 
is  4,993  square  miles,  making  it  the  sixth  largest  county  in  the  state,  and 
it  also  ranks  well  as  to  wealth,  its  assessed  valuation  in  1920  being  $35,- 
475,463,  although  its  population,  according  to  the  1920  census  was  only 
8,002.  Sixty  miles  of  the  fertile  Yellowstone  Valley  extends  through  its 
central  part  from  east  to  west,  and  the  county  is  irregular  in  shape,  with 
a  maximum  length  from  east  to  west  of  1 14  miles  and  a  maximum  breadth 
of  eighty-four  miles  north  and  south. 

AGRICULTURAL  AND  OTHER  NATURAL  WEALTH 

Rosebud  County  is  well  watered  ky  good-sized  streams.  In  addition 
to  the  Yellowstone  River,  there  are  the  Tongue  and  Big  Horn  rivers  and 
Rosebud,  Sunday,  Sand,  Horse,  Little  Porcupine,  Froze  to  Death,  Alkali, 
Tullocks,  Sarpy,  Armells  and  Sweeney  creeks.  The  geographical  nomen- 
clature will  suggest  much  to  the  modernist  who  is  endeavoring  to  visualize 
the  country  as  it  was  when  the  first  settlers  took  up  their  abode  in  this 
region.  There  are  three  important  irrigation  projects  in  the  county.  On 
the  south  side  of  the  Yellowstone  River  and  just  west  of  Forsyth,  is  the 
Yellowstone  Irrigation  Project  of  5,000  acres.  East  of  Forsyth  on  the 
north  side  of  the  Yellowstone  is  the  Carterville  Project  of  10,000  acres, 
and  on  the  same  side  of  the  river  west  of  Forsyth  is  the  Hammond  Pro- 
ject of  5,000  acres.  Many  minor  projects  are  found  on  smaller  streams, 
but  the  entire  matter  of  irrigation  is  covered  elsewhere  in  this  work  and 
it  is  not  necessary  to  go  into  it  fully  here.  It  may  be  stated,  however, 
that  there  are  about  30,000  acres  of  irrigated  land  in  the  county  and  60,000 
acres  that  are  irrigable,  nearly  2,000,000  acres  of  tillable  land  and  1,200,- 
ooo  acres  of  grazing  land.  Naturally,  in  a  county  in  which  conditions 
are  so  favorable.,  agriculture  and  stock  raising  are  the  principal  industries. 
Wheat,  rye,  oats,  barley,  corn,  alfalfa,  alfalfa  seed  and 'sugar  beets  are 
the  chief  crops.  While  the  soil  varies,  the  prevailing  type  is  chocolate 
loam  with  a  clay  sub-soil.  In  some  of  the  northern  parts  of  the  county, 
a  heavy  clay  predominates  but  with  proper  cultivation  gives  good  yields. 
Rosebud  is  considered  a  big  corn  county,  has  yielded  banner  crops  of 
Turkey  Red  wheat,  particularly  in  recent  years,  and  also  is  a  good  county 
for  various  vegetables. 

Improved  irrigated  lands  in  Rosebud  county  will  average  $125  an 
acre  in  value,  improved  non-irrigable  lands  $30  an  acre,  .unimproved  tilla- 
ble lands  $15,  and.  grazing  lands  $7  an  acre. 

'  For  the  most  part,  the  stock  raising  industry  in  Rosebud  County  cen- 
ters about  the  Tongue  and  Big  Horn  rivers  and  on  Rosebud  Creek, 
although  this  vocation  is  followed  to  some  extent  in  almost  all  portions 
of  the  county.  Some  timber  of  commercial  value  is  found  in  the  county, 
there  being  104,000  acres  of  the  county  included  within  the  Custer  National 
Forest.  Until  recently,  Rosebud  County  had  not  been  considered  as 
possessing  minerals  of  any  great  value,  but  it  is  reported  that  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railway  has  completed  a  survey  into  the  southern  end  of  the 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  821 

county  to  tap  a  field  that  is  estimated  to  contain  2,000,000  tons  of  bitum- 
inous coal.  Lignite  is  also  plentiful.  One  of  the  largest  potential  oil 
domes  in  the  state  is  in  the  northern  part  of  Rosebud  County  and  develop- 
ment work  is  now  being  conducted  on  it.  Two  transcontinental  railways 
traverse  the  county  from  east  to  west,  the  Northern  Pacific  and  the 
Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul,  and  a  fifty-mile  stretch  of  the  Yellow- 
stone Highway  is  in  Rosebud  County. 

EDUCATIONAL  MATTERS 

The  educational  advantages  provided  for  the  children  of  Rosebud 
County  include  100  schoolhouses,  in  which,  in  1920,  there  were  1,938 
pupils  undergoing  instruction.  There  are  likewise  five  high  schools,  two 
of  them  accredited  for  a  four-year  term,  with  122  pupils  enrolled. 

FORSYTH,  ROSEBUD  AND  OTHER  TOWNS 

The  county  seat  of  Rosebud  County  is  Forsyth,  a  community  ac- 
credited with  a  population  of  1,838,  by  the  1920  census  report.  Located 
forty-five  miles  west  of  Miles  City,  Forsyth  is  on  the  Northern  Pacific 
and  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railways,  and,  as  a  Northern  Pacific 
freight  division  point,  is  a  trade  center  for  the  Yellowstone,  Porcupine 
and  Rosebud  Valleys.  It  is  a  distributing  point  for  an  area  150  miles 
north  and  south  and  forty  miles  east  and  west,  and  gains  importance 
through  handling  the  product  of  a  large  wool  country.  Forsyth  is  a 
modern  little  city  with  three  banks,  two  large,  up-to-date  hotels,  -two 
newspapers,  three  churches  and  thirty-two  retail  stores.  Six  miles  to  the 
east  of  Forsyth  is  the  local  sub-station  of  the  Montana  Agricultural 
Station,  where  recent  experiments  have  proven  that  Turkey  red  wheat 
can  be  produced  in  bountiful  quantities  in  this  county. 

Rosebud,  the  second  largest  town  in  the  county,  is  the  commercial 
center  for  the  eastern  part.  Vananda,  Sumatra  and  Ingomar  are  live 
towns  in  the  northwestern  part,  the  last-named  being  the  headquarters 
of  the  sheep  industry  of  Rosebud  County  and  the  site  of  a  shearing  plant 
which  has  a  capacity  of  6,000  head  daily. 

SANDERS  COUNTY   • 

For  diversity  of  industries  and  for  attractions  offered  to  those  who 
have  an  inclination  for  an  outdoor  life,  few  counties  in  Montana  excel 
Sanders.  Its  varied  topography  serves  to  make  the  county  a  broad  pan- 
orama of  beautiful  scenery,  in  which  are  towering  mountain  ranges,  broad 
prairie  basins,  picturesque  gorges  and  long  stretches  of  timberland.  Owing 
to  its  conformation,  the  county  favors  the  pursuits  of  agriculture,  dairy- 
ing, horticulture,  mining  and  lumbering.  Its  great  natural  resources  as 
to  fish  and  game  make  it  a  favorite  camping-ground  of  sportsmen  from 
all  over  the  country.  Some  of  its  industries  have  not  been  developed  to 


822  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

a  great  extent,  having  been  but  recently  recognized  as  opportunities,  but 
advancement  is  being  made  in  various  directions. 

Sanders  County  was  organized  March  i,  1906,  being  formed  from  a 
part  of  Missoula  County.  It  was  named  after  the  grand  pioneer,  first 
president  of  the  State  Historical  Society,  United  States  Senator  and 
strong  public  character,  Wilbur  F.  Sanders.  Although  the  Assembly 
passed  the  bill  for  the  creation  of  the  county  on  the  7th  of  February,  1905, 
Colonel  Sanders  did  not  live  to  see  it  fairly  organized,  his  death  occurring 
at  his  home  in  Helena,  on  July  7th,  of  the  year  named. 

The  County  of  Sanders  lies  in  the  northwestern  part  of  Montana,  the 
Idaho  state  line  marking  its  western  boundary,  and  is  on  the  western 
slope  of  the  Rockies,  being  skirted  by  the  Coeur  d'Alene  mountains  on 
the  south  and  the  Cabinet  range  on  the  north  in  a  general  way.  Between 
these  two  ranges  the  Clark's  Fork  of  the  Columbia  River  flows  westerly 
the  length  of  the  county.  In  places,  the  valley  along  the  river  widens 
out  into  broad  prairie  basins  and  in  other  places,  becomes  of  a  gorge-like 
narrowness.  The  Clark's  Fork  of  the  Columbia  carries  a  larger  volume 
of  water  than  does  the  Missouri  River  in  Montana,  and  is  fed  by  numerous 
tributaries  rising  in  both  the  Coeur  d'Alene  and  Cabinet  mountains. 

While  agriculture,  dairying  and  mining  are  making  much  progress, 
lumbering  is  the  chief  industry.  There  are  over  a  million  acres  of  Sanders 
County  included  within  national  forests,  37,815  acres  in  the  Lolo  Forest 
and  965,963  acres  in  the  Cabinet  National  Forest.  Along  the  Thompson 
River  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  stands  of  white  pine  to  be  found  in 
the  United  States,  and  the  mountains  have  valuable  tracts  of  yellow  pine, 
fir,  cedar  and  larch.  Lumbering  operations  are  carried  on  in  various 
localities  throughout  the  county  and  numerous  large  lumber  camps  are 
to  be  found  throughout  the  timbered  districts.  Sawmills  are  found  in 
most  of  the  bigger  towns  and  the  industry  is  one  which  has  a  firm  hold 
upon  the  county,  being  made  additionally  profitable  by  the  excellent  trans- 
portation facilities  available.  In  the  latter  connection  it  may  be  mentioned 
that  the  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway  follows  the  Clark's 
Fork  of  the  Columbia  through  the  county.  The  National  Parks  High- 
way and  the  Yellowstone  Trail  parallel  the  railway. 

Agricultural  pursuits  are  confined  to  the  valley  of  the  Clark's  Fork 
and  along  the  tributary  streams  that  flow  into  it,  such  as  Thompson  River 
and  Prospect  and  Vermilion  creeks.  The  bottom  lands  are  of  a  deep 
sandy  loam,  while  a  gravelly  loam  predominates  on  the  bench  lands.  In 
the  western  half  of  the  county  the  land  is  either  cut-over  land  or  natural 
meadow,  and  almost  all  of  it  is  irrigable  by  private  projects.  Near 
Thompson  Falls,  3,000  acres  in  one  tract  are  irrigated  from  the  Thomp- 
son River.  This  section  of  the  county  is  admirably  adapted  to  dairying, 
clover  and  other  forage  crops  growing  in  abundance,  while  the  vast  area 
of  national  forest  reserve  furnishes  cheap  pasturage.  Wheat,  clover, 
timothy,  oats,  potatoes,  peas  and  barley  are  the  principal  crops,  although 
many  experimenters  have  had  success  with  fruit-growing,  especially  in 
the  main  valley,  where  apples,  plums,  cherries,  pears,  strawberries  and 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


823 


some  peaches  have  been  raised  in  marketable  quantities.  While  the  de- 
velopment of  mining  as  an  industry  in  Sanders  County  has  not  been 
carried  much  beyond  the  prospecting  stage,  it  is  known  that  there  are 
quantities  of  silver,  lead,  zinc,  copper  and  gold,  particularly  in  the  mineral 
districts  of  the  Coeur  d'Alenes. 

The  land  area  of  Sanders  County  is  2,837  acres,  which  brings  it  under 
the  general  average  of  the  fifty- four  Montana  counties,  and  it  is  about 
tenth  smallest  in  population,  which,  according  to  United  States  Census 
report  of  1920,  is  3,949  souls.  The  mean  temperature  of  the  county  is 


IN  THE  LUMBER  COUNTRY 

in  the  neighborhood  of  45.2,  and  the  growing  season  is  from  n  to  132 
days.  Lands  in  the  cutover  region  sell  at  from  $10  to  $15  an  acre,  and 
in  the  prairie  sections  the  price  ranges  from  $20  to  $100  an  acre. 

The  educational  system  of  Sanders  is  well  organized  and  of  a  high 
order,  and  in  addition  to  the  rural  and  graded  schools  of  the  county, 
there  are  three  high  schools,  those  at  Thompson  Falls  and  Plains  being 
accredited  to  the  four-year  term  and  that  at  Paradise  for  a  two-year  term. 

Sanders  County,  as  before  noted,  can  compete  with  any  section  of 
the  country  as  an  outdoor  land.  Numerous  well-stocked  trout  streams, 
wide  areas  of  virgin  forests  inhabited  by  deer,  elk,  cougar,  bear,  wild- 
cats, mountain  lions,  bighorn  and  mountain  goats  offer  the  best  of  hunt- 
ing and  fishing,  and  camp  sites  at  beautiful  mountain  lakes  are  easily 
accessible  by  national  forest  trails.  Hot  springs,  twenty  miles  from 
Perma,  on  the  Northern  Pacific,  and  located  on  the  former  Flathead 


824  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Indian  reservation,  is  noted  for  its  medicinal  waters  and  mud  baths.  The 
springs,  located  midway  between  the  towns  of  Camas  and  Hot  Springs, 
have  been  leased  by  the  Department  of  the  Interior  to  a  company  which 
is  developing  them  as  a  health  and  pleasure  resort,  the  lease  including 
more  than  100  acres.  Plans  made  by  the  leasing  company  included  the 
building  of  an  electric  line  connecting  the  springs  with  the  railroad  and 
extending  beyond  the  springs  about  forty  miles.  The  mud  baths  have 
gained  something  more  than  a  local  reputation  as  a  cure  for  rheumatism, 
and  unlike  the  great  majority  of  baths  of  this  kind  throw  out  hot  mud 
which  runs  away  with  the  water.  The  waters  of -Hot  Springs,  which 
are  available  throughout  the  year,  have  been  found  beneficial  in  the  treat- 
ment of  venereal  diseases  and  intestinal  troubles. 

TOWNS  IN  SANDERS  COUNTY 

Thompson  Falls,  the  county  seat  of  Sanders  County,  is  a  town  of  508 
people,  according  to  the  1920  United  States  Census  report,  and  is  advan- 
tageously located  on  the  Northern  Pacific  and  Clark's  Fork,  102  miles 
northwest  of  Missoula,  and  in  the  geographical  center  of  the  county.  It 
is  a  thriving  little  community,  with  a  good  waterworks  system,  and  is  in 
the  heart  of  the  mining  and  lumbering  districts.  It  maintains  two  bank- 
ing institutions,  two  weekly  newspapers,  a  good  hotel  and  a  number  of 
retail  establishments,  in  addition  to  having  a  graded  and  a  high  school 
and  several  churches. 

Four  miles  east  of  the  Thompson  River,  on  which  Thompson  Falls 
is  situated,  is  located  an  irrigation  project.  The  Montana  Power  Com- 
pany has  made  a  big  hydroelectric  installation  at  Thompson  Falls,  the 
power  being  used  to  supply  the  Chicago,  Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railroad. 
Plains,  in  the  productive  Plains  Valley,  is  the  outlet  for  a  large  portion 
of  the  former  Flathead  reservation  region,  and  the  center  of  a  big  live- 
stock country,  in  addition  to  which  some  of  the  finest  farms  of  the  county 
are  adjacent  to  this  town.  Plains  is  also  noted  as  having  the  longest' 
bridge  in  the  state  of  Montana,  crossing  the  Clark's  Fork.  Paradise, 
situated  southeast  of  Plains,  is  a  division  point  of  the  Northern  Pacific. 
Perma  and  Dixon  are  agricultural  centers  in  the  eastern  end  of  the 
county,  and  Heron,  Noxon,  Trout  Creek,  Whitepine,  Alger  and  Belknap 
in  the  western  end. 

SHERIDAN  COUNTY 

While  ranking  thirty-seventh  as  to  size  among  the  counties  of  Mon- 
tana, Sheridan  County  is  third  as  to  population.  This  is  due  to  the  fact 
that,  in  proportion  to  its  size,  it  probably  has  more  small  towns  than  any 
other  county  in  the  state,  and  that  its  agricultural  districts  are  also  well 
populated.  This  county,  named  in  honor  of  the  brilliant  American  mil- 
itary officer,  Gen.  Philip  Henry  Sheridan,  was  formerly  one  of  the  larger 
bodies  of  the  state,  including  all  of  the  territory  now  included  in  Roose- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  825 

velt  County,  and  a  part  of  what  is  now  Daniels  County,  but  with  the 
formation  of  the  latter  county,  in  1919,  Sheridan's  area  was  cut  to  1,758 
square  miles.  Its  population  in  1920,  according  to  census  reports,  was 
I3.847- 

Sheridan  County  occupies  the  extreme  northeastern  corner  of  Mon- 
tana, and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Saskatchewan  country  of  Can- 
ada, on  the  east  by  the  North  Dakota  line,  on  the  south  by  Roosevelt 
County  and  on  the  west  by  Daniels  County.  There  are  no  mountains, 
three-fourths  of  the  county's  area  is  cultivable,  and  there  is  very  little 
irrigated  land,  non-irrigated  crops  being  raised  almost  exclusively.  While 
the  county  has  other  potential  resources,  the  value  of  which  has  not  as 
yet  been  determined,  it  is  exclusively  an  agricultural  and  stock  raising 
community.  Flax,  wheat,  oats,  rye,  barley,  corn  and  hay  form  the  prin- 
cipal crops,  while  some  millet  and  buckwheat  are  raised,  and  potatoes  and 
other  root  crops  and  garden  stuff  generally  do  well.  Natural  soil  irriga- 
tion is  secured  from  the  Big  Muddy  River,  which  rises  in  Canada, 
traverses  the  county  and  eventually  empties  into  the  Missouri,  and  into 
which  small  creeks  empty  every  few  miles.  Improved  non-irrigated  land 
averages  $40  an  acre,  unimproved  non-irrigated  from  $15  to  $25  an  acre, 
and  grazing  land  about  $10. 

In  every  locality  of  Sheridan  County  lignite  coal  is  found,  furnishing 
an  easily  securable  and  economical  fuel.  Several  structures  have  been 
reported  as  having  oil  possibilities,  but  these,  to  date,  have  not  been  de- 
veloped. There  is  no  commercial  timber  in  the  county,  although  cotton- 
wood  is  to  be  found  along  the  streams.  Agriculturally,  Sheridan  County 
is  well  developed,  and  also  has  plenty  of  elevators  and  flour  mills,  but 
there  are  openings  still  to  be  found  for  other  industries  that  are  dependent 
upon  agriculture. 

Sheridan  County  is  served  by  both  the  Great  Northern  and  Soo  lines. 
A  Great  Northern  branch  leaves  the  main  line  at  Bainville  and  runs  north 
through  Roosevelt  County  to  Plentywood,  and  there  swings  west,  its 
present  terminus  being  Scobey,  the  county  seat  of  Daniels  County.  The 
Soo  line  has  a  branch  that  enters  Sheridan  County  from  North  Dakota, 
a  few  miles  south  of  the  International  boundary,  and  runs  west  to  White- 
tail.  There  are  good  graded  highways  in  the  county.  Being  purely  an 
agricultural  region,  without  mountains  to  provide  scenic  beauty,  Sher- 
idan County  does  not  offer  the  attractions  to  tourists  that  are  to  be  found 
in  other  sections  of  the  state.  Its  people  do  not  depend  upon  the  tourists 
for  a  livelihood,  being  for  the  main  part  content  to  devote  themselves 
to  agriculture,  an  industry  upon  which  is  based  the  county's  assessed 
valuation  of  $30,900,064. 

In  the  matter  of  education,  Sheridan  County  is  well  equipped,  having 
good  graded  schools  throughout  its  territory  and  also  maintaining  four 
accredited  high  schools,  the  one  at  Plentywood  being  accredited  for  the 
four-year  term.  There  are  approximately  thirty  churches  in  the  county, 
both  Catholic  and  Protestant. 

Plentywood,  the  county  seat,  is  located  on  the  Great  Northern  Rail- 


826  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

way,  and  is  a  flourishing  community  of  1,838  population.  Medicine  Lake 
and  Antelope  are  other  leading  communities,  and  the  county  is  thickly 
sprinkled  with  smaller  towns  which  serve  as  trading  centers  for  the  sur- 
rounding rural  localities. 


SILVER  BOW  COUNTY   (BUTTE) 

Within  the  borders  of  Silver  Bow  County  has  been  developed  one 
of  the  greatest  mining  districts  of  the  world,  and  its  claims  to  major 
importance  are  further  reinforced  by  its  possession  of  the  City  of  Butte, 
the  metropolis  of  Montana.  It  is  a  county  of  topographical  and  geological 
abruptness.  Situated  in  what  may  be  termed  the  south-central-western 
portion  of  Montana,  Silver  Bow  County  has,  along  its  eastern  Boundary, 
the  main  range  of  the  Rocky  Mountains ;  the  Highland  Mountains  and 
the  Big  Hole  River  are  at  the  southern  boundary,  and  on  the  west  its 
irregular  boundary  is  marked  by  hills  and  mountains  that  separate  it 
from  Deer  Lodge  County.  It  was  named  for  the  principal  creek  in  the 
county,  a  few  miles  west  of  Butte,  which  takes  its  course  in  the  gen- 
eral conformation  of  a  bow  and  is  geographically  notable  as  the  ultimate 
eastern  source  of  the  north  fork  of  the  Columbia  River.  The  county  is 
of  triangular  shape,  has  an  area  of  698  square  miles,  and  its  altitude 
varies  from  a  minimum  of  5,000  feet  to  approximately  10,000  feet 
above  sea  level,  as  represented  in  Red  Mountain  and  Table  Mountain.  The 
high  altitude  of  the  county  places  limitations  upon  plant  growth  within 
its  confines,  and  while  farming  and  truck  gardening  are  conducted  in 
a  restricted  way  and  the  cultivation  of  certain  varieties  of  flowers  has 
been  successful,  the  prominence  of  the  county  rests  almost  exclusively 
upon  its  great  mining  enterprises. 

COUNTY  AND  CITY  ALMOST  COEXTENSIVE 

Though  Silver  Bow  County  is  the  smallest  and  most  compact  of 
the  Montana  counties  and  its  population  is  almost  confined  to  Butte, 
it  has  the  distinction  of  being  the  wealthiest  and  most  populous  in  the 
state.  Walkerville,  Meaderville  and  Centerville  are  attractive  suburbs 
of  Butte  and  nearly  the  entire  population  of  the  county  is  found  within 
a  radius  of  five  miles  from  the  business  center  of  the  city  itself. 

The  census  of  1920  gives  to  Silver  Bow  County  a  population  of 
60,313,  and  to  Butte,  the  county  seat,  a  population  of  41,611.  The 
county,  with  its  present  boundaries,  was  created  on  the  i6th  of  Teb- 
ruary,  1881.  The  history  of  the  county,  as  may  be  inferred,  practically 
coincides  with  and  is  largely  confined  to  that  of  the  City  of  Butte. 
While  the  gold  mining  activities  of  the  pioneer  days  were  centered 
at  other  points  in  Montana,  Silver  Bow  County  and  Butte  were  destined 
to  eclipse  all  the  sections  of  the  state  in  this  line  of  industrial  enter- 
prise. Other  chapters  of  this  publication  give  adequate  data  concerning 

827 


828 

the  general  development  of  mining  enterprise  in  this  county,  but  it  may 
consistently  be  said  that  the  history  of  mines  and  mining  in  Silver  Bow 
differs  materially  from  that  of  any  other  mining  district  in  the  world. 
The  hills  of  Silver  Bow  County  have  given  gigantic  tribute  from  their 
caverned  depths,  and  the  world  has  known  of  and  profited  by  the  in- 
dustrialism that  has  been  effectively  staged  in  the  passing  years. 

BUTTE,  A  WORLD  FAMED  MINING  CENTER 

In  the  pioneer  days  gold  alone  had  lure  for  the  venturesome  pros- 
pectors and  miners  of  Montana,  and  thus  Butte  first  gained  industrial 
recognition  when  a  placer  gold-mining  camp  was  there  established.  Later 
the  production  of  silver  from  the  mines  of  the  district  held  first  rank, 
and  finally  Butte  gained  foremost  prestige  in  the  production  of  copper. 
In  later  years  it  has  been  found  that  commercial  quantities  of  zinc  and 
manganese  add  to  the  noble  mineral  wealth  of  the  county,  in  connection 
with  silver  and  copper.  Fully  justified  are  the  following  statements : 
"Butte  is  in  many  ways  the  greatest  single  metal-producing  city  of  the 
world,  and,  according  to  the  records  of  the  United  States  Geological 
Survey,  the  mines  of  Butte  produce  more  silver,  copper  and  zinc  than 
the  mines  of  any  other  single  mining  district  in  the  world.  The  approxi- 
mate production  of  silver  in  1919  was  $13,290,000;  of  copper,  $33,687,000; 
and  of  zinc,  $11,000,000.  But  1919  was  a  sub-normal  year,  because  of 
labor  difficulties  and  the  low  price  of  copper.  Normally  the  mines  of 
Butte  produce  far  over  the  hundred  millon  mark  in  these  three  metals, 
and  in  addition  a  great  deal  of  gold,  manganese  and  lead  is  extracted 
from  the  Butte  ores.  The  normal  underground  forces  and  surface  forces 
of  workmen  in  the  Butte  mines  average  between  15,000  and  20,000 
men.  Almost  the  entire  copper,  zinc  and  silver  production  of  Montana 
comes  from  the  mines  of  Butte,  as  well  as  a  great  percentage  of  the 
manganese  and  gold  mined  in  the  state.  For  years  Butte  has  been  known 
as  one  of  the  most  unique  cities  in  the  world  from  the  sightseer's  stand- 
point, but  its  wonderful  mines  have  also  been  the  lodestone  that  has 
drawn  thousands  of  scientists  to  Montana.  Some  of  the  mines  are  now 
approximately  4,000  feet  deep,  the  mechanical  equipment  is  the  best  money 
can  buy,  and  the  scientific  investigations  and  experiments  that  have  been 
successfully  carried  on  by  the  mine  operators  have  been  copied  the  world 
over." 

Co-ordinated  in  every  particular  are  the  records  of  development  and 
progress  in  Silver  Bow  County  and  the  City  of  Butte,  and  there  can  be 
no  possible  way,  nor  is  there  need  for,  differentiating  these  records.  The 
county  and  city  are  one  in  an  historical  and  industrial  sense. 

EARLY  HISTORY  OF  MINING 

Into  the  early  history  of  mining  in  Silver  Bow  County  it  is  not  neces- 
sary to  enter  details  in  this  connection,  for  earlier  chapters  than  this  have 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  829 

amply  covered  the  field  and  the  province  of  the  present  work  is  rather 
to  reveal  the  present  than  the  past.  A  brief  resume  of  initial  activities, 
however,  may  be  offered.  In  the  year  1856  Caleb  E.  Irvine,  accompanied 
by  other  prospectors,  discovered  signs  of  gold  in  Dublin  Gulch,  near  the 
present  Montana  metropolis.  In  the  locality  they  found  also  a  prospect 
hole  and  other  evidences  of  previous  visitation,  probably  by  hunters  or 
trappers,  who  mistook  copper  for  gold.  In  1864  gold  placer  camps  were 
to  be  found  in  the  vicinity  of  Butte,  but  not  a  single  house  marked  the 
site  of  the  future  metropolis.  The  decline  of  placer  mining  began  in 
1869.  In  these  years  none  had  conception  of  the  value  and  importance 
of  the  silver,  copper  and  other  deposits  that  lay  hidden  in  the  hills  of  this 
district.  Joe  Ramsdell  sunk  the  first  shaft,  shipped  the  first  copper  ore, 
and  demonstrated  the  existence  of  copper  in  paying  quantities,  Henry 
Porter  having  located  the  Parrot  mine  on  the  ist  of  October  of  that 
year.  Ramsdell  named  his  shaft  Parrot  No.  2,  and  in  1866  he  erected 
a  little  smelter  which  was  the  first  in  the  Butte  district.  Expediency 
largely  ruled  in  the  early  operations,  gold,  silver  and  copper  each  playing 
a  part  in  the  progressive  drama  staged  among  the  sullen  hills  of  Silver 
Bow  County. 

W.  L.  Farlin  was  among  the  first  miners  to  "work  Butte  quartz  for 
the  gold  and  silver  it  contained;  this  was  in  the  year  1865  and  the  ore 
was  shipped  down  the  Missouri  River. 

THE  LATE  EDWARD  HICKEY 

Of  a  later  period,  but  still  early,  was  Edward  Hickey,  who,  with  a 
brother,  located  a  claim  that  developed  into  the  great  Anaconda  prop- 
erties. Mr.  Hickey,  who  died  at  Butte,  on  April  25,  1921,  was  one  of 
the  first  of  the  old  miners  to  believe  in  copper  and  the  great  future  of  his 
home  city.  A  New  Yorker  by  birth,  in  1867  he  left  the  lumber  camps 
of  Wisconsin  for  Butte,  whither  his  brothers  had  preceded  him.  He 
staked-  an  unusual  number  of  claims,  such  as  the  St.  Lawrence  (he  was 
born  in  St.  Lawrence  County,  New  York),  the  Anaconda,  the  Diamond, 
the  Rock  Island  and  the  Tuolumne.  With  one  of  his  brothers,  he  sold 
the  Anaconda  to  Marcus  Daly  for  a  small  amount,  and  it  was  some  years 
before  he  made  material  progress  in  his  mining  ventures.  From  the  sale 
of  the  Lizzie,  he  made  $150,000.  Not  only  did  he  spend  several  fortunes 
in  furthering  mining  development,  but  he  also  invested  in  the  banking 
business.  At  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  president  of  the  Tuolumne 
Mining  Company  and  had  been  president  of  the  old  State  Savings  Bank 
of  Butte.  Mr.  Hickey  was  one  of  the  most  prominent  of  the  old-time 
prospectors,  was  honest  and  popular,  and  during  most  of  the  half  century 
of  his  residence  in  Butte  was  considered  a  successful  business  man. 
He  was  not  in  the  class  with  Marcus  Daly  and  William  A.  Clark,  but 
was  among  the  few  working  citizens  of  tough  fiber  and  strong  character, 
who,  through  the  "tips  and  downs"  of  Butte,  never  lost  faith  in  her 
ultimate  progress. 


830 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 
PROGRESS  OF  BUTTE  AS  A  CITY 


The  period  between  1869  and  1875  was  one  of  depressing  influences 
in  and  about  Butte.  In  1870  the  population  of  Butte  was  estimated  at 
350,  the  original  town  site  having  comprised  180  acres.  In  1880  the 
population  had  increased  to  nearly  5,000,  but  at  that  time  the  future 
metropolis  had  not  even  one  graded  street. 

The  town  site  of  Butte  was  laid  out  in  1867  and  patented  in  1876. 
Following  in  the  wake  of  placer  mining,  lode  silver  mining  operations 
began  to  assume  importance  and  to  attract  foreign  capital.  Then  came 
the  discovery  of  the  great  wealth  of  the  copper  deposits  of  this  district, 
and  upon  copper  was  based  the  permanent  growth  of  the  Montana  metrop- 


*•' 


ANACONDA  HILL  AND  VICINITY,  BUTTE 

olis.  Progress  was  stimulated  by  the  building  of  the  Utah  &  Northern 
Railroad,  over  the  line  of  which  the  first  passenger  train  arrived  in 
South  Butte  late  in  December,  1881,  and  in  1883  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railroad  was  completed  and  began  to  function  to  the  definite  benefit  of 
Butte.  Transitions  and  changes,  every  increasing  industrial  activity,  de- 
velopment and  progress  on  every  side — the  elements  of  permanency  con- 
tinued to  manifest  themselves  more  and  more  as  Butte  pursued  the 
course  of  her  industrial  destiny. 

The  city  is  established  on  the  western  slope  of  the  main  range  of 
the  Rocky  Mountains  and  extends  from  the  top  of  the  celebrated  Butte 
hill,  which  gives  the  city  its  name,  to  the  wide  plain  that  stretches  at 
the  base  of  this  hill.  The  site  is  one  of  most  picturesque  aspects,  with 
far  views  of  hills  and  mountain  peaks  and  mighty  distances.  Silver 
Bow  Creek  wends  its  way  through  the  middle  of  the  adjacent  valley, 
beautiful  homes,  business  buildings  of  the  most  modern  metropolitan 
type,  and  normally  the  hum  of  productive  industry,  mines  and  mills, 
mark  Butte  as  the  leading  center  of  a  great  commonwealth. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  831 

The  facilities  afforded  by  four  transcontinental  railways  have  natur- 
ally given  Butte  precedence  as  the  leading  jobbing  and  distributing  center 
of  Montana,  and  the  wholesale  trade  of  the  city  is  of  most  diversified 
and  important  character.  The  main  railway  lines  of  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee &  St.  Paul,  and  the  Northern  Pacific,  the  Oregon  Short  Line 
division  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railway  and  the  Havre  division  of  the 
Great  Northern  give  Butte  direct  shipping  connections  with  every  part 
of  Montana,  Idaho  and  Wyoming,  besides  which  the  short  line  of  the 
Butte,  Anaconda  &  Pacific  Railway,  connecting  Butte  and  Anaconda, 
has  a  volume  of  freight  tonnage  that  makes  its  service  one  of  much 
importance.  Many  leading  Eastern  concerns  maintain  offices  and  dis- 
tributing headquarters  in  Butte,  and  a  promise  of  the  near  future  is 
the  construction  here  of  the  largest  live-stock  yards  between  St.  Paul 
and  Spokane. 

The  educational  system  of  Butte  and  Silver  Bow  County  has  been 
maintained  at  the  highest  modern  standard.  The  city  has  twenty  public 
schools,  with  fine  buildings,  with  a  corps  of  more  than  300  teachers  and 
an  enrollment  of  fully  10,000  pupils.  Excellent  parochial  schools  con- 
tribute also  to  the  educational  precedence  of  Butte,  and  in  the  city  also 
are  maintained  well  ordered  business  colleges,  as  well  as  several  private 
musical  schools. 

THE  STATE  SCHOOL  OF  MINES 

The  crown  of  the  educational  system  at  Butte  is  represented  in  the 
State  School  of  Mines,  which  is  a  department  of  the  University  of 
Montana.  This  admirable  institution,  the  service  and  work  of  which 
are  of  the  highest  technical  standard,  was  founded  in  1895,  and  in  the 
following  year  was  initiated  the  erection  of  the  main  building.  The 
lands  appropriated  for  the  founding  and  maintaining  of  the  school  were 
used  as  a  basis  for  the  issuing  of  bonds  amounting  to  $120,000,  and 
in  1899  an  additional  appropriation  of  $26,300  was  made  for  equip- 
ment and  maintenance.  In  connection  with  the  State  School  of  Mines 
is  maintained  the  Montana  State  Bureau  of  Mines  &  Metallurgy,  which 
was  established  in  conformity  with  a  legislative  enactment  in  1919,  the 
director  of  this  department  being  appointed  by  the  State  Board  of  Edu- 
cation, under  whose  direction  the  various  reports  of  the  bureau  are  dis- 
tributed. A  fund  of  $20,000  for  the  maintenance  of  the  bureau  was 
appropriated  for  the  biennium  ending  February  28,  1921. 

The  State  School  of  Mines  functions  exclusively  in  the  preparation 
of  young  men  for  the  mining  profession,  and  prior  to  the  World  war 
90  per  cent  of  its  graduates  were  engaged  in  engineering  work— many 
in  positions  of  major  responsibility.  An  official  bulletin  gives  the  fol- 
lowing statement:  "Although  the  distinction  between  a  purely  vocational 
school  and  an  engineering  college  has  always  been  kept  clearly  in  mind, 
the  school  has  given  its  students  a  practical  knowledge  of  mining  sub- 
jects as  well  as  a  thorough  education  in  theoretical  principles.  The 
fundamental  subjects  for  all  forms  of  engineering  are  given,  and  special 


832 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


emphasis  is  laid  upon  the  three  main  branches  of  mining — geology,  min- 
ing and  milling,  and  metallurgy.  The  buildings  and  equipment  of  the 
school  are  modern  in  every  respect,  and  the  institution  is  one  of  maximum 
practical  value  in  connection  with  educational  work  in  the  state.  The 
equipment  at  the  present  time  represents  an  appropriated  outlay  of  $75,600. 
The  departments  of  the  school  are  as  here  designated:  Mathematics, 
mechanics,  chemistry,  metallurgy,  geology  and  mineralogy." 

Butte  has  its  due  complement  of  churches  of  all  denominations.  It 
has  a  well  organized  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  and  its  full 
quota  of  substantial  fraternal  and  civic  organizations.  Its  several  hos- 


BUTTE  PUMPING  PLANT 

pitals  are  metropolitan  in  equipment  and  service,  and  its  seven  banking 
institutions  have  capital  and  surplus  in  excess  of  $2,000,000,  with  assets, 
in  1920,  aggregating  nearly  $30,000,000. 

Butte  is  on  the  main  Park-to-Park  highway,  the  Yellowstone  trail,  and 
the  proposed  international  highway  to  connect  Utah  and  Canada.  Butte 
has  four  hotels  of  the  first  rank,  and  theatrical,  musical  and  other  enter- 
tainments are  offered  in  buildings  that  were  erected  for  the  purpose  and 
represent  the  best  standards  of  architecture  and  equipment. 

In  the  vicinity  of  Butte  are  found  thirty  or  more  model  dairy  farms, 
and  the  city  is  the  distributing  center  of  a  widely  extended  farm  area. 
Public  utilities  in  the  city  are  giving  effective  service  and  are  of  metro- 
politan standard.  The  local  newspaper  press  has  effectively  represented 
the  interests  of  the  city  and  state  and  the  leading  daily  papers,  with 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  833 

Associated  Press  service,  challenge  comparison  with  those  issued  in  East- 
ern cities  of  far  greater  population. 

COLUMBIA  GARDENS 

Provisions  for  rest  and  recreation  are  not  lacking  in  the  Montana 
metropolis,  and  the  city  takes  special  pride  in  its  beautiful  park  and 
playground  known  as  Columbia  Gardens.  This  is  a  tract  of  about  fifty 
acres,  in  a  canyon  a  short  distance  east  of  the  city,  and  for  the  develop- 
ment of  this  idyllic  resort  the  city  and  state  are  indebted  mainly  to  the 
generosity  and  loyal  interest  of  Hon.  William  A.  Clark.  Competent 
judges  have  pronounced  Columbia  Gardens  among  the  world's  great  moun- 
tain parks,  and  it  is  one  of  the  few  beauty  spots  on  the  continent  to 
which  no  admission  fee  is  charged.  Attractive  summer  homes  have  been 
established  by  Butte  citizens  in  the  sloping  country  adjacent  to  the  Co 
lumbia  Gardens.  The  resort  is  easily  accessible  to  Butte  by  street  cars 
and  it  has  realized  Senator  Clark's  ambition  to  afford  a  place  of  recrea- 
tion and  amusement  for  all  classes  of  citizens. 

OTHER  MINING  DETAILS 

Butte  has  been  built  on  mines  and  mining,  and  the  industry  must 
continue  to  set  the  city  apart  as  a  great  industrial  center  for  years  to 
come,  notwithstanding  the  temporary  depression  which  has  come  in  the 
train  of  the  World's  war.  Because  of  the  paramount  importance  of 
mining  development  in  the  Butte  district,  data  concerning  comparatively 
late  activities  may  consistently  be  given  in  this  connection.  In  1864, 
the  year  in  which  original  discoveries  were  made  at  Silver  Bow  Village, 
William  Allison,  Jr.,  and  G.  O.  Humphreys  had  pushed  on  up  the  stream 
and  pitched  their  camp  on  the  present  site  of  Butte.  This  statement  is 
taken  from  an  interesting  historical  narrative  written  by  Henry  C.  Free- 
man, of  Butte,  and  published  in  1900.  From  the  same  source  is  here 
drawn  further  information.  At  the  time  of  the  arrival  of  Messrs.  Alli- 
son and  Humphreys  there  were  no  evidences  of  mining  having  been  pre- 
viously carried  on  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Butte,  save  that  a  hole 
was  found  that  probably  represented  the  excavation  made  by  Caleb  E. 
Irvine,  as  noted  in  an  earlier  paragraph  of  this  chapter.  Dennis  Leary 
and  H.  H.  Porter  soon  afterward  appeared  on  the  scene,  and  as  rich 
placers  began  to  be  uncovered  there  came  an  influx  of  prospectors  and 
gold-seekers  from  the  older  camps  of  the  state.  At  this  time  Butte  the 
village  began  and  was  given  its  name.  Here,  in  1864,  was  erected  the 
first  wooden  house,  on  what  is  now  Quartz  Street.  In  1866-7  the  first 
school  was  established  at  Butte,  with  Colonel  Wood  in  charge.  Before 
the  close  of  1866  placer  mining  gave  out,  and  unsuccessful  efforts  to 
flux  ores  were  made.  The  law  of  compensation  came  to  the  fore  at  this 
time,  for  it  was  through  the  medium  of  the  discovery  and  development 
of  other  metals  than  gold  and  silver  that  Butte  was  destined  to  rise  to 
greatness. 


834  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

In  the  year  1882  came  the  discovery  of  the  great  copper  body  of  the 
Anaconda  mine,  and  the  effect  was  revolutionary.  The  following  state- 
ments are  worthy  of  perpetuation  in  this  connection :  "It  was  this  event 
finally  and  completely  established  the  permanency  of  the  camp  (Butte). 
The  advent  of  the  railroad  in  the  previous  year  had  removed  all  obstacles 
theretofore  presented,  and  with  the  revelation  that  underlying  all  the 
mines  operating  along  the  hill  outside  of  the  Walkerville  district  was  an 
enormous  deposit  of  copper,  came  Butte's  second  transition  to  a  camp  of 
a  new  character,  which  doubled  and  trebled  the  importance  of  the  pre- 
vious one, — and  old  scenes  were  re-enacted  upon  a  larger  scale.  *  *  * 
Both  the  western  and  eastern  slopes  of  the  hill  (lying  adjacent  to  the 
Anaconda)  were  now  subject  to  the  most  careful  scrutiny,  and  many  mines 
sprang  into  existence.  At  the  eastern  extremity  of  the  hill  had  sprung 
up  the  town  of  Meaderville  (named  for  Charles  T.  Header,  a  California 
Forty-niner  who  came  here  in  1876,  purchased  undeveloped  claims  and, 
in  1881,  erected  the  Bell  smelter).  Almost  without  exception  it  was 
discovered  that  in  the  mines  of  the  hill  proper,  or  that  part  lying  south 
of  Walkerville,  the  surface  ones  were  richer  in  silver,  but  as  depth  was 
gained  and  the  water  level  passed,  their  character  was  changed  over- 
whelmingly to  copper." 

In  1880  the  silver  mines  of  Butte  began  to  attract  trans-Atlantic 
capital,  the  Alice,  the  Lexington  and  one  or  two  other  mines  being  ap- 
preciable producers  of  silver,  the  value  of  which  increased  with  the  re- 
sumption of  specie  payments,  incidental  to  the  passing  of  the  Bland- 
Allison  act,  in  1878.  The  result  was  that  Butte  became  the  liveliest 
mining  camp  in  the  world,  "with  more  money  per  capita  than  any  other 
place  of  its  population  in  the  universe."  At  the  beginning  of  1880  the 
Colorado  and  Meaderville  smelters  were  in  operation,  and  many  silver 
mills  contributed  to  the  industrial  life  of  the  locality.  The  year  1880 
likewise  marked  the  creating  of  Silver  Bow  County,  formerly  a  part 
of  Deer  Lodge  County,  and  Butte  became  a  full  fledged  city.  Henry 
Jacobs  was  the  first  mayor  and  Charles  S.  Warren  the  first  police  mag- 
istrate. 

Marcus  Daly  came  to  Butte  in  the  summer  of  1876,  and  it  has  fit- 
tingly been  said  that  his  "memory  must  ever  be  associated  with  the  rise, 
the  development  and  the  fulfillment  of  the  copper  business  of  this  state." 
Mr.  Daly  was  soon  followed  by  William  A.  Clark,  and  the  activities  of 
these  industrial  giants  of  Montana  have  become  an  integral  part  of  the 
history  of  the  state  and  that  of  copper  production.  With  the  comple- 
tion of  the  Utah  &  Northern  Railroad,  in  1881,  and  the  Northern  Pacific, 
in  1883,  the  Butte  district  gained  an  undesirable  class  of  citizens,  and 
criminal  activities  required  drastic  subduing  measures,  for  Butte  had  no 
intention  of  gaining  reputation  as  a  "bad  town."  In  1881-2  the  Alice 
mine  was  sunk  to  the  5oo-foot  level,  but  as  yet  the  great  wealth  of  copper 
in  the  district  was  but  half  suspected.  The  old  Lexington  mill  was  in 
active  operation,  at  the  corner  of  Broadway  and  Arizona  Street,  with 
Judge  A.  J.  Davis  as  its  owner.  This  eventually  gave  place  to  a  larger 
mill,  located  between  Walkerville  and  Centerville.  The  late  '8os  were 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  835 

marked  by  the  erection  of  the  courthouse,  a  two-story  and  basement 
structure,  at  Butte,  and  also  the  city  hall,  which  was  to  cost  $90,000, 
but  in  the  building  of  which,  exclusive  of  the  basement,  the  sum  of 
$160,000  was  expended.  The  Free  Public  Library  occupies  the  basement 
and  ground  floor  of  the  city  hall  building,  and  has  been  wisely  developed 
and  managed.  The  late  Charles  S.  Warren  was  one  of  the  founders 
of  this  uplifting  institution. 

Fourteen  years  prior  to  the  building  of  the  Anaconda  smelter,  Joe 
Ramsdell  and  his  associates  built,  near  the  Parrot  mine,  a  small  furnace 
for  the  smelting  of  copper,  and,  in  the  face  of  general  ridicule,  smelted 
about  four  tons  of  copper,  which  was  sold  in  St.  Louis  for  28  cents  a 
pound.  The  little  plant  was  then  sold  to  Charles  Hendrie,  who  soon 
abandoned  it.  The  Colorado  smelter  was  the  first  successful  copper 
smelter  in  the  district,  with  a  capacity  of  25  tons,  and  with  ore  furnished 
by  the  Gagnon  mine. 

Eight  silver  mills  were  in  operation  prior  to  1880.  In  1875  W.  L. 
Farlin  erected  the  second  mill  for  the  reduction  of  silver-bearing  quartz, 
this,  known  as  the  Dexter  mill,  having  later  come  into  possession  of 
W.  A.  Clark  and  having  finally  been  dismantled.  John  Howe  placed 
the  Centennial  mill  in  operation  in  1876,  this  having  been  the  third  silver 
mill.  The  year  1878  brought  overland  from  Salt  Lake  City  the  equip- 
ment for  the  old  Alice  mill,  which  used  ore  from  the  Rainbow  ledge. 
The  output  of  the  eight  silver  mills  for  1878  was  about  $1,000,000, 
Butte  at  this  time  was  the  richest  mining  camp  in  the  world,  and  growth 
and  development  along  all  lines  were  vigorous.  The  Butte  Miner,  the 
first  newspaper  of  the  future  Montana  metropolis,  was  founded  in  1876, 
with  George  B.  Johnston  as  editor  and  H.  T.  Brown  as  manager.  It 
was  a  success. 

Up  to  1870  the  placer  mines  of  the  Butte  district  yielded  $9,000,000. 
From  1870  to  1880  the  quartz  mines  yielded  $3,000,000  and  the  placer 
mines  $1,000,000.  From  1880  to  1885  the  quartz  mines  yielded  $26,- 
606,600.  Thus  the  total  for  the  period  1870-85  was  $39,606,600. 

With  repeal  of  the  silver-purchasing  clause  of  the  Sherman  Act  of 
1890,  there  came;  in  1893,  a  veritable  slump  in  silver  production  in  Silver 
Bow  County,  and  the  Butte  mines  and  mills  closed  down.  Many  of  the 
employes  in  the  mines  and  mills  were  then  engaged  by  owners  of  copper 
properties,  and  the  production  of  copper  was  materially  increased.  This 
is  shown  in  the  following  tabulation  of  copper  production  in  the  Butte 
district  : 

1891  ...........................  $  23,435,000 

1892  ..........  -  ...........................  26,500,000 

l8Qo        ................................  24,819,000 

''' 


1894      ....-  .................................. 

!895    .......................................  •     30,880,000 

Total   .  ......................  $133,123,000 


836  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

The  output  for  1896  was  estimated  at  approximately  $32,000,000. 
The  total  product  of  the  Butte  placers  and  of  the  gold,  silver  and  copper 
bearing  quartz  of  the  district  from  1865  to  1890  aggregated  $135,502,287, 
and  from  1890  to  December  31,  1896,  the  aggregate  was  $165,123,000. 

Butte  produced,  in  1900,  about  one-forth  of  America's  copper  out- 
put and  one-seventh  of  the  world's  production.  Butte  has  paid  out  in 
freight  more  than  $9,000,000  a  year,  and  the  railroads  entering  the  city 
have  handled  annually  17,300,000,000  pounds  of  freight  furnished  by 
Butte  alone. 

Since  the  inception  of  copper  production  at  Butte,  Silver  Bow  County 
has  given,  up  to  1915,  the  following  output:  Copper,  5,868,515,042 
pounds;  silver,  275,118,138  ounces;  and  gold,  1,270,739  ounces,  with  re- 
spective valuations  as  follows :  Copper,  $865,794,271 ;  silver,  $191,765,310 ; 
gold,  $26,268,516.  This  makes  a  grand  total  of  $1,083,828,097.  The 
figures  showing  the  production  since  1915  have  been  given  in  the  general 
chapter  on  copper  mining. 

While  the  great  Anaconda  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  represent  the 
dominant  mining  interest  in  Butte,  a  goodly  number  of  independent 
companies  have  successfully  operated  in  this  district,  including  the  fol- 
lowing: North  Butte,  Butte  &  Superior,  East  Butte,  Davis-Daly,  Butte- 
Alex  Scott;  Butte-Ballaklava,  Pilot-Butte,  Tuolumne,  Rainbow,  Butte  & 
London,  Butte  &  Great  Falls,  Bullwhacker  and  Butte-Duluth.  Other 
corporate  and  individual  concerns  of  importance  have  operated  success- 
fully in  this  great  copper  field. 

To  Captain  A.  B.  Wolwin  is  given  the  honor  of  being  the  pioneer  in 
the  mining  of  the  large  low-grade  ore  deposits  on  and  near  the  surface 
southeast  of  Butte,  and  the  treatment  of  such  ore  by  the  leaching  process. 

Under  normal  conditions  Butte's  mines  have  produced  annually  about 
$1,000  for  each  man,  woman  and  child  of  the  city's  population,  and  there 
have  been  fully  12,000  men  employed  in  the  mines  and  mills,  with  a  pay 
roll  represented  in  $1,500,000  a  month.  The  underground  mine  work- 
ings of  Butte  show  the  marvelous  aggregate  of  more  than  2,700  miles. 
The  Anaconda  mine,  on  Anaconda  Hill,  has  been  the  largest  of  the 
Butte  district,  was  the  stage  of  the  early  activities  of  Marcus  Daly  and 
the  nucleus  of  all  of  the  great  Anaconda  properties.  Its  workings  have 
been  carried  to  a  depth  of  1,800  feet,  in  its  operations  employment  has 
been  given  to  a  force  of  1,400  men,  and  the  weekly  output  has  attained 
an  aggregate  of  9,000  tons. 

UNDERGROUND  SYSTEMS  AND  MINE  LITIGATIONS 

It  is  impossible  to  enter  into  details  concerning  the  work  on  and 
in  the  Butte  mines,  to  describe  the  wonderful  system  of  underground 
workings,  or  to  note  the  output  of  the  various  mines.  All  this  must 
be  left  to  specific  articles  of  more  technical  nature  than  the  review  here 
presented.  However,  it  is  worthy  of  special  note  that  the  Butte  district 
has  a  provision  that  can  be  claimed  by  few  if  any  other  mining  districts. 
This  is  that  one  can  pass  from  one  mine  to  another  on  the  different  levels 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  837 

for  great  distances.  It  is  possible  to  descend  the  shaft  of  a  mine  in 
Walkerville  and  ascend  through  the  shaft  of  another  at  Meaderville, 
two  or  more  miles  distant,  and  that  without  coming  to  the  surface.  This 
establishing  of  regular  levels  at  given  depths  caused  the  entire  abandon- 
ment of  many  surface  workings  of  large  mines,  "even  the  ore  being 
run  into  the  levels  of  one  mine  centrally  located,  and  all  being  hoisted 
through  one  shaft." 

The  proximity  and  continuity  of  ore  veins  in  the  Butte  district  have 
resulted  in  many  litigations  of  tremendous  proportions.  On  this  subject 
the  following  statements  have  been  given:  "The  generally  recognized 
mining  laws  hold  that  the  establishment  of  the  fact  that  any  given  vein 
'apexes'  in  any  certain  claim,  gives  the  owner  of  that  claim  the  right 
to  work  the  whole  of  said  vein,  wherever  it  takes  him,  if  across  the  side 
bounding  lines  of  such  claim,  although  estopping  him  from  proceeding 
beyond  the  end  lines.  With  hundreds  of  claims,  if  not  thousands,  par- 
alleling each  other,  some  line  of  one  serving  as  some  line  of  another, 
the  opportunity  for  irreconcilable  differences  in  many  instances  at  once 
suggests  itself."  The  record  of  clashing  interests  resulting  from  such 
differences  is  an  interesting  part  of  the  history  of  the  mining  industry  in 
Silver  Bow  County. 

Great  has  been  the  work  of  the  gigantic  smelters  that  have  clouded 
the  atmosphere  of  Butte  in  past  days,  and  every  phase  of  mining  industry 
has  found  prodigious  exemplification  in  this  district,  where  has  been 
written  one  of  the  greatest  chapters  in  the  history  of  mining  enterprise. 
Description  of  methods  of  extraction  and  treatment  of  ores  is  not  germane 
to  this  review,  but  even  the  brief  outline  here  presented  will  afford  an 
idea  of  the  wonderful  achievement  that  has  been  staged  in  Silver  Bow 
County  in  the  past  and  serve  as  an  earnest  of  the  revitalizing  influences 
that  shall  work  for  the  good  of  Butte  after  the  period  of  world-war 
depression  has  passed. 

At  Butte,  there  have  been  intervals  of  depression  and  inactivity, 
as  is  inevitable  in  industrial  centers.  The  repeal  of  the  silver-purchasing 
clause  of  the  Sherman  Act  of  1890  brought  a  season  of  extreme  de- 
pression in  the  mining  industries  of  the  Butte  district,  and  both  mills 
and  mines  closed  down  in  1893.  The  year  1921  also  finds  Butte  endur- 
ing a  trying  tension  that  has  come  as  a  sequel  of  the  World's  war,  and 
while  the  city's  productive  activities  had  fallen  to  low  ebb,  there  is  no 
reason  to  doubt  her  recuperative  powers.  The  two  periods  mentioned 
are  mentioned  simply  as  instances  of  abnormal  conditions  which  have 
temporarily  deflected  the  general  course  of  progress  and  prosperity. 

A  brief,  but  appreciative  estimate  of  the  city  is  this :  "Butte,  from 
a  one-time  mining  camp  and  later  a  city  of  smoke,  has  emerged  into  a 
city  of  beautiful  homes,  splendidly  paved  streets,  fine  public  buildings, 
dignified  business  blocks,  and  is  generally  accorded  the  distinction  of 
being  one  of  the  most  metropolitan  cities  of  its  size  on  the  continent." 

The  mountains  and  valleys  readily  accessible  from  Butte  offer  un- 
rivaled attractions  to  the  tourist,  the  lover  of  scenic  beauties,  and  the 
devotee  of  the  rod  or  the  gun.  The  city  itself  maintains  a  high  stand- 


838  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

ard  of  education  and  religious  work  and  service,  and  its  civic  and  social 
advantages  make  it  a  most  attractive  place  of  residence,  now  that  its 
former  pall  of  smoke  from  the  great  smelters  has  been  lifted  to  reveal 
a  clean  and  beautiful  city,  with  ideal  climate  and  vitalizing  atmosphere, 
with  modern  accommodations  and  excellent  medicinal  waters.  The  re- 
Within  two  hours  ride  of  the  city  are  four  health  and  pleasure  resorts, 
sorts  noted  are  at  Boulder,  Gregson,  Pipestone  and  Alhambra. 


CHAPTER  XXXVIII 

STILL  WATER,  SWEET  GRASS,  TETON  AND  TOOLE 
COUNTIES 

Among  the  political  divisions  of  the  State  of  Montana,  Stillwater 
County  occupies  a  south  central  position.  It  was  created  March  24, 
1913,  and  in  1920  had  a  population  of  7,630.  Its  maximum  length  north 
and  south  is  sixty-six  miles,  being  almost  double  its  maximum  width  of 
thirty-six  miles.  It  contains  much  picturesque  scenery  and  is  a  county 
of  varied  natural  resources,  which  are  but  partially  developed.  From 
east  to  west  the  county  is  traversed  by  the  Yellowstone  River,  the  valley 
of  which  is  characterized  by  a  good  soil  of  chocolate  brown  loam.  The 
Stillwater  and  West  Rosebud  rivers  are  found  in  the  southern  portion 
of  the  county,  and  also  Fishtail  Creek.  In  the  northern  part,  where  there 
are  several  small  streams,  lies  what  is  known  as  the  Lake  Basin  country, 
regarded  as  one  of  the  best  non-irrigated  farming  districts  in  Montana. 
The  southern  part  of  Stillwater  County  is  a  region  of  high  mountains, 
sometimes  of  magnificent  aspect,  which  taper  off  into  rolling  hills  near  the 
Yellowstone  Valley.  The  southern  valleys  are  also  favored  with  a  good 
soil,  the  fertility  of  which  is  increased  by  irrigation,  while  the  bench 
lands  are  devoted  to  non-irrigated  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Agriculture,  stock  raising  and  dairying  are  at  present  the  chief  indus- 
tries of  the  county.  The  usual  farm  crops  are  wheat,  oats,  barley,  corn, 
peas,  alfalfa,  potatoes,  melons  and  garden  truck.  Some  fruit  is  also 
raised,  strawberries  doing  particularly  well.  Large  quantities  of  honey 
are  also  produced,  in  which  respect  Stillwater  takes  a  leading  place 
among  the  counties  of  the  state.  In  the  southern  part  of  the  county  there 
are  92,096  acres  of  timber  included  in  the  Beartooth  National  Forest. 
Improved  irrigated  lands  sell  from  $75  to  $200  an  acre,  improved  non- 
irrigated  lands  from  $40  to  $100,  and  unimproved  non-irrigated  lands  from 
$15  an  acre  up. 

Coal  and  other  minerals  have  been  found  in  the  southern  part  of  Still- 
water  County,  but  these  mineral  resources  and  the  water  power  have  not 
yet  been  developed  on  a  commercial  scale.  North  of  the  Yellowstone 
River  much  land  has  been  leased  for  oil,  and  drilling  has  been  under- 
taken. These  several  lines  of  industry,  together  with  {hose  now  carried 
on,  are  susceptible  of  future  development  and  make  Stillwater  County 
a  region  of  favorable  opportunity.  The  mountains  also  may  be  made 
an  attractive  resort  for  tourists  when  the  locality  is  better  known  and 
after  suitable  accommodations  have  been  provided.  The  scenery  near  the 
headwaters  of  the  Stillwater  and  Rosebud  rivers  is  as  fine  as  can  be 
found  on  the  continent,  and  the  streams  in  that  region  are  noted  for  the 
fine  trout  fishing  in  spring  and  summer,  while  birds  and  game  abound  in 

839 


840  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

the  fall.  The  lakes  in  the  Lake  Basin  region  offer  splendid  opportunities 
for  waterfowl  shooting. 

The  railroad  facilities  of  Stillwater  County  are  furnished  by  the 
Northern  Pacific  Railway,  the  main  line  of  which  follows  the  Yellow- 
stone River  through  the  county.  The  Lake  Basin  region  in  the  northern 
part  is  traversed  by  a  branch  of  the  same  road  from  Mossmain.  The 
Yellowstone  Trail  highway  also  passes  through  the  county,  and  various 
local  roads,  kept  in  good  condition,  connect  the  smaller  valleys  with  the 
railroad. 

The  only  incorporated  town  in  Stillwater  County  is  Columbus,  the 
county  seat,  which  is  also  the  chief  trading  center.  It  is  situated  at  the 
junction  of  the  Yellowstone  and  Stillwater  rivers,  and  has  an  altitude  of 
3,698  feet.  In  1820  its  population  was  897,  It  has  a  high  school  accred- 
ited for  the  four-year  term.  On  the  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
are  Park  City  and  Reed  Point,  both  good  trading  centers.  The  towns 
along  the  Lake  Basin  branch  are  Molt,  Rapelje  and  Wheat  Basin.  In  the 
southern  part  of  the  county  the  most  important  community  is  Absarokee, 
an  inland  town  in  the  Stillwater  basin.  There  are  high  schools  at  Park 
City  and  Reed  Point,  the  former  accredited  for  three  years  and  the  latter 
for  two  years.  The  county  is  well  provided  with  rural  schools.  At  East 
Rosebud  Lake,  in  the  heart  of  the  mountains,  there  is  a  private  summer 
school  for  teachers.  Credit  for  work  done  there  is  given  by  the  state 
department  of  education  and  also  by  the  University  of  Montana. 

SWEET  GRASS  COUNTY 

The  County  of  Sweet  Grass  came  into  existence  as  a  political  division 
of  Montana  early  in  the  year  1895,  having  been  organized  from  Meagher, 
Park  and  Yellowstone  counties.  It  was  reduced  to  its  present  area  and 
boundaries  by  yielding  portions  of  its  original  territory  to  Stillwater,  in 
1913,  and  to  Wheatland  County,  in  1917. 

The  county  derives  its  name  from  Sweet  Grass  Creek,  which  flows 
from  the  eastern  slope  of  the  Crazy  Mountains  to  the  Yellowstone  River, 
and  to  the  late  Judge  William  G.  Strong  belongs  the  honor  of  naming  the 
county.  The  creek  received  its  name  from  the  abundant  and  fragrant 
grass  which  grows  in  its  valley  and  which  gives  forth  a  peculiar  odor  like 
vanilla.  Once  enjoyed,  the  fragrance  is  never  forgotten  and  brings  a 
full  appreciation  of  the  significance  of  the  name. 

THE  COUNTY  DEVELOPS 

As  the  Yellowstone  Valley  divides  Sweet  Grass  County  into  two 
nearly  equal  portions,  that  portion  of  the  state  is  identified  with  many 
of  its  great  historic  events,  such  as  the  Verendrye  and  Lewis  and  Clark 
expeditions,  the  Crow  Indian  treaties  and  agencies,  and  the  trailings  of 
the  emigrants  under  such  leaders  as  John  Bozeman  and  James  Bridger 
toward  Utah,  Oregon  and  the  California  coast.  The  first  settlements 
were  made  along  Sweet  Grass  Creek  in  the  late  '705,  the  chief  sources 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  841 

of  supplies  being  then  Bozeman  and  Miles  City.  With  the  completion  of 
the  Northern  Pacific  late  in  1882  came  a  new  order  of  things — the 
modern  order.  The  old  stage  stations  that  had  done  duty  so  long  along 
the  route  from  Bozeman  to  Miles  City  were  replaced  by  railroad  towns. 
Dornix,  later  replaced  by  Big  Timber,  became  a  center  of  population  and, 
when  Sweet  Grass  County  was  created,  in  1895,  the  seat  of  its  govern- 
ment and  courts, 

The  legislative  act  which  created  it  provided  that  Big  Timber  should 
be  the  county  seat  until  after  the  general  election  of  November,  1896, 
when  the  matter  of  its  location  should  be  decided  by  the  voters.  In  the 
meantime  Sweet  Grass  County  was  to  form  a  part  of  the  Sixth  Judicial 
District.  The  act  also  provided  for  the  distribution  of  the  indebtedness 
of  Park,  Yellowstone  and  Meagher  counties,  from  which  Sweet  Grass 
was  formed,  the  amounts  of  which  were  to  be  determined  on  certain 
fixed  dates  in  the  succeeding  March  and  June.  Such  indebtedness  was 
to  be  reckoned  at  the  close  of  business  March  I,  1895.  These  matters 
were  accordingly  adjusted ;  Sweet  Grass  County  commenced  to  function 
on  the  9th  of  March,  1895,  and  at  the  fall  election  of  1896  Big  Timber 
was  voted  the  permanent  seat  of  justice  and  government. 

SWEET  GRASS  COUNTY  OF  TODAY 

Sweet  Grass  County  lies  in  the  south  central  part  of  Montana.  It 
has  the  shape  of  an  inverted  right  angle,  the  apex  pointing  south.  The 
county  is  divided  naturally  into  two  portions — a  northern  and  a  southern 
— by  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  River,  having  a  length  through  the 
county  of  fifty-five  miles  and  a  width  of  from  two  to  five  miles.  South 
of  the  east-flowing  river  the  land  rises  gradually  to  a  high  range  of  moun- 
tains, in  which  the  Boulder  and  Stillwater  rivers  have  their  source.  The 
rise  north  of  the  Yellowstone  culminates  in  the  Crazy  Mountains,  where 
are  found  the  head  waters  of  Big  Timber,  Sweet  Grass  and  Otter  creeks. 
Some  timber  is  found  in  this  region,  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the 
county,  but  the  chief  timbered  area  is  in  the  southern  end,  where  200,273 
acres  of  the  county  are  included  in  the  Beartooth  National  Forest.  Min- 
erals of  various  kinds,  including  coal,  have  been  found  in  the  southern 
portion,  but  have  not  yet  been  commercially  developed  to  a  sufficient 
extent  to  determine  their  value. 

At  present  the  most  important  industries  are  cattle  and  sheep  raising, 
but  dairying,  swine  raising  and  bee  keeping  have  been  started  and  are 
making  satisfactory  progress.  General  farming  is  also  followed  to  some 
extent,  the  principal  crops  raised  being  wild  hay  and  alfalfa,  all  kinds  of 
small  grain,  and  garden  produce,  together  with  some  fruit.  The  chief 
agricultural  districts  lie  in  the  valleys  of  the  Yellowstone  River  and 
Boulder,  Big  Timber,  Sweet  Grass,  American  Fork  and  Otter  creeks. 
There  is  a  large  Carey  irrigation  project  in  the  county  and  much  addi- 
tional land  in  the  valleys  is  irrigated  from  private  ditches.  The  soil  varies 
from  a  deep  black  loam  to  a  light  soil  with  a  gravel  subsoil.  There  are 
considerable  areas  of  good  grazing  land  in  the  county.  The  price  of 


842  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

irrigated  lands  varies  from  $60  to  $150  an  acre,  depending  upon  location 
and  degree  of  improvement;  non-irrigated  farming  lands  cost  from  $15  to 
$30,  and  grazing  land  from  $7  to  $12  an  acre.  Tourists  seeking  rest  and 
diversion  amid  the  beauties  of  nature  may  find  magnificent  scenery  and 
fine  hunting  and  fishing  in  the  southern  part  of  the  county. 

Along  the  course  of  the  Yellowstone  River  the  county  is  traversed  by 
the  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railway,  and  also  by  all  the  main 
transcontinental  highways.  Surveys  have  been  made  for  branch  railroad 
lines  through  the  northern  part  of  the  county,  though  construction  work 
has  not  yet  been  started.  The  county  presents  wide  opportunities  for  the 
further  development  of  irrigated  land,  the  water  for  which  is  now  avail- 
able. 

In  1920  Sweet  Grass  County  had  a  population  of  4,926.  More  than 
one-quarter  of  the  inhabitants,  or  a  total  of  1,282,  were  residing  in  the 
county  seat,  Big  Timber,  an  attractive  place  with  fine  business  establish- 
ments and  residences.  It  is  situated  at  an  altitude  of  4,072  feet  above  sea 
level  and  is  the  center  of  a  rich  region.  It  is  supplied  with  adequate 
water  works  and  an  efficient  electric  system  and  its  business  interests 
include  hotels,  elevators,  a  creamery  and  a  newspaper.  There  is  esti- 
mated to  be  about  20,000  horse-power  available  from  the  Yellowstone 
River  at  this  place.  Besides  the  graded  schools,  the  Sweet  Grass  County 
High  School,  accredited  for  a  four-year  course,  is  located  at  Big  Timber. 
Other  towns  of  importance  in  the  county  are  Melville  in  the  northern, 
and  McLeod  in  the  southern  part.  The  rural  and  other  schools  are  in  a 
state  of  satisfactory  efficiency. 

TETON  COUNTY 

Lying  northwest  of  the  central  part  of  Montana,  on  the  eastern  slope 
of  the  Rocky  Mountains,  Teton  County  has  a  land  area  of  2,044  square 
miles,  and  a  population  (1920)  of  5,870.  It  was  organized,  originally, 
from  Chouteau  County,  March  i,  1893,  since  which  a  part  of  its  territory 
was  attached  to  Toole  County  in  1914,  and  other  portions  were  added  to 
Pondera  and  to  form  Glacier  (entire),  in  1919.  Originally,  it  extended 
from  the  Dominion  of  Canada  to  the  present  southern  limits  of  the 
county,  and  was  one  of  the  largest  political  divisions  in  the  state.  The 
Blackfeet  Indian  Reservation  then  occupied  its  northwestern  corner. 

It  is  estimated  that  about  one-third  the  area  of  Teton  County  is 
adapted  to  irrigation,  which  has  been  already  applied  to  about  100,000 
acres.  All  of  the  central  and  eastern  portions  of  the  county  are  tillable, 
while  the  extreme  western  and  southern  portions  are  about  equally 
divided  between  arable  and  grazing  lands.  A  small  area  of  the  grazing 
land  in  the  Rockies  partakes  of  the  mountainous  nature  of  its  surround- 
ings. The  soil  on  the  lowlands  is  a  sandy  or  clay  loam,  while  on  the 
uplands  or  benches  the  subsoil  is  partly  gravel  and  limestone  formation. 

The  county  is  favored  with  an  exceptionally  good  water  supply.  The 
principal  streams  are  the  Teton,  Spring  Creek,  Willow  Creek  and  Sun 
River,  the  last  mentioned  of  which  furnished  water  for  the  irrigation  of 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  843 

30,000  acres  in  what  is  known  as  the  Government  Sun  River  Project,  near 
Fairfield,  in  the  east  central  part  of  the  county.  A  supply  of  good  well 
water  may  be  obtained  in  most  places  at  depths  ranging  from  60  to  100 
feet.  Indications  of  coal  and  oil  have  been  found  but  as  yet  little  has 
been  done  to  develop  mineral  resources.  Agriculture  and  stock  raising 
are  the  chief  industries.  Most  of  the  timber  of  commercial  value  is  found 
in  the  western  part  of  the  county,  where  250,000  acres  are  contained  in 
the  Lewis  and  Clark  National  Forest.  Cottonwood  and  willows  are 
found  along  most  of  the  streams. 

Wheat  is  the  principal  farm  crop,  but  barley,  flax,  alfalfa  and  sweet 
clover  are  grown  in  considerable  quantities.  Silos  are  becoming  more 
common,  corn  and  sunflowers  being  grown  for  forage.  Irrigated  land 
may  be  purchased  for  $75  to  $100  and  acre,  while  improved  non-irrigated 
tracts  bring  from  $20  to  $100  an  acre.  The  cost  of  grazing  land  is 
from  $8  to  $15  an  acre. 

The  mountainous  sections  of  Teton  County  are  replete  with  grand 
and  beautiful  scenery  and  the  tourist  may  there  find  excellent  hunting 
and  fishing,  especially  if  he  is  content  to  travel  part  of  the  way  on  foot 
with  a  pack  outfit  and  thus  reach  those  places  the  least  affected  by  the 
settlement  and  development  of  the  county.  Railroad  facilities  are 
afforded  by  branch  lines  of  both  the  Milwaukee  and  Great  Northern 
railways.  The  main  trunk  highway  of  the  county  is  the  Park-to-Park 
Highway,  which  passes  through  it  from  north  to  south,  and  is  gravel 
surfaced. 

The  demands  of  education  are  met  by  sixty  schools,  including  the 
county  high  school  at  Chouteau,  accredited  for  a  four-year  course.  This 
latter  institution  is  housed  in  a  handsome  new  building,  equipped  in 
modern  style,  which  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $100,000. 

Chouteau,  which  also  enjoys  the  distinction  of  being  the  county  seat, 
is  an  old  established  town,  with  modern  improvements.  Its  commercial 
interests  are  served  by  three  banks,  which  have  a  combined  capital  and 
surplus  of  $200,000.  Its  altitude  is  3,810  feet.  There  are  other  good 
towns  and  market  centers  in  the  county,  those  on  the  Great  Northern 
Railway  being  Bynum,  Pendroy,  Power,  Button  and  Collins,  while  the 
Milwaukee  has  Fairfield,  Farmington  and  Agawam. 

TOOLE  COUNTY 

Toole  County,  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  Montana,  with  the 
Canadian  line  as  its  northern  boundary,  is  an  agricultural  and  live  stock 
county,  having  practically  no  other  industries,  aside  from  the  mercantile 
business  in  the  towns.  It  was  created  from  parts  of  Hill  and  Teton 
counties  on  May  7,  1914,  and  has  a  land  area  of  1,958  square  miles.  A 
part  of  its  southern  boundary  is  formed  by  Maria's  River,  which  flows 
through  the  southeastern  portion.  In  the  eastern  part  are  several  creeks, 
the  largest  of  which  is  Willow,  which  rises  in  the  Sweet  Grass  hills  and 
follows  a  southerly  course  through  the  county.  In  the  Sweet  Grass  hills 
and  elsewhere  indications  of  oil  and  gas  have  been  found  which  may 


844  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

result  in  future  development.  Save  for  these  hills,  which  occupy  the 
northeastern  corner  of  the  county,  and  the  brakes  along  Maria's  River 
near  the  southern  border,  Toole  County  is  a  rolling  prairie.  Land  values 
range  from  $10  to  $50  an  acre.  A  considerable  advance  in  values  is 
probable  in  the  near  future,  owing  to  an  important  irrigation  system, 
embracing  between  200,000  and  300,000  acres,  launched  by  the  land  own- 
ers and  which  will  soon  be  under  construction.  At  present  wheat,  oats, 
barley,  flax  and  native  hay  are  the  chief  crops,  but  irrigation  will  permit 
the  extensive  raising  of  alfalfa.  Tourists  may  find  picturesque  scenery 
in  the  Sweet  Grass  hills. 

In  1920  the  population  of  Toole  County  was  3,724.  The  county  seat 
and  principal  town  is  Shelby,  a  railroad  junction  point,  which  is  the  trad- 
ing center  for  a  large  and  productive  territory.  Its  altitude  is  3,286  feet 
and  its  population  in  1920  was  537.  Galata  and  Devon  are  farming 
towns  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  and  Sweet  Grass  in  the  northern 
part  of  the  county  is  a  port  of  entry  from  Canada.  There  is  a  high 
school  at  Shelby  accredited  for  the  four-year  term  and  the  county  in 
general  is  well  supplied  with  good  rural  schools.  The  growing  season 
for  crops  is  from  93  to  106  days. 

TREASURE  COUNTY 

Treasure  County,  in  the  south  central  part  of  Montana,  is  devoted 
industrially  to  agriculture  and  the  raising  of  cattle  and  sheep.  It  has  a 
land  area  of  960  square  miles  and  was  created  April  i,  1919.  Some  coal 
has  been  found  in  the  county  and  there  is  some  prospecting  for  oil  and 
gas.  Cottonwood  and  ash  are  found  along  the  streams,  but  there  |s  no 
commercial  timber. 

The  county  is  divided  by  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone  River,  the 
soil  in  which  is  a  deep  loam,  while  on  the  bench  lands  the  prevailing  type 
of  soil  is  a  chocolate  loam.  An  area  of  about  15,000  acres  in  the  Yellow- 
stone Valley  is  under  irrigation.  Of  the  remainder  of  the  county  114,- 
788  acres  are  classified  as  suitable  for  non-irrigated  farming,  and  222,769 
acres  as  adapted  to  grazing.  The  price  of  land  varies  greatly  according 
to  location,  character  of  the  soil  and  water  supply.  Irrigated  land  brings 
from  $100  to  $200  an  acre,  non-irrigated  farming  lands  from  $15  to  $50 
and  grazing  land  from  $5  to  $12  an  acre,  The  principal  stream  is  the 
Yellowstone  River,  which  takes  an  easterly  direction  through  the  county 
and  is  fed  by  a  number  of  small  creeks  which  flow  into  it  both  from  the 
north  and  the  south. 

The  soil  in  general  is  well  adapted  to  the  production  of  small  grains 
and  hay,  which  are  raised  in  considerable  quantities.  Corn  is  a  par- 
ticularly good  crop  both  in  yield  and  quality  and  bears  favorable  com- 
parison with  the  corn  belt  product.  The  farmers  in  the  irrigated  district 
are  giving  special  attention  to  the  raising  of  alfalfa  seed  and  are  meeting 
with  gratifying  success,  finding  a  ready  market  at  good  prices  for  all  they 
can  raise.  Bee  keeping  is  followed  by  some  and  the  county  produces  a 
considerable  quantity  of  honey. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  845 

Treasure  County  is  crossed  by  the  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific 
Railway,  which  is  paralleled  by  the  Yellowstone  and  Red  trails.  The 
county  seat,  Hysham,  is  a  small  town  of  about  360  population.  Its  alti- 
tude above  sea  level  is  2,667  feet-  Other  population  centers  in  the  county 
are  Big  Horn,  Rancher,  Myers  and  Sanders.  The  further  development 
of  the  present  industries,  including  the  raising  of  pure  bred  live  stock 
promises  well  for  the  future  prosperity  of  the  county,  even  should  no 
mineral  development  take  place.  Education  is  well  provided  for,  there 
being  good  rural  schools,  and  at  Hysham  there  are  graded  schools  and  a 
high  school  accredited  for  the  four-year  course. 

VALLEY  COUNTY 

Valley  County,  created  March  i,  1893,  is  one  of  the  northeastern 
counties  of  the  state  and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  the  Canadian  line 
and  on  the  south  by  the  Missouri  River.  It  is  1 10  miles  long  north  and 
south  and  73  miles  wide  east  and  west.  Its  land  area  is  5,447  square 
miles.  From  west  to  east  the  county  is  traversed  by  the  Milk  River,  the 
valley  of  which  will  be  almost  entirely  under  irrigation  when  the  Govern- 
ment Milk  River  Reclamation  Project  is  completed.  Private  irrigation 
is  also  carried  on.  The  farms  on  the  rolling  benches  north  and  south  of 
the  Milk  River  Valley  are  not  irrigated.  With  the  exception  of  the  Milk 
River  Valley,  several  low  spurs  of  hills  and  the  brakes  along  the  Mis- 
souri River  in  the  southern  part,  the  surface  of  the  county  is  a  rolling 
prairie.  Practically  all  the  land  north  of  the  Milk  River  Valley  is  suitable 
for  cultivation.  The  soil  consists  of  light  and  dark  loams  with  either  a 
gumbo  or  limestone  base. 

The  principal  stream  is  Milk  River,  which  is  fed  by  many  smaller 
streams  flowing  both  from  the  north  and  the  south.  Many  of  these 
streams  have  a  large  spring  run-off,  and  when  reservoirs  are  constructed 
at  available  storage  sites  more  land  will  be  placed  under  irrigation.  Cot- 
tonwood  is  found  along  the  streams,  but  there  is  no  commercial  timber 
in  the  county.  Lignite  is  plentiful  in  the  county  and  the  discovery  of  oil 
is  a  possibility  of  the  future. 

At  present  the  chief  industries  of  the  county  are  agriculture  and  stock 
raising.  The  principal  crops  are  wheat,  barley,  oats,  corn,  flax,  speltz, 
blue  joint  hay  and  alfalfa.  Alfalfa  seed  is  raised  in  considerable  quan- 
tity and  excellent  vegetables  are  grown  in  abundance.  Milk  River  Valley 
blue  joint  is  rated  one  of  the  best  forage  feeds  in  Montana  and  even  a 
stronger  feed  than  alfalfa.  Improved  irrigated  lands  can  be  bought  for 
$50  to  $75  an  acre,  improved  non-irrigated  lands  from  $25  to  $50  an  acre, 
non-improved  cultivable  lands  from  $20  to  $40  an  acre,  and  grazing  lands 
at  $10  to  $15  an  acre.  There  are  40,000  acres  under  irrigation  in  the 
Milk  River  Valley  Project.  These  lands  have  been  but  little  improved 
but  are  capable  of  extensive  development,  and  experienced  farmers,  espe- 
cially those  who  understand  irrigation,  can  purchase  land  at  reasonable 
rates.  There  are  also  good  opportunities  for  farmers  with  capital  on  the 
non-irrigated  lands. 


,846 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 
GLASGOW  AND  OTHER  TOWNS 


Glasgow,  the  county  seat,  is  an  established  town,  the  center  of  trade 
and  shipping  for  a  large  section  of  the  rich  Milk  River  Valley.  It  is  the 
seat  of  one  of  the  ten  United  States  land  offices  in  Montana.  The  city 
has  electric  lights,  water  works,  a  public  library,  a  good  modern  high 
school  which  gives  a  course  in  agriculture,  two  newspapers  and  substan- 
tial business  houses ;  also,  a  4OO-barrel  flour  mill,  and  other  evidences  of  a 
solid  town.  The  1920  census  published  its  population  as  2,059,  making 
it  the  leading  urban  center  of  Northeastern  Montana. 

Outside  of  Glasgow,  the  principal  towns  of  the  county  are  Hinsdale, 


CROP  OF  BLUE  JOINT  HAY 

Frazer,  Theony  and  Oswego.     Both  the  rural  schools  and  those  in  the 
different  towns  number  seventy-five  throughout  the  county. 

The  Milk  River  Valley  is  traversed  through  the  county  by  main  line 
of  the  Great  Northern  Railway.  From  Glasgow  auto  stage  lines  run 
north  to  Glentana,  Opheim  and  Baylor.  The  Theodore  Roosevelt  High- 
way passes  through  the  county,  following  the  railroad  and  touching  the 
towns  of  Oswego,  Frazer,  Nashua,  Glasgow,  Tampico,  Vandalia,  Hins- 
dale and  Beaverton.  In  1920  Valley  County  voted  $200,000  worth  of 
bonds  for  the  construction  of  highways  under  the  federal  aid  act. 

WHEATLAND  COUNTY 

Wheatland  County  is  situated  in  the  central  part  of  Montana  and  is 
almost  square  in  shape,  measuring  thirty-six  miles  north  and  south  by 
forty  miles  east  and  west.  Its  land  area  is  1,411  square  miles.  It  was 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


847 


created  April  i,  1917,  from  parts  of  Meagher  and  Sweet  Grass  counties, 
and  in  1920  its  population  was  5,619.  Its  northern  boundary  follows  for 
some  distance  the  crest  of  the  Little  Belt  range  of  mountains  and  the 
Big  Snowy  Mountains  jut  over  on  the  remainder  of  the  boundary.  The 
land  surface  of  that  part  of  the  county,  therefore,  is  rough  and  broken,  a 
condition  which  is  also  present  in  the  western  part.  These  mountainous 
districts  are  devoted  chiefly  to  cattle  and  sheep  raising.  The  soil  in  the 
farming  districts  is  for  the  most  part  a  chocolate  loam. 

Wheatland  County  is  one  of  the  best  in  the  state  for  non-irrigated 
farming,  the  lands  for  that  purpose  selling  from  $20  to  $70  an  acre  when 
improved.  Wheat,  both  winter  and  spring,  is  the  chief  crop  raised, 
though  barley,  oats  and  flax  are  also  produced  in  considerable  quantities. 


WHEATLAND  COUNTY  WHEAT  FARM 


The  irrigated  districts  are  located  chiefly  in  the  valley  of  the  Musselshel) 
River,  which  flows  through  the  county  from  west  to  east  and  is  fed  by 
numerous  tributaries  from  the  mountains.  These  districts  produce  con- 
siderable hay,  both  native  and  alfalfa.  The  irrigated  lands  fetch  from 
$75  to  $125  an  acre.  There  are  6,809  acres  of  the  Absarokee  National 
Forest  included  within  Wheatland  County  and  57,040  of  the  Jefferson 
National  Forest.  As  to  mineral  resources,  lignite  has  been  found  and 
prospecting  for  oil  is  now  under  way.  The  main  line  of  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  &  St.  Paul  Railway  passes  through  Wheatland  County  east 
and  west,  and  has  a  branch  running  northward  from  Harlowton  to  Lewis- 
town  and  Great  Falls.  The  main  line  is  paralleled  by  the  Electric  High- 
way. The  northeastern  part  of  the  county  is  traversed  by  the  Great 
Northern  line  from  Billings  to  Great  Falls  that  is  used  by  the  Burlington 
to  the  coast. 

Harlowton,  above  referred  to,  is  both  the  county  seat  and  the  prin- 
cipal town.  It  is  a  division  point  on  the  Milwaukee  road  and  the  terminus 
on  the  east  of  the  electrified  portion  of  the  road.  Large  flour  mills  are 
located  here  which  gives  the  town  rank  among  the  three  largest  milling 
centers  in  the  state.  It  is  well  provided  with  modern  conveniences, 
including  electric  lights,  sewage  and  water  systems.  Its  high  school, 
accredited  for  the  four-year  course,  also  provides  a  course  in  agriculture 


848  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

under  the  provisions  of  the  Smith-Hughes  Act.  It  has  aso  good  graded 
schools.  Other  towns  on  the  main  line  of  the  Milwaukee  are  Two  Dot, 
Valencia,  Winnecook,  Shawmut  and  Pontiac;  on  the  Milwaukee  branch 
northward,  Oka  and  Wright,  and  on  the  Great  Northern,  Judith  Gap, 
Oxford,  Nihill  and  Hedgesville.  The  last  mentioned  place  has  a  high 
school  accredited  for  the  two-year  course.  Good  rural  schools  are  found 
throughout  the  county. 

WIBAUX  COUNTY 

Wibaux  County  is  situated  in  the  extreme  eastern  part  of  Montana, 
midway  between  the  northern  and  southern  boundaries  of  the  state,  and 
with  the  Montana-Dakota  line  as  its  eastern  boundary.  Its  land  area  is 
883  square  miles  and  it  is  the  smallest  exclusively  agricultural  county 
in  Montana.  Its  political  creation  took  place  on  August  17,  1914,  from 
parts  of  Dawson,  Fallen  and  Richland,  in  1914.  It  attained  its  present 
bounds  by  relinquishing  a  part  of  its  area  to  Carbon  County  in  1919 
and  receiving  an  addition  from  the  county  named.  In  1920,  the  popula- 
tion of  Wibaux  County  was  3,113. 

Practically  the  entire  area  of  the  county  is  tillable  and  that  which  is 
not  farmed  is  devoted  to  live  stock.  The  principal  crops  are  wheat,  oats, 
corn,  barley,  flax  and  potatoes.  During  the  last  two  or  three  years  par- 
ticular attention  has  been  given  to  corn  and  its  acreage  largely  extended. 
The  soil  in  general  is  a  deep  loam.  Improved  non-irrigated  lands  bring 
from  $25  to  $50  an  acre,  and  unimproved  from  $10  to  $25  an  acre. 
There  are  no  commercial  stands  of  timber.  The  only  mineral  resource 
yet  discovered  is  lignite  coal. 

The  most  important  stream  in  Wibaux  County  is  Beaver  Creek,  which 
flows  northerly  and  then  easterly  into  North  Dakota.  The  other  creeks 
in  the  county  flow  westerly  into  the  Yellowstone  River,  the  western  part 
of  the  county  sloping  in  that  direction.  The  best  developed  agricultural 
section  is  in  the  Beaver  Creek  Valley.  Transportation  facilities  are 
afforded  by  the  main  line  of  the  Northern  Pacific,  which  crosses  the 
county  east  and  west,  and  the  Red  Trail  automobile  road,  which  runs 
parallel  to  it. 

The  railroad  towns  in  Wibaux  County  are  Wibaux,  Yates  and  Beaver 
Hill,  while  the  smaller  towns  in  the  country  districts  are  St.  Phillip, 
Edgehill,  Dennis,  Been,  Brenizer  and  Carlyle.  Wibaux  is  the  county 
seat,  the  largest  town  and  the  chief  trading  center  of  the  county.  It  has 
a  good  city  water  works  and  electric  light  plant,  two  banks,  two  news- 
papers, a  flour  mill,  five  elevators,  with  a  combined  capacity  of  250 
bushels,  two  hotels  and  a  creamery,  besides  about  twenty  retail  stores. 
It  had  a  population  in  1920  of  6n.  It  is  here  that  the  county  high  school 
is  located,  which,  in  addition  to  the  ordinary  studies  has  courses  in  agri- 
culture and  home  economics  under  the  provisions  of  the  Smith-Hughes 
Act,  and  a  normal  training  department  under  the  provisions  of  a  state 
law.  There  is  also  a  good  graded  school,  and  the  schools  in  general 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  849 

throughout  Wibaux  County  are  above  the  average  in  point  of  efficiency. 
This  county  affords  good  opportunities  for  agricultural  and  stock  raising 
enterprise.  Its  growing  season  is  from  107  to  116  days.  The  altitude 
of  the  county  seat  above  sea  level  is  2,635 


Vol.  1—54 


CHAPTER  XXXIX 
YELLOWSTONE  COUNTY  (BILLINGS) 

Lying  in  the  southeastern  part  of  Montana,  and  bordered  by  the 
counties  of  Musselshell,  Stillwater,  Carbon,  Bighorn  and  Rosebud,  is 
Yellowstone  County,  which  was  created  February  26,  1883  and  which 
is  one  of  the  best  developed  sections,  agriculturally,  in  the  state.  The 
county  was  named  after  the  Yellowstone  River,  which  enters  the  county 
in  its  southwestern  corner  and  traverses  its  entire  width  in  a  northeasterly 
direction,  forming  the  principal  source  of  supply  for  the  irrigation  ditches 
which  contribute  materially  to  the  development  that  has  brought  about 
the  agricultural  prestige  of  the  county.  The  Yellowstone  valley,  in  which 
much  stock  is  fed  each  year  during  the  winter  period ;  is  broad  and  level, 
while  sandstone  bluffs  are  a  characteristic  of  its  boundaries  and  above 
them  begin  rolling  bench  lands  that  extend  for  miles.  In  the  southeastern 
part  of  the  county  rise  the  Pryor  mountains.  Although  Yellowstone  is 
primarily  an  agricultural  and  stock-growing  county,  within  its  boundaries 
are  to  be  found  industries  of  a  varied  character  which  establish  its  title 
as  an  important  business  center  of  the  great  Midland  Empire,  these  for 
the  most  part  located  at  the  county  seat  of  Billings. 

POPULATION,  TRANSPORTATION  AND  FARMING 

While  Yellowstone  County  is  not  one  of  the  larger  counties  as  to 
area,  containing  only  2,708  square  miles,  in  point  of  population  it  ranks 
fourth,  according  to  the  figures  given  by  the  1920  United  States  census, 
which  placed  the  total  at  29,600.  For  the  most  part  this  population  is 
native  American,  many  being  direct  descendants  of  the  sturdy  pioneers 
from  the  East  who  listed  to  the  call  of  the  West  during  the  days  of  early 
settlement  and  began  ranching  operations  in  a  country  which  repaid  them 
well  for  their  labors.  The  early  settlers  found  the  grazing  lands  of  the 
Yellowstone  valley  well  adapted  for  the  feeding  of  live  stock  and  this 
formed  the  principal  industry  for  some  years,  the  settlers  who  subse- 
quently came  leaning  more  and  more  toward  agriculture  as  they  realized 
the  fertility  of  the  chocolate  colored  loam  soil.  With  the  settlement  of 
the  county  came  the  necessity  of  a  central  point  of  transportation,  and  this 
brought  into  being  the  little  community  of  Billings  which  has  grown  to 
important  proportions  as  the  natural  trade  center  of  a  wide  territory  in 
Montana  and  Northern  Wyoming.  An  important  factor  in  the  develop- 
ment of  the  county  is  the  intersection  of  the  Great  Northern,  Northern 
Pacific  and  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroads.  As  to  the  high- 
ways, the  Yellowstone  Trail,  the  Custer  Battlefield  Highway  and  the  Bil- 

850 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  851 

lings-Cody  Way  are  among  the  important  automobile  roads  in  the  county, 
and  considerable  hard  surfaced  highway  has  been  built. 

Both  irrigated  and  non-irrigated  farming  is  followed,  alfalfa,  sugar 
beets,  beans,  potatoes  and  grains  being  the  chief  crops  on  the  irrigated 
lands,  and  grains,  flax,  beans  and  alfalfa  seed  on  the  non-irrigated.  The 
county  has  no  developed  mineral  resources;  some  drilling  for  oil  has 
been  done  in  the  county,  but  thus  far  this  is  largely  a  matter  of  specu- 
lation, although  oil  fields  have  been  developed  within  100  miles  of 
Billings.  Yellowstone  County  does  not  abound  in  timber  either,  although 
cottonwood  is  found  along  the  streams  and  there  is  some  pine  in  the 
Pryor  mountains.  There  are  upwards  of  100,000  acres  of  irrigated 
land  in  the  county  which  sells  at  from  $50  to  $250  an  acre,  while  unim- 
proved and  non-irrigated  lands  adapted  to  grazing  and  general  farming 
range  in  price  from  $15  to  $50  an  acre. 

PROGRESS  AND  PRESENT  STATUS  OF  BILLINGS 

The  gently  sloping  plain,  on  the  north  side  of  the  Yellowstone  known 
as  Clark's  fork  bottom,  was  the  site  of  Billings.  The  origin  of  the  place 
dates  from  the  winter  of  1876-77.  At  that  time  P.  W.  McAdow,  J.  J. 
Alderson,  Joseph  Cochran,  Henry  Colwell,  Clinton  Dills,  Milton  Summer 
and  others  settled  at  a  locality  two  miles  down  the  Yellowstone,  about 
where  the  Northern  Pacific  bridge  spans  the  river,  and  founded  the  little 
village  of  Coulson  around  Mr.  McAdow's  store.  A  saw  mill  was  built 
in  1878  and  the  town  entreprise  looked  so  encouraging  that  the  Minnesota 
&  Montana  Improvement  Company  attempted  to  purchase  the  site  for  a 
more  ambitious  project.  As  no  satisfactory  arrangement  could  be  made 
with  the  Coulson  people,  Billings  was  laid  out  a  short  distance  up  the 
river.  It  soon  outdistanced  Coulson,  although  the  older  town  was  not 
wiped  out,  but  continued  to  somewhat  more  than  exist  for  several  years. 

Billings  was  named  after  Frederick  Billings,  president  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad  Company,  in  1879-81.  The  original  townsite  was  platted 
in  March,  1882.  On  May  ist,  its  first  building  was  completed,  a  structure 
to  accommodate  the  locating  engineers,  and  a  few  days  afterward  a  store 
for  the  townsite  company;  and  other  business  houses  and  a  number  of 
residences  appeared.  By  June,  Billings  contained  500  people  and  was 
enthusiastically  called  the  Magic  City.  In  1882,  was  organized  the  Bil- 
lings Street  Railway  Company,  and  the  horse  line  was  completed  in  the 
summer  of  the  following  year — the  first  street  railway  in  the  territory. 
The  Improvement  Company  erected  a  depot  for  the  Northern  Pacific  in 
1883,  which  the  railroad  refused  to  accept.  In  the  fall,  the  voters  de- 
feated the  proposed  incorporation  of  Billings,  but  did  have  the  satisfac- 
tion of  seeing  the  completion  of  its  first  public  school.  The  population 
of  the  place  was  then  1,500,  and  it  had  reached  the  position  of  the 
primary  shipping  point  for  live  stock  in  Montana.  In  1884,  Billings  had 
a  large  fire  entailing  a  loss  of  $50,000,  and  in  the  following  year  a  more 
destructive  conflagration.  In  1885  it  was  incorporated  and  John  Tully 
was  elected  its  first  mayor.  Other  events  of  prime  importance:  Estab- 


852  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

lishment  of  a  system  of  water  works,  in  1886;  introduction  of  electric 
lights  in  1887  and  the  organization  of  the  first  effective  fire  department ; 
reincorporation  as  a  city  of  the  second  class,  in  1893,  and  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Parmly  Billings  Memorial  Library,  in  1900. 

The  location  of  the  City  of  Billings  in  the  center  of  the  so-called  Mid- 
land Empire,  makes  it  the  logical  distributing  point  for  practically  150 
smaller  communities.  During  the  '8os,  Billings  was  a  trading  post;  the 
latest  United  States  Census  figures,  1920,  credit  the  city  with  a  population 
of  15,000.  Its  growth  has  been  the  outcome  of  the  needs  of  agriculture 
and  commerce  in  a  district  as  large  as  three-fourths  of  New  England,  and 
it  forms  the  chief  financial,  commercial  and  manufacturing  center  for  a 
radius  of  more  than  200  miles.  Its  strategic  location  as  a  railroad  center 


mmmi^ 
BILLINGS  TWENTY-FIVE  YEARS  AGO 

may  be  deduced  when  it  is  considered  that  the  city  is  situated  midway  be- 
tween the  Twin  Cities  of  St.  Paul  and  Minneapolis,  Minnesota,  and  Spo- 
kane, Washington,  at  the  intersection  of  the  Great  Northern,  Northern 
Pacific  and  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  lines,  with  railroads  in  seven 
different  directions.  It  is  difficult  for  the  visitor  from  the  far  East  or 
from  other  communities  to  realize  that  this  is  the  same  Billings  which  was 
the  scene  of  so  much  Indian  fighting  during  the  early  days  of  its  career 
and  the  exploits  of  whose  citizens  during  frontier  times  are  still  within 
the  memory  of  the  oldest  inhabitants. 

While  the  war-whoop  of  the  savage  and  the  crack  of  the  frontiers- 
man's rifle  are  to  be  heard  no  more,  there  are  many  things  still  to  be  seen 
by  the  tourist  to  visualize  for  him  what  conditions  may  have  been  in  the 
early  days.  The  city  is  located  less  than  a  day's  automobile  ride,  150 
miles,  from  Yellowstone  National  Park,  where  are  to  be  found  elk,  deer 
and  grizzly  bears  in  their  natural  surroundings.  Much  of  the  country  is 
still  in  its  original  condition.  It  is  a  land  of  green  valleys,  each  with  a 
ribbon  of  shining  river  winding  through  it.  Rolling  prairies  and  green, 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  853 

pine-clad  hills  greet  the  tourist,  and  in  the  distance  the  blue  mountains 
with  their  snowy  peaks  lend  a  certain  and  definite  charm.  The  mountain 
streams  of  the  locality  abound  in  trout  and  the  fisherman  is  always  sure 
of  a  good  day's  catch. 

The  city  is  famed  for  its  climate.  Situated  on  the  Yellowstone  River, 
at  an  altitude  of  3,117  feet,  the  mean  annual  temperature  is  47.2  degrees, 
the  average  summer  temperature  being  69  degrees  and  the  average  winter 
temperature  29.2  degrees.  The  mountain  ranges  to  the  north,  west  and 
south  protect  the  city  and  country  surrounding  from  severe  winds  and 
moderate  the  temperature  both  in  the  summer  and  winter.  These  climatic 
conditions  make  the  locality  a  particularly  attractive  one  to  tourists,  and 
for  their  convenience  the  City  of  Billings  maintains  a  park  for  the  accom- 
modation of  the  travelers,  and  during  the  season  of  1920  15,000  tourists 
were  entertained.  The  Billings  plan  of  conducting  this  park  has  been 
commended  by  the  management  of  leading  trans-continental  automobile 
trails  and  cited  as  an  example  for  other  cities  to  emulate.  The  city  is 
the  gateway  to  the  Beartooth  mountains  in  Carbon  County,  east  of  the 
Yellowstone  Park,  where  besides  unusually  good  hunting  and  fishing  the 
scenery  is  unrivaled. 

MODERN  INSTITUTIONS  OF  THE  CITY 

In  striking  contrast  to  the  natural  beauties  and  primitive  surround- 
ings of  the  city  are  the  modern  structures  and  institutions  of  the  twen- 
tieth century,  the  creations  of  a  progressive  people  always  restless  to 
reach  the  pinnacle  of  achievement.  Where,  in  the  early  days  of  the  city's 
history,  the  eagle  was  king  of  the  air,  the  aeroplane  now  wings  its  way, 
and  progressive  Billings  has  installed  on  the  outskirts  of  the  city  an  aerial 
landing  field,  marked  and  laid  off  according  to  government  regulations  and 
affording  flying  pilots  a  safe  landing  and  "jump-off"  place.  The  Billings 
airport  is  being  favorably  considered  by  the  United  States  Government 
as  one  of  the  federal  landing  fields  of  the  Forestry  service.  The  honk- 
a-tonk  and  dance  hall  of  the  early  days  have  given  way  to  one  of  the 
largest  auditoriums  in  the  Northwest,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  10,000 
people;  the  Billings  Coliseum,  second  in  seating  capacity  to  that  of  the 
Midland  Empire  Fair  Auditorium,  seating  2,500  people,  having  a  perfect' 
dance  floor  and  being  equipped  for  large  conventions  and  gatherings ;  and 
six  modern  theaters  which  present  the  best  of  entertainment  furnished 
by  high-class  road  shows  and  traveling  companies  from  the  large  eastern 
cities.  In  the  way  of  entertainment  also,  the  city  owns  and  maintains  a 
public  swimming  pool,  tennis  courts,  shady  parks  and  skating  rinks.  The 
grounds  and  buildings  of  the  Midland  Empire  Fair  Association  are  recog- 
nized as  being  second  to  none  in  the  Northwest,  and  this  exposition  caters 
to  the  education  and  entertainment  of  a  population  of  125,000  within  the 
Midland  Empire  territory.  Where  at  one  time  the  denizens  of  lake  and 
stream  were  allowed  to  follow  their  own  ways  of  life  undisturbed,  a 
Government  fish  hatchery  is  now  in  course  of  construction.  Nature  also, 
as  it  pertains  to  growing  things,  is  being  assisted  in  its  course  by  the 


854  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Government  irrigation  projects,  where,  and  on  the  irrigated  lands  near 
Billings,  truck  gardening  is  growing  to  be  quite  an  industry.  Celery  is 
proving  to  be  one  of  the  best  money  crops  and  is  being  shipped  to  many 
parts  of  the  United  States,  and  asparagus,  tomatoes,  cabbage,  sweet  corn, 
cantaloupes,  potatoes,  squash,  pumpkins,  egg  plant,  onions  and  all  garden 
produce  grow  luxuriantly. 

BUSINESS  HOUSES  AND  INDUSTRIES 

It  is  a  far  cry  from  the  little  frontier  hamlet  and  trading  post,  with 
its  few  ambitious  but  ramshackle  stores,  to  the  beautiful  and  prosperous 
city  of  today  with  its  sixty-eight  manufacturing,  wholesale  and  jobbing 
houses.  Four  hundred  retail  stores  in  the  city  enjoy  a  substantial,  steady 
patronage  and  are  recognized  as  on  a  sound  financial  basis.  The  Billings 
market  is  credited  with  buying  over  $6,000,000  monthly.  Among  its  big 
industries  is  a  $2,000,000  sugar  factory,  the  plant  of  the  Great  Western 
Sugar  Company  being  the  second  largest  in  the  world.  The  city  has  an 
independent  packing  company,  handling  a  large  number  of  cattle,  hogs 
and  sheep  and  turning  out  a  product  of  high  standard,  the  Billings  Stock 
Yards  Company  having  in  the  past  handled  more  livestock  than  any  sim- 
ilar organization  in  the  Midland  Empire.  Another  large  industry  is  the 
Midland  Iron  Works,  a  thoroughly  equipped  establishment,  capable  of 
handling  every  kind  of  manufacturing  and  repair  work.  In  addition, 
the  plants  at  Billings  manufacture  flour,  cereals,  pickles,  alcohol,  many 
forms  of  galvanized  iron  products,  sash  and  doors,  gas,  brick,  mattresses, 
foundry  products,  bakery  and  packing-house  products,  dairy  products, 
optical  goods,  candies,  etc. 

The  city  has  four  national  banks,  ohe  state  bank  and  one  private 
banking  institution,  and  bank  clearings  have  increased  over  500  per  cent 
in  the  last  ten  years.  The  city  supports,  through  its  people  as  sub- 
scribers and  its  merchants  and  professional  men  as  advertisers,  a  large 
newspaper,  the  Billings  Gazette,  which  issues  five  editions  daily  and  carries 
the  full  Associated  Press  reports  and  special  telegraphic  news  service. 
In  the  Western  Newspaper  Union,  the  city  has  the  only  house  north  of 
Denver,  between  the  Twin  Cities  and  Spokane,  supplying  paper,  type, 
presses,  printed  and  plate  newspaper  service,  dealing  exclusively  with 
printers.  The  city  affords  excellent  hotel  accommodations.  Two  first- 
class  hotels  are  equipped  to  accommodate  500  guests  and  the  daily  average 
of  transients  visiting  the  city  is  placed  at  1,000  persons.  There  are  sixty- 
five  hotels  and  rooming-houses  in  the  city. 

Like  all  well-governed  communities,  Billings  has  given  much  attention 
to  its  appearance,  its  municipal  conditions,  its  civic  accommodations  and 
its  public  service.  As  to  its  streets,  they  are  well-kept  and  several  miles 
are  paved,  and  the  thoroughfares  are  wide  and  straight  and  lined  with 
long  rows  of  ornamental  light  posts,  the  street  lighting  service  being  of 
municipal  ownership  and  the  system  being  second  to  none  of  a  city  of 
this  size  in  the  Northwest.  Cement  walks  have  been  installed  throughout 
the  city,  and  Billings  has  the  second  piece  of  concrete  highway  outside 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  855 

a  city  limits  in  the  state,  known  as  the  Polytechnic  road,  extending  two 
miles  in  a  northwesterly  direction  from  the  city  and  completed  at  a  cost 
of  $86,899.42.  The  city  has  a  municipal  band,  several  orchestras,  high 
school  musical  organizations  and  Polytechnic  Glee  Club.  Its  educational 
facilities  are  of  a  high  order,  there  being  eleven  school  buildings,  a  high 
school  and  a  parochial  school,  as  well  as  a  manual-training  school,  all 
equipped  with  every  modern  appliance  for  instruction  of  the  most  up-to- 
date  sort.  Schoolhouses  throughout  this  part  of  the  country  have  been 
given  first  consideration  with  the  development  of  the  section,  and  there 
is  no  child  either  at  Billings  or  in  the  Midland  Empire  who  is  not  con- 
veniently situated  near  a  schoolhouse.  In  the  Polytechnic  Institute,  the 
city  has  a  college  catering  to  young  men  and  women  desirous  of  fitting 


HOME  OF  BILLINGS  COMMERCIAL  CLUI; 

themselves  for  advanced  college  work.  This  institute  occupies  commo- 
dious grounds,  with  modern  and  well-equipped  buildings  and  a  faculty 
made  up  of  well-qualified  and  earnest  educators.  Among  other  build- 
ings, the  city  boasts  of  two  modern  hospitals,  one  under  the  direction  of 
the  Sisters  of  Charity  and  the  other  under  the  direction  of  the  Deaconess 
Association,  and  there  is  another  in  the  course  of  construction  at  this 
time,  in  addition  to  which  there  are  several  institutions  of  a  private  char- 
acter. 

As  a  municipality,  Billings  is  decidedly  moral  in  tone.  Perhaps  some 
of  the  stories  that  come  down  from  the  old  days  as  to  the  lawlessness 
of  the  little  trading  post  have  been  embellished  by  the  glamour  which  time 
is  apt  to  bring;  but  it  can  be  said  beyond  peradventure  that  conditions 
have  changed  since  the  '8os,  due  to  the  excellent  work  of  the  forces  which 
have  labored  for  higher  standards  of  education,  morality  and  good  citi- 
zenship. The  city  now  supports  churches  of  every  denomination  and  the 
houses  of  worship  in  the  city  are  of  modern  architecture  and  construc- 
tion, tastefully  and  reverently  decorated  and  pointed  to  with  pride  by  the 


856  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

people  of  the  community.  A  modern  Young  Men's  Christian  Association 
building  testifies  to  the  standing  of  that  organization  in  the  city,  and 
the  community  likewise  has  a  well-conducted  Young  Women's  Christian 
Association,  the  interests  of  the  young  women  being  given  careful  atten- 
tion by  well-trained  women  in  this  line  of  community  endeavor.  Billings 
is  the  headquarters  of  the  state  secretary  of  the  Young  Men's  Christian 
Association.  For  the  younger  lads  of  the  city,  there  is  a  thrifty  and  ably- 
conducted  Boy  Scout  Patrol,  which  made  plans  to  entertain  in  1921  large 
delegations  of  Boy  Scouts  from  several  large  cities  of  the  South.  The 
Billings  Public  Library  contains  over  25,000  volumes  and  is  conducted 
under  the  supervision  of  a  paid  librarian  and  staff. 

One  of  the  principal  contributing  factors  to  the  prosperity  and  welfare 
of  Billings  has  been  the  Billings  Commercial  Club.  This  body,  organized 
some  fifteen  or  sixteen  years  ago,  has  now  a  membership  of  approxi- 
mately 400,  including  the  leading  merchants,  bankers  and  business  and 
professional  men  of  the  city.  In  January,  1919,  it  purchased  the  fine 
property  known  as  the  Elks'  Club  House,  and  is  comfortably,  even  lux- 
uriously, installed  for  its  work.  The  officers  are  as  follows:  W.  E. 
Dowlin,  president;  W.  P.  Hogarty,  vice  president;  Fred  T.  Lincoln, 
secretary-manager;  H.  W.  Rowley,  Roy  J.  Covert  and  Charles  Spear, 
honorary  vice  presidents;  E.  L.  Coleman,  traffic  director,  and  O.  G. 
Brown,  financial  secretary.  The  building  and  equipment  of  this  strong 
commercial  organization  represents  an  investment  of  $100,000,  forming 
one  of  the  finest  community  centers  in  the  Northwest.  The  organization 
was  successively  known  as  the  Billings  Chamber  of  Commerce,  and  the 
Midland  Club,  before  adopting  its  present  name.  Through  this  body, 
Billings  cooperates  with  the  farming  interests  of  Yellowstone  County  and 
the  Midland  Empire,  and  the  club  has  successfully  fathered  practical 
activities  in  the  interest  of  the  citizens  of  Billings  and  the  farmers  of  the 
section. 

Billings  is  a  city  of  substantial  and  attractive  buildings.  The  Masonic 
Temple,  as  well  as  the  home  of  the  Commercial  Club,  is  a  handsome  struc- 
ture. In  the  residential  sections,  there  are  numerous  beautiful  homes, 
where  reside  the  progressive  citizens  who  have  there  found  the  oppor- 
tunity to  gain  independence,  and  who  have  assisted  the  community  to 
reach  a  position  upon  which  it  bases  its  claim  of  being  the  "next  great 
city  of  the  Northwest." 

TOWNS  OUTSIDE  OF  BILLINGS 

Aside  from  Billings,  the  county  seat,  which  is  the  most  important 
town  in  the  county,  as  well  as  in  Eastern  Montana,  the  principal  town  in 
Yellowstone  County  is  Laurel,  in  the  extreme  southwestern  corner,  an 
important  railroad  town  because  of  the  junction  there  of  the  Great  North- 
ern and  Northern  Pacific,  as  well  as  a  good  agricultural  market  for  the 
surrounding  territory.  Other  good  smaller  towns  are  Huntley,  Worden, 
Ballantine,  Comanche,  Pompey's  Pillar,  Broadview,  Custer  and  Shepherd. 
All  of  these  communities  have  good  educational  facilities,  for  Yellow- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


857 


stone  County  has  a  modern  public  school  system,  with  an  accredited  high 
school  at  Billings  and  the  Billings  Polytechnic  Institute,  an  institution  of 
higher  learning  which  also  offers  inducements  to  pupils  wishing  a  business 
college  course. 

IRRIGATED  AND  NON-IRRIGATED  LANDS 

In  1917  the  Billings  Chamber  of  Commerce  issued  an  interesting 
booklet,  containing  much  information  regarding  Billings  and  the  sur- 
rounding territory  in  Yellowstone  County,  and  much  of  the  data  contained 
has  been  used  in  the  statements  already  made  and  form  the  basis  for 
others  which  follow.  Two  types  of  farming  are  carried  on  in  the  Bil- 
lings country,  these  being  the  irrigated  and  non-irrigated  methods.  On 


SUGAR  BEETS  FOR  THE  BILLINGS  FACTORY 

the  highlands  there  are  approximately  5,000,000  acres  of  productive  lands 
suitable  for  farming  without  irrigation,  while  along  the  streams,  the 
various  creeks  which  form  the  tributaries  of  the  Yellowstone,  such  as 
Buffalo,  Pompey's  Pillar,  Razor,  Crooked,  Butter,  Canyon  and  Pryor, 
there  lie  about  1,000,000  acres  of  fertile  lands  which  are  irrigated.  On 
the  latter,  farming  is  of  an  intensive  nature,  and  all  sorts  of  crops  which 
require  large  amounts  of  moisture  are  grown  thereon.  More  than  250,- 
ooo  tons  of  sugar  beets  are  produced  each  year  for  the  factory  at  Billings, 
and  the  growing  of  seed  beans  and  peas  for  eastern  markets  has  become 
an  important  industry.  In  the  older  parts  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley  the 
farms  are  of  considerable  size  and  the  beet  growers  are  proportionately 
prosperous.  While  large  amounts  of  labor  are  necessary  the  crops  pay 

commensurately. 

Above  the  ditches,  methods  are  entirely  different,  fields  of  many  acres 
being  the  ordinary  custom  and  huge  tractors  and  heavy  farming  machinery 
being  used  on  the  rolling  prairies  to  prepare  the  land  for  wheat  or  oats 

similar  crops.     Some  thirteen  years  ago  the  Billings  Chamber  of  Com- 


or 


858  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

merce  brought  the  Dry  Farming  Congress  to  Billings,  and  after  this  body 
had  inculcated  the  idea  that  successful  dry  land  farming  could  be  con- 
ducted in  the  Billings  country,  the  movement  gained  headway,  experi- 
ments were  made  and  the  results  were  decidedly  gratifying.  When  the 
homesteaders  began  their  influx  into  the  county,  the  railroads  began  dis- 
posing of  their  lands,  and  in  every  direction  from  Billings,  the  pivotal 
point,  the  uplands  are  now  being  cultivated  and  are  producing  large  re- 
turns. Wheat  yields  from  fifteen  to  fifty  bushels  per  acre,  oats  under 
favorable  conditions  sometimes  as  high  as  100  bushels,  c(3rn  from  fifteen 
to  sixty  bushels,  and  flax  as  a  sod  crop  from  eight  to  twenty-five  bushels. 
For  some  years  past  the  people  of  the  Yellowstone  Valley  have  profited 
by  the  experience  of  older  communities  in  the  preservation  of  the  soil, 
which  is  a  natural  alfalfa  producer.  No  inoculation  or  soil  treatment  is 
necessary  for  the  production  of  this  crop,  for  the  raw  lands,  plowed  up 
and  planted  to  alfalfa,  produce  abundantly.  This  gives  opportunity  for 
crop  rotation,  grain  crops  being  first  grown,  followed  by  alfalfa,  which 
enriches  the  land  with  its  deposits  of  nitrogen.  After  a  period  of  two 
or  more  years  the  alfalfa  is  turned  under  and  the  grain  yields  are  in- 
creased. 

LIVE  STOCK  OF  THE  REGION 

At  one  time  in  its  history,  Billings  was  the  largest  inland  wool  market 
in  the  world  and  was  the  metropolis  of  Montana's  stock-raising  country. 
Sheep  and  cattle  by  the  thousands  were  produced  on  the  wide  ranges  and 
shipped  east  to  be  marketed,  but  of  recent  years  stockraising,  in  a  large 
measure,  has  gone  hand  in  hand  with  farming,  either  on  the  bench  or 
irrigated  lands,  and  this  has  tended  to  make  Billings  a  stock-feeding 
center.  The  cattle  and  sheep  of  the  sugar-beet  raisers  are  fattened  on 
beet  tops,  alfalfa  and  grains,  and  many  of  these  growers  finish  their 
product  on  a  combination  of  beet  pulp  from  the  big  sugar  factory  at 
Billings.  As  rapidly  as  possible,  the  agriculturists  on  the  uplands  have 
acquired  herds  of  livestock,  and  have  combined  grain  farming  with  stock- 
raising.  Alfalfa,  Soudan  grass,  millets,  and  sweet  clover,  and  like  forage, 
furnishes  winter  provender,  and  the  farmers  utilize  the  rougher  sections 
of  their  properties  for  summer  pasture. 

In  the  foot-hills  and  near  the  mountains,  there  are  still  to  be  found 
many  old-time  ranches,  many  of  these  running  large  bunches  of  cattle 
and  sheep,  and  a  goodly  majority  pasturing  their  livestock  on  the  forest 
reserves  in  the  summer  time  and  bringing  them  down  out  of  the  moun- 
tains for  feed  in  the  winter.  Of  more  recent  years,  however,  the  en- 
croachment of  smaller  stock  growers,  who  have  increased  greatly  since 
the  passage  of  the  "64O-acre  homestead  act,"  has  had  a  tendency  to  do 
away  with  the  great  ranches  of  the  past  and  the  stock  industry  has  come 
more  and  more  into  the  hands  of  the  smaller  growers.  The  cattle  and 
sheep  "barons"  of  the  olden  days  are  a  thing  of  the  past  in  this  county. 
Far  from  injuring  the  industry,  it  has  been  found  that  the  net  returns 
to  the  county  have  greatly  increased  with  the  change,  for  the  lands  under 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


859 


the  new  system  are  producing  a  total  of  many  more  cattle  and  sheep  than 
formerly,  and  the  combination  of  farming,  stock  growing  and  home  finish- 
ing is  sending  them  to  market  in  a  much  more  valuable  condition. 

DAIRY  FARMING 

Another  industry  that  in  recent  years  has  been  one  of  growing  im- 
portance is  that  of  dairy  farming.  It  was  some  years  before  the  old-time 
ranchman,  who  raised  his  animals  only  for  the  beef,  could  be  brought  to 
realize  the  profit  to  be  derived  from  this  department  of  farming,  but  the 
newer  arrivals,  with  modernized  views,  readily  discerned  the  possibilities 
and  there  are  numerous  farmers  in  the  Yellowstone  Valley  who  devote  at 
least  a  part  of  their  efforts  to  this  branch.  There  is  no  branch  of  farming 


BROADVIEW  SCHOOL,  TERRY  -DISTRICT 

for  which  this  section  is  better  adapted,  taking  into  consideration  its  cool 
summers,  excellent  quality  of  alfalfa  and  a  ready  market  at  all  times  for 
creamery  products.  Much  importing  of  pure-bred  milk  cows  from  the 
East  has  been  done  by  the  more  progressive  farmers,  and  the  industry 
has  secured  a  firm  and  lasting  hold. 

GENERAL  EVIDENCES  OF  CITY'S  PROSPERITY 

Necessarily,  the  city  which  forms  the  distributing  point  for  this  large 
territory  and  these  varied  and  important  industries,  must  be  equipped  not 
only  with  capable  men  and  organizations,  but  with  large  financial  re- 
sources, and  public  utilities  of  the  most  modern  character.  The  individ- 
uals and  commercial  and  trade  organizations  of  Billings  are  products  of 
the  community's  needs.  They  have  realized  the  necessity  of  business-like 
action  and  have  grown  into  their  opportunities.  As  to  financial  resources 
Billings  is  accounted  a  wealthy  city,  its  property  valuation,  exclusive  of 


860  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

moneys  and  credits,  being  estimated  at  $11,000,000.  As  to  its  public 
utilities,  aside  from  its  comprehensive  railroad  system,  the  Western  Union 
Telegraph  Company  has  sixteen  trunk  lines,  capable  of  handling  16,000 
messages  daily  if  extended  to  the  limit,  and  these  have  been  known  to 
handle  as  many  as  10,000  messages  within  twenty-four  hours.  Billings 
is  the  district  headquarters  of  the  Mountain  States  Telephone  and  Tele- 
graph Company,  and  has  direct  connections  with  every  large  center  in 
the  state,  smaller  cities  and  rural  districts.  The  receipts  at  the  Billings 
Post  Office  (which  is  graded  with  cities  ranging  from  30,000  to  35,000 
population)  for  the  year  1920  were  $176,807.85,  an  increase  of  243  per 
cent  for  a  ten-year  period.  The  receipts  of  the  postoffice  exceed  those  of 
many  cities  twice  the  size  of  Billings.  At  the  Union  depot  during  the 
first  nine  months  of  1920  there  were  184,725  passenger  tickets  sold, 
representing  a  cash  expenditure  of  $1,049,871.43.  The  total  freight  and 
passenger  business  during  the  same  period  amounted  to  $3,522,832.54. 
Taking  everything  into  consideration,  one  may  appreciate  the  attitude 
of  the  Billings  writer  who  stated:  "Many  have  been  the  prophets  who 
have  said  that  some  day  Billings  would  be  a  city  of  50,000  or  100,000 
people.  With  this  goal  not  so  far  in  the  distance,  those  who  have  had 
the  city's  welfare  at  heart  are  bending  every  effort  to  see  that  Billings 
becomes,  not  only  a  big  city,  but  a  good  city  as  well." 


CHAPTER  XL 


BIRD'S-EYE  VIEW  OF  THE  STATE 

As  nearly  as  possible  details  have  been  given  closely  relating  to  the 
development  of  Montana  as  a  body  politic,  and  the  progress  of  its  people, 
individually  and  through  their  institutions.  But,  condensed  as  they  are, 
the  facts  evolved  in  the  writing  of  the  story  may  lack  cohesion  and  co-or- 
dination in  the  minds  of  some  without  the  addition  of  various  tables  and 
lists  which  finally  bind  the  narrative  together.  In  the  pages  which  con- 
clude this  history,  an  attempt  is  made  toward  that  end. 

AREA  AND  POPULATION  OF  COUNTIES — 1870  TO  1920* 

(In  computing  the  increase  from  1890  to  1900  for  certain  counties,  the 
population  of  Indian  reservations  in  1900  has  been  deducted  from  the  total 
population  of  the  county  in  order  to  make  it  comparable  with  the  total  for 
1890,  which  does  not  include  the  population  of  Indian  reservations.  The 
deductions  thus  made  for  the  several  counties  are  as  follows :  Chouteau, 
1,312;  Custer,  1,454;  Missoula,  2,129.) 


COUNTY 

Land  area 
in  square 
miles: 
1920 

POPULATION 

1920 

1910 

1900 

1890 

1880 

1870 

MONTANA'  

U46.131 

548,889 

376.053 

^43,329 

U42.924 

39,159 

20,595 

Beaverhead1  

5.657 
4,966 
4,229 
1,206 
2,060 
3,375 
3,411 
4.213 
3,741 
2,359 
745 
1,608 
7,146 
6,109 
2,507 
4,837 
2,981 
1,717 
2,892 
1,632 
3,447 
1,451 
3,624 
2,645 
3,622 
2,369 

7,369 
7,015 
9,057 
3,239 
15,279 
3,972 
38,836 
11,051 
12,194 
9,239 
15,323 
4,548 
28,344 
21,705 
15,864 
5,368 
4,178 
4,167 
13,958 
5.203 
18,660 
2,416 
7,797 
4.747 
7,495 
2.622 

6,446 

5,615 

4,655 

2,712 

722 

Big  Horn1 

Blaine1 

3,491 
13,962 

2,641 
7,533 

Carbon1 

Cascade1 

28,833 
17,191 
14,123 
12.725 
12,988 

25,777 
10,966 
7,891 
2,443 
17.393 

8,755 
4.741 
5.308 
2,056 
15,155 

Chouteau1  

3,058 
2.510 
180 
8,876 

517 
38 
177 
4.367 

Custer1  

Deer  Lodge1  

Fallen1 

17,385 
18,785 
14,079 

6,937 
9,375 
9,553 

3,514 

Flat  head1 

Gallatin1  
Garfield1  
Glacier1  

6,246 

3,643 

1.578 

Granite1  
Hill1  

2,942 

5,601 
21,853 

3  638 

4,328 

5,330 
19,171 

6,026 
19,145 

2  464 
6,521 

1,531 
5,040 

Lewis  and  Clark1  
Liberty1  

McCone1  

7,229 
4.190 

7,695 
2.526 

4,692 
4,749 

3,915 
2,743 

2,684 
1.387 

Meagher1  

1  See  changes  in  boundaries,  etc. 


*  Since  the  completion  of  the  United  States  census  of  1920,  three  counties  have 
been  created  by  the  Legislative  Assembly  of  Montana— Daniels,  in  the  north- 
eastern part,  between  Sheridan  and  Valley  counties;  and  Judith  Basin  and  Golden 
Valley,  in  the  central  part,  separated  by  Wheatland  county. 

861 


862 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


COUNTY 

Land  area 
in  square 
miles: 
1920 

POPULATION 

1920 

1910 

1900 

1890 

1880 

1870 

Mineral1  

1,230 
3,173 
2,903 
2,661 
5,178 
1  ,658 
3,337 
2,329 
1,742 
2,391 
2,103 
2,353 
4,993 
2,861 
2,686 
726 
1,777 
1,969 
2,044 
1,958 
960 
5,447 
1,411 
883 
2,611 

2,327 
24,041 
12,030 
11,330 
9,311 
5,741 
3,357 
6,909 
3,684 
10,098 
8,989 
10,347 
8,002 
4,903 
13,847 
60,313 
7,630 
4,926 
5,870 
3,724 
1,990 
11,542 
5,619 

Missoula1  

23,596 

13,964 

14,427 

2,537 

2,554 

Musselshell1  

Park1  

10,731 

7,341 

6,881 

Phillips1  

Pondera1  

Powder  River1  

Powell1  

5,904 

Prairie1  

Ravalli1  

1  1  ,666 

7,822 

Richland1  

Roosevelt1  

Rosebud1  

7,985 
3,713 

Sanders1  

Sheridan1  

Silver  Bow1  
Stillwater1  

56,848 

47,635 

23,744 

Sweet  Grass1  

4,029 
9,546 

3,086 
5,080 

Teton1  

Toole1  

Treasure1  

Valley1  

13,630 

4,355 

Wheatland1  

Wibaux1  

3,113 
29,600 

Yellowstone1  

22,944 

6.212 

2,065 

1  See  changes  in  boundaries,  etc. 

CHANGES  IN  BOUNDARIES,  ETC. 

The  State.  —  Total  land'  area  includes  198  square  miles  in  Yellowstone 
National  Park.  (Total  population  of  park  returned  as  in  Wyoming.) 
Total  population  for  1900  includes  population  (2,660)  of  Crow  Indian 
Reservation,  now  located  in  Big  Horn  and  Yellowstone  counties,  returned 
independently  in  1900.  Total  for  1890  includes  population  (10,765)  for 
Indian  reservations  specially  enumerated,  not  distributed  by  counties. 

Beaverhead.  —  Part  of  Madison  annexed  in  1911. 

Big  Horn.  —  Organized  from  parts  of   Rosebud  and  Yellowstone  in 


Blaine.  —  Organized  from  part  of  Chouteau  in  1912;  part  taken  to 
form  part  of  Phillips  in  1915. 

Broadwater.  —  Organized  from  parts  of  Jefferson  and  Meagher  in  1897. 

Carbon.  —  Organized  from  parts  of  Park  and  Yellowstone  in  1895  ; 
part  taken  to  form  part  of  Stillwater  in  1913;  part  annexed  to  Yellow- 
stone and  part  of  Yellowstone  annexed  in  1919. 

Carter.  —  Organized  from  part  of  Fallon  in  1917. 

Cascade.  —  Organized  from  parts  of  Chouteau,  Lewis  and  Clark,  and 
Meagher  in  1887;  part  of  Meagher  annexed  between  1890  and  1900. 

Chouteau.  —  Parts  taken  to  form  part  of  Cascade  in  1887,  Teton  in 
1893,  Blaine  and  Hill  in  1912,  and  parts  of  Liberty  and  Pondera  in  1919. 

Custer.  —  Name  changed  from  Bighorn  in  1877;  part  taken  to  form 
part  of  Yellowstone  in  1881  ;  part,  including  Northern  Cheyenne  Indian 
Reservation  and  part  of  Crow  Indian  Reservation,  taken  to  form  Rose- 
bud in  1901  ;  parts  taken  to  form  Fallon  in  1913,  part  of  Prairie  in  1915, 
and  Powder  River  in  1919. 

Dawson.  —  Parts  taken  to  form  Valley  in  1893,  Richland  and  part  of 
Wibaux  in  1914,  part  of  Prairie  in  1915,  and  Garfield  and  part  of  McCone 
in  1919. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  863 

Deer  Lodge. — Parts  taken  to  form  Silver  Bow  in  1881,  Granite  in 
1893,  and  Powell  in  1901 ;  parts  annexed  to  Flathead  and  Lewis  and  Clark 
between  1890  and  1900;  part  of  Silver  Bow  annexed  in  1903;  part  an- 
nexed to  Silver  Bow  in  1917. 

Fallen. — Organized  from  part  of  Custer  in  1913;  parts  taken  to  form 
part  of  Wibaux  in  1914,  part  of  Prairie  in  1915,  and  Carter  in  1917;  part 
annexed  to  Wibaux  and  part  of  Wibaux  annexed  in  1919. 

Fergus. — Organized  from  part  of  Meagher  in  1885;  part  annexed  to 
Meagher  and  part  taken  to  form  part  of  Musselshell  in  1911. 

Flathead. — Organized  from  part  of  Missoula  in  1893;  part  of  Deer 
Lodge  annexed  between  1890  and  1900;  part  taken  to  form  Lincoln  in 
1909. 

Gallatin. — Parts  taken  to  form  part  of  Yellowstone  in  1881  and  Park 
in  1887. 

Garfield. — Organized  from  part  of  Dawson  in  1919. 

Glacier. — Organized  from  part  of  Teton  in  1919. 

Granite. — Organized  from  part  of  Deer  Lodge  in  1893. 

Hill. — Organized  from  part  of  Chouteau  in  1912 ;  parts  taken  to  form 
part  of  Toole  in  1914  and  part  of  Liberty  in  1919. 

Jefferson. — Part  taken  to  form  part  of  Broadwater  in  1897. 

Lewis  and  Clark. — Part  taken  to  form  part  of  Cascade  in  1887;  parts 
of  Deer  Lodge  and  Meagher  annexed  between  1890  and  1900. 

Liberty. — Organized  from  parts  of  Chouteau  and  Hill  in  1919. 

Lincoln. — Organized  from  part  of  Flathead  in  1909. 

McCone — Organized  from  parts  of  Dawson  and  Richland  in  1919. 

Madison. — Part  annexed  to  Beaverhead  in  1911. 

Meagher. — Parts  taken  to  form  Fergus  in  1885,  part  of  Cascade  in 
1887,  part  of  Sweet  Grass  in  1895,  and  part  of  Broadwater  in  1897;  parts 
annexed  to  Cascade  and  Lewis  and  Clark  between  1890  and  1900;  part  of 
Fergus  annexed  in  1911 ;  parts  taken  to  form  part  of  Musselshell  in  1911 
and  part  of  Wheatland  in  1917. 

Mineral. — Organized  from  part  of  Missoula  in  1914. 

Missoula. — Parts  taken  to  form  Flathead  and  Ravilli  in  1893,  Sanders 
in  1906,  and  Mineral  in  1914;  part  of  Powell  annexed  in  1915. 

Musselshell— Organized  from  parts  of  Fergus,  Meagher,  and  Yellow- 
stone in  1911. 

Park.— Organized  from  part  of  Gallatin  in  1887;  parts. taken  to  form 
parts  of  Carbon  and  Sweet  Grass  in  1895. 

Phillips— Organized  from  parts  of  Elaine  and  Valley  in  1915 

Pondera. — Organized  from  parts  of  Chouteau  and  Teton  in  1919. 

Powder  River.— Organized  from  part  of  Custer  in  1919. 

Powell. — Organized  from  part  of  Deer  Lodge  in  1901 ;  part  annexed 

to  Missoula  in  1915. 

Prairie.— Organized  from  parts  of   Custer,   Dawson,  and   Fallon   in 

5- 

Ravalli—  Organized  from  part  of  Missoula  in  1893. 


864  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Richland. — Organized  from  part  of  Dawson  in  1914;  parts  taken  to 
form  part  of  Wibaux  in  1914  and  part  of  McCone  in  1919. 

Roosevelt. — Organized  from  part  of  Sheridan  in  1919. 

Rosebud. — Organized  from  part  of  Custer  County,  including  Northern 
Cheyenne  Indian  Reservation  and  part  of  Crow  Indian  Reservation,  in 
1901 ;  parts  taken  to  form  part  of  Big  Horn  in  1913,  and  Treasure  in  1919. 

Sanders. — Organized  from  part  of  Missoula  in  1905. 

Sheridan. — Organized  from  part  of  Valley  in  1913;  part  taken  to  form 
Roosevelt  in  1919. 

Silver  Bow. — Organized  from  part  of  Deer  Lodge  in  1881 ;  part  an- 
nexed to  Deer  Lodge  in  1903;  part  of  Deer  Lodge  annexed  in  1917. 

Stillwater. — Organized  from  parts  of  Carbon,  Sweet  Grass,  and  Yel- 
lowstone in  1913. 

Sweet  Grass. — Organized  from  parts  of  Meagher,  Park,  and  Yellow- 
stone in  1895;  parts  taken  to  form  part  of  Stillwater  in  1913  and  part  of 
Wheatland  in  1917. 

Teton. — Organized  from  part  of  Chouteau  in  1893 ;  part  taken  to  form 
part  of  Toole  in  1914;  parts  taken  to  form  Glacier  and  part  of  Pondera 
in  1919. 

Toole. — Organized  from  parts  of  Hill  and  Teton  in  1914. 

Treasure. — Organized  from  part  of  Rosebud  in  1919. 

Valley. — Organized  from  part  of  Dawson  in  1893 ;  parts  taken  to  form 
Sheridan  in  1913  and  part  of  Phillips  in  1915. 

Wheatland. — Organized  from  parts  of  Meagher  and  Sweet  Grass  in 
1917. 

Wibaux. — Organized  from  parts  of  Dawson,  Fallon,  and  Richland  in 
1914;  part  annexed  to  Fallon  and  part  of  Fallon  annexed  in  1919. 

Yellowstone. — Organized  from  parts  of  Custer  and  Gallatin  in  1881 ; 
parts  taken  to  form  parts  of  Carbon  and  Sweet  Grass  in  1895 ;  parts  taken 
to  form  part  of  Musselshell  in  1911  and  parts  of  Big  Horn  and  Stillwater 
in  1913 ;  part  annexed  to  Carbon  and  part  of  Carbon  annexed  in  1919. 

OTHER  FACTS  ABOUT  MONTANA'S  COUNTIES 

Assessed 

County  and  County  Seat  Valuation 

Beaverhead — Dillon $  29,843,639 

Big  Horn — Hardin 21,848,839 

Elaine — Chinook 27,957,520 

Broadwater — Townsend    14,681,274 

Carbon — Red  Lodge 27,680,837 

Carter — Ekalaka 10,383,482 

Cascade — Great  Falls 126,497,581 

Chouteau — Fort  Benton 49,902,252 

Custer — Miles  City 27,421,886 

Daniels — Scobey •. 

Dawson — Glendive 23>937>495 

Deer  Lodge — Anaconda  35,546,143 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  865 

Assessed 

County  and  County  Seat  Valuation 

Fallon— Baker    $  16,388,475 

Fergus— Lewistown 105,374,149 

Flathead— Kalispell 49,860,167 

Gallatin — Bozeman 56,221  ^27 

Garfield— Jordan    14,850,957 

Golden  Valley — Ryegate 

Glacier — Cut  Bank 12,627,674 

Granite — Philipsburg 12,055,739 

Hill— Havre    35,650,825 

Jefferson — Boulder 17,981,405 

Judith  Basin — Stanford 

Lewis  and  Clark — Helena 62,699,832 

Liberty — Chester 1 1,871,060 

Lincoln — Libby 21,263,555 

Madison — Virginia  City 23,824,022 

McCone — Circle  16,756,515 

Meagher — White  Sulphur  Springs 18,414,780 

Mineral — Superior   1 1,893,514 

Missoula — Missoula 56,211,819 

Musselshell — Roundup 49>377,OI3 

Park — Livingston 35,707,462 

Phillips — Malta 22,432469 

Pondera — Conrad 24,563,000 

Powder  River — Broadus 9,892,657 

Powell — Deer  Lodge 23,828,662 

Prairie — Terry   16,359,540 

Ravalli — Hamilton  21,991,788 

Richland— Sidney 23,993,882 

Roosevelt — Mondak 20,060,127 

Rosebud— Forsyth  35475463 

Sanders— Thompson  Falls 23,564,786 

Sheridan — Plenty  wood 30,900,064 

Silver  Bow— Butte 128,411,371 

Stillwater— Columbus   25,813,430 

Sweet  Grass— Big  Timber  .. .' 20,645,120 

Teton — Chouteau  27,060,3.31 

Toole— Shelby 18,504,672 

Treasure— Hysham 8,068,238 

Valley— Glasgow 3I»857,796 

Wheatland— Harlowton 28,786,026 

Wibaux— Wibaux 11,640,730 

Yellowstone— Billings 84,595,256 

Total  .  $1,663,176,666 


866  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

COUNTY  ORGANIZATION  IN  A  NUT-SHELL 

When  Montana  was  organized  (May  26,  1864)  it  comprised  the 
counties  of  Missoula,  Deer  Lodge,  Beaverhead,  Madison,  Jefferson,  Chou- 
teau,  Dawson  and  Big  Horn,  as  created  by  the  Act  of  January  16,  1864, 
of  the  First  (Lewiston)  Legislative  Assembly  of  Idaho  Territory.  These 
counties  were  recognized  later  in  the  creation  of  Legislative  and  Judicial 
Districts  until  the  First  (Bannack)  Legislature  established  the  new  coun- 
ties of  the  territory  of  Montana,  incorporating  Dawson  County  into  Big 
Horn  County  and  creating  the  new  counties  of  Edgerton  and  Gallatin 
and  otherwise  generally  recognizing  the  old  county  boundaries :  2 

Counties  Date  Created 

Missoula February  2,  1865 

Deer  Lodge . .  February  2,  1865 

Beaverhead   February  2,  1865 

Madison  February  2,  1865 

Jefferson    February  2,  1965 

Edgerton  3 February  2,  1865 

Gallatin February  2,  1865 

Chouteau February  2,  1865 

Big  Horn 4   .February  2, 

Meagher March  26, 

Muscleshell  3    April  10, 

Vivion  5 November  21, 

Lewis  and  Clark December  20, 

Dawson    January  15,  1869 

Custer    February  6,  1877 

Silver   Bow February   6,  1881 

Yellowstone  February  20,  1883 


1  Through  the  courtesy  of  the  State  Society  of  Pioneers. 

2  The  Organic  Act  of  Montana  properly  recognized  the  meridian  of  Longitude 
West    from   Washington    while    the    Bannack    (First)    Legislature    recognized    the 
meridian  of  Longitude  West  from  Greenwich  in  establishing  the  county  boundaries. 
The  difference  is  77  degrees  and  3  minutes. 

3  Name  changed  to  Lewis  and  Clarke  by  Act  of  December  20,  1867,  to  take  effect 
March  I,  1868.     Spelling  of  Clark  corrected  by  Act  of  February  10,  1905. 

4  One  of  the  original  nine  counties  created  by  Act  of  February  2,  1865,  embrac- 
ing a  region  from  meridian  27  of  Longitude  West   from  Washington  to  the   108 
meridian  West  from  Greenwich  and  North  of  the  47  parallel  of  Latitude  and  to  the 
109  meridian  of  Longitude  and  South  of  said  47  parallel  of  Latitude,  embracing 
approximately  57,250  square  miles.    Attached  to  Gallatin  County  for  Legislative  and 
Judicial  purposes.     That  portion  North  of  the  47  parallel  of  Latitude  was  made 
Dawson  County  by  Act  of  January  15,  1869,  and  Big  Horn  County  South  of  that 
parallel  was  attached  to  Gallatin  County.     Name  was  changed  to  Custer  County  by 
Act  of  February  16,  1877. 

5  Created    by    Second    (Extraordinary)    Legislative    Assembly,    April    10,    1866. 
County  seat,  Kercheval  City.    Name  changed  to  Vivion  County  by  Third  (Extraor- 
dinary) Legislative  Assembly,  November  21,  1866.     County  seat  removed  to  Smith- 
ton.     Laws  of  both  of  said  sessions  were  annulled  by  Act  of  Congress  of   March 
2,  1867. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  867 

Counties  Date  Created 

Fergus March  12,  1885 

Park   February  23,  1887 

Cascade   September  19,  1887 

Flathead  February  6,  1893 

Valley February  6,  1893 

Teton    February   7,    1893 

Ravalli    February  16,  1893 

Granite  March  2,  1893 

Carbon March  4,  1895 

Sweet  Grass March  5,  1895 

Broadwater   February  9,  1897 

Powell  6 January  31,  1901 

Rosebud February  1 1 ,  1901 

Daly  6   March  8,  1901 

Sanders February  7,   1905 

Lincoln  March  9,  1909 

Musselshell February  1 1,  191 1 

Hill February  28,  1912 

Blaine March  2,  1912 

Big  Horn January  20,  1913 

Stillwater   March  25,  1913 

Sheridan March  27,  1913 

Fallen December  9,  1913 

Toole May  7,  1914 

Richland June  3,  1914 

Mineral August  10,  1914 

Wibaux .August  17,  1914 

Prairie  February  5,  1915 

Phillips February  8,  1915 

Wheatland February  22,  1917 

Carter February  22,  1917 

Garfield  « February  7,  1919 

Treasure  6    February  7,  1919 

McCone  7 February  12,  1919 

Glacier  * February  17,  1919 

Pondera  7  February  17,  1919 

Roosevelt February  18,  1919 

Powder  River  7  March  7,  1919 

Liberty    !92o 

Daniels I9*> 

Judith  Basin    19™ 

Golden  Valley T92° 

e  Senate  Bills  Nos.  84  and  86,  Acts  of  March  8,  1901,  to  change  the  name  of 
Deer  Lodge  County  to  Daly  County  and  change  the  name  of  Powell  County  to  Deer 
Lodge  County  held  unconstitutional  April  8th  in  the  case  of  State  ex  rel.  Sackett 
vrs.  Thomas,  by  the  State  Supreme  Court,  25  Mont.  226. 

"  Law  to  take  effect  April  I,  1919- 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

THE  GOVERNORS  OF  MONTANA 

Sidney  Edgerton — First  governor  of  the  territory,  June  22,  1864,  to 
July  12,  1866. 

Green  Clay  Smith — Second  territorial  governor,  July  13,  1866,  to 
April  9,  1869. 

James  M.  Ashley — Third  territorial  governor,  April  9,  1869,  to  July 
12,  1870. 

Benjamin  F.  Potts — Fourth  territorial  governor,  July  13,  1870,  to  Janu- 
ary 14,  1883. 

J.  Schuyler  Crosby — Fifth  territorial  governor,  January  15,  1883,  to 
December  15,  1884. 

B.  Platt  Carpenter — Sixth  territorial  governor,  December  16,  1884, 
to  July  13,  1885. 

Samuel  T.  Hauser — Seventh  territorial  governor,  July  14,  1885,  to 
February  7,  1887. 

Preston  H.  Leslie — Eighth  territorial  governor,  February  8,  1889,  to 
April  8,  1889. 

Benjamin  F.  White — Ninth  territorial  governor,  April  9,  1889,  to 
November  8,  1889. 

Joseph  K.  Toole — First  governor  of  the  state,  November  8,  1889,  to 
January  2,  1893;  also  two  other  terms,  January  7,  1901,  to  April  i,  1908. 

John  E.  Rickards — Second  governor  of  the  state,  January  2,  1893,  to 
January  4,  1897. 

Robert  E.  Smith — Third  governor  of  the  state,  January  4,  1897,  to 
January  7,  1901. 

Joseph  K.  Toole — Two  terms.    See  above. 

Edwin  L.  Norris — Fourth  governor  of  the  state,  April  i,  1908,  to  Janu- 
ary i,  1913. 

SamueF  V.  Stewart — Fifth  governor  of  the  state,  January  i,  1913,  to 
January  i,  1921. 

Joseph  M.  Dixon — Sixth  governor  of  the  state,  January  i,  1921- 

UNITED  STATES  OFFICIALS,  JUNE,  1921 

United  States  Senator — Thomas  J.  Walsh,  Helena. 
United  States  Senator — Henry  L.  Myers,  Hamilton. 
Representative,  First  District — W.  J.  McCormick,  Missoula. 
Representative,  Second  District — Carl  Riddick,  Lewistown. 
District  Attorney — John  L.  Slattery. 
United  States  Marshal — Joseph  L.  Asbridge,  Helena. 
District  Judge — George  M.  Bourquin,  Butte. 
District  Court  Clerk — Charles  R.  Garlow,  Helena. 
Surveyor  General — Gilman  Bullard,  Helena. 
Collector  Internal  Revenue — J.  A.  Walsh,  Helena. 
Bureau  Animal  Industry — Dr.  Rudolph  Snyder,  Helena. 
Reclamation  Service — Willis  J.  Eggleston,  Helena. 
Immigration  Service — C.  K.  Andrews,  Helena. 
United  States  Assay  Office — Herbert  Goodall,  Helena. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  869 

Federal  Prohibition  Director — L.  K.  Devlin,  Helena. 

United  States  Geological  Survey — Wm.  A.  Lamb,  Helena. 

United  States  Supervisor  of  Surveys — J.  Scott  Harrison,  Helena. 

United  States  Weather  Bureau — Wm.  T.  Lathrop,  Helena. 

United  States  Forest  Service — District  Forester — Fred  Morrell,  Mis- 
soula. 

United  States  Bureau  of  Crop  Estimates — Agricultural  Statistician — 
F.  W.  Beier,  Jr.,  Helena. 

Agricultural  Experiment  Station — F.  W.  Linfield,  Superintendent, 
Bozeman. 

Branch  Federal  Reserve  Bank  of  Minneapolis — O.  A.  Carlson,  man- 
ager, Helena, 

United  States  Land  Offices,  where  applications  for  homestead,  gas,  oil 
and  coal  entries  are  made,  are  located  in  Montana  at  Billings,  Bozeman, 
Glasgow,  Great  Falls,  Havre,  Helena,  Kalispell,  Lewistown,  Miles  City 
and  Missoula. 

STATE  OFFICIALS,  JUNE,  1921 

Governor — Joseph  M.  Dixon. 

Private  Secretary  to  Governor — Will  Aiken. 

Lieutenant  Governor — Nelson  Story,  Jr. 

Secretary  of  State — Charles  T.  Stewart. 

Attorney  General — Wellington  D.  Rankin. 

State  Treasurer— J.  W.  Walker. 

State  Auditor,  Insurance  and  Investment  Commissioner— George  P. 
Porter. 

State  Superintendent  of  Public  Instruction — May  Trumpet. 

Chief  Justice  Supreme  Court— Theodore  Brantly. 

Associate  Justices  Supreme  Court— W.  L.  Holloway,  Chas.  H.  Cooper, 
Albert  J.  Galen,  F.  B.  Reynolds. 

Clerk  Supreme  Court— J.  T.  Carroll. 

Adjutant  General— Charles  L.  Sheridan. 

State  Engineer— A.  W.  Heidel. 

Chief  Commissioner  Highway  Commission— George  W.  Lanstrum. 

Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  Labor  and  Industry— Chester  C.  Davis. 

Commissioner  of  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Publicity— Charles 

D.  Greenfield. 

Chancellor  State  Educational  Institutions— Edward  C.  Elliott. 
Register  State  Lands— H.  V.  Bailey. 

STATE  INSTITUTIONS 
Deaf  Dumb,  Blind  Asylum . Boulder      Tuberculosis  Sanitarium  .  .  .  .Galen 

Agricultural  College Bozeman      Girls  Vocational  School    .      Helena 

Experiment  Station Bozeman      Industrial  School Miles  Ci  y 

School  of   Mines Butte      University  of  Montana . . .  Missoula 

Soldiers  Home  ....  Columbia  Falls      Orphans  Home Twin  Bridges 

Penitentiary  Deer  Lodge      Insane  Asylum Warm  Springs 

Normal   School    Dillon 


870 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


FINANCES,  INDUSTRIES  AND  BUSINESS 

Scattered  through  numerous  pages  of  the  history  are  facts  and  figures 
relating  to  the  banks,  lumber  mills,  the  dairies  and  the  mercantile  estab- 
lishments of  the  state,  but  the  fourth  biennial  report  of  the  Department 
of  Labor  and  Industry,  as  well  as  the  1920  publication  of  the  Department 
of  Agriculture  and  Publicity,  gives  the  very  figures  required  to  exhibit  the 
general  status  of  these  elements  which  go  so  far  to  form  the  stability  of  the 
state. 

The  aggregate  resources  and  liabilities  of  the  state,  private  and  national 
banks  of  Montana  on  May  5,  1920,  are  compiled  from  figures  furnished 
by  the  state  examiner : 


RESOURCES 


State 

National 

Total 

Loans  and  Discounts  

$  87,816,946.04 

$  69,238,857.84 

$157,055,803.88 

Overdrafts  

412,477.22 

201,731.43 

614,208  65 

Bonds,  Warrants,  etc  

11,222,390.11 

14,173,542.76 

25,395,932.87 

Stock  in  Federal  Reserve  Bank. 
Banking  House,  Fur.  and  Fix..  . 
Other  Real  Estate  

107,000.00 
3,480,647.34 
1,523,598.45 

352,950.00 
2,591,914.55 
627,537.05 

459,950.00 
6,072,561.89 
2,151,135.50 

Gold  

241,722.50 

185,465.80 

427,188.30 

Silver  and  Minor  Coin  

567,168.53 

429,738.89 

996,907.42 

Currency  

3,483,291.41 

2,272,704.44 

5,755,995.85 

Due  from  Approved  Reserve  .  .  . 
Due  from  Other  Banks  

14,310,004.11 
1,494,496.39 

8,439,637.90 
6,268,376.33 

22,749,642.01 
7,762,872.72 

Checks  and  Other  Cash  Items.  . 
Other  Resources  

635,757.98 
322,561.40 

748,897.41 
866,901.16 

1,384,655.39 
1,189,462.56 

Redem.  Fund  with  U.  S.  Treas 

216,387.72 

216,387.72 

Totals  

$125,618,061.48 

$106,614,643.28 

$232,232,704.76 

LIABILITIES 


Capital  Stock  

$  11,985,000.00 

$     7,995,000.00 

$  19,980,000.00 

Surplus.  .  .            .... 

3,821,464.61 

3,966,822.00 

7,788,286.61 

Undivided  Profits  

1,510,636.42 

2,005,425.91 

3,516,062.33 

Due  to  Banks  

3,308,108.53 

4,393,149.76 

7,701,258.29 

Demand  Deposits.             .    ... 

51,848,066.66 

46,965,648.39 

98,813,715.05 

Time  Deposits  

42,206,752.34 

31,772,084.51 

73,978,836.85 

Bills  Payable  

11,619,615.59 

3,214,056.41 

13,833,672.00 

Circulating  Notes  Outstanding 

3,869,174.15 

3,869,174.15 

Other  Liabilities.  .    . 

318,417.33 

2,433,282.15 

2,751,699.48 

Totals  

$125,618,061.48 

$106,614,643.28 

$232,232,704.76 

All  of  the  banks  under  state  supervision  come  under  the  department  of 
the  state  superintendent  of  banks  and  his  assistants.  One  assistant  superin- 
tendent and  four  deputy  bank  examiners  keep  a  close  supervision  on  all  of 
these  state  institutions.  The  state  inspectors  visit  the  banks  for  inspection 
twice  each  year.  They  verify  the  books  and  records  of  the  business  trans- 
actions and  otherwise  see  that  the  bank  is  living  up  to  the  letter  of  the  law. 
They  have  performed  their  duties  so  well  that  there  has  not  been  a  single 


871 


bank  failure  in  Montana  in  the  past  five  years,  and  there  have  only  been  five 
bank  failures  in  the  state  in  the  past  twenty  years. 

The  state  banks  are  required  to  take  out  state  charters  before  engag- 
ing in  business.  The  law  requires  that  they  keep  on  hand,  as  a  reserve 
fund,  15  per  cent  of  their  liabilities,  which  is  made  up  of  the  demand  de- 
posits, time  deposits,  the  amount  due  to  other  banks  and  cashier's  checks. 
The  amount  of  reserve  on  hand  in  the  state  banks  June  30,  1919,  aver- 
aged 20.5  per  cent  or  $7,933,535  surplus  over  the  required  amount. 

A  feature  of  the  state  banking  laws,  which  protects  the  depositors,  is 
the  prohibition  against  the  buying  of  the  stocks  of  other  corporations  by 
the  banks  of  the  state.  The  banks  can  purchase  United  States  bonds, 
state  bonds,  county  bonds,  city  bonds  and  school  bonds. 

The  establishment  of  the  Helena  branch  of  the  Federal  Reserve  Bank 
of  Minneapolis,  headquarters  for  the  Ninth  Reserve  District,  has  been 
noted.  It  is  the  only  branch  in  the  district.  A  large  building  was  pur- 
chased, which,  with  vaults  and  improvements  represented  an  investment 
of  $150,000.  The  Helena  branch  carries  at  all  times  from  $3,000,000  to 
$5,000,000  to  serve  the  financial  needs  of  Montana. 

On  January  i,  1920,  there  were  288  state  and  142  national  banks  in 
the  state.  All  of  the  national  banks  belong  to  the  Federal  Reserve  System, 
and  the  state  banks  are  rapidly  joining  it. 

THE  SAW  MILLS  OF  MONTANA 

Although  the  lumber  industry  of  Montana  is  only  about  twenty  years 
old,  and  most  of  the  mills  of  the  state  have  been  established  within  the 
past  decade,  it  has  reached  a  high  plane  in  the  economics  of  the  common- 
wealth, as  is  illustrated  in  the  following  table : 


Post  Office 

Goods  Manufactured 
or  Handled 

Date 
When 
Established 

Capital 
Invested 

Lumber  and  ties  

1907 
1898 
1918 
1919 
1907 
1912 
1903 
1919 
1919 
1917 
1916 
1911 
1906 
1918 
1912 
1910 
1906 
1900 
1914 
1919 
1915 
1905 

$          6,000 
6,459,733 
50,000 
30,000 
1,500 
5,000 
350,000 
2,000 
10,000 
3,000 
3,500 
5,000 
1,000,000 
19,100 
5,000 
3,000 
84,000 
5,000 
25,000 
1,000 
1,500 
50,000 

Lumber  and  lath  

Lumber  and  wood  

fUolb-  Ruttf 

Lumber  

Lumber  

/"•I,.  J0   Parlr 

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  

C"  L-o  1  a  \rck 

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  and  ties  

/"•_„,.   P'Kflf 

Lumber  

Hall 

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  

Lumber  • 

Lumber  

Kalisoell.  .                   

Lumber  

872 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


Post  Office 

Goods  Manufactured 
or  Handled 

Date 
When 
Established 

Capital 
Invested 

Libby  

Lumber  

1919 
1918 
1910 
1904 
1916 
1918 
1910 
1917 
1917 
1915 
1917 
1918 
1909 
1912 
1916 
1919 
1911 
1908 
1912 
1919 
1900 
1900 
1907 
1912 
1916 
1906 
1919 
1911 

$1,500,000 
3,000 
3,000 
5,000 
2,000 
850,000 
343,000 
16,000 
18,000 
3,000 
70,000 
12,000 
100,000 
4,000 
10,000 
2,000 
2,500 
4,000 
4,000 
2,000 
100,000 
1,000 
3,000 
10,000 
370,000 
30,000 
20,000 
1,000 

Luther  

Lumber  

Lyon     .          

Lumber  

Marion  

Lumber  

Melville  

Lumber  . 

Milltown  

Lumber  

Missoula  

Lumber  

Missoula  

Lumber  

Patrick  Creek  

Lumber  and  ties   .          .    . 

Philipsburg  

Lumber  

Plains  

Lumber  and  ties  

Plains                       

Lumber.  . 

Poison  

Lumber  

Rema      

Lumber  

Rexford  

Lumber  

Ronan  

Lumber  

Ronan  ...        

Lumber  

Roundup  

Lumber  

St.  Ignatus  

Lumber  

Sheridan  

Lumber  

Somers  

Lumber  

Town  send  

Lumber  

Trout  Creek  

Lumber  

Varney  

Lumber  

Warland  

Lumber  

Whitefish  

Lumber  

Whitehall  

Lumber  

White  S.  Springs  

Lumber  

Total  

$11,607,833 

Note :  Several  firms  have  included  planing  mill  and  logging  operations.  Timbers 
used  in  the  mines  of  the  state  yearly,  which  include  round  timbers,  stulls  and  poles, 
probably  aggregate  considerably  more  than  100,000,000  feet  board  measure,  and 
are  not  included  in  the  above  figures. 

SMELTERS,  CONCENTRATORS  AND  CYANIDE  PLANTS 


Post  Office 

Goods  Manufactured 
or  Handled 

Date 
When 
Estab- 
lished 

Capital 
Invested 

Yearly  Output 
Tons  of  Ore 

Anaconda 

Smelter  Copper  Zinc 

*  128  400 

Concentrator    

1902 

$12,500,000 

|243,300 

Butte  

Sampler 

1.904 

121,000 

261,740 

Butte  

Copper 

1906 

700,000 

354,338 

Cooke  

Copper 

1911 

350  000 

Butte  

Zinc  Concentrator 

1912 

7  500000 

4  500  000 

Deer  Lodge  .... 

Gold  Stamp  Mill  

1910 

20,000 

10,000 

E.  Helena  

Lead  Smelt.  &  Cone 

1889 

500  OOC 

50,000 

Great  Falls.  .  .  . 

Copper  Refinery  

1892 

1,300,000 

{13,244 

Great  Falls.  .  .  . 

Reduction  Plants. 

1916 

1,750,000 

§  

Great  Falls.  .  .  . 

Electrolytic  Zinc  

1916 

3,500,000 

f29,930 

Helena  

Milling  of  Ores 

1916 

100,000 

Jardine^[        .  . 

Mill   Gold  &  Tungsten 

1914 

100000 

35  000 

*128,400  tons  of  blister  copper  shipped  to  Great  Falls  refinery  to  be  refined. 

t243,400  tons  of  zinc  shipped  to  company's  electrolytic  zinc  plant,  Great  Falls,  for  treatment. 

JMetals  contained  in  electrolytic  slimes  shipped  east  for  treatment.  Tons  of  copper  993,  ounces  of 
silver  6,978,464,  ounces  of  gold  42,816. 

§The  only  copper  smelting  carried  on  at  this  plant  during  the  past  year  was  the  treatment  of  zinc 
plant  residue  for  recovery  of  copper,  gold,  silver  and  lead,  the  metal  from  the  plants  in  operation  being 
shipped  to  other  smelters  for  converting  and  refining. 

HZinc  dross  produced  and  shipped  from  plants,  2,571  tons. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


873 


Post  Office 

Goods  Manufactured 
or  Handled 

Date 
When 
Estab- 
lished 

Capital 
Invested 

Yearly  Output 
Tons  of  Ore 

Kendall 

Gold  Stamp  Mill  

1908 

$150,000 

24,435 

Kendall 

Gold  Stamp  Mill  

1918 

100,000 

17,805 

Marys  vi  lie. 

Gold,  Sil.  Stamp  Mill  

1912 

100,000 

11,919 

Marysville  

Gold,  Sil.  Stamp  Mill  
Gold  Sil.  Stamp  Mill  .    . 

1915 
1912 

100,000 
250,000 

32,960 

McAllister 

Cyanide  Tailings  

1919 

50,000 

8,000 

Sil    Mill  &  Cone 

1900 

500  000 

Cyanide  Mill 

1905 

200,000 

Butte 

Blister  Copper  

1907 

375,000 

°20,518,510 

7ortman 

Cyanide  Plant  

1904 

100,000 

185,000 

Totals 

$25,266,000 

5,501,197 

"Pounds  of  blister  copper  shipped  to  refineries  to  be  refined. 

DAIRY  PRODUCTS 

The  dairy  products  of  Montana  are  largely  devoted  to  the  manufac- 
ture of  butter,  the  output  of  cheese  being  comparatively  small.  Fifty 
creameries  and  nine  cheese  factories  represent  the  establishments  which  turn 
out  this  class  of  manufactures.  The  creameries,  with  their  locations, 
dates  of  establishment  and  amount  of  capital  invested,  are  as  follows : 


Baker 

1914 
1915 
1914 
1911 
1919 
1916 
1915 
1889 
1915 
1919 
1919 
1919 
1917 
1909 
1915 
1915 
1913 
1918 
1915 
1916 
1914 
1919 
1916 
1916 
1907 

$        5,600 
50,000 
4,500 
35,000 
3,000 
7,170 
1,400 
1  ,000,000 
30,644 
5,000 
15,000 
5,000 
7,600 
6,000 
10,000 
10,000 
4,000 
5,000 
6,100 
6,750 
4,000 
7,000 
7,500 
100,000 
15,000 

Great  Falls  

1919 
1917 
1918 
1914 
1913 
1917 
1916 
1916 
1912 
1917 
1914 
1914 
1916 
1917 
1914 
1912 
1913 
1906 
1919 
1917 
1907 
1904 
1913 
1911 
1917 

$      25,000 

9,935 
9,000 
12,000 
10,000 
10,000 
5,000 
20,000 
13,000 
75,000 
25,000 
'18,000 
5,500 
48,000 
66,100 
7,000 
12,000 
16,700 
13,000 
7,600 
50,000 
5,500 
10,000 
10,000 
9,000 

Belt 

Hamilton  

Hardin  

Havre  

Helena  

Helena  

Rnttp 

Judith  Gap  

Kalispell  

Laurel  

Lewistown  

Lewistown  

Livingston  

Melstone  

Miles  City  

Missoula  

Philipsburg  

Poison  

Red  Lodge  

Roundup  

Ryegate  

Stevensville  
Townsend  

Grass  Range  .... 
Great  Falls  

Whitehall  

Willow  Creek  .  .  . 
Worden  

Great  Falls  

« 

$1,843,500 

The  nine  cheese  factories  which  have  all  been  established  since  1915, 
are  located  at  Ballantine,  Belgrade,  Central  Park,  Corvallis,  Creston  Elk 
Park,  Reese  Creek,  Salesville  and  Wilsall.  All  but  the  first  named,  which 
is  in  Yellowstone  County,  are  located  in  the  valleys  of  Western  Montana, 
where  also  are  the  majority  of  the  creameries.  The  cheese  factories  are 
small,  only  $38,500  in  capital  being  invested  in  the  nine. 


874  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

MANUFACTURE  OF  SOFT  DRINKS  AND  CEREAL  BEVERAGES 

Since  the  coming,  and  substantial  enforcement,  of  prohibition  this  line 
of  manufactures  has  been  given  an  impetus  in  Montana,  as  witness  this 
table  taken  from  the  report  of  the  State  Department  of  Labor  and  In- 
dustry : 


Post  Office 

Goods  Manufactured 

Date  when 
Established 

Capital 
Invested 

Billings.  

Cereal  Beverages 

1900 

$    100  000 

Billings  

Soft  Drinks  

1906 

20  000 

Billings  

Near  Beer  

1900 

100  000 

Bozeman  

Soft  Drinks.  .  .    . 

1895 

6000 

Bozeman  

Soft  Drinks  

1915 

3  000 

Butte  

Cereal  Beverages  

1900 

150  000 

Butte  

Soft  Drinks  

1905 

10000 

Butte  

Soft  Drinks  

1888 

10000 

Butte  

Soft  Drinks  

1919 

5  000 

Butte  

Soft  Drinks.  .  .  . 

1916 

19  500 

Dillon  

Soft  Drinks  

1919 

3,000 

Glasgow  

Soft  Drinks  

1919 

3  000 

Glendive  

Soft  Drinks  

1913 

15  000 

Great  Falls  

Soft  Drinks  

1919 

2,000 

Great  Falls  

Cereal  Beverages 

1895 

300,000 

Great  Falls  

Cereal  Beverages 

1894 

335000 

Hamilton.  .  .    . 

Soft  Drinks 

1919 

1  500 

Havre  

Soft  Drinks  

1908 

6,000 

Helena  

Soft  Drinks 

1866 

7,000 

Kalispell  

Soft  Drinks  

1914 

100,000 

Kalispell  

Soft  Drinks  

1919 

8,000 

Lewistown  

Cereal  Beverages    . 

1904 

45,000 

Lewistown  

Soft  Drinks  

1915 

10,000 

Miles  City  

Soft  Drinks   

1907 

14,000 

Missoula  

Soft  Drinks  

1918 

18,000 

Red  Lodge  

Soft  Drinks  

1919 

1,500 

Red  Lodge  

Soft  Drinks  

1916 

11,000 

Roundup  

Soft  Drinks  

1915 

2,000 

Total  .  . 

$1,305,000 

BUSINESS  ESTABLISHMENTS  BY  COUNTIES 

The  following  is  taken  from  the  census  of  Dun's  Commercial  Agency 
for  July,  1920: 


COUNTY 

General 
Stores 

Grocery, 
Meat 

Confec- 
tionery. 
Etc. 

Grain 
Elev. 

Lumber 

Yards 

Garages 

Miscel- 
laneous 

Total 

Beaverhead  .  .    . 

20 

10 

22 

1 

3 

24 

83 

163 

Big  Horn  

20 

8 

13 

4 

2 

12 

59 

118 

Blaine  

19 

10 

13 

12 

8 

12 

71 

145 

Broad  water  

9 

5 

9 

1 

4 

5 

33 

66 

Carbon  

33 

37 

45 

7 

11 

26 

140 

294 

Carter  

13 

3 

g 

2 

7 

22 

55 

Cascade  

35 

103 

126 

36 

21 

73 

495 

889 

Chouteau  

34 

H 

19 

37 

13 

24 

94 

232 

Custer  

11 

19 

19 

5 

6 

18 

131 

209 

Daniels  

19 

6 

14 

12 

10 

5 

63 

129 

Dawson  

23 

8 

15 

16 

11 

10 

90 

173 

Deer  Lodge  

4 

36 

46 

2 

15 

112 

215 

Fallon  

11 

9 

8 

8 

6 

6 

60 

108 

Fergus  

46 

33 

56 

45 

25 

42 

211 

458 

Flathead  

34 

32 

34 

6 

10 

27 

220 

363 

Gallatin  

28 

25 

43 

22 

13 

34 

202 

367 

Garfield  

15 

5 

2 

1 

1 

3 

18 

45 

Glacier  

10 

4 

12 

3 

5 

9 

41 

84 

Glacier  National  Park  

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

7 

HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


875 


COUNTY 

General 
Stores 

Grocery, 
Meat 

Confec- 
tionery, 
Etc. 

Grain 
Elev. 

Lumber 
Yards 

Garages 

Miscel- 
laneous 

Total 

Golden  Valley  
Granite.  .  .  . 

16 

7 

3 

g 

6 

9 

7 

9 

26 

76 

Hill  

31 

24 

8 

42 

82 

Jefferson  

12 

7 

27 

141 

275 

Judith  Basin.  .  .  . 

19 

g 

6 

40 

84 

Lewis  and  Clark  

21 

44 

12 

65 

177 

Liberty  

10 

2 

36 

227 

398 

Lincoln  

17 

13 

16 

4 

24 

57 

McCone  

12 

3 

........ 

72 

125 

Madison  

20 

10 

4 

16 

41 

Meagher  

9 

3 

10 

18 

66 

145 

Mineral  

11 

4 

g 

29 

64 

Missoula  

30 

36 

57 

Musselshell  

20 

15 

20 

228 

411 

Park  

14 

20 

177 

Phillips  

39 

14 

'21 

138 

237 

Pondera  

19 

4 

13 

67 

162 

Powder  River  

13 

2 

1 

62 

138 

Powell  

12 

5 

16 

25 

Prairie  

9 

4 

5 

103 

Ravalli  

17 

12 

18 

60 

Richland  

24 

10 

18 

167 

Roosevelt  

28 

12 

21 

Rosebud  

21 

12 

16 

Sanders  

24 

4 

16 

Sheridan  

30 

10 

17 

32 

Silver  Bow  

17 

239 

208 

Stillwater  

20 

12 

14 

Sweetgrass  

g 

4 

4 

Teton  

29 

6 

18 

29 

Toole  

25 

3 

5 

13 

5 

Treasure  

5 

2 

4 

1 

Valley  

30 

13 

18 

15 

15 

Wheatland  .  .  . 

14 

9 

15 

12 

7 

15 

Wibaux  

3 

7 

s 

g 

Yellowstone  

34 

79 

71 

20 

21 

79 

387 

Total  

1054 

1023 

1337 

539 

422 

944 

5571 

10891 

The  special  listings  are  of  merchants  engaged  exclusively  in  the  lines 
mentioned;  and  those  whose  businesses  or  combinations  of  various  lines 
of  merchandise  make  it  impossible  to  place  them  in  any  specific  listing, 
are  grouped  under  the  heading  of  miscellaneous.  Thus,  a  man  operating 
a  store  and  garage  would  appear  in  the  miscellaneous  column. 

FEW  FAILURES  IN  STATE 

The  financial  stability  of  any  particular  group  of  merchants  is  always 
plainly  shown  by  the  number  of  commercial  failures  occurring  during  any 
given  period,  and  Dun's  figures  show  that  the  number  of  failures  in  Mon- 
tana, in  proportion  to  the  total  number-  of  persons  engaged  in  business, 
has  been  very  small.  The  following  table  tells  its  own  story: 


Year 

Number  of 
Merchants 

Number  of 
Failures 

Assets 

Liabilities 

1910.  . 

6,476 

129 

$    632,414 

$    744,294 

1911  

6,796 

115 

747,801 

897,031 

1912      .    . 

7,274 

32 

159,120 

249,706 

1913 

8,272 

53 

137,052 

283,015 

1914  

9,359 

91 

687,142 

886,756 

1915  

10,363 

64 

1,240,174 

1,366,666 

1916  

10,971 

80 

561,386 

603,700 

1917  

11,303 

90 

448,791 

522,638 

1918  

11,871 

95 

868,714 

880,397 

1919    

10,899 

65 

316,928 

424,558 

For  the  first  six  months  of  1920  there  were  40  failures  with  $274,611 
liabilities,  against  10,891  merchants  engaged  in  business. 


876 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


The  above  figures  relate  only  to  mercantile  establishments  and  not  to 
banks  and  bank  failures,  but  Montana  has  been  happily  fortunate  in  the 
matter  of  having  strong  banks,  and  there  have  been  only  a  few  bank  fail- 
ures in  the  entire  history  of  the  state.  Both  banking  and  mercantile  insti- 
tutions are  sound. 

INCREASE  IN  NET  WORTH 

Some  further  idea  of  the  financial  strength  of  Montana's  merchants 
is  shown  in  the  following  table,  showing  the  number  of  merchants  of  the 
various  financial  classifications : 


1900 

1910 

1920 

Net  worth  $200,000  to  $1,000,000  

24 

78 

592 

Net  worth  $50,000  to  $200,000    .          

71 

264 

607 

Net  worth  $20,000  to  $50,000  

166 

369 

635 

Net  worth  $5,000  to  $20,000  

444 

925 

1758 

Net  worth  $500  to  $5,000             

1011 

2079 

2929 

Net  worth  indeterminate  

1674 

2861 

4370 

As  stated  in  "Resources  of  Montana"  (Charles  H.  Greenfield)  :  "The 
period  of  most  rapid  mercantile  growth  came  shortly  after  the  Chicago, 
Milwaukee  and  St.  Paul  Railway  finished  its  lines  through  Montana,  when 
it  was  demonstrated  that  Montana  was  destined  to  be  a  great  farming  as 
well  as  stockraising  and  mining  state.  Thousands  of  settlers  flocked  to 
Montana  betwen  1910  and  1916,  and  immediately  in  their  wake  came 
many  merchants,  hundreds  of  whom  met  with  signal  success  in  their  new 
fields.  Many  times  stores  were  established  in  tents  and  tent  houses  and 
the  demands  of  the  new  settlers  for  provisions,  farm  implements,  etc., 
created  a  wonderful  new  business  throughout  almost  the  entire  state. 

"The  maximum  number  of  merchants  was  reached  in  January,  1918, 
when  there  were  11,871  persons  engaged  in  business  in  the  state.  As  a 
result  of  war  conditions,  the  number  of  merchants  decreased  rapidly  dur- 
ing 1918.  Before  December,  1918,  when  state  prohibition  became  effective, 
there  were  about  1,200  saloons  in  Montana,  and  only  about  40  or  50  per 
cent  of  the  saloon  men  engaged  in  other  enterprises.  During  the  last 
twelve  months,  however,  the  tide  has  again  turned,  many  new  enterprises 
have  started,  and  many  openings  for  other  business  enterprises  have  be- 
come apparent." 

OIL  DEVELOPMENT  IN  MONTANA 

There  are  two  producing  oil  fields  in  Montana  at  the  present  time,  and 
from  70  to  loo  rigs  are  either  actually  drilling  or  soon  will  be  drilling. 
In  addition,  hundreds  of  scouts  are  exploring  the  state  and  obtaining 
leases  in  districts  where  no  oil  activity  has  been  manifested.  Drilling 
operations  at  present  extend  from  the  northwest  corner  of  the  Blackfeet 
Indian  Reservation,  near  the  Canadian  line,  adjoining  the  Glacier  National 
Park  on  the  east,  to  the  southeastern  corner  of  Carter  County,  in  the  most 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  877 

southeasterly  part  of  the  state.  Conservative  oil  men  believe  that  by  next 
summer  not  less  than  200  rigs  will  be  in  operation  in  Montana,  but  be- 
cause of  the  vast  scope  of  territory  thought  to  possess  oil  indications,  they 
assert  it  will  take  at  least  three  years  to  complete  exploration  work. 

The  State  Bureau  of  Mines,  a  department  of  the  State  School  of 
Mines,  made  an  oil  survey  in  the  summer  of  1920  that  covered  approxi- 
mately 80,000  square  miles.  This  work  was  done  in  co-operation  with 
the  United  States  Geological  Survey  and  is  the  first  comprehensive  under- 
taking of  the  kind  that  has  been  attempted  in  Montana.  The  results  of 
the  work  will  be  embodied  in  a  bulletin  which  it  is  expected  to  have  ready 
for  distribution  in  February.  When  available,  copies  will  be  furnished 
upon  application  to  the  Montana  School  of  Mines,  Butte,  Montana. 

The  first  discovery  of  oil  in  Montana  was  made  in  1915  in  the  Elk 
Basin  field  in  Carbon  County,  on  the  Wyoming  line.  This  field  has  pro- 
duced regularly  since  that  time,  but  the  production  on  the  Montana  side 
has  been  coupled  with  the  production  on  the  Wyoming  side,  so  in  the 
mind  of  the  public  it  has  been  considered  a  Wyoming  field. 

What  has  been  generally  considered  the  first  discovery  of  oil  in  the 
state  was  made  November  6,  1919,  by  the  Van  Duzen  Company  in  the 
Devil's  Basin  field,  north  of  Roundup,  in  Musselshell  County.  Oil  was 
struck  at  a  depth  of  1,175  feet-  It:  was  of  asphaltic  base  and  for  over  a 
year  produced  about  twenty-five  barrels  a  day.  It  was  then  cased  off  so 
drilling  to  lower  sands  could  be  resumed.  Water  was  struck  when  drilling 
was  resumed,  and  operations  have  been  suspended  for  the  present. 

Discovery  of  oil  by  the  Frantz  Corporation  February  18,  1920,  in  the 
West  Dome  of  the  Cat  Creek  field,  Eastern  Fergus  County,  at  a  depth  of 
1,015  feet,  and  subsequent  developments  in  this  field,  are  responsible 
for  the  present  oil  activity  in  the  state.  While  production  from  this  field 
has  been  considerably  less  than  that  indicated  by  newspaper  reports,  oil 
men  consider  the  showing,  for  the  work  done,  to  be  remarkable.  They 
do  not,  however,  consider  the  field  fully  proven.  But  they  are  confident 
that  Montana  is  certain  to  be  an  important  oil  state. 

A  two  and  a  four  inch  pipe  line  have  been  laid  from  the  West  Dome 
field  to  the  railroad  at  Winnett.  In  November  346  tank  cars  were  shipped. 
Their  capacity  ranged  from  144  barrels  to  310  barrels.  December  1 8, 
1920,  nine  wells  were  under  contract  to  deliver  their  oil  to  the  pipe  line. 
One  of  these  nine  wells  had  a  cave-in,  and  was  not  delivering  any  oil  at 
the  time,  though  it  had  been  producing,  and  is  expected  to  produce  again. 
Another  well  in  the  field,  not  under  contract  to  the  pipe  line,  produced 
some  oil  and  then  was  capped.  The  producing  wells  in  this  field  up  to  the 
middle  of  December,  1920,  covered  an  area  of  approximately  ten  square 
miles.  Drilling  was  proceeding  in  many  places  both  within  and  wit! 
this  producing  area.  ' 

There  was  a  production  in  the  Cat  Creek  field  during  November  of 
82  721  19  barrels,  while  shipments  during  November  amounted  to  80,941.5 
barrels  These  figures  were  obtained  from  the  Elk  Basin  Consolidated 
Petroleum  Company,  which,  besides  owning  the  only  pipe  line  and  tanks 
in  this  field  also  took  over  the  wells  and  acreage  of  the  Frantz  Corporation. 


878  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Drilling  for  oil  is  actually  under  way,  or  rigs  have  been  erected  prepara- 
tory to  drilling  at  many  places  in  Montana.  The  following  summary  of- 
these  places,  while  incomplete,  gives  an  idea  of  the  vast  region  in  the  state 
that  is  being  prospected :  One  rig  five  miles  south  of  Harlowton,  Wheat- 
land  County;  one  rig  north  of  Judith  Gap,  Judith  Basin  County;  two 
rigs  near  Shawmut,  Wheatland  County ;  two  rigs  in  Fallon  County ;  three 
rigs  in  Carter  County;  one  rig  south  of  Lohman  in  Elaine  County;  one 
rig  on  Blackf  eet  Reservation  in  Glacier  County ;  two  rigs  in  Teton  County ; 
one  rig  at  Winifred,  Fergus  County;  two  on  Black  Butte  Dome,  Fergus 
County ;  twenty- four  in  Cat  Creek  District,  Fergus  County  (this  is  ex- 
clusive of  the  producing  wells)  ;  from  nine  to  sixteen  rigs  on  Porcupine 
Dome  in  Rosebud  County;  one  at  Crow  Rock,  Prairie  County;  one  near 
Jordan,  Garfield  County ;  three  on  Brush  Creek,  Fergus  County ;  approxi- 
mately ten  rigs  in  the  Musselshell  County  field  adjacent  to  Roundup; 
one  on  the  Crow  Reservation  in  Big  Horn  County. 

Besides  these  operations,  scores  of  companies  and  syndicates  expect 
to  install  rigs  within  the  next  four  months  in  various  parts  of  the  state. 
Scouts  of  some  of  the  big  oil  concerns  are  touring  practically  all  that  part 
of  Montana  east  of  the  main  range  of  the  Rockies.  Hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  acres  have  been  leased  for  oil  purposes  in  the  state.  Many  of 
these  leases  have  been  obtained  in  districts  where  no  drilling  has  ever  been 
undertaken. — By  the  Department  of  Agriculture  and  Publicity,  Charles 
D.  Greenfield,  Commissioner. 


The  horticultural  interests  of  Montana,  especially  of  the  sections  in 
the  western  part  of  the  state,  are  expanding  into  a  pronounced  industry. 
Its  growth  is  to  the  credit  of  its  promoters,  who,  for  twenty-four  years 
have  been  connected  with  the  Montana  Horticultural  Society.  The  great 
strength  of  its  membership  is  drawn  from  Ravalli  County,  and  especially 
centers  at  Hamilton  and  Stevensville,  in  the  fertile  Bitter  Root  Valley. 
A  number  also  reside  at  Missoula,  Kalispell,  Big  Fork,  and  other  points 
in  Flathead  and  Gallatin  counties.  Western  Montana  is  the  only  really 
promising  fruit-raising  section  of  the  state. 

The  Montana  Horticultural  Society  held  its  twenty-fourth  annual 
session  at  Hamilton,  from  January  18  to  20,  1921,  the  following  being 
in  office :  Ben  Kress,  Hamilton,  president ;  O.  M.  Gerer,  of  Hamilton, 
Fred  T.  Parker,  of  Missoula,  Earl  Mauzey,  of  Big  Fork,  and  W.  J. 
Cristmas,  of  Joliet,  vice  presidents;  J.  C.  Wood  (state  horticulturist), 
of  Missoula,  secretary-treasurer. 

For  the  purposes  of  this  article,  the  paper  presented  by  Dr.  M.  J. 
Elrod,  of  Missoula,  one  of  the  well-known  fruit-raisers  of  the  state,  is 
most  adaptable,  and  it  is  given  entire : 

"Mr.  Wood  asked  me  yesterday  to  give  a  little  of  the  early  history  of 
the  State  Horticultural  Society.  I  have  always  had  a  very  great  interest 
in  this  Society,  because  it  was  the  first  meeting  of  any  kind  that  I  attended 
after  I  came  to  the  state.  The  President  of  the  University  said :  'You 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  879 

will  find  some  very  bright  minds  there.'  I  don't  know  whether  or  not  he 
meant  for  me  to  keep  my  mouth  shut  until  I  saw  where  I  was,  but  I 
took  the  hint.  At  that  meeting  I  was  given  an  introduction  to  a  consider- 
able number  of  people,  a  large  majority  of  whom  are  elsewhere;  some 
have  died.  From  that  day  I  have  taken  more  pleasure  in  attending  the 
meetings  of  the  Horticultural  Society  than  any  other  organization  or  any 
other  affair  which  I  have  been  called  upon  to  attend  in  the  state.  At  that 
first  meeting,  which  was  held  in  Missoula,  and  which  was  the  third  meet- 
ing of  Horticulturists,  the  other  meetings  having  been  held  before  this 
association  was  organized,  I  find  on  reading  over  the  minutes  and  the 
programs  the  names  of  these  persons ;  some  of  you  know  a  few  of  them, 
and  some,  perhaps,  know  all  of  them.  At  this  meeting  were  Kemp,  Ed- 
wards, Evans,  Harlan,  Lehsou,  Moss,  Humble,  Emery,  Sutherlin,  Bass, 
Bandmann,  Whiteside,  Willis,  Maclay,  Wilson,  Gilbert  and  my  own  name. 
Of  those  whose  names  I  read,  Harlan  is  with  us  today.  C.  C.  Willis  was 
also  present  at  our  meetings. 

"The  second  meeting  was  held  at  Hamilton  and  I  see  added  to  the  list 
of  names  O'Donnell,  Stone,  McCrackin;  at  this  time  Emery  was  presi- 
dent; at  the  meeting  at  Missoula,  Harlan  was  president,  with  Edwards 
as  secretary. 

"The  meetings  in  these  years  were  held  the  last  of  February  and  for  a 
long  time  afterwards  in  February  or  late  in  January. 

"At  that  time,  twenty-three  years  ago,  it  was  not  certain  that  winter 
apples  could  be  raised.  The  idea  of  holding  the  meetings  in  the  late 
January  and  February  was  to  prove  to  the  people  of  the  state  that  it 
was  possible  to  raise  something  else  than  fall  apples.  It  was  predicted 
that  only  fall  apples  could  be  raised,  and,  therefore,  it  was  a  waste  of 
time  to  try  winter  varieties,  and  a  great  deal  of  attention  was  given  to 
the  exhibit.  The  people  of  the  region  held  back  some  of  their  best  fruit 
so  as  to  make  a  creditable  exhibition.  It  is  not  now  necessary  so  to  do. 
At  that  time  it  was  very  necessary,  and  they  felt  if  an  exhibition  of  nice, 
salable  fruit  could  be  made  as  late  as  February  23rd,  it  was  sufficient 
proof  to  all  that  this  was  a  fruit  raising  and  fruit  growing  region. 

"The  third  meeting  was  held  at  Plains.  Perhaps  I  might  run  along  with 
a  few  of  these  meetings,  to  give  an  idea  of  where  they  were  held  and 
to  suggest  when  certain  things  were  taken  up.  At  the  meeting  at  Plains, 
Emery,  who  was  then  director  of  the  Experiment  Station,  was  president, 
and  these  names  appear  upon  the  program:  Tiedt,  Clark,  Cooley,  Mrs. 
Nichols,  Fossum  (our  good  friend  who  is  with  us  tonight),  Mrs.  Baker 
and  Olney  of  Yellowstone.  I  note  this  comment,  which  will  be  of  inter- 
est to  you,  an  authority  quoted  by  Bandmann  as  showing  that  the  codling 
moth  would  not  become  a  dangerous  pest  in  the  State  of  Montana.  A 
few  years  later  the  minutes  show  desperate  efforts  are  being  made  to 
exterminate  the  codling  moth.  At  this  meeting  I  notice  that  Harlan  recom- 
mended that  the  practice  of  growing  bees  be  started  in  the  state. 

"The  fourth  meeting  was  held  at  Kalispell  in  1901.  Emery  was  again 
president  •  this  I  think,  was  the  meeting  at  which  they  had  such  a  stun- 
ning time  as  to  whether  they  would  elect  him  president  or  someone  else. 


880  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

"Mr.  W.  B.  Harlan :  It  was  at  Plains. 

"Mr.  J.  A.  Fossum:  -It  was  at  Kalispell  particularly  they  had  a  great 
fight  for  the  president. 

"At  this  meeting  I  notice  the  first  mention  of  prayer  at  the  opening 
meeting.  I  notice  the  following  names  appearing  at  this  meeting  on  the 
program:  Wood,  Reed,  Heideman,  Bernard,  Wooldridge  from  Hinsdale, 
on  the  Great  Northern.  There  were  complaints  mentioned  in  the  min- 
utes at  that  time  of  growers  who  said  they  had  got  summer  varieties  when 
they  had  ordered  winter  varieties,  and  there  was  much  discussion  as  to 
the  character  and  honesty  of  the  tree  dealers,  because  at  that  time  there 
were  being  enormous  numbers  of  trees  placed  and  men  didn't  wish  to 
buy  a  thousand  or  two  thousand  trees  of  winter  varieties  and  wait  five 
years  until  they  had  fruit  to  find  they  were  something  else.  That  is  what 
many  of  them  did.  At  this  meeting  local  branches  were  provided  for  in  the 
organization. 

"The  fifth  meeting,  1902,  was  held  at  Missoula;  a  good  display  of  fruit 
is  mentioned;  Stone,  who  was  chosen  president,  was  ill,  and  Mr.  Harlan 
presided,  with  Mrs.  Ingalls  of  Kalispell  as  secretary.  I  notice  on  the 
program  and  in  the  minutes  the  following  names :  Pierce  of  Plains,  Smith, 
who  was  the  ex-governor,  Prof.  Shaw,  Brandegee,  Fortier,  Traphagen 
and  Allen  of  Lolo.  The  honey  bee  was  again  mentioned  as  an  animal 
that  could  be  developed.  In  this  program  was  mentioned  a  banquet.  I 
have  some  distinct  recollections  of  helping  to  get  up  a  banquet  or  two. 
I  don't  know  whether  this  is  the  one  or  not.  The  minutes  report  the  box 
adopted  as  the  standard  size  was  10^x11^x18  inches. 

"The  sixth  meeting,  1903,  was  held  at  Stevensville,  with  Stone,  who 
was  president,  ill  in  the  East.  Harlan  served  as  president.  I  notice  among 
the  names  that  have  not  heretofore  been  mentioned  Pace,  former  secretary 
of  the  State  Fair,  Tucker,  Amos  Buck,  Nichol  and  Fisher.  It  was  at 
this  meeting  that  Bandmann  made  his  argument,  defending  the  Mclntosh 
as  the  apple  that  should  be  developed  for  the  purpose  of  having  one  apple 
in  the  valley  which  would  be  a  standard.  Some  years  after  his  death, 
Mrs.  Bandmann  made  a  request  of  the  Society  that  they  confirm  her 
statement  that  he  had  taken  that  attitude,  as  taking  the  initiative  in  start- 
ing the  Mclntosh  apple,  which  action  the  Society  later  took. 

"The  seventh  meeting,  1904,  was  at  Great  Falls,  with  Harlan  as  presi- 
dent ;  the  secretary's  report  is  given  complete  in  eleven  lines.  There  was 
a  cooking  demonstration  given  in  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  Rainbow  Hotel 
and  there  was  a  large  audience  around  the  person  who  was  making  the 
demonstration. 

"The  eighth  meeting  was  held  at  Helena ;  Harlan  was  president  and 
Tucker  was  secretary  pro  tern.  At  this  meeting  Colonel  Sanders  made 
an  address,  the  first  privilege  I  had  of  hearing  the  Colonel.  Mr.  Atkin- 
son's name  appears  upon  the  program,  as  does  that  of  Mr.  Dinsmore, 
who  opened  up  the  country  that  is  now  the  Orchard  Homes  at  Missoula. 
At  this  meeting  the  Montana  Stockman  gave  a  silver  cup  for  the  best  col- 
lection of  winter  apples  and  the  State  Fair  gave  a  silver  cup  for  the  best 
display  of  fruit  grown  by  one  person.  These  cups  given  in  the  early 
day  were  very  helpful  in  stimulating  activity. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  881 

'The  ninth  meeting  was  in  1906.  Dallman  was  president.  This  is 
where  I  came  into  it.  I  was  chosen  as  secretary  and  served  as  secretary 
for  several  years.  The  pure  food  law  and  the  creation  of  a  state  railway 
commission  were  endorsed.  And  here,  1906,  the  record  shows  the  codling 
moth  was  very  bad  and  the  members  of  the  Society  are  calling  upon  the 
public  and  mayors  of  cities  to  help  in  its  eradication.  At  this  time  it  was 
recommended  that  the  State  Board  of  Horticulture  print  the  proceedings 
of  the  Society,  and  from  that  date  to  the  present  the  State  Board  of  Horti- 
culture has  made  appropriations  for  the  publication  of  the  minutes  and 
proceedings  of  this  organization. 

"The  tenth  meeting  was  held  at  Kalispell.  Dallman  was  president,  and 
at  this  meeting  they  proposed  the  naming  of  farms.  Eleven  names  were 
given  in  the  minutes.  Much  discussion  about  market  development.  There 
were  80  paid  and  13  life  members. 

"The  eleventh  meeting  was  held  at  Billings.  Ex-Governor  Smith  was 
president.  This  meeting  was  combined  with  the  Dairymen's  Association. 
A  cooking  demonstration  was  given  in  the  evening.  A  thousand  were 
present  at  the  opera  house  meeting. 

"The  twelfth  meeting  was  held  in  Hamilton.  Smith  was  elected  presi- 
dent, but  before  the  year  was  up  he  passed  away  and  O'Donnell,  as  vice 
president,  served  in  his  stead.  There  were  200  present  at  the  opera  house. 
It  was  recommended  that  the  legislature  pass  a  constitutional  amendment 
permitting  assessment  for  orchard  protection. 

"The  thirteenth  meeting,  in  1910,  was  at  Plains,  with  J.  O.  Reed,  for- 
merly of  your  town  (Hamilton),  as  president.  There  was  an  exhibit  of 
50  boxes,  100  plates.  At  this  time  they  had  a  woman's  department,  with 
canned  fruits  and  other  things  on  exhibit.  Clark  urged  the  Wealthy  for 
eastern  Montana.  First  reference  to  blight.  It  was  decided  the  town 
having  the  meeting  must  raise  50  members. 

"The  fourteenth  meeting  was  at  Missoula  with  Fred  Whiteside  as  presi- 
dent. Elrod  retired  as  secretary.  M.  L.  Dean  was  elected. 

"The  fifteenth  meeting  was  at  Great  Falls,  in  connection  with  the 
Country  Life  Commission.  C.  C.  Willis  was  president. 

"The  sixteenth  meeting  was  at  Bozeman,  1916,  with  R.  N.  Sutherlin, 
editor  of  the  Rocky  Mountain  Husbandman,  as  president. 

"The  seventeenth  was  at  Missoula  with  J.  C.  Wood  as  president. 

"The  eighteenth  was  at  Kalispell ;  your  humble  servant  was  president, 
with  M.  L.  Dean  as  secretary. 

"The  nineteenth  meeting  was  at  Billings  with  W.  J.  Tiedt  as  secretary. 

"The  twentieth  meeting  was  at  Plains,  with  M.  L.  Dean  as  president, 
Whipple  as  secretary. 

"The  twenty-first  was  at  Hamilton,  1918,  with  Mrs.  Johnson  serving 
in  place  of  W.  B.  George,  who  was  not  present,  and  Whipple  as  secretary. 

"The  twenty-second,  with  Mrs.  Johnson  as  president  and  Strausz  as 
secretary,  was  at  Poison. 

"The  twenty-third  meeting  was  held  at  Missoula  in  1920,  with  our  good 
friend  Platt  as  president  and  Strausz  as  secretary. 

"The  twenty-fourth  brings  us  down  to  this  year,  1921.  as  being  held  at 
Hamilton. 


882  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

"Two  points  of  interest  for  you  before  I  close.  The  first  is  that  dur- 
ing the  early  years  they  took  a  vote  as  to  the  most  important  apples  for 
the  valley  or  for  the  country.  The  first  record  I  have  of  this  is  in  1898. 
These  are  the  apples  that  are  reported  by  the  committee  :  The  Gravenstein, 
Spitzenberg,  Delaware  Red,  Northern  Spy  and  Salome.  In  1899  they 
took  a  vote  on  the  five  best  varieties.  Here  is  the  vote :  Mclntosh,  45 ; 
Wealthy,  39;  Alexander,  25;  Duchess,  23;  Northern  Spy,  21,  and  Dela- 
ware Red,  1 6.  1900  is  blank.  1901  gives  the  four  best,  for  which  a  cup 
was  awarded :  Rome  Beauty,  Ben  Davis,  Canada  Red  and  an  unknown. 
In  1902  the  vote  was  for  the  Delaware  Red,  Baldwin,  Gano  and  Baltimore. 
From  then  on  until  1909  none  are  given.  In  1909  I  read  for  the  last  time: 
The  Baldwin,  Spy,  Gano  and  Spitzenberg. 

"The  early  days  of  the  Horticultural  Society,  since  they  had  no  insect 
pests,  were  devoted  to  the  care  of  the  orchard,  how  to  prune,  the  best 
varieties,  experiments  with  the  different  varieties,  the  use  of  water,  and 
so  on.  The  different  varieties  were  thoroughly  discussed  and  a  good 
many  big  prizes  were  offered  for  the  best  display.  Several  times  they 
had  $150  in  prizes  which  would  encourage  the  growers  to  bring  their 
very  best  apples. 

"I  came  home  the  other  day  and  said  to  my  wife:  'What  do  you  think 
has  happened?'  She  said,  'I  do  not  know.'  I  said,  'The  inevitable  has 
arrived,  I  have  been  asked  to  give  reminiscences.' 

"I  hope  this  little  summary  has  been  interesting  to  some  of  you.  A 
final  plea,  if  I  may  make  it,  would  be  this :  Those  men  whose  names 
I  have  read  are  nearly  all  gone.  They  are  the  men  who  have  done  the 
things  the  young  men  now  don't  have  to  do.  They  know  these  things  are 
not  necessary.  The  older  men  are  most  out  of  the  harness.  This  organi- 
zation has  done  more  than  all  the  organizations  in  the  state  for  the  de- 
velopment of  the  fruit  industry.  It  is  worthy  of  continuance.  There 
are  enough  young  men  and  young  women  in  this  valley  to  make  the 
Society  of  far  more  importance  than  it  ever  was  in  its  past  history.  My 
plea  is  that  all  these  young  people  take  an  interest  and  get  their  friends 
to  take  a  membership  in  the  organization  and  keep  the  thing  alive.  The 
fruit  growing  industry  has  had  a  little  setback,  but  the  country  is  as 
good  a  fruit  growing  country  as  it  ever  was  and  can  grow  just  as  good 
fruit  and  more  fruit  than  it  ever  has  grown.  If  there  is  trouble  about 
insects,  or  prices,  and  the  like,  it  is  certain  the  fruit  growing  industry 
will  continue.  My  earnest  request  is  that  these  young  people  stay  by  the 
game." 

PRESENT  HORTICULTURAL  CONDITIONS 

The  horticultural  law  divides  the  state  into  seven  horticultural  dis- 
tricts as  follows:  The  first  district  comprising  the  counties  of  Dawson, 
Custer,  Yellowstone,  Sweetgrass,  Park,  Carbon,  and  Rosebud;  the  second 
district  comprises  the  counties  of  Gallatin,  Madison,  Beaverhead,  Silver 
Bow,  Lewis  and  Clark,  Meagher,  Wheatland,  and  Broadwater;  the  third 
district  comprises  the  counties  of  Cascade,  Fergus,  Valley,  Chouteau. 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  883 

Teton  and  Musselshell ;  the  fourth  district  comprises  the  counties  of 
Missoula,  Mineral,  Granite,  Powell  and  Deer  Lodge;  the  fifth  district 
comprises  the  County  of  Ravalli;  the  sixth  comprises  the  counties  of 
Flathead  and  Lincoln;  and  the  seventh  the  county  of  Sanders.  Counties 
formed  since  the  law  was  enacted  all  remain  in  the  district  which  included 
the  original  county. 

The  Board  of  Horticulture,  which  is  charged  with  the  administra- 
tion of  the  horticultural  law,  is  appointed  by  the  governor,  one  member 
from  each  district  for  a  term  of  four  years  and  all  serving  without  pay. 
The  governor  is  ex-offtcio  a  member  of  the  board.  The  members  from 
the  various  districts  are  chosen  for  their  practical  experience  in  fruit 
growing  and  their  interest  and  study  in  horticultural  problems. 

The  regular  meetings  of  the  board  are  held  on  the  third  Monday  in 
February  and  September  and  special  meetings  may  be  called  when  matters 
of  importance  are  to  be  considered. 

The  executive  work  of  the  State  Board  of  Horticulture  is  under  the 
direction  of  the  state  horticulturist  who  is  selected  by  the  board. 

All  fruit  entering  the  state  or  produced  within  the  state  is  subject  to 
inspection  with  the  exception  of  blackberries,  cranberries,  currants,  goose- 
berries, loganberries,  raspberries,  strawberries,  bananas  and  pineapples. 
Melons,  cantaloupes  and  tomatoes  are  also  exempt  from  inspection.  In  so 
far  as  it  is  possible  to  do  so,  fruit  is  inspected  at  the  distributing  cen- 
ters and  at  point  of  production.  Butte,  Helena,  Great  Falls,  Billings, 
Havre,  and  Missoula  are  the  points  at  which  the  greatest  amount  of 
incoming  fruit  is  inspected.  At  these  places  carloads  are  received  from 
the  western  states  and  distributed  to  nearby  points.  In  the  Bitter  Root 
Valley,  the  Missoula  Valley,  the  Flathead  Lake  section  and  parts  of 
Carbon  County  locally  produced  fruit  is  inspected  for  pests  and  diseases 
before  it  is  shipped.  The  railroads  are  forbidden  by  law  to  accept  fruit 
for  shipment  before  it  has  been  inspected  and  passed  as  reasonably  free 
from  dangerously  injurious  pests  and  diseases.  The  inspection  of  fruit 
should  be  maintained  in  Montana  with  such  thoroughness  that  new  pests 
and  diseases  will  be  kept  from  the  fruit  sections  just  as  long  as  possible  and 
in  such  manner  that  the  consumers  will  be  protected  from  inferior  and 
worthless  fruit. 

The  setting  of  fruit  trees  has  been  very  small  with  the  exception  of 
home  orchards.  Very  few  commercial  orchards  have  been  planted  within 
the  last  ten  years,  consequently  only  the  older  and  well  established  nur- 
series are  still  operating.  Nurseries  within  the  state  are  inspected  yearly 
and  if  the  stock  is  found  to  be  free  from  pests  and  diseases  certificates 
of  inspection  are  granted  to  the  nurserymen.  Very  little  stock  is  now 
grown  in  Montana.  Most  of  the  danger  lies  in  the  nursery  stock  shipped 
into  Montana  and  too  careful  watch  cannot  be  kept  on  these  shipments. 

The  State  of  Montana  at  the  present  time  is  maintaining  three  quaran- 
tines. They  are  directed  against  the  spread  of  white  pine  blister  rust, 
wheat  rust  and  the  alfalfa  weevil.  All  horticultural  inspectors  are  charged 
with  the  enforcement  of  the  quarantine  provisions.  This  work  naturally 


884  HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 

fits  in  with  the  fruit  and  nursery  stock  inspection  and  the  inspection  force 
is  well  organized  to  accomplish  results. 

Orchard  inspection  is  maintained  throughout  the  fruit-growing  sec- 
tions, the  purposes  of  which  are  as  follows : 

It  enables  the  inspection  service  to  keep  track  of  the  pests  and  diseases 
already  present,  to  define  the  boundaries  and  to  suggest  methods  of  con- 
trol. To  enforce  and  supervise  the  spraying  of  all  orchards  where  dan- 
gerous insect  pests  or  diseases  are  found. 

The  following  report  on  diseases  and  pests  mentions  only  those  which 
are  of  greatest  importance : 

Apple  Scab:  This  disease  is  prevalent  throughout  all  the  western 
portion  of  the  state.  It  annually  causes  thousands  of  dollars'  worth  of 
damage  in  misshapen  and  unsalable  fruit.  The  past  few  years  being  dry 
and  unfavorable  to  the  development  of  fungus  diseases,  but  little  damage 
has  occurred,  but  will  return  with  wet  seasons.  Scab  can  be  controlled 
by  thorough  spraying  with  lime-sulphur. 

Bacterial  Blight:  This  disease  has  done  much  damage  in  past  years, 
but  like  the  scab,  is  more  prevalent  during  wet  seasons  and  for  several 
seasons  has  caused  little  damage.  The  more  susceptible  varieties,  such 
as  the  Alexander  and  Transcendent  crab,  have  largely  disappeared,  and 
for  that  reason  the  blight  may  never  return  with  the  same  violence  as  in 
the  past.  The  only  known  remedy  is  by  cutting  out  the  diseased  parts,  or 
removing  entirely  badly  affected  trees. 

Blister  Mite:  Apple  and  pear  trees  are  attacked  by  this  insect  and 
badly  affected  trees  lose  their  leaves  before  summer  is  over.  This  insect 
is  a  microscopic  mite  which  feeds  within  the  leaf,  causing  the  character- 
istic browning  of  the  leaves.  The  injury  caused  is  worse  during  dry 
seasons  than  during  rainy  seasons. 

Bud  Moth :  The  damage  by  the  bud  moth  is  increasing  each  season 
in  unsprayed  orchards.  It  can  be  easily  controlled  by  arsenical  sprays. 

Codling  Moth :  The  codling  moth  is  present  in  most  of  the  cities  and 
has  been  allowed  to  gain  a  foothold  in  nearly  all  of  the  orchard  districts, 
except  that  of  Flathead  County.  It  can  be  controlled  by  spraying  with 
arsenic  of  lead  and  in  a  number  of  instances  has  been  completely  eradi- 
cated. A  campaign  for  eradication  is  planned  for  the  coming  spring. 

Oyster  Shell  Scale :  This  is  the  worst  scale  insect  in  the  state.  It  is 
not  of  much  importance  in  well  cared  for  orchards,  but  it  is  present  in 
practically  all  old  and  neglected  plantings.  While  it  is  almost  everywhere- 
present,  it  does  not  spread  easily  or  rapidly  from  old  to  well  cared  for 
orchards.  It  can  be  controlled  by  thorough  and  persistent  spraying. 

San  Jose  Scale :  This  is  the  most  destructive  of  all  scale  insect  pests, 
but  has  not  as  yet  been  found  in  Montana  orchards.  The  opinion  is 
prevalent  that  it  cannot  exist  in  Montana  climate  but  it  is  prevalent 
in  states  where  the  climate  is  more  severe  than  ours  and  we  should  not 
rely  upon  climate,  and  inspectors  are  cautioned  to  prevent  its  being  ad- 
mitted on  nursery  stock  or  fruit. 

Leaf -Roller :  The  leaf -roller,  which  was  first  brought  to  the  notice 
of  the  fruit  grower  three  years  ago,  has  rapidly  increased  until  the  past 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA  885 

season  much  damage  was  done  and  unless  brought  under  control  will 
practically  destroy  the  fruit  industry  of  the  Bitter  Root  Valley.  It  can 
be  controlled  and  steps  are  being  taken  to  do  so. 

Aphids:  These  sucking  insects  occur  in  practically  all  the  orchards 
and  are  of  many  different  species.  The  green  aphids,  which  feed  on  the 
leaves  and  growing  twig  tips,  are  the  most  common,  but  in  some  places 
the  woolly  aphids,  which  feed  both  on  the  roots  and  upper  parts  of  the 
tree,  are  becoming  established.  The  green  aphids  can  be  controlled  by 
spraying,  but  satisfactory  results  in  combating  the  woolly  aphids  are  hard 
to  secure.  The  total  damage  to  the  fruit  crop  is  not  alarming. 

There  are  many  other  irisect  pests  of  minor  importance  not  enumerated 
in  this  article,  but  as  they  are  doing  little  damage  growers  are  not  worried 
about  them. — From  biennial  report  of  J.  C.  Wood,  State  Horticulturist, 
fo*-  1919-20. 

HOT  SPRINGS  RESORTS 

The  state  is  liberally  supplied  by  nature  with  hot  mineral  springs  of 
many  kinds.  They  are  popular  resorts  for  seekers  after  health,  rest  and 
recreation.  The  following  list  gives  the  principal  ones  of  the  state,  where 
hotels  and  'bathing  accommodations  are  provided : 

Alhambra  Hot  Springs,  Jefferson  County,  near  Helena. 

Barkels  Hot  Springs,  Madison  County,  at  Silver  Star. 

Big  Hole  Hot  Springs,  Beaverhead  County,  at  Jackson. 

Boulder  Hot  Springs,  Jefferson  County,  near  Boulder. 

Broaclwater  Xatatprium,  Lewis  and  Clark  County,  near  Helena. 

Camas  Hot  Springs,  Sanders  County,  near  Plains. 

Chico,  Park  County,  near  Yellowstone  Park. 

Elkhorn  Hot  Springs,  Beaverhead  County,  near  Dillon. 

Gregson  Hot  Springs,  Silver  Bow  County,  near  Butte. 

Hunter's  Hot  Springs,  Park  County,  near  Livingston. 

Lo  Lo  Hot  Springs,  Missoula  County,  near  Missoula. 

Medicine  Rock  Hot  Springs,  Ravalli  County,  near  Como. 

Norris  Hot  Springs,  Madison  County,  at  Norris. 

Pipestone  Hot  Springs,  Jefferson  County,  near  Butte. 

Potosi  Hot  Springs,  Madison  County,  near  Pony. 

Pullers  Hot  Springs,  Madison  County,  near  Alder. 

Sleeping  Child  Hot  Springs,  near  Missoula. 

White  Sulphur  Springs,  Meagher  County,  at  White  Sulphur  Springs. 

Zeigler  Hot  Springs,  Beaverhead  County,  near  Apex. 

NEWSPAPER  DIRECTORY  OF  MONTANA 

Scattered  notices  of  Montana  newspapers  have  appeared  in  various 
pages  of  this  history,  but,  as  the  press  has  done  so  much  for  the  territory 
and  the  state,  it  is  no  more  than  just  that  a  general  view  of  its  present 
status  should  be  given.  For  this  purpose  the  table  on  the  following  pages 
is  published,  compiled  largely  from  facts  given  by  the  State  Department 
of  Publicity  and  the  standard  newspaper  directories  of  the  country: 


886 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


u 


NEWSPAPER  DIRECTORY  OF  MONTANA  (1920) 

PUBLISHER 

.  .  .Examiner  Print.  Co. 
.  .  .  Tribune  Pub.  Co. 
.  .  .  Richard  Hathaway 

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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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890 


HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


891 


•~  s 
"5is 

CQ  O 

Livingston  Pub.  Co. 
Hammond  Printing  C 
J.  A.  Lohman 
Oscar  H.  Loe 

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Broadus  Pub.  Co. 

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R.  C.  Marks  
.  .  .  .  John  Breum  

Bruce  Wells  
.  .  .  .Miles  Romney  
.  .  .  .J.  C.  Conkey  
.  .  .  .  J.  B.  Townsend,  Jr.  .  . 

.  .  .  .  Harry  G.  Ketcham  .  .  . 
.  .  .  .  C.  S.  Clemmensen  

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....  Independent  . 
....  Independent  . 

....  Democratic  .  . 
....  Republican  .  . 
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.  .  .  .Democratic.  . 
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.  .  .  .Independent. 

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HISTORY  OF  MONTANA 


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....  Francis  T.  Ellis  
.  .  .  .Chas.  M.  Smith  
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Book  Slip-55w»-10,'68(J4048s8)458 — A 


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Stout,  T.  S76 

Montana,  its  story   v.l 
and  biography. 


